The Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services commission is taking testimony about the future of the Livermore hospital. Ultimately the matter will be decided by James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary will decide where to locate any new skilled nursing facility and also what to do about the closure of the Livermore hospital. That decision is expected next year, said Kerri Childress, communications officer for Veterans Affairs in Palo Alto. Martin and other veterans groups have testified that there is no nursing facility in the Central Valley and that the drive through the Altamont Pass to Livermore, often during the crowded morning rush hour commute, is too long for many aging veterans. Martin said he worries health care for veterans would suffer if the nursing facility closed is moved to San Joaquin County.

“The VA is excellent for its health care,” he said. “But if you take the veterans out of the VA care and put them in private care, you get different service.” As for closing the Livermore hospital, Martin asks  'Why take anything away from veterans right now? 'We've got a war going on right now and we don't have enough facilities.'  Martin adds that although many local Amador County veterans use facilities located at the former Mather Air Force base in the Sacramento area, another large group of locals avail themselves of services at the Livermore facility. Martin states that veterans are just like every other patient- they do not want to change doctors or medical centers.

VA Spokesperson Childress said it's premature to worry about any such decision regarding the closure of the Livermore facility. A decision isn't expected until 2007 and there are three options available, including building a nursing home at the Livermore hospital site, upgrading the current Livermore site or building a new nursing home that would be co-located with an outpatient clinic somewhere in the Central Valley. And even after Nicholson makes his decision next year, nothing will get done until the nursing facility is funded, which will probably be 2012 at the earliest, she said.