THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER.

Senator Rockefeller expressed his deep frustration and disappointment that President Bush this afternoon vetoed legislation aimed at improving benefits and services to West Virginians enrolled in Medicare and TRICARE, the military HMO. The legislation would also delay a 10.6 percent cut to doctors that treat Medicare and TRICARE enrollees – the “doc fix.”

At approximately 6 p.m. this evening the U.S. Senate will vote to override the President’s veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. This legislation would improve the benefits and services offered under Medicare to the more than 368,000 West Virginians that are enrolled in the program.

At the same time, the President’s veto has enormous consequences for the more than 35,000 West Virginia military retirees, active duty men and women and their families that are enrolled in TRICARE. Traditionally, the Secretary of Defense sets provider reimbursements rates under TRICARE at the same level as those for Medicare providers.

A fact sheet on the bill that was vetoed is attached.

A statement from Senator Rockefeller follows:

“The President has let our seniors and military families down by his veto today, but Congress will have the last word. I don’t want to see any of the 368,000 West Virginians who rely on Medicare or 35,000 military families and retirees in our state get turned away from a doctor’s door. That’s just unacceptable to me, and I will vote to override the President’s veto this evening. It’s the right, moral, and responsible thing to do,” Rockefeller said.

“It’s absolutely disappointing to me that the President chose to put the interest of private insurers ahead of helping rural seniors or those who so bravely serve our country,” Rockefeller said. “At a time of increasing economic uncertainty it should be a unanimous and bipartisan goal to bring peace of mind to seniors and military families who are struggling to make ends meet – especially when it comes to health care. Congress will do what’s right by those enrolled in Medicare and TRICARE, even if the President won’t.”