By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall spent Friday visiting with Fort Riley leaders about Irwin Army Community Hospital.
Marshall noted that he and his staff learned in December of 2024 that the Department of Defense was considering the closure of the hospital, "probably making it into an urgent care clinic." Since then they have been engaged with the Department of Defense to keep the hospital open.
"We expect the VA System to come in here next week. By opening up the hospital and facilities here to more veterans. There are some 17,000 veterans here in the service area. That would give IACH more numbers."The Senator added that VA will be at Fort Riley this next week to hopefully sign some final documents.
Marshall is hopeful that veterans can begin getting healthcare in March at Irwin Amy Community Hospital.
Senator Marshall’s visit comes after months of advocacy and coordination with the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), following reports that the hospital could be downgraded to an acute care clinic — threatening emergency, surgical, and maternity care options in the North Central Flint Hills Region.
During a Fort Riley visit last summer, DHA leadership emphasized their commitment to strengthening IACH’s future and keeping the hospital at full capacity.