Legion to hear veterans health-care concerns in Minnesota

The American Legion has always believed in the quality of care at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.

Legion leadership and representatives will visit the St. Cloud (Minn.) VA Medical Center Dec. 16-17 to discuss best practices, tour the rehab center and meet with the executive leadership team, patient managers and program coordinators.

For more than a decade, The American Legion has conducted System Worth Saving site visits across the nation at VA medical facilities to assess the quality and timeliness of veteran’s health care and to provide feedback from veterans on their level of care.

Wait times continue to soar while the VA Choice Program works out kinks and continues to expand eligibility. More than a year and a half after the scheduling scandals that broke in Phoenix and spread throughout the country, the Legion still stands strong behind the mantra that VA is a System Worth Saving.

“Despite past and present VA shortcomings, our dedication to veterans remains the same," said Verna Jones, executive director of the Legion's Washington, D.C., office. "Since the scandals broke gaining traction in a national spotlight, we have had boots on the ground advocating for veterans and their families. To date, The American Legion has conducted numerous site visits, Veterans Crisis Command Centers and town hall meetings in some of the areas hardest hit by the epidemic of VA mismanagement

Veterans and their family members are encouraged to attend the Legion's town hall meeting Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at Post 621, located at 1894 247th St., St. Augusta, Minn., 56301.