Alaska VA Healthcare System offers free transit services for veterans in the Mat-Su Valley

The Alaska Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System is now offering free transit services for veterans to medical appointments in the Mat-Su Valley. This shuttle service will assist veterans that experience difficulties attending their appointments due to a lack of access to transportation.

“We have quite a few veterans who miss appointments because of that,” Associate Director of VA Alaska Healthcare Jennifer Price said. “We can do the best we can to make sure that they get there no matter what.”

The implementation of this service was in response to veterans saying they need transportation assistance in the Valley, according to Katherine Hardy, Interim Associate Director Patient Care Services and Nurse Executive for VA Alaska Healthcare. Veterans were able to voice their concerns through public events, town halls and other outreach programs.

“There is good public transportation available, but sometimes it's expensive for taxis and ride shares,” Hardy said. “And this is an ask that they had that we were able to answer and support.”

This service is currently assisting veterans living in zip codes 99566-99694. The boundaries for this area are from North Church Road heading north to West Bogard Road/Seldon Road, east to the Glenn Highway, south to the Wasilla Highway and west to North Church Road.

“We have about 8000 veterans living in the Wasilla area that could potentially use this service,” Hardy said.

Veterans can call to schedule a ride with the Transportation Coordinator at 907-257-5494. Transit services should be scheduled two weeks ahead of VA-approved medical appointments. Veterans will receive a call after 2 p.m. on the day prior to their appointment for pickup verification. Veterans will be picked up 45 minutes to an hour before their appointment. Accommodations may be made on short notice, such as hospital discharges or last-minute appointments.

The transit vans are wheelchair compatible and can accommodate other disabilities as needed. A VA-recognized caregiver will be allowed to travel with veterans to their appointments. Service dogs recognized through the VA are also allowed on these services.

“We're trying to really open this up and make it very user friendly for our veterans that need the service,” Price said.

The Alaska VA Healthcare System would like to expand their transit area to reach more veterans, according to Price. The success of the current program in the Valley will determine if this area will expand in the future.

“We want to ensure that we're getting as many veterans to their appointments as possible,” Price said. “And this was a hope that we could make that happen.”

This service has been available for veterans in Anchorage and is frequently used according to Price. One of the shuttle vans has been moved from Anchorage to the Valley to help with this new program. Alaska VA Healthcare is working to replace that shuttle in Anchorage.

“This is one of the things that we can do at no cost, because we do take care of our veterans,” Hardy said. “They were willing to pay the ultimate cost for us, and this is the way that we can give back to them.”

The Alaska VA Healthcare System has worked hard to let veterans know about these services according to Samuel Hudson, Chief of Public Affairs and Congressional Affairs at Alaska VA Healthcare. They have utilized social media, email and flyers among other methods to get the word out about the new service.

“This is something that we were able to execute and do pretty rapidly, and we're proud of,” Hudson said. “We hope that every eligible veteran that's down there in the Valley that's within those areas, utilize this because that will allow us to expand.”

Alaska VA Healthcare is happy to listen to veterans and address the issues they have. They want to give back to veterans in Alaska.

“I am really excited anytime that veterans bring ideas to us that we are able to integrate into our system and be able to advance our services,” Hardy said. “As a vet myself, I really am trying to look out for my brothers and sisters. They led the path for me to follow.”