By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – North Dakota Congressman Earl Pomeroy says he is working to change federal rules that are frustrating some veterans and their efforts to get medical care.
Pomeroy met in Bismarck with about two dozen representatives from various veterans groups in the state.
The new federal rules bar veterans outpatient clinics in Bismarck, Minot and Grafton from taking new patients. The change means that veterans who were not patients earlier at those satellite clinics must drive to the V-A center in Fargo to treatment and medicine. But the veterans say the change is causing problems and long waits for appointments and medication.
Morton County Veterans Service Officer Ron Otto says he tried to make an appointment at the V-A hospital for a World War Two vet.
"And the answer to that was, 'We'll put him on a waiting list.' I said, 'That's fine. Won't you explain the waiting list to me, the waiting list process. When will this happen? How many people are in front of him on the waiting list? Can you give us an idea or even an estimate of the amount of time that this World War two gentleman has to wait?' 'Well, I can't do that. He's simply on the list. Trust me, he's on the list.'"
Burleigh County Veterans Service Officer Donna Fitzer says new veterans are being put on a waiting list for appointments at the Fargo clinic -- and are told they won't be seen for at least three to six months.
"We continue to enroll new veterans into the system. And they want us to enroll new veterans. But what are we supposed to tell our veterans about when they can use the system? It is absolutely impossible and ridiculous."
Pomeroy says now is not the time for the government -- in his words -- ``to weasel out of commitments we made to veterans.'' He says the secretary of veterans affairs is promising to review its policy.