Trends in Long-Term Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

2953
I th<strong>in</strong>k we can discuss a date, and he is prepared to come back and
cooperate cont<strong>in</strong>uously, but I th<strong>in</strong>k that each one of these appearances
before the television lights, with this publicity, is a very substantial
stra<strong>in</strong> on his health, and I th<strong>in</strong>k the committee should take that <strong>in</strong>to
account.
It is really not fair to say now you come, now you testify, you
have gone through a list of nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes. you have denied it, and
now we want you to keep com<strong>in</strong>g back until we can dig up someth<strong>in</strong>g
that may provide some basis for the rumormonger<strong>in</strong>g.
Mr. I-IALAxMANDARls. That is not true, counsel.
Senator Moss. You are mak<strong>in</strong>g a speech aga<strong>in</strong>, and, of course, besides
the time factor, we have not had the opportunity really to look
at the books vet, which is someth<strong>in</strong>cg we would like to do, and I am
will<strong>in</strong>g to try to accommodate I)r. Bergman to what is a convenient
date for him, and we would try not to deta<strong>in</strong> him too long. A half
a day maybe would be plenty.
Mr. LEwIN-. I th<strong>in</strong>k that could be worked out between us.
Senator Moss. Mr. Naftalis.
Mr. NAFTALIS. Mr. Chairman, I should po<strong>in</strong>t out on the record that
there are vast areas of questions of Dr. Bergman's activities, both
<strong>in</strong> connection with alleged political <strong>in</strong>fluence of Dr. Bergman, ownership
of nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes, questions of records, and books which have not
been supported <strong>in</strong> any detail today.
Indeed, I would suggest that we have heard a great deal of selfserv<strong>in</strong>g
statements from Dr. Bergman's lawyers.
The chairman has been terribly courteous <strong>in</strong> allow<strong>in</strong>g him to speak
on behalf of his client, as well as statements of a self-serv<strong>in</strong>g nature,
and very little question<strong>in</strong>g from anv of the other members of the
panel, Representative Koch, Ml. Halamandaris, Mr. Edie, or any
other members of the staff, and I would respectfully ask the chairman
to give some consideration by the further question<strong>in</strong>g today, <strong>in</strong> addition
to other questions at some future time.
We are sett<strong>in</strong>g a firm date, and direct<strong>in</strong>g the witness to appear, and
to be <strong>in</strong>terrogated on these matters, directly and po<strong>in</strong>tedly required
to answer-yes or no.
Senator Moss. Well, we will set it for the 4th of February, and Dr.
Bergrmall has <strong>in</strong>dicated he would be will<strong>in</strong>g to come.
We will attempt to be accommodat<strong>in</strong>g. My colleague, Mr. Koch,
might have a question or two here, s<strong>in</strong>ce he has come up this afternoon,
and he mav not be able to be back on the 4th of February.
Congress<strong>in</strong>an Kocir. I very much appreciate that, Senator. It is
possible by virtue of my new assignment to the Appropriations Subcommittee
I will not be here, so bear with me.
The first one relates to this, Dr. Bergman, there are different
degrees of <strong>in</strong>terest.
Bv that. I mean one can own real estate. one can be a licensee, one
can be a vendor, and one can operate a nurs<strong>in</strong>g home, and I wonder
whether y ou would agree to provide the committee with a list which
covers all of these aspects of ownership, vendor, supply<strong>in</strong>g nurs<strong>in</strong>g
homes with various services, licensee aspect, and operation of the
home <strong>in</strong> your name, and <strong>in</strong> the names of any of your blood relatives.