Sen Schatz Supports Legislation for New VA Hopital on O‘ahu

US Senator Brian Schatz. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement today following the delegation meeting with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald and a tour of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Unit at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center in Honolulu:

“Through legislation, funding and congressional oversight, the VA has made important progress in improving care for our veterans,” said Sen. Schatz. “Thanks to Secretary McDonald and Director Pfeffer, we are now on the right path to providing veterans the care they need in a timely manner. But there is still more work to be done, and I remain committed to ensuring that the veterans and their families who have made tremendous sacrifices in service to our great nation have the resources they need here in Hawai‘i.”

Sen. Schatz repeatedly called for improvement at the VA following a troubling report in June of last year detailing long wait times at the medical center. He supported legislation for a major, new VA medical facility on O‘ahu, which will help improve access to healthcare for veterans there.

The average wait time for new patients seeking a primary care appointment at the VA Medical Center in Honolulu has dropped from 145 days to 10 days, according to the VA.