And my problem with the regulation is it's the best being the enemy of the good because if the result is closed nursing homes and fewer beds, we haven't gained anything.

You're dipping into savings to pay the rent.

I urge this committee to focus on the impact that Medicare and Medicaid payment policy is having on veterans' access to post-acute care services.

So the problem wasn't the service, it was the time to get the service; is that correct?

Take note of what she just said. Twenty-five percent of the residents in Aroostook County today are over 65. That's extraordinary.

I don't think there's one in Washington County either.

I want to publicly thank the chair and co-chair of the committee, Jon Tester of Montana and Jerry Moran of Kansas.

The cheapest health intervention is the one that doesn't happen.

Will that access information include information about VA availabilities?

It would be nice to have WiFi in the CBOCs; just saying.

So it's a vicious circle. The workload goes up, the staff burns out and leaves, and then you've got another gap.

I think that's something we have to figure out how to waive or something.

My concern about that--and we'll talk to others about it--this is a rule that the--CMS is the federal agency...

And the VSOs have an important role to play here it seems to be. They're representatives that can act as that navigator buddy system for an individual veteran.

Your costs didn't go down? Your cost didn't go down----

Stabilize the workforce. This is directly tied to increased reimbursements, as you've heard, which need to be tied to inflation.

I want to thank all of you. This has been very informative.

I think Brunswick or Portland is halfway between Madawaska and New York City. People don't realize how tall Maine is.