PHOTO: Heinrich Visits VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic In Hobbs

HOBBS, N.M. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) visited the Hobbs VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic where he toured the facility and received a briefing on the services the clinic offers New Mexico veterans. Hobbs Community Based Outpatient Clinic is designed to bring primary care services to veterans in southeastern New Mexico.

"The Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Hobbs is helping to address the unique challenges veterans in a rural state like New Mexico face," said Sen. Heinrich. "Community Based Outpatient Clinics are critical to ensuring that our veterans can receive primary care and mental health services in a timely manner. Restoring confidence in the VA and improving access to quality of care for our veterans is one of my top priorities."

From reducing the disability claims backlog to voting to pass Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, Senator Heinrich has been advocating for timely and improved access to quality care for all our veterans, and to restore accountability at the VA. The Senator recently met with VA Secretary Robert McDonald to discuss ways to improve veteran care and address systemic problems at the VA. During the meeting, Senator Heinrich and the Secretary specifically discussed the importance of VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics in terms of providing access to top-notch health care to veterans in rural states like New Mexico.

Senator Heinrich worked with the VA to call for much needed improvements to chronic infrastructure problems in Northern New Mexico. In April, the Senator joined the Raton community for the grand opening of the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic less than a year after he received assurance from the VA that they would expedite upgrades and address infrastructure problems to ensure safety, confidentiality and timely access to care.