U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is demanding answers on the closure of the 20-bed acute inpatient unit for veterans with substance use disorders at Castle Point VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Dutchess County. Castle Point VAMC provides lifesaving care to thousands of veterans in the Hudson Valley; the abrupt closure of the medical unit is leaving at-risk veterans with nowhere to turn. Gillibrand is calling on the VA to reopen the unit while it conducts its 120-day review to reevaluate staffing needs, and to provide additional information about its decision to close the facility, as well as potential alternatives to closure. She is also urging the VA to ensure transparency in future decisions regarding the provision of health care at VA facilities across New York State.
“Castle Point VAMC provides care to over 7,000 veterans who have served our country, and the decision to abruptly close this acute inpatient unit will have devastating consequences for veterans seeking specialized substance abuse treatment,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am urging the VA to immediately re-open this critical medical unit to meet the acute needs of these veterans while it conducts its review and requesting that alternatives to closure be fully considered.”
“I am deeply disturbed by the abrupt, temporary closure of the E2 Unit at Castle Point VA Hospital. Most of us don’t know or can’t imagine the trauma our service men and women experience on a daily basis — which is why this unit is so vital to their well-being,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. “It isn’t just a facility; it’s a lifeline for our veterans between Albany and the Bronx, especially for those here in Dutchess County. I know firsthand that this unit saves lives, providing critical inpatient care and preparing veterans for rehabilitation. With so many already facing barriers to mental health support, this decision puts our heroes at even greater risk. I urge the VA to reverse this decision immediately so that our veterans can continue to receive the care they so deserve.”
“The closure of the E2 Unit at Castle Point VA Hospital is absolutely unacceptable. Worse yet is the closure was done without even letting veterans know it was happening,” said Adam Roche, Director of Dutchess County Office of Veteran Affairs. “I’ve witnessed firsthand the unbelievable care the nurses and doctors provide and how much they truly care about our veterans. The compassionate care this unit gives our Dutchess County veterans is simply not available elsewhere in the area. To yank this unit away is an injustice to those who have risked so much for our country. This decision must be reversed.”
“The closure of the E-2 ward could have devastating effects on the Veteran Community of the Hudson Valley,” said Alyssa Carrion, Director of Veterans Programs at Mental Health America of Dutchess County. “This inpatient ward serves the most vulnerable of the Veteran population, those who have hit rock bottom, those who are finally ready for treatment, and those who are actively suicidal and reaching out for help. Closing E-2 has left us in a very difficult situation. Where do we take a Veteran who is ready NOW for treatment when the ward is closed? The VA pushes the importance of community connection and makes a decision like this without providing any prior warning or guidance to their partners in the community who get the Vets through their doors. We owe these services to those who served our nation, and the VA has a responsibility to provide them.”
“The acute inpatient unit at Castle Point is a vital lifeline to our local veterans and it is unacceptable what is happening. This is one more barrier that may cause a veteran in need to say, ‘why bother’ and just give up,” said Thomas Bauer, Joseph P. Dwyer/Vet2Vet Program Supervisor at Mental Health Association in Orange County. “The VA needs to do right by our veterans and their families and fulfill their own mission to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors, and not just pass us off to some other provider.”
“As a fellow veteran and user of Hudson Valley services, I am deeply frustrated by the sudden 120-day closure of the acute inpatient unit at Castle Point VA Medical Center. Re-evaluating staffing should not come at the cost of disrupting critical care. Referring veterans elsewhere only adds unnecessary barriers for those already struggling to access help—help they have earned through their service and sacrifice,” said Gavin Walters, Facilitator of New York State Dwyer Coalition and Director of Greene & Ulster Counties Vet2Vet Programs at Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration. “This facility has been a lifeline for many, and its abrupt shutdown forces veterans to take extra steps just to be seen and heard. Any gap in service is a disservice to our community. While veterans wait, an alternative unit should have been provided. The lack of communication with both veterans and community partners is unacceptable. We deserve transparency and inclusion in decisions that directly impact our well-being. I urge the Department of Veterans Affairs to immediately address this issue. The question remains—how can the VA improve its communication and commitment to those it serves?”
The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is available here or below:
Dear Secretary Collins,
I write to express my concern regarding the recent closure of the 20-bed acute inpatient unit at Castle Point VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Dutchess County, New York. My office has been informed that this critical medical unit was temporarily closed on February 1st as the Castle Point VAMC “re-evaluate[s] staffing needs” for 120 days. However, the abrupt closure of the acute inpatient unit will have devastating consequences for those veterans seeking detoxification and substance abuse care. Castle Point provides care to over 7,000 veterans who have served our country with bravery and honor. Losing this dedicated medical unit for Hudson Valley veterans risks worse health outcomes for some of our most at-risk veterans in need of specialized substance abuse care. I urge the VA to immediately re-open this medical unit to meet the acute needs of these veterans while continuing to conduct its 120-day review at the Castle Point VAMC.
I am deeply concerned by the VA’s lack of communication and transparency regarding its decision to close the Castle Point VAMC’s acute inpatient unit. It is my understanding that the VA not only closed the medical unit without warning, but also failed to provide adequate guidance or support to the local community. While I recognize the need to evaluate the efficiency of its resources and the quality of its services, the VA should have undertaken this assessment while continuing to offer these important services to veterans in the Hudson Valley. Therefore, I request a written response by February 28, 2025, to address the following questions, concerns, and recommendations:
- Please provide a detailed explanation of the VA’s decision to temporary close the unit, as well as data on the usage rate of the Castle Point VAMC’s acute inpatient unit.
- Please provide details regarding your plan to distribute guidance and assistance to Hudson Valley veterans regarding how they can obtain comparable access to lifesaving care while the unit remains closed. Comprehensive information about alternative forms of care in the Hudson Valley through Community Care and other VA sites in New York State, as well as transportation logistics and travel pay reimbursement, should be shared with local veterans and their caregivers, municipal veteran service agencies, and veterans support and advocacy organizations.
- Please reopen the acute inpatient unit at the Castle Point VAMC while the evaluation of staffing needs is ongoing.
- Please provide the alternative options to closure being considered and your evaluation of those options, including the feasibility and advisability of adjusting the number of beds to meet the demonstrated need for medical detoxification and substance abuse care at the Castle Point VAMC.
- Please ensure that future decisions regarding changes to healthcare service provision at VA facilities in New York are communicated publicly with advance notice and allow for community input.
Sincerely,
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