Pease AFB hospital could go to VA

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The Air Force appears willing to transfer the hospital at Pease Air Force base to the Veterans Administration, Sen. Warren Rudman says.

The word is good news to 23,000 military retirees and their families who are served by the hospital.

Rudman said the Air Force has agreed to hand the building over to the Veterans Administration, pending a commitment from the VA that it will run the hospital and pending the OK from the Office of Management and Budget.

“I understand the reasons for closing Pease,” Rudman said, “but if the Pentagon is going to place this burden of change on the seacoast, the least we can expect from them is full cooperation and acquiescence on important human issues like the Pease Hospital and care for our military retirees.”

Rudman said the Air Force also has promised to consider his request to extend a contract with the firm that provides the retiree services. The current contract expires at the end of next month.

The Air Force is expected to be out of Pease by early next year.