Arlen Specter: “I commend my distinguished colleague from West Virginia for this legislation. I support it enthusiastically. I also…”

“I commend my distinguished colleague from West Virginia for this legislation. I support it enthusiastically. I also commend our colleague from Vermont, Senator Jeffords, for the work which he has done in this field, as referred to by the Senator from West Virginia. This amendment would constitute a win-win-win situation. We frequently hear about win-win, but not too often do we hear about win-win-win. It is a three-time winner: First, for the veteran who would have an opportunity to have care at the veterans hospital of his choice when reimbursement is made by the Medicare funds; it would be a win for the Veterans' Administration, which is very short of money; and it would be a win for Medicare, because Medicare would get a reduced payment of 95 percent. Senator Rockefeller is ranking member on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, which I chair. We are enormously concerned about the low level of funding which has been proposed. We have a $17.3 billion budget which is totally insufficient. That has led us to look to other sources of funds. For example, the insurance premium payments, where a veteran has insurance which we are trying to get paid to the Veterans' Administration and to the hospital where he is treated: Here you have the anomalous situation where veterans are entitled to Medicare but they are not getting it, and they cannot go to a veterans hospital without paying for at least a portion of the medical care themselves in many cases.”