We're not helping veterans if we have--if beds disappear.

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

By the way, that's a problem across the board. We had an Armed Services Committee hearing this week about the inability of many small businesses to interact with the Pentagon.

Certainly that's important. You have what amounts to a nursing home at Togus.

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.

I'm so grateful for your office, Senator King.

Every day that you delay a nursing-home placement, the veteran is happier and the taxpayers are happier.

So that's compounded by additional regulations that increase cost but don't provide any additional funds; is that correct?

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.

I mean that can't work for very long.

So awareness is a big part of the issue?

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

If you can't--if you can't get enough people, you're not going to be able to meet the staffing ratios which could mean a loss of capacity rather than a gain for the veterans.

As the population ages.

I've got lots of notes.

What can we do to expand and support home health services which I think everybody, including veterans, would prefer and really ramp that up.

You're dipping into savings to pay the rent.

I like the idea. In other words, additional federal funds not generally but targeted toward workforce retention?