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PHW THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 JAN 9 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Approval of an increase in the authorized level of Veterans Administration nursing home beds The 1975 budget decision provides for the takeover of the St. Albans Naval Hospital by the Veterans Adminis- tration and its operation as a long-term care facility. The VA operation of St. Albans is supported by the Department of Defense. VA plans to operate 300 nursing home beds and 120 intermediate care beds at St. Albans as well as a satel- lite outpatient clinic. Operation of St. Albans will enable VA to avoid almost $12 million of new construction and will provide needed long-term care beds in the New York area. The currently authorized nursing home bed ceiling does not permit the operation of beds at St. Albans, however. VA has therefore requested that the ceiling be increased from 8,000 to 10,000 beds. Your approval of this in- crease is required by law (38 U.S.C. 5001) I concur in the VA request and recommend that you authorize the VA operation of up to 10,000 nursing home beds. This will permit VA to take over St. Albans and allow flexibility for planning nursing beds in future budgets. Agree Disagree Roy L. Ash Director