Emporia-area veterans needing outpatient medical care will need to make out-of-town arrangements later this year.
The Department of Veterans Affairs office in Topeka confirms the Emporia Community-Based Outpatient Clinic at 919 West 12th will cease its local operations, possibly as soon as mid-June although the exact timetable hasn’t been determined.
Veterans are told they will need to get their health care services at the Topeka VA campus or other appropriate VA medical centers, although the Topeka VA office says the shift to so-called community care will actually improve access to care for veterans affected by this move. Veterans meeting certain mileage eligibility requirements can receive ongoing care locally through the VA Mission Act of 2018. The Community Care program lets veterans get services through non-VA providers. To determine eligibility and possibly opt in for services if eligible, call 866-606-8198.
Spokesman Joseph Burks is joining KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Wednesday with more details.
1 pm Saturday: Emporia’s VA outpatient clinic closing in 2019
Emporia may be the founding city of Veterans Day, but local and area veterans will have to go elsewhere for certain medical services later this year.
Local veterans have started receiving letters from the Department of Veterans Affairs saying the Emporia Community-Based Outpatient Clinic at 919 West 12th will stop providing care services this year. A final date is pending, according to letters provided to KVOE News, but those letters estimate the office closing by mid-June.
The building’s owners, the Haught Family Limited Partnership, have also been informed of the upcoming shutdown.
The office is currently open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 3 pm.
Veterans are told to get their health care services at the Topeka VA campus or other appropriate VA medical center. Veterans meeting certain mileage eligibility requirements can receive ongoing care locally through the VA Mission Act of 2018. The Community Care program lets veterans get services through non-VA providers. To determine eligibility and possibly opt in for services if eligible, call 866-606-8198.
To express concerns, call 785-350-3111 ext. 53532 before Feb. 28. For other questions, call 785-350-3111 ext. 54348.
KVOE News has reached out to the VA office in Topeka, but with this being an extended weekend there may not be a formal response until Tuesday at the earliest.
