Omaha VA center addition part of White House budget

The White House announced Monday a $125 billion budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs that includes $56 million for planning and design of a clinical addition to the Omaha VA Medical Center at 42nd and Center streets.

The budget looks to expand health care to a record-number of veterans, reduce the number of homeless veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new disability compensation claims, the VA said.

A year’s work During 2011, VA expects to treat 6.1 million patients, who will account for more than 800,000 hospitalizations and 83 million outpatient visits. The total includes 439,000 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This is a great day for veterans. We are delighted that the clinical addition can now become a reality,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor. “Community leaders worked hard in getting this on the National VA’s agenda.

“Our congressional delegation — led by Sen.(Ben) Nelson — delivered. The partnership between UNMC and the VA is critical to training our students, conducting veterans-related research and providing high quality care for veterans. UNMC is proud to have played a part in helping the community and the VA make the case for this wonderful project.”

The budget proposal provides the resources necessary to continue its aggressive pursuit of President Obama’s two over-arching goals for veterans, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki said.

“First, the requested budget will help transform the VA into a 21st century organization,” Shinseki said. “And second, it will ensure that we approach veterans’ care as a lifetime initiative, from the day they take their oaths until the day they are laid to rest.”