Dive Brief:
- A VA hospital in Aurora, CO remains unfinished after a decade and is $1.7 billion over budget.
- The original plan was to replace the old facility that serves almost 400,000 veterans in Colorado and surrounding states. The project's initial budget was $328 million.
- In order to acquire additional funding to finish the hospital, the VA has suggested two options: a wide spending cut of 0.9% and to siphon funds from other VA construction projects. Congress is considering both options.
Dive Insight:
Mikd Coffman, a Colorado Congressman said: "We've got to get this hospital built. There's no question about that." Causes of the huge costs include a low initial estimate, poor planning and poor management of the construction by the VA.
The Army Corps of Engineers has been assigned to complete the project, which has a new estimated completion date is 2017—if additional funding is acquired.