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MINNESOTA COUNTY CONSIDERS CHARGING VETS
FOR A RIDE TO THE VA -- Mille Lacs County could
charge $10 a trip with a $40 cap per month.
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Veterans gather to fight health costs Print
By Dawn Slade
The sentiment was clear – veterans feel they’ve been slapped in the face
with the county’s change in its transportation policy that will require
veterans to pay a fee and find transportation to a pick-up/drop-off
location to get to a VA medical center.
Veterans met with two county commissioners, chairman Phil Peterson and
Roger Tellinghuisen, Veterans Service Office Director Ken Olson and
State Representative Sondra Erickson on Thursday, Aug. 2 at the
courthouse to discuss the policy that was adopted the end of June.
Currently, veterans are picked up and dropped off from their homes by
the Veterans Service Office (VSO) for transportation to/from medical
appointments at the Veterans Affairs medical centers in St. Cloud and
Minneapolis. There is no charge for the service.
However, the new policy, which is expected to start Sept. 1,
incorporates a $10 fee with a $40 monthly cap.
In addition, the VSO will now have four pick-up/drop-off sites located
in Isle, Onamia, Milaca and Princeton that veterans will need to get
transportation on their own.
Quartermaster Dick Dobson of the Princeton VFW Post 6843 spoke first.
“To come up with this policy and not even ask for input from the
veterans is a slap in the face,” Dobson said.
“My problem is that we have a lot of veterans who are low income and go
to the VA hospitals,” he stated. “Some are eligible for transportation
pay and some are not. When I go to St. Cloud, I get 60 cents.
“Where does this even justify that a veteran has to pay to go to a VA
hospital? This is set up to take care of veterans.”
Dobson pointed out one of the problems with a pick-up/drop-off location,
in particular in the winter, is a veteran in need of medical services is
now standing in the elements waiting for a vehicle, whether it’s the VSO
van or someone who is bringing or dropping off that veteran at one of
the four locations.
Peterson asked if it would work to have the VSO driver use a cell phone
to call the veterans’ contact for transportation when they are returning
from a VA.
“It’s a good start,” said veteran Randy Hatch, but later added, “We
don’t consider charging veterans at all palatable.”
Hatch addressed Erickson, “You all got money from the federal
government, the state did, and you need to get it to us.”
Veteran Gary Nelson spoke his peace as well. “I’m tired of being slapped
in the face. Why even think about charging the veterans 10 bucks?”
Veteran El Wilson, a member of the American Legion for 52 years and a
former VSO in Red Wing, addressed the budget for the VSO.
He questioned why the budget wasn’t increased when there was an apparent
need to do so.
County Coordinator Roxy Traxler defended the budget in saying that there
were unexpected expenses that came about after the budget was created.
Wilson noted that the 2007 budget for veteran transportation is $17,500,
but the county will likely exceed that amount, which equates to $33 per
year for each of the 539 veterans.
“I hope that the VSO is treated with the same respect and priority as
other departments,” Nelson commented.
After Peterson said he felt Olson was being treated fairly, Hatch said,
“You should, because he represents us. And there’s a huge amount of
veterans coming down the pike.”
Dobson said, “There’s been a [downward] slide for veterans. The only way
to stop that slide is to stop it at the local government. Pretty soon
we’ll have nothing out there.”
“There are things that are unacceptable,” Hatch said of the new policy
requirements, in particular the requirement to schedule a ride at least
three days in advance and veterans being required to have a scheduled
appointment with the VA.
When Traxler asked about the three day notice and what would satisfy
them, Gretchen Totzke spoke up and said, “Have you not ever known anyone
who needs medical attention that day?”
Totzke spoke of her father’s needs and that she and her family were able
to take care of him and get him the help he needed.
“Imagine if he had to wait three days, we would have had a different
outcome.
“I’m giving a voice to the person who doesn’t have family.”
Traxler explained the difficulty in scheduling and retaining drivers.
There was discussion about emergency needs and utilizing an ambulance.
It was also stated that the VA won’t take veterans in for emergency
purposes, and will instead direct them to an urgent care facility.
Hatch, however, said there are times that a veteran needs to see someone
at the VA that day, but it’s not an emergency situation.
Better communication
Veteran Dennis Johnson said the Milaca American Legion has invited Olson
to their meetings.
“We invite him and he doesn’t show up. He wants an invitation, but he’s
a veteran. He should show up.”
Peterson asked if the veterans were happy with the way things had been
with transportation, until this new policy.
“Prior to this, it seems like it was going fine,” Nelson replied.
“This county needs to take a good look at what veterans have done for
this country,” Dobson said. “We all were willing to serve this country.”
Hatch added, “You have to make it more accessible for veterans, we need
to work together with you on this. We’re telling you the need. I’m not
telling you how to suck the egg, but you’ve got to do it.”
Peterson asked some of the veterans to meet with the commissioners
again, as a smaller group, to try to come to a better understanding.
The meeting, which was held on Monday, resulted in a decision to have a
representative from each veteran organization meet with Olson once a
quarter.
The veteran representatives at the meeting will now go back to their
respective veteran organizations and further discuss the transportation
fee and the pick-up/drop-off locations with veterans.
The commissioners decided at their Tuesday meeting to table the policy
for now.
“I feel the county board was very open to our suggestions,” Dobson said.
“Everybody’s working together to resolve this.”
Another meeting with the commissioners and veterans is scheduled in
September.
Editor’s note: The Mille Lacs County Board on Aug. 7 voted to delay
implementation of the new veterans transportation policy that was set to
begin on Sept. 1. The delay will be to allow a modification of the
intended new policy, using input from veterans groups.
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Larry Scott --
