Citrus County veterans have long awaited an expanded Veterans Affairs outpatient facility, and construction is now underway. The new facility, expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028, will provide much-needed services to the county’s more than 20,000 veterans, many of whom currently travel to Gainesville or Tampa for specialized care.
The first VA clinic in Citrus County opened in 2000 in Inverness, but it was replaced in 2014 by a larger outpatient clinic on West Marc Knighton Court in Lecanto. However, the current facility still offers limited services and space. Congressman Gus Bilirakis, whose district was expanded to include Citrus County in 2023, has been working aggressively to secure funding for the new facility through the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, signed into law by President Biden in August 2022.
The new facility will address concerns about limited services, particularly for female veterans, and provide expanded health care for military servicemen and women who were injured or became ill through exposure to toxins such as Agent Orange and burn pits. The county ranks fourth in the state for the number of veterans, with many from the Vietnam War era.
The expanded outpatient facility is a significant development for Citrus County, and veterans are eagerly anticipating the additional services and support it will provide.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
