A significant development for local veterans has emerged as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has signed a lease for a new outpatient clinic in Virginia Beach. Announced on December 19, the lease, valued at approximately $355.7 million, will establish a facility at the northeast corner of Northampton Boulevard and Premium Outlets Boulevard. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance access to healthcare for the growing veteran population in the Hampton Roads area.
U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats, expressed their enthusiasm regarding the lease agreement. In their joint statement, they highlighted the critical need for expanded healthcare services, stating, “The veteran population in the region continues to grow, and this facility will fill a critical gap by expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the veterans who have served our country.”
The 20-year lease encompasses 182,230 square feet of medical space and includes 1,250 parking spaces, according to the contract award document. The contract was awarded to Molasky Development, a company based in Nevada. This clinic was initially authorized in 2022 as part of the PACT Act, which aimed to expand VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to various toxins.
Despite the initial authorization, the project faced delays due to updated cost estimates and rent bids. As a result, government agencies sought reauthorization from four congressional committees earlier this year. The necessity for the lease highlights ongoing challenges within the VA, particularly concerning staffing and management.
In related discussions, Senators Kaine and Warner voiced their opposition to a plan proposed by former President Donald Trump‘s administration, which aimed to cut up to 35,000 VA positions at facilities nationwide. The VA had already reduced its workforce by approximately 30,000 positions this year through buyout offers and attrition, which the department claims has decreased bureaucracy and improved operational efficiency.
As part of ongoing reforms, the VA plans to reorganize the management structure of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). VA Secretary Doug Collins noted that the current leadership structure is fraught with redundancies that hinder decision-making processes and create confusion. “In other words, when everyone’s in charge of everything, no one’s in charge of anything,” Collins remarked in a recent announcement.
Staffing shortages have been an ongoing issue, particularly at the Hampton VA hospital. According to a report from the Office of the Inspector General, several facilities are struggling with inadequate staffing levels. For example, the recently opened North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake was not anticipated to be fully staffed initially. A VA spokesperson indicated that hiring would continue until the clinic reaches its target of 540 employees by January 2024, although it remains uncertain if that goal will be met.
The establishment of the new clinic is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the healthcare needs of veterans in the region, providing them with much-needed access to services and support.
