VA clinics in Rice Lake and Hayward closed with plenty of notice

She said the company found it could not supply the services at the per capita rate and that it had been negotiating with the VA when the clinics closed. She said she had “hundreds of pages” to substantiate that claim, despite VA claims that the closing was abrupt.

The Veterans Administration clinic in Rice Lake has reopened at a new location. The reopening at the AmericInn Hotel on Pioneer Avenue follows the closing last week of VA clinics in Rice Lake and Hayward.

The new clinic is staffed by medical and support personnel from the Minneapolis VA and will operate on a temporary basis until a permanent clinic is established.

On Dec. 10, Corporate Health and Wellness, a private contractor, closed newly opened clinics serving veterans in Rice Lake and Hayward. Corporate Health owner Mary Cheek said then that the closings were over a contract dispute.

The clinics provided primary and preventative care and mental health services and served veterans from Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn counties. There were no emergency room services. About 17,000 veterans live in the region.

The first Rice Lake clinic shared a building at 2700 College Drive with Barron County Division of Probation and Parole.

Both Cheek and the VA say negotiations continue between the VA and Corporate Health to resolve their contract dispute. Corporate Health is based in Paris, Ky., which is a suburb of Lexington.

Patients who were scheduled for appointments in Rice Lake and Hayward were to be called Friday about the opening of the temporary clinic. The AmericInn is at 2906 Pioneer Ave. South. The VA is using guest rooms for examining rooms.

If veterans have questions, they should call 866-414-5058 Ext. 9 1100.
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So now they are operating out of a hotel?