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

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Dr. BERGMAN. I shall be glad to provide all that on my nurs<strong>in</strong>g
homes. If you tell me <strong>in</strong> others-
Congressman Komi. Listen to my question.
I would like to know whether your wife, or your sons, or your <strong>in</strong>laws,
those <strong>in</strong> direct concentricity of any of these <strong>in</strong>terests, are you <strong>in</strong>
accord on that?
Dr. BERGMAN. Right.
Congressman KocIi. Let me just add this question with respect to
that.
If you cannot tell us now, are there homes that are not mentioned <strong>in</strong>
these lists, <strong>in</strong> which you have such an <strong>in</strong>terest, or homes <strong>in</strong> this list,
<strong>in</strong> which you have one of these <strong>in</strong>terests. which you did not describe
when you first testified ?
Dr. BERGMAN. Congressman, no.
Congressman Kocn. If you wvill give us that list, I would
appreciate it.*
Dr. BERGMAN. I would be glad to.
Congressman Koci. NoWv, the second question I have, you have
made a statement concern<strong>in</strong>g what you th<strong>in</strong>k to have been adverse
publicity, and what you characterized as unfair, prejudicial attacks
upon you <strong>in</strong> advance of this hear<strong>in</strong>g by the media, et cetera, and among
the allegations that have been made, are that you attempted to obta<strong>in</strong>
political <strong>in</strong>fluence with respect to Vour nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes, <strong>in</strong> terms of
prevent<strong>in</strong>g an exam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>in</strong>to the ownership and the conditions.
You are aware of that allegation, are you not?
Dr. BERGMAN. Of the allegations, ves.
CoInressman KOCTI. That is what I am ask<strong>in</strong>g. You are aware that
the alle ations concern you, and the speaker of the assembly Mr.
Stanley Ste<strong>in</strong>gut, and the majority leader, Assemblyman Blumenthal.
You are aware of those allegations ?
Di. BERGMAN. Right.
Congressman Kocir. In fairness to them, and to yourself, would you
now tell us what conversations you had with either or both of those
gentlemen with respect to your nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes, and requests on your
part for any support by them <strong>in</strong> terms of your nurs<strong>in</strong>g home operations,
and give us the dates, as best you can recall them, and the sum
and substance of your conversations.
Dr. BERGMAN. Mr. Congressman, Senator, I am really grateful to
you for ask<strong>in</strong>g me this question.
Congressman Kocia. I would be grateful for the answer.
Dr. BERGMAN. I was very, very disturbed over such allegaitions. and
before I give you an answer specifically, I want to tell this committee,
Mr. Senator, to show how far-reach<strong>in</strong>g my political <strong>in</strong>fluence is or
was, is that I have a nurs<strong>in</strong>g home which was approved. I should say
a build<strong>in</strong>g for a nurs<strong>in</strong>g home, which was approved on April 28, 1966,
and with the approval of counsel, I would like to submit this <strong>in</strong> evidence,
April 28, 1966. Mr. Congressman, this nurs<strong>in</strong>g home wvas built,
almost 3 years ago, completed, furnished, equipped. approved bv all
city councils, approved by the department of hospitals, by the commissioner,
built, equipped, decorated, and the doors are still closed.
This <strong>in</strong> brief, I want to tell you to the extent, that is the Danube.
* 'See appendix 2, iteni 3, p. 2964.