VET Supports Rep. Kanjorski

I was reading Gort42's blog and happen to run across this letter written about how Rep Kanjorski helped him by keeping the Wilkes Barre VA open.

Folks,Recently I read a negative comment with regard to the service quality of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center and Congressman Kanjorski.From the early 1990's I only used the VA for treatment of my Glaucoma. I think my VA doctor is outstanding and he is my choice as a care giver. In a personal effort to not overload the VA services, I try to use my Medicare in private care as often as possible.For several years I have been under treatment for arthritis by my private Rheumatologist. The first options were monthly shots that would ost me $1700. Not able to afford this monthly treatment, my private doctor arranged an intravenous treatment of Remicade given every 8 weeks and my total cost was $2.00. As of anuary, the pharmaceutical company increased my deductible from $2 to $300 and no explanation offered. A $300 deductible every 8 weeks was pretty tough so I asked the VA if hey could help me. After the VA doctor ran the appropriate tests, he asked me if Remicade as my first choice and I explained the problem. He suggested what he believed would be the est treatment (Enbriel) for my condition which is a weekly shot I administer myself. What ould have cost me $1,700/month now cost me $8.00 per month thanks to the VA. I have several friends who also use the VA and none of us have a complaint so for anyone to bad outh the treatment veterans receive at the Wilkes Barre VA is totally off the wall.I'm not lone in singing the praises of the VA, many benefit from it. Just a few short years ago, our ocal VA Medical Center was under attack and was in danger of being closed and moved lsewhere. Congressman Paul Kanjorski used his seniority in Congress to fight to keep the VAMC in Wilkes Barre just as he fought to keep the Tobyhanna Army Depot open which is now actually expanding. Twenty years ago, it was Congressman McDade's seniority that kept Tobyhanna from closing. For the people who scoff at Congressional seniority, all I can say is, you just don't get it!Without the Wilkes Barre VA, I would be living a life of excruciating and debilitating pain.Thank you Congressman Kanjorski and I'm sure I'm not the only veteran who appreciates having a VAMC in our back yard.

Wil Toole,
DupontUS Coast Guard veteran with 4 years of
active duty sea service.