Auburn (N.Y.) Community Hospital requested federal representatives look into why it didn't win a bid to continue operating an outpatient clinic for veterans in Auburn, according to The Citizen.
Four things to know:
1.The Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center recently awarded Virginia-based firm STG International a contract to operate the clinic, booting Auburn Community Hospital from its 20 years of management.
2. As a result, the hospital reached out to the offices of Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., requesting the contract be paused and reviewed.
3. In a previous letter to the editor published in The Citizen, the hospital's CEO and President Scott Berlucchi said ACH wants to continue operating the clinic. "We urge the [Veterans] Administration to rethink this decision, and take the time to ask our local veterans what they want," he wrote. He added that the hospital's bid included an investment for a new building to expand services and space.
4. While Mr. Schumer's office did not indicate if the senator would intervene in the award, Mr. Katko's office told The Citizen it "is working as a liaison between the hospital and the Department of Veteran's Affairs regarding the decision to establish a new Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Auburn. At the hospital's request, Rep. Katko has asked the VA to provide a written explanation as to how the decision to select an outside provider was made, as well as the criteria used in making this decision," according to the report.