VETERANS’ HEALTH: Bill Would Expand Prescription Benefit

      Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, yesterday announced his sponsorship of a bill that would extend prescription drug benefits to all 1.3 million Medicare-eligible military retirees. Currently, 450,000 veterans have a drug benefit, the AP/Boston Globe reports. The benefit includes an $8 copayment for mail order prescriptions and a 20% copayment for retail pharmacy prescriptions. As of now, veterans who received their prescription drug benefits at military bases that closed are eligible for the benefit. Warner said the measure is "another step forward in the effort to keep commitments made to military retirees," adding, "The pharmacy benefit is the number one issue and priority of military retirees, since pharmacy needs are the biggest drain on the pensions of military retirees." Warner is incorporating the benefit increase in the Pentagon's FY 2001 budget request (Raum, 5/2).