VI Vets Healthcare Leaders Meet in PR over Cuts

M.A. Dworkin 

The Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) could severely impact veterans’ healthcare, particularly those relying on the VA for their healthcare needs. The cuts, potentially involving 83,000 job losses, would significantly reduce the VA’s workforce, including a large number of veteran employees. This could lead to decreased access to care, longer wait times, and potentially jeopardize research and clinical trials. 

The VA Caribbean Health Care - Veterans Affairs in Puerto Rico employs approximately 3,750 people, twenty-three percent of which are Veterans. They serve nearly 71,000 Veterans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with nearly 1 million outpatient visits annually. 

Facing potential cuts, Virgin Islands Leaders recently decided to mobilize in Puerto Rico to develop a Veterans Healthcare Contingency Plan. 

Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs, Patrick D. Farrell, led a healthcare focused delegation of senior healthcare professionals in the Territory, along with the Legislative Chairman of the committee, which has oversight of the Office of Veterans Affairs in the Territory, Senator Avery L. Lewis, to the VA Caribbean Healthcare System Headquarters (VACHS) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Joining Mr. Farrell and Mr. Lewis was VI Commissioner of Health Justa E. Encarnacion, along with CEO of the Schneider Regional Medical Center, Tina Commissiong Esq., and Ms. Grace Bailey, Medical Social Worker (MSW) at the Schneider Regional Medical Center. Joining virtually was Mrs. Hannifer Britton-Barry, Director of Case Management at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital.

The VACHS is the entity charged with direct oversight of VA medical care within the Caribbean Islands to include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, they were joined in-person by Mr. David Isaacks, Executive Director of the Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN-8) which is an echelon above the VACHS. 

The delegation was hosted by Mr. Jamie Marrero, Interim Executive Director VACHS and his leadership team. Objectives for the meeting after which included a tour of the Emergency Department were:

• To gain a comprehensive understanding of the specific employee and service cuts implemented or anticipated.

• To assess the immediate and long-term effects, if any, that these reductions may have on our Veterans.

• To explore collaborative strategies at the territorial and state levels to mitigate any negative impacts and ensure our Veterans continue to receive the care they deserve.

Noting that cuts have not yet been finalized, the Virgin Islands delegation was very much in favor of creating a path to continuity of healthcare for Virgin Islands Veterans if cuts become a reality. CEO Tina Commissiong committed to making a push for most, if not all, services in the hospital to be a part of the VA Community Care Network which will allow for more Veterans to be seen locally. Being a part of the Community Care Network allows for medical services to be reimbursed by the VA. This action will most likely take place at the hospital facilities on all three islands.