SPOKANE, Wash. — The federal budget cuts caused the Department of Veterans Affairs to let go of over 1,000 employees nationwide that held “non-mission critical positions.” Despite previous messaging saying this this would have no negative effects on veteran healthcare, one local veteran says it does.
Michael Dowgiewicz is a disabled Vietnam Veteran and has received care at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane for the past four and a half years. He says he realized operations had changed when he recently went to drop off an eyeglass prescription.
“When I came here, as I’ve done for prior years, to drop off a prescription, I was told I needed to get an appointment now because of the hiring freeze,” Dowgiewicz said. “I couldn’t get an appointment just to drop the prescription off until the middle of April.”
This means he wouldn’t have been able to get his new glasses until July.
“I’m trying to just deal with headaches from needing glasses. We’re going to go to a place outside now and just get my glasses made,” Dowgiewicz said.
Dowgiewicz says it hasn’t always been like this and he felt bad for the employees who said they were understaffed.
Another local disabled veteran called KXLY Tuesday saying he receives care at the Spokane Vet Center in the Valley. He said when he called the office, no one was there to answer and was instead routed over to Colorado. The people he spoke with were not aware of the programs locally.
The national call center in Colorado said this was normal if local employees are busy with other clients.
Dowgiewicz and his wife say its for the veterans and VA employees that they wanted to speak up.
“This is part of my desire to help, and by helping the employees, I believe I help the vets too just getting what they need,” he said.
They hope an official hears their story and works to find a solution.
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