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July 24, 2001
ROCKEFELLER SAYS VETERANS HAVE EARNED A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT
- Chairman holds hearing to address funding shortages -
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, held a hearing today to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prescription drug program, including the burden placed on the system by the influx of veterans who have swamped the system seeking prescription drug benefits.
"People need access to prescription drugs, and this Committee must do everything in its power to provide resources and care to any veteran who decides to come to the VA health care system for assistance," Rockefeller said.
As in other health care systems, VA has seen an increase in the number of prescriptions overall and a shift toward the use of costlier drugs. In 1996, eligibility reform opened access to VA health care to certain categories of veterans previously excluded from the system. Many of these veterans have chosen VA health care in order to gain access to prescription drug benefits, resulting in surging expenditures for VA. To manage the financial burden, VA Secretary Anthony Principi has proposed increasing the prescription drug copayment from $2 to $7, and other cost containment strategies.
Last year, VA spent nearly $2 billion on pharmaceuticals, even while taking advantage of deep discounts from many drug companies. VA's cost of providing pharmacy services to veterans has more than doubled over the past 9 years.
"I am committed to addressing the challenges that face VA, and I will work with Secretary Principi to maintain health care benefits for our Nation's veterans. People should not have to choose between basic necessities and the medications they need to stay alive," Rockefeller said.
"For many veterans, raising their share of the cost for prescription drugs even a fraction can have dramatic effects," he added. "This problem we’re facing at VA clearly illustrates the need for a Medicare prescription drug benefit for all senior Americans."
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