No words on VA clinic contract

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An official at the Fargo Veterans Affairs Medical Center said there is no new information regarding a contract for a VA clinic in Dickinson following the expiration of the current contract.

The current contract with Great Plains Clinic, PC in Dickinson, expired Friday, and Jack Barrows, chief of voluntary service with the Fargo VA Medical Center, said Friday the agency is still working to obtain new a contract.

A VA spokesperson said last week there has been “some interest” in the contract, but could not elaborate further.

After GPC chose not to renew its contract with Veterans Affairs, two options were given to veterans who require care after that date, including being temporarily relocated to another VA clinic in places such as Bismarck, Fargo, Williston or Sturgis, S.D., or veterans may receive primary care through a private provider after receiving VA authorization.

Mark Grove, Great Plains Clinic administrator, declined comment Friday, but confirmed last week the clinic would not be honoring VA authorizations for care.

Leslie Ross, Stark/Dunn County veteran service officer, said after letters went out to veterans on how to access private-sector provider care, she’s been fielding questions from area veterans.

“It’s kind of confusing,” Ross said. “There’s obviously some issues that probably haven’t been addressed yet on how the private-sector care providers are going to provide new prescriptions or update old ones within the VA system, which they don’t have access to, and how all of that will work.”

Anyone with questions regarding VA care can call 1-800-410-9723, ext. 9-4590.

Tags: great plains clinic, news, local, va, veterans