Government

VA comes up $1 billion short

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 11, 2005

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Dept. of Veterans Affairs officials recently revealed that they had to shift more than $1 billion in funds allocated for next year and for building and maintenance to pay for health care services this year. The shortfall was in a part driven by the large number of reservists returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, VA officials told a House Veterans Affairs Committee.

The VA came under fire from lawmakers who said the department should have told them about the shortfall sooner. Veterans groups were critical also, saying that the funding problems have resulted in clinic closings and delayed appointments for veterans.

VA Secretary Jim Nicholson defended the agency, saying, "Working with our partners in Congress, I'm confident that VA's budget will continue to provide world-class health care to the nation's veterans."

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/11/gvbf0711.htm.

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