“Immediate access to quality health care is critical for the thousands of Montana veterans living in north-central Montana,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “The new clinic in Havre is a positive step in providing better access and will greatly benefit our service men and women, as well as the Havre community.”

          A Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) improves access to primary and specialty care for veterans in rural areas.  They are located in areas that will greatly reduce drive times for veterans receiving health care.  Services include comprehensive primary care, routine and urgent care procedures, and health promotion and education.  Montana currently has eleven veterans’ outpatient clinics, two Vet Centers, and the regional healthcare facility at Fort Harrison in Helena.  The state’s veterans’ healthcare system annually performs over 250,000 visits for more than 30,000 Montana veterans.

          “A VA clinic in Havre will access a new part of Montana’s Hi-Line that has always fallen between other VA clinics and caused veterans to travel,” said Joe Underkofler, Director, VA Montana Healthcare System.“

          The new CBOC in Havre will be available to serve approximately 2800 veterans living in the Blaine, Chouteau, Liberty, and Hill county area.  The clinic, which is expected to be up and running by mid-summer, will provide veterans services on a contract basis with local health care providers.