SENATOR COLLINS ANNOUNCES $2.1 MILLION GRANT TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS IN RURAL MAINE AND VERMONT

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will award a grant in the amount of $2,173,217 to establish a "Patient-Centered Medical Home" model project at all Community-Based Outpatient Clinics affiliated with Togus VA Medical Center in Maine and at Veteran-Centered Medical Home in Vermont. According to the VA, the purpose of this model project is to help increase access to comprehensive, safe, quality health care for veterans living in rural areas.

"We have an obligation to provide quality health care for Maine's veterans who have given so much to this country," said Senator Collins. "In Maine, veterans often must travel long distances to receive medical care. This funding will help implement an innovative pilot project allowing more veterans to access health care when and where they need it."

Approximately 144,000 veterans live in Maine. Last month, during a meeting in her office with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, Senator Collins discussed the need to improve access to adequate health care for those veterans who live in rural areas. The VA estimates that, nationwide, nearly 40 percent of veterans live in rural areas. The Togus VA Medical Center currently operates Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Bangor, Calais, Caribou, Fort Kent, Houlton, Lincoln, Rumford and Saco.