WASHINGTON—U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) sent a letter last week to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, urging him to prioritize the construction of a VA Clinic in Fremont County and to add an additional primary care team to the facility. Despite the large number of local veterans living in the area, there is currently not a VA clinic in the county and no such facility is scheduled to open until 2025. In her letter, Pettersen expressed concern that two larger nearby clinics are currently taking priority and preventing the VA from finalizing work on the Fremont clinic. The letter also details the need for an additional primary care team at the Fremont clinic to give adequate attention to the veterans living in the area.
“Veterans who live in Fremont County and the surrounding region are in desperate need of health care assistance. This clinic is long overdue and I’ve been hearing from people across the county that are frustrated with the timeline and planned size of the center,” said Pettersen. “There are an estimated 3,500 veterans living in Cañon City and Florence, and if you include the unincorporated parts of the county, that puts us closer to 5,000. Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect this country and we must ensure they are supported after their service.”
Since coming to Congress, Pettersen has prioritized supporting veterans, especially those in rural parts of her congressional district who often cannot access adequate resources and services. After meeting with local officials and veterans in Fremont County earlier this year and hearing their concerns about delays in the construction of a clinic, she quickly moved to find ways her office could shepherd the process along. This letter is part of Pettersen’s ongoing efforts to ensure veterans have access to the resources they need in Fremont County and throughout Colorado’s Seventh Congressional District.
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Secretary McDonough,
I write to urge the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prioritize the construction of the Fremont VA Clinic and reevaluate the facility for a second primary care team. The Fremont VA Clinic is not expected to open until Fiscal Year 2025 and is expected to include just one primary care team.
The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) is currently in the process of rebuilding the strategic plans for the Aurora and Castle Rock Clinics. These two facilities are larger and require more staff time to complete, which prevents any work from beginning on the strategic plan for Fremont VA Clinic. It is my understanding that these delays prevent the VA from finalizing work on the Fremont VA Clinic, preventing it from opening sooner than Fiscal Year 2025.
Veterans who live in Fremont County and the surrounding region are in desperate need for additional health care assistance. There are an estimated 3,500 veterans living in Cañon City and Florence which puts the clinic close to the threshold rating of two primary care teams. If unincorporated parts of Fremont County are included, there are estimated to be as many as 5,000 total eligible veterans. This would push the clinic over the threshold for a second primary care team.
Thank you for your full and fair consideration of this request in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations, laws, and guidelines.
