Healthcare was one of the hot topics at a Veterans Day roundtable with Senator Max Baucus in Great Falls.

Sen. Baucus introduced and helped pass a law to provide multiple medical screenings to returning troops, helping to treat health issues early on. But he says there is still progress to be made.

Sen. Baucus met with local veterans and a panel of veteran advocates on Wednesday, to talk about the most urgent concerns veterans are facing. Some of those concerns include under-funded facilities,a lack of care in rural areas and post traumatic stress disorder. Veterans say a lack of money and the stigma of the disorder make returning home especially hard for some men and women.

A health care reform bill recently passed through the House, but Baucus says there are still changes that need to be made, before it can pass through the Senate.

Sen. Baucus says, "Taxing Americans which I think is inappropriate. It's too much. And second, the bill itself does not really focus on ways to get healthcare cost under control the right way. The right way I mean improving quality, while at the same time, we're reducing costs."

Sen. Baucus says the healthcare reform will hopefully pass through the Senate by the end of the year. But if not, then at the very beginning of next year. He says he is confident it will be on President Obama's desk before the State of he Union Address in January.