Hospital Meal Bills Nixed for Wounded

 

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A 1981 law dunning enlisted patients $8.10 a day for hospital meals appears headed for the scrap heap. Moreover, the government will refund payments made since Sept. 11, 2001. The prime sponsor of the legislation is Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, who learned that Marine Staff Sgt. Mill Murwin, who lost part of his foot in a grenade explosion in Iraq, was billed $243 for hospital food. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., introduced the Senate version, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., proposed it to be retroactive to 9/11/01. The original law was designed to prevent members from eating hospital food and keeping their $8.10 meal allowance. The change is an amendment to the $87 billion bill for reconstruction in Iraq, which passed the House and Senate Oct. 17. It will make permanent a temporary version that passed the House earlier.