[jnm]

I am writing this on behalf of many vetrans that use the Vetranss Hospital in Walla Walla, WA. There are many vetrans that travel quite a ways to this Vmac for treatment. They are often sent to other hospitals here or to other Vmac's in Seattle, WA, or Portland Oregon.. These patients do not even have an after hours doctor to go to. They are told to go to the local hospitals after hours. They are then ultimately responsible for those bills, even after informing the local hospitals to bill the Vmac. This has happened to my husband and many other vetrans. The Walla Walla Vmac owns a tremendous section of land here. They have plenty of land to expand to be better able to take care of these vetrans that risked their lives in the military, to serve and protect our country. I feel that they deserve a lot better treatment than what they are getting here. They do not get reimbursed for these costs, unless they are able to pay these bils upfront within one year. Some of these vetrans live on very small pensions. Such as $624.00 for a senior citizen with a 40 % disability. Do you really think this is fair for them? They don't and neither do I. How Are they expected to pay for an ER visit that totals $4,000.00 on such a small pension? I know that there are a lot of vetrans that use this Vmac that feel the same way. My husband and I have talked with many, whom feel the same way. We feel that more should be done to protect and take care of these vetrans. I always thought that the military was supposed to protect the United States. So Please tell us why we spend so much time at WAR? KIlling off our troops or having them wounded for life, unable to even care for themselves. The United States cannot even protect our borders from all the illegal aliens that constantly cross into our country.