Veterans Affairs has decided not to consolidate its four Boston area hospitals into one medical center. A recently completed two-year study convinced officials not to centralize the Boston area VA medical services. Instead, officials will look at other options, which include transferring some services from the VA’s Bedford location to its Brockton facility and merging services at either its Jamaica Plains or West Roxbury sites. The VA had planned to close numerous older hospitals, opting to create more community clinics as part of a 20-year plan to revamp the massive health care operation. The plan was not well received among many veterans.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.