VA Portland Health Care System serves more than 95,000 Veterans a year across most of Oregon and SW
11/21/2025
Next Tuesday, 11/25/25, VA Portland Health Care System is hosting a Blood Donation drive.
Donors receive a slice of pie and free PacMan socks! Everyone who participates is entered into a raffle to win a whole pie!
When: Tuesday, 11/25, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: VA Portland Health Care System Auditorium
Please contact Eva Veirs to sign up: Eva.Viers@va.gov, or to make an appointment, contact the Red Cross Appointments at 800-733-2767.
11/21/2025
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs extends caregiver support program eligibility for “legacy” Veterans, caregivers.
The extension means legacy participants, legacy applicants, and their family caregivers will remain eligible for PCAFC and will not experience a reduction in their monthly stipend based on a reassessment for an additional three years, with limited exceptions.
What is a "legacy" participant?
-Legacy Participants are Veterans or service members whose family caregivers were approved and designated by the VA as of September 30, 2020.
-Legacy Applicants are Veterans or service members who applied for the program before October 1, 2020, and were accepted into the program on or after that date.
For more information about VA’s Caregiver Program, visit www.caregiver.va.gov. Veterans and their family members and caregivers can also call the Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET or connect with their local Caregiver Support Program Team using the locator tool at https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/New_CSC_Page.asp.
11/21/2025
VA’s Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program supports relationship health. Contact your VA provider for assistance and information today.
Diabetes affects nearly 25% of Veterans. Nutrition plays a key role in the prevention and management of diabetes. Your VA dietitian can help with healthy eating ideas for blood sugar control.
Quitting is a process. Find out how you too can quit by visiting EveryTryCounts.gov
11/19/2025
VA's Clinical Contact Center / VA Health Connect has been experiencing problems since 0700 PST. Veterans in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho are currently unable to contact their local VA health care facility. Our team is working to quickly resolve this issue. We will send an update once the phone lines are operational.
11/19/2025
How is your relationship doing? We care about your relationship health. Checking in with your VA health care provider is a chance to talk about what’s working and what’s not.
VA offers private, supportive screening to help you stay safe and healthy—whatever your relationship looks like.
We know conquering to***co cravings can be tough, and stopping altogether might take a few tries. With VA treatment options like counseling and medication, you can have the support and backup you need to succeed. Ready to Quit Like a Pro?
Learn more at:
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
11/17/2025
We’re not your grandfather’s VA! Women Veterans may be surprised to learn about all VA has to offer. We’re continuously expanding our services, so we can provide you with the best care to fit your needs.
Managing diabetes is personal. VA is here to help you find what works best for you. From nutrition and exercise to medications and self-care, we support you every step of the way.
Learn ways to reduce the risk of diabetes or to adjust your diet to help your condition:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 84 million adults have the condition, and 9 out of 10 individuals with prediabetes don’t know they have it. Without weight loss and physical activity, it is estimated that 15-30% of those with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes wit...
11/14/2025
Who receives cost-free medical care through the VA?
Many Veterans qualify for co-payment exempt health care and/or medications based on one or more of the eligibility criteria:
• Receipt of a Purple Heart
• Receipt of the Medal of Honor
• Former Prisoner of War
• WWII Veterans (inpatient and outpatient care)
• 50% or more compensable VA service-connected disabilities (0-40% service-connected Veterans may take the copay test to determine medication copayment status)
• Care related to a VA-rated, service-connected disability
• Determined to be Catastrophically Disabled by a VA health care provider
• Income below VA’s applicable thresholds
• Special registry examinations offered by VA to evaluate possible health risks associated with military service
• Counseling and care for Military Sexual Trauma
• Compensation and pension examinations requested by the VBA. This is a physical exam to establish service-related illnesses or injuries as part of a determination of a Veteran’s entitlement to compensation and pension benefits
• Care that is part of a VA-approved research project
• Care for conditions related to active duty service at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987
• VA-recommended readjustment counseling and related mental health services
• Treatment for cancer of the head or neck that was caused by nose or throat radium treatments received while in the military
• Breast cancer screening based on toxic exposure
• Participation in individual or group smoking cessation or weight reduction services
• Care received at publicly announced VA initiatives, such as health fairs
• Care that is potentially related to service in a theater of combat operations after
• November 11, 1998; this benefit is effective for 10 years after the date of the Veteran’s most recent discharge from active duty
• Laboratory test or Electrocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs)
• Veterans identified as Indian or Urban Indian
The VA offers a wide range of services to support Veterans, including financial assistance options. Veterans who have copayments associated with VA health care are responsible to pay those obligations in a timely manner. If Veterans are unable to pay their VA copayments, VA can help with alternate payment arrangements including repayment plans, waivers or a compromise.
Payments made to VA by a private health insurance carrier may allow VA to offset part or all of a Veteran’s VA copayment if insurance information is on file and payable according to plan allowances.
Dual-Eligible Veterans who elect to use their TRICARE benefit for services are subject to TRICARE required cost shares, copayments, and deductibles. These costs cannot be waived by the VA. To find out more about TRICARE first party cost, visit www.tricare.mil/.
IMPORTANT: Once a debt becomes 120 days old, it is referred to the Department of Treasury for collection and VA can no longer accept payments or provide financial assistance.
Address
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239
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In November 1921 a hospital for Veterans was opened by the United States Public Health Service in Portland, Oregon.
On May 1, 1922 it was transferred from the Public Health Service to the United States Veterans’ Bureau.
The land for the Portland Campus was donated in 1926 by the regents of the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital after they received the entire Marquam Hill property from Mrs. C.S. Jackson.
The first 15 buildings were completed and dedicated in 1929.
In 1932 the New Administration building was built.
In 1935 building 4 was renovated.
13 temporary (Quonset huts) were added from 1946-48.
In 1948 the Veterans Administration launched a $3 million hospital addition on Marquam Hill in Sam Jackson Park for a seven-story 155 bed tuberculosis hospital. The tuberculosis Hospital, Building 25, was completed in 1949.
In 1955 the Oregon VA Hospitals went through modernization.
The Construction of the U.S. Army Hospital by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was completed in 1940.
The hospital was dedicated and named after General Joseph K. Barnes, MD, Surgeon General in 1941.
Barnes General Hospital opened and the first patient was admitted in 1941.
In 1945 Twenty-Three German Prisoner’s of War (POWs) were transferred to the Barnes General Hospital as a labor battalion.
In 1946 Barnes General Hospital was reduced from 1502 to 100 beds, and the staff was cut from 1056 to 126 staff members. The name was changed to the Vancouver Barracks Station Hospital, as ownership was transferred to the Veterans Administration; opening the doors on August 1, 1946 in Vancouver, Washington.
In 1957 the Vancouver Hospital was separated from the Portland VA Hospital
