Citizens in Texas and Pulaski County are alarmed over the recent news that the Defense Health Agency (DHA) is considering downgrading the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) to a clinic.
The GLWACH website notes that the current hospital was constructed in 1965 and has expanded exponentially over the years, providing inpatient and outpatient care to over 36,000 beneficiaries. The current six-story facility has been in operation for almost 60 years and provides services for soldiers in training, active-duty military and their families, retirees and non-prime patients as space allows. The current facility was set to be replaced by a new hospital with high-tech information technology and state-of-the-art medical equipment. After completion in the spring of 2025, the facilities are set to be turned over to the DHA.
However, reports that the DHA is considering downgrading the hospital has residents alarmed. Earlier in the year, residents in Texas and southern Pulaski County faced similar concerns when Fort Leonard Wood limited the south gate hours at night, reducing access to medical services on the installation. Residents find themselves again facing potential challenges of restricted access to emergency medical services with other emergency rooms being over an hour away for some. Residents say a reduction in medical services would be devastating to the installation, surrounding areas and especially for military retirees who chose to retire in the area because of the hospital.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Dec. 9, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley noted his concerns about the waste and abuse of $400 million in taxpayer dollars used to construct the new hospital. He stated that downgrading the newly built hospital would be an “insult to service members” and would include enormous financial burdens and hardships on the military and rural Missourians.
“I demand that you immediately end any planned actions to downgrade Fort Leonard Wood’s hospital into a clinic.” Hawley demanded a “full explanation as to why DHA did not inform Fort Leonard Wood and Congressional officials sooner about such a drastic decision.”
The full press release and letter from Sen. Hawley can be found here. https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-demands-defense-department-reverse-reported-downgrading-of-missouri-army-hospital/.