Peconic Bay Medical Center Approved as New Member of Choice Program

Local Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, C – NY-1), Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, announced recently that the Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) based in Riverhead, has just been approved as a new member of the Choice Program under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“One of my top priorities in Congress is ensuring our veterans have access to the highest quality of healthcare,” Zeldin said. “Since the beginning of the year, I have been working closely with Peconic Bay Medical Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase access to care for veterans who live on Long Island’s East End.”

The Choice Program provides veterans, who are enrolled within the program, with an option to receive healthcare from non-VA facilities.

Two eligibility standards require that a veteran has been, or will be, waiting more than 30 days to receive healthcare at a VA medical facility; or the veteran lives more than 40 miles away from a VA medical care facility, or is faced with substantial travel burdens.

“Creating medical access and assisting with travel time for the Veterans on the East End is a benefit to our community,” Andrew Mitchell, President and CEO of Peconic Bay Medical Center, said. “We are excited and proud to be able to offer convenient healthcare access to our deserving Veterans.”

Additional information is available by phone at 1-866-606-8198, and online at http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apps/choice.

PBMC can also be reached directly at 631-548-6827.