Veterans Affairs call center to create 400 jobs in Las Vegas

When the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs opens its new call center in southeastern Las Vegas, some 400 jobs will be created.

The federal agency recently signed a 20-year lease valued at $22 million to occupy the former International Game Technology building at 1085 Palms Airport Drive. The slot machine maker vacated the space nearly two years ago to consolidate offices at 6355 S. Buffalo Drive in southwestern Las Vegas. The space had sat vacant since. 

The agency will occupy half of the two-story, 100,000-square-foot building in summer 2011.

The revamped space will house the federal agency's consolidated patient account center and offices. It's one of only seven regional Veterans Affairs centers being built nationwide.

Consolidated patient account centers are part of a congressionally ordered program to improve services for veterans by bringing billing, collections and other business activities together under one roof. The first facility debuted in 2006 in Asheville, N.C. An integrated, standardized approach produced higher revenues while lowering operating costs. The Las Vegas center will serve the western United States.

"We believe Las Vegas, Nevada, is the optimal choice for hosting the West Consolidated Patient Account Center in support of the continued expansion of the CPAC program," said Stephanie Mardon, deputy chief business officer for revenue operations. "The CPAC program has a proven track record in improving the revenue program within VHA. The West CPAC expansion will allow us to continue improving our business performance and ultimately, enhance the services provided to our nation's veterans." 

The center is part of Veterans Affairs' growing local presence that includes a regional hospital under construction at 6900 N. Pecos Road in North Las Vegas.

The projects provide a much-needed boost to Southern Nevada's sagging economy. Clark County had a 15 percent unemployment rate in August, with 142,000 people out of work, the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation said; more than 10,000 workers left the state to seek work elsewhere or became too discouraged to continue looking.

Contact reporter Tony Illia at 702-303-5699 or tonyillia@aol.com.