LoBiondo Delivers Petitions in Support of Additional Community-Based Healthcare for Area Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – Fulfilling his promise to South Jersey veterans, U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today delivered thousands of signed petitions from South Jersey residents in support of additional local healthcare services for area veterans to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Assistant Secretary Joan Mooney. LoBiondo accepted the petitions on July 9th at the Somers Point American Legion Post #352 during a rally for area veterans. LoBiondo previously signed a petition.
“South Jersey residents have made their strong support for our veterans crystal clear and I trust Assistant Secretary Mooney and the VA received that message today,” said LoBiondo. “These petitions are one tool in our kit as we continue to fight for more healthcare services locally for the men and women who have proudly and bravely served our nation. I hope the VA will now work closer with us to solve this critical issue.”
The petitions advocate for a “Veteran Health Services Pilot Program” to be executed at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point to provide radiation and dialysis treatments to area veterans. The petition to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki reads in part:
“We can all relate to having a very sick family member, dear friend, or brother or sister Veteran with a devastating health crisis. This would be an extraordinary opportunity for our veterans to get the highest quality dialysis or radiation, right in their own neighborhood with familiar surroundings with their family and friends close by their side.”
Since the petition drive began in early 2011, LoBiondo has been able to determine that dialysis treatment is currently available for local veterans who receive prior approval from the Wilmington VA Medical Center. In April, at LoBiondo’s request, the VA provided details of its existing blanket ordering agreements (BOAs) for dialysis service providers serving South Jersey veterans. The BOAs were approved by the VA in summer 2010 with private providers in South Jersey. Dialysis services are now available locally for enrolled veterans approved by the Wilmington VA Medical Center on a case by case basis. (Additional details available at www.house.gov/lobiondo/Veterans.shtml)
 
At the request of LoBiondo, VA Assistant Secretary Mooney met with the Congressman for approximately 30 minutes at his Capitol Hill office. Impressed by the number of petitions, she accepted them on behalf of the VA and told LoBiondo that she’d personally look into the options available to bring additional community-based healthcare services for area veterans to South Jersey.