The Department of Veterans Affairs may close as many as 1,165 facilities nationwide as part of plans to move more medical care to the private sector, according to an article on the Fierce Healthcare website.
The facilities include 430 vacant buildings and 735 that are underutilized that are costing the government $25 million a year, according to Associated Press reports.
The move to privatize care began in 2014 when it was revealed that some VA facilities used secret lists to cover up long wait times for care.
In response, Congress took action to allow veterans who faced long wait time for care or had to travel a long distance to receive care at a VA facility to seek private care, the article said.
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