Angus King

You're dipping into savings to pay the rent.

So awareness is a big part of the issue?

Always a bad place to be.

TAP is the Transition Assistance Program?

For the record, I totally agree with that statement.

I believe that we have leaders there that want to help us, they care.

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

Will that access information include information about VA availabilities?

One of the concerns--and I've heard this when I've met with their agencies, particularly in rural Maine, is an epidemic of loneliness.

I'm sorry nobody said we're not gonna return these phone calls, it just didn't happen.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Fifteen percent is the gap?

Shame on us if we're not ready for it because it's totally predictable.

It would help if we had a budget, not a continuing resolution.

The best news I've heard so far is the expansion of the home-based care.

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

What should we be attending to in the next round of VA and veterans' legislation?

We've really got to work on that because it would be awful to have somebody who's ready, wants a mission, wants to do it but they can't wait for nine months or a year.