SENIOR SENATE FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 4

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR LUNDIN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SFP 4:  VETERAN'S HEALTH CARE.

EXISTING LAW REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND REQUIRES THE SECRETARY TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A SYSTEM OF ANNUAL PATIENT ENROLLMENT BASED ON EIGHT PRIORITY GROUPS.  IN JANUARY OF 2003, THE SECRETARY SUSPENDED NEW ENROLLMENT FOR VETERANS ASSIGNED TO PRIORITY GROUP 8.

THIS MEASURE WOULD REQUEST THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION RESTORING MEDICAL BENEFITS PACKAGE ELIGIBILITY FOR VETERANS IN PRIORITY GROUP 8.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SFP 4:  RELATING TO VETERAN'S HEALTH CARE

WHEREAS, IN 1996 CONGRESS PASSED LEGISLATION MAKING VETERANS ELIGIBLE FOR A MEDICAL BENEFITS PACKAGE THAT INCLUDED INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CARE AND PHARMACY BENEFITS; AND

WHEREAS, VETERANS ENROLLING IN THE MEDICAL BENEFITS PACKAGE ARE CLASSIFIED IN ENROLLMENT PRIORITY GROUPS, WITH PRIORITY GROUP I HAVING THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND PRIORITY GROUP 8 HAVING THE LOWEST PRIORITY; AND

WHEREAS, THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IS REQUIRED TO RESTRICT ENROLLMENT IN THE MEDICAL BENEFITS PROGRAM WHEN RESOURCES ARE INSUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE ALL ENROLLEES QUALITY HEALTH CARE; AND

WHEREAS, ON JANUARY 17, 2003, THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SUSPENDED NEW ENROLLMENT OF VETERANS ASSIGNED TO PRIORITY GROUP 8; AND

WHEREAS, VETERANS IN PRIORITY GROUP 8 INCLUDE MANY SENIORS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA AND WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD MEDICAL CARE OR ARE MENTALLY ILL OR HOMELESS AND UNAWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AS VETERANS; AND

WHEREAS, THE REPUBLICAN FEDERAL BUDGET FOR THE 2003-04 FISCAL YEAR WOULD EXPLODE THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT AND MAKE DEEP CUTS TO SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND VETERANS IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE NEARLY A TRILLION DOLLARS IN NEW TAX CUTS THAT WOULD OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICHEST AMERICANS; AND

WHEREAS, THE REPUBLICAN FEDERAL BUDGET WOULD CUT EACH CATEGORY OF VETERANS PROGRAMS PROVIDED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BY A TOTAL OF $15 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, COMPARED WITH THE LEVELS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN CURRENT LAW BENEFITS AND CURRENT LEVELS OF PURCHASING POWER FOR HEALTH CARE; AND

WHEREAS, THE REPUBLICAN FEDERAL BUDGET WOULD IMPOSE ACROSS-THE-BOARD CUTS OF 3.8 PERCENT IN MANDATORY SPENDING ON ENTITLEMENTS WHICH COMPRISE 93 PERCENT OF THE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, SUCH AS COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES, BURIAL BENEFITS, MEANS-TESTED PENSIONS FOR PERMANENTLY DISABLED LOW-INCOME VETERANS, AND EDUCATION BENEFITS LIKE THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL; AND

WHEREAS, FOR MANY VETERANS, THIS COULD MEAN ELIMINATING BURIAL BENEFITS AND REDUCING THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE INCREASES IN COMPENSATION PAYMENTS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES FOR THE NEXT SIX TO 10 YEARS AND COULD MEAN 168,000 FEWER VETERANS WITH HEALTH BENEFITS, 400,000 FEWER HOSPITAL BED DAYS OF CARE FOR VETERANS, OR 8,700 FEWER NURSES IN VETERANS AFFAIRS HOSPITALS; AND

WHEREAS, THESE CUTS WOULD ARRIVE RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME THAT MOST ANALYSTS PREDICT OUR AGING VETERANS WILL BECOME EVEN MORE DEPENDENT UPON OUR NATION'S VETERANS HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2003 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT MEDICAL BENEFITS PACKAGE ELIGIBILITY BE RESTORED FOR VETERANS IN PRIORITY GROUP 8; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

RN0316498

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