Letter to the Honorable David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Brooklyn VA Medical Center

Letter

Dear Secretary Shulkin:

We write to express my serious concerns regarding a proposal being circulated by the New York Harbor Healthcare System Director to reduce critical services at the Brooklyn VA Medical Center. It's suggested that the facility would be modified from "Complex" to "Ambulatory Advanced," which would severely affect access to medical care for veterans from my district. Any decision that might limit or deny health care to thousands of veterans throughout the New York City area should be re-considered, and I urge you to reverse this decision.

The Brooklyn VA Medical Center allows veterans from Staten Island and Brooklyn to easily access the quality care, rehabilitation programs, and medical services they not only earned, but deserve, in their local community. While the new proposal states that veterans will be accommodated at the Manhattan VAMC for services, it doesn't take into account the difficulties veterans and their families would face to travel into the city. The commute would be a hardship for many veterans, particularly the elderly and disabled, and could cause them to delay or forego necessary medical treatments.

Additionally, the Brooklyn VAMC is a critical facility for all New York City residents. Following Hurricane Sandy, the Manhattan VAMC was severely damaged and closed for several months. During this time, veterans relied on the Brooklyn VAMC for all services. Modifying the Brooklyn facility's capabilities would negatively impact the VA's ability to properly serve thousands of veterans following another high intensity storm.

From post-traumatic stress, to rehabilitation, to diseases caused by exposure to explosives or a common cold -- whatever the issue might be -- every veteran deserves to know that they have access to the VA doctors, nurses, and medical treatments they need. We urge you to fully consider the negative impact this proposal would have on veterans from across New York City and ask for the decision to be reversed.

Thank you for your time on this important matter.

Sincerely,