RAO Bulletin Update
15 April 2006
THIS BULLETIN UPDATE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES:
== Tricare User Fee [11] ------------------- (Amendment rejected)
== Tricare User Fee [12] ------------------- (S.2617 introduced)
== SBP DIC Offset [09] -------------------- (Still alive)
== Medicare Subvention [01] ------------- (HR 4992 introduced)
== GWOT Medal Update [03] ------------ (Eligibility expanded)
== Mobilized Reserve 5 APR 06 --------- (8,830 decrease)
== VA Medical Center Cuts --------------- (18 to be leased out)
== Pennsylvania Survivor Education Bill (Free dependent tuition)
== VA Regs Change Proposal ------------- (Claim process tweak)
== VA Compensation & Pensions [01] -- (HR 4843 increase proposal)
== Tricare Uniform Formulary [10] ------ (More tier 3 moves)
== VA Health Benefits Fund -------------- (Taxpayer donations)
== Bugles Across America ----------------- (Available for funerals)
== Military Records/DD-214 [01] -------- (Quicker access)
== VA COLA 2007 ------------------------- (S.2563 introduced)
== SBP SSA Offset [07] -------------------- (45% effective 1 Apr)
== Foreign Medical Program [01] -------- (Dental care clarification)
== Space A Travel Reduction [01] ------- (Pacific route elimination)
== Reebok Sneakers Alert ----------------- (Bonus gift dangerous)
== Veterans’ Preference [03] -------------- (Designer RIF)
== Military Savings Deposit Program ---- (10% interest)
== DeployMed ResearchLINK ------------ (Info on health research)
== DFAS myPay System [03] ------------- (Electronic 1099R )
== AFRH Gulfport [01] -------------------- (Options for future)
== TMOP [03] ------------------------------- (Underutilized)
== VA Cemeteries --------------------------- (Demand increase)
== Reserve GI Bill [02] --------------------- (Shortcomings)
== 109th Congress Senate ------------------ (Pending Vet Bills)
== 109th Congress House ------------------ (Pending Vet Bills)
TRICARE USER FEES UPDATE 11: Ignoring the intimidating props - boxes
of angry letters from thousands of military retirees - senior Defense
Department officials and military leaders appeared before a contentious
House subcommittee to make their case for hiking Tricare fees sharply
for under-65 retirees and their families. In the verbal sparring that
ensued, Pentagon leaders gave as good as they got. But no lawmaker took
the role of referee. All threw punches on behalf of retirees, and
treated with kid gloves a second panel of witnesses representing dozens of
pro-retiree military associations and veterans groups. The Pentagon’s
plan to boost out-of-pocket Tricare costs for 3 million beneficiaries, to
include a tripling of managed care enrollment fees for retired officers
and a doubling for senior enlisted retirees, seemed to shatter some
traditional alliances and form new ones. Republicans and Democrats
together questioned the realism of projected cost savings from raising
Tricare fees and the wisdom of doing so in wartime. The active duty four-star
officers in the room spoke in support of the increases. Retired
officers led the opposition. David Chu, undersecretary of defense, and
William Winkenwerder, the Pentagon’s health affairs chief, reminded the armed
services subcommittee on military personnel that, since 1995, Tricare
benefits and the beneficiary population have grown, program costs have
soared, yet Tricare fees have remained the same.
Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR) the ranking Democrat on the panel
questioned DoD hand-wringing over the widening disparity between Tricare fees
and private health insurance premiums. He noted there should be a
disparity because that’s part of what the government gives service personnel
for turning their life’s over to them 24 hours a day. He said, “…We're
going to pay for health care for our men and women in uniform, and
retirees. We're going to sustain the program. The question is how... and
right now there's not a lot of enthusiasm for the method you all have
proposed". Snyder asked if the firestorm over Tricare fees could have
been avoided if officials pushed for a more modest change, perhaps to
adjust retiree Tricare fees in the future by the percentage rise in
military retired pay each year.
Retired Navy Vice Admiral Norbert Ryan, Jr., testifying on behalf
of the Military Coalition, a consortium of service associations, called
the planned fees “disproportional and inappropriate. Chu countered by
saying another way to look at the increased fees is that for 11 years,
the beneficiary population has enjoyed a relief from indexing. Defense
officials estimate the higher fees will help save $11 billion by 2011
but only about one-third of that would come from the fee increases. The
bulk of the savings is based on the notion that many retirees and their
families would drop Tricare if beneficiary costs rose.
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) chastised Dr. David Chu, for statements that
"Congress has gone too far in adding benefits." In effect, Jones said,
the Pentagon is proposing to balance the budget on the backs of
beneficiaries. "It's not really your responsibility," Jones added. "It's our
responsibility in Congress to find the funds to pay for this care."
Former DoD Comptroller Dov S. Zakheim, testified that the
Administration is skirting FY2005 Defense Authorization Act (which shifted
responsibility for all TFL trust fund deposits to the Treasury Department)
by continuing to charge TFL fund deposits against the defense budget.
Zakheim argued that these deposits should not be counted, as a matter of
law or policy, against the defense budget. Zakheim also said he was
struck by the difference in the positions being taken by today's military
leaders and those of five years ago. Back then, he noted, the Joint
Chiefs urged Congress to increase retiree health benefits because broken
promises to retirees were hurting active duty retention. At this
hearing, all four Service Vice Chiefs of Staff supported charging retirees
higher fees.
On a 22-15 party-line vote, the House Budget committee rejected an
amendment by Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX) which would have blocked Pentagon
plans to double and triple Tricare premiums for working-age military
retirees. The bill now moves to the floor of the House. The budget
resolution is just a blueprint for spending in the fiscal year. The
Appropriations Committees have the final say of how the money is actually spent.
In the interim the Military Retirees' Health Care Protection Act
H.R.4949 has gained 19 cosponsors for a total of 138. This bill would in
effect prohibit the DoD from increasing the Tricare rates and fees
effective 31 DEC 05. Retirees are encouraged to write their Representatives
and express their feelings about the proposed changes. At
http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=8591236&type=CO can be
found a proposed letter, the current list of cosponsors, and the text of
the bill. [Source: Military Update Tom Philpott article 1 Apr & USDR
Action Alert 5 Apr 06 ++]
TRICARE USER FEES UPDATE 12: Although the Defense Department has
pledged to work with Congress on its plan for steep hikes in Tricare fees
for military retirees, a top DoD health official says the department has
full authority to jack up the enrollment fees for Tricare Prime and
raise pharmacy copayments for all Tricare users except active-duty
members. On the other hand, the Assistant Defense Secretary for Health Affairs
said the plan to establish a first-time-ever enrollment fee for Tricare
Standard would require a change in the law. On 14 MAR, the Military
Officers Association of America proposed a list of 16 options to make
Tricare more cost-effective. MOAA’s president, retired Navy Vice Adm. Norb
Ryan Jr., said that implementing only three or four of the cost-cutting
items would fully eliminate the need to hit military retirees with a
$11.2 billion fee increase over five years.
On 7 APR the "Military Retirees' Health Care Protection Act."
(S.2617) was introduced in the Senate. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ)
and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) introduced the bipartisan legislation to protect
military retirees and their families from DoD's proposed increase in
health care fees. S. 2617 contains many of the provisions contained in
H.R. 4949, which was introduced recently in the House by Representative
Chet Edwards (D-TX). Both the House and Senate are in recess for the
two week Easter break. Members of Congress will return to the Capitol on
April 24. Perhaps, after getting an earful from their veteran
constitutes, more in Congress will sign on as cosponsors to these two bills to
defeat DoD’s attempt to levy Tricare user fees and increase copays.
[Source: Armed Forces News 7 Apr 06 ++]
SBP DIC OFFSET UPDATE 09: The inclusion of amendment 3001 in the Senate
FY 2007 Budget Resolution overcame one hurdle in the quest to eliminate
the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset to the Survivor
Benefit Plan (SBP). The amendment provides for the budget authority
needed to enable survivors to collect both the SBP and DIC in full. The
amendment reads: “To provide funds ensuring Survivor Benefit Plan
annuities are not reduced by the amount of dependency and indemnity
compensation that military families receive, and to provide funds for "paid-up"
SBP, offset by closing abusive corporate tax loopholes.” The amount
provided is $95 million for the first year. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) for
sponsored this amendment, which reflects his bill S.185. Unless similar
budget headroom is included in the House Budget Resolution, which has
not yet passed, the status of the issue remains tenuous. Even if
authority is included in the final budget resolution, the elimination of the
offset must still be authorized in the FY 2007 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA). [Source: NMFA eNews 11 Apr 06]
VA MEDICARE SUBVENTION UPDATE 01: Under current law, Medicare-eligible
veterans are not allowed to use Medicare coverage at local VA
hospitals. Instead, they are forced to decide between receiving medical care at
a VA hospital without being able to use Medicare to help them make
their bill payments, or using Medicare at a non-VA hospital and losing the
personalized veterans’ care of a VA hospital. Rep. Sue Kelly (NY) 16
Mar 06 introduced HR 4992, the Veterans Medicare Assistance Act, that
would provide Medicare eligible veterans with Medicare Subvention. This
would give vets the right to use Medicare benefits to help pay their
bills at local VA hospitals. Kelly pointed out that veterans pay into
Medicare for most of their lives, yet the law prohibits them from using
Medicare benefits at a VA hospital later in life. Since VA hospitals
specialize in treating veterans’ needs, veterans should not be forced to
choose between cost and comfort. Veterans should be eligible for the
same Medicare benefits at a VA hospital that they would have at any other
hospital. [Source: USDR Action Alert 11 Apr 06 ++]
GWOT MEDAL UPDATE 03: The Navy has added the following designated
geographical locations for eligibility for the Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal: Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chad, Georgia, Hungary,
Kosovo (only specified GWOT operations not associated with operations
qualifying for the Kosovo Campaign Medal), Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
Turkey, Uganda, the Mediterranean Sea (when conducting boarding and
searching vessel operations), Colombia and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Initially
eligibility only extended to:
1. LAND AREAS: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Crete, Cyprus, Diego
Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan,
Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey
(East of 35 degrees east longitude), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates,
Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
2. OFFSHORE: Arabian Sea (north of 10 degrees north latitude and west
of 68 degrees east longitude), Bab el Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, Gulf
of Aqaba, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Suez, Mediterranean Sea (east of 28
degrees east longitude), Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Suez
Canal.
Vets must have served 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days in
the above areas. Proof of service can consist of travel orders, letters
of evaluation, or flight logs. Eligibility for the award meets the
Veteran of Foreign Wars criteria for membership. [Source: Armed Forces News
7 Apr 06 ++]
MOBILIZED RESERVE 5 APR 06: Army National Guard and Army Reserve on
active duty in support of the present partial mobilization is now
90,034. In addition the other services have mobilized 5,589 Navy Reserve;
7,840 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve; 6,725 Marine Corps
Reserve; and 407 Coast Guard Reserve. As of 5 APR this brings the total
National Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized to 110,595,
including both units and individual augmentees. This is a decrease of
8,830 from last month’s 8 MAR total mobilization announcement. At any
given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while
demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either
increase or decrease. A cumulative roster of all Reserve contingent personnel
can be found at www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2006/d20060405ngr.pdf for
those now mobilized. [Source: DoD News Release No. 198-06 5 Apr 06]
VA MEDICAL CENTER CUTS: VA’s stock of hospitals and clinics was built
up in the 1920s after World War I and again in the 1950s after World
War II, but few changes to the system have been made since then, despite
significant demographic changes among veterans. For example, dozens of
VA facilities still operate in the Northeast, but there are fewer in
the South and Southwest, even though those areas are now home to many
veterans. Medical technology also has affected the way treatment is
delivered to VA’s patients. Now, more treatment is delivered on an
outpatient basis than in the past. This year, VA expects to see 5.4 million
people of which only 600,000 are expected to require inpatient services.
That means VA doesn’t necessarily need a medical center in a location
where a clinic might suffice. Since replacing older obsolete facilities
is expensive and replacement at the same locations will not deal with
the changing demographics of veterans combined with a lack of government
funding to build new medical facilities on these properties, they are
turning 18 of their obsolete VAMC’s into veteran and non-veteran
independent, assisted living and geriatric care housing projects. Sometime
back in the 1990s, the VA decided to start a process of determining which
prime VA real estate locations could be leased out to housing
developers, supposedly, so that the VA could attain more funding for VA medical
use while making the transition. The first VA property to be leased
out is the Ft. Howard, Maryland (Perry Point) VAMC. The other 17 are
located at
- Big Spring, TX
- Boston, MA
- Brooklyn-Manhattan, NY
- Canandaiga, NY
- Gulfport, MS
- Lexington. KY
- Livermore, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Montgomery, AL
- Montrose/Castle Point, NY
- Muskogee, OK
- Poplar Bluff, MO
- St. Albans, NY
- Waco, TX
- Walla Walla, WA
- West Los Angeles, CA
- White City, OR
The VA Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) web site
www.va.gov/cares/ has information on and links to documented public
meetings, proposals, community input, plans, etc. for each VAMC listed. It
is the government’s version of some things that are relevant to the
issues surrounding these upcoming changes. Of concern to veterans is
whether CARES income will provide funds to enhance existing veterans
medical care capabilities or if it will be used as an excuse for Congress to
cut future VA funding. [Source: Magic City Morning Star article 27 Mar
06++]
PENNSYLVANIA SURVIVOR EDUCATION BILL: The children and spouses of
Pennsylvania National Guard members who die on active military duty would
receive free tuition at all state-owned colleges and universities under
legislation approved 29 MAR 06 by the state Senate. The legislation,
which passed 47-0, was sent to the House. The free tuition benefit would
cover eight semesters or four years, whichever is greater. The slain
Guardsman must have been a Pennsylvania resident and the family member
applying for tuition must still live in the state to qualify. Current law
extends a 50% tuition benefit to the children of a Guardsman who is
slain during state duty, but not federal duty. The legislation would
increase that benefit to 100%, extend it to spouses and include federal
duty. The spouse would be eligible for the benefit for up to 10 years after
the guardsman died, or until remarriage. [Source: The Philadelphia
Inquirer 30 Mar 06]
VA REGS CHANGE PROPOSAL: The Department of Veterans Affairs is
proposing a complete overhaul of its compensation and pension regulations,
hoping the rewrite will make it easier for people filing claims to
understand the process. The proposed new regulations would regroup provisions
to make it easier to find information about specific problems. For
example, one leadoff section would describe general provisions, a second
section would cover eligibility rules governing military service and a
third would explain the claims process, including what kind of evidence
is needed and how to appeal decisions. Additional sections would cover
service-connected disability pay, pensions for low-income veterans,
survivor benefits and burial benefits. One goal of the rewrite is to
redefine words and phrases used in benefits claims so they have the same
meaning under every part of the regulations. For example, “active military
service” would be used in place of the longer “active military, naval
and air service” that is now a definition in permanent law. Similarly,
the word “benefit” would replace the awkward phrase “payment, service,
commodity, function or status entitlement” in current regulations.
Public comment on the rewrite, which appeared in the 31 MAR Federal
Register, will be accepted until 30May, with plans to put the revised
regulations into effect 30 to 60 days later. [Source: Times staff writer Rick
Maze 4 Apr 06]
VA COMPENSATION & PENSIONS UPDATE 01: Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) recently
introduced legislation (H.R. 4843) that would increase the rates of
disability compensation for vets with service-connected disabilities and
also raise dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) payments for
survivors of certain veterans with service-related disabilities. The
measure, which presently has 17 cosponsors, would increase both forms of
payment effective 1 DEC 06. Reps. Steve Buyer (R-IN) and Lane Evans
(D-IL) chair and ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee,
endorsed the bill. [Source: FRA NewsBytes 7 Apr 06]
TRICARE UNIFORM FORMULARY UPDATE 10: On 30 MAR the DoD Beneficiary
Advisory Panel (BAP) met to review proposals to move certain medications
for overactive bladder, hypertension, and neuropathic pain from the $9
copayment category to the list of $22 “third tier” drugs. The BAP
concurred with the pharmacy panel’s recommendation to move Detrol, Oxytrol,
and Sanctura, used for treatment of overactive bladders, to the third
tier. Several other equally effective but less costly drugs would remain
available for the $9 copay. The beneficiary panel recommended a 120-day
implementation delay, rather than the recommended 60 days by the
pharmacy panel, to ensure notification of beneficiaries taking those drugs.
In a separate family of drugs the BAP concurred with moving Lexxel
and Tarka to the third tier over the objections of some panel members.
These are combination drugs used to treat high blood pressure. That
change would leave Lotrel as the only $9 combination drug for high blood
pressure. When a combination of drugs is needed for this purpose,
doctors usually prescribe the two pills separately until a patient’s dose is
properly regulated and then switch them to the combination drug, so
they only have to take one pill. Unfortunately, one of the component drugs
in Lotrel is not in the DoD formulary, so physicians will be
discouraged from prescribing it. The practical effect of the approved plan would
be to remove all three combination drugs from the formulary. The panel
also recommended moving Lyrica (for neuropathic pain) to the third
tier. Two similar drugs (Gabapentin and Gabitril) will remain on the
formulary. The panel’s recommendations will be submitted to Dr.
Winkenwerder, Director of the TRICARE Management Activity, for a final decision.
The changes are expected to be approved. [Source: MOAA Update 8 Apr 06
VA HEALTH BENEFITS FUND: Rep. Jo Ann Davis (D-VA) introduced the
Veterans Health Benefits Voluntary Option Act of 2006 (HR 5044) on 20 MAR 06.
Enactment of the bill would allow the Treasury of the United States to
establish an account to be known as the “Department of Veterans Affairs
Health Benefits Fund”. Once established it would allow taxpayers to
designate income tax overpayments to be transferred to pay for VA
healthcare benefits. Amounts of one dollar or more could be entered on their
income tax form to be transferred to the fund by the IRS vice being
forwarded to the taxpayer as a refund. [Source: TREA Leg Up 7 Apr 06]
BUGLES ACROSS AMERICA: At www.buglesacrossamerica.org can be found the
Bugles Across America organization. It is a non-profit network of
5,000 musician, drill team and color guard member volunteers who support
about 1,000 funerals a month throughout the United States. In addition
to playing “Taps” at veterans’ funerals they also play at other military
events, including Veterans Day and Memorial Day observances.
Participation in the organization is free and open to anyone able to play "Taps"
with dignity and willing to volunteer their time. Families or
organizations in need of such services should complete an online request form
at www.buglesacrossamerica.org/volunteer.php to locate a volunteer to
play taps. You will be required to indicate on what date a bugler is
needed, the state, city, and funeral home location where needed at plus
your contact information. At present about 1800 veterans die daily.
[Source: Military 14 Nov 05 ++]
MILITARY RECORDS/DD-214 UPDATE 01: All retirees and veterans need
copies of their Report of Separation (DD Form 214 or equivalent) available
and stored in a secure place known by their next of kin. The retained
documents should be either the original or government certified true
copies. If you do not have these they can be obtained from the National
Personnel Records Center (NPRC) using a Request Pertaining to Military
Records Standard Form 180 (Rev-2/02) which can be downloaded at
www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html.
The mailing address is listed on the form. Your family will need at
least three copies in the event of your demise to pursue their requests
for benefits.
To expedite the process NPRC has made it easier for military
veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members with
computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents through their
website vetrecs.archives.gov. The next of kin can be a surviving spouse
that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or
brother. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information
essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when
NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized.
The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on
these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing
time. Users will be guided through a four step process and then will
be required to print, sign and date the signature verification area of
their customized form. This is necessary because the Privacy Act of 1974
(5 U.S.C. 552a) requires that all requests for records and information
be submitted in writing and each request must be signed and dated by
the veteran or next of kin. If you don't have a printer, have a pen and
paper handy and NPRC will guide you through the process. Upon completion
the signature verification form must be mailed or faxed to NPRC for
processing within the first 20 days of entering the data, or the request
will be removed from their system. [Source: e-Florida News 0 Apr 06 ++]
VA COLA 2007: On 6 APR Senators Craig (R-ID) and Akaka (D-HI)
introduced the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006
(S.2562). The bill would increase the rates of compensation for veterans
with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and
indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
The percentage of increase would match the COLA payable under title II of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) increase scheduled for
1 DEC 06. The bill was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Those estimated to receive the increase to their compensation are 5
World War I veterans; 335,180 World War II veterans; 160,889 Korean
conflict veterans; 992,360 Vietnam era veterans; and 762,230 veterans of the
Persian Gulf war era. The COLA legislation will also benefit an
estimated 348,479 survivors. [Source: New Mexico e-Veterans News 12 Apr 06 ++]
SBP SSA OFFSET UPDATE 07: SBP annuitants who are not already receiving
45% of their deceased spouse’s SBP base amount will see their annuity
increase soon. The increase, which went into effect 1 APR, will appear
in annuitants’ May 06 deposit. The increase is the result of the 2005
NDAA provisions that phase out the SBP “widows tax” over 3 ½ years. As
written it will continue to raise the minimum SBP annuity for survivors
age 62 and older to 50% on 1 APR 07 and to 55% on 1 APR 08. [Source:
MOAA News Exchange 13 Apr 06 ++]
FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM UPDATE 01: The Foreign Medical Program (FMP) is
a healthcare benefits program for US veterans with VA-rated
service-connected conditions who are residing or traveling abroad (Philippines
excluded). Under FMP, VA assumes payment responsibility for certain
necessary medical services associated with the treatment of those
service-connected conditions. In a VA memorandum dated 18 MAY 04 it appeared the
VA’s Foreign Medial Program had been changed regarding dental care
guidance for Class 3 & 4 veterans residing overseas who are enrolled FMP.
Class 3 are veterans having a dental condition determined to be currently
aggravating a service connected medical condition. They are eligible
for dental care to resolve dental conditions having a direct and material
detrimental effect upon associated basic condition or disability. Class
4 are those veterans whose service connected disabilities have been
rated at 100% or, who are receiving 100% rate by reason of individual
unemployability. The memorandum directed a number of modifications to the
FMA policy manual one of which included a change that modified or
removed limitations on dental care for these veterans and extended
eligibility for any needed dental care including repeat care. This was in
error. Accordingly, Class 4 veterans remain ineligible for dental care and
future claim submissions will be denied.
Normally veterans who feel they are not receiving proper service
from the VA can refer to the Patient’s Advocacy Program provided at VA
medical facilities for assistance. The Foreign Medical Program currently
does not have a veteran’s advocate. In lieu of this the FMP program
itself takes on this responsibility. Veterans who want to contact an
advocate regarding anything related to the FMP program should email
hac.fmp@med.va.gov , call (303) 331-7590 or FAX (303) 331-7803.
Vets planning to work for an extended time or permanently reside
overseas should enroll in the FMP as soon as they have a permanent
foreign address. To enroll send your full name, SSN, VA claim number,
permanent mailing address and/or overseas residence address, and a copy of
the VA rating decision letter(s) to HAC, PO Box 65021, Denver CO
80206-9021. If you do not have a copy of the VA rating decision letter(s) you
may authorize FMP to obtain copies from your servicing VARO. After
eligibility is verified you should get a benefits authorization letter and
an FMP Handbook. The Handbook has detailed explanations of covered
benefits, advice on selecting overseas health-care providers, and where and
how to submit claims. Further info on FMP can be found at
www.va.gov/hac/aboutus/programs/fmp.asp or by sending an email to hac.fmp@med.va.gov
. With the exception of medical services received in Philippines, all
foreign provided services are under the jurisdiction our Foreign Medical
Program (FMP) Office in Denver, Colorado. In the Philippines, write to
or visit the VA Outpatient Clinic (358/00), 2201 Roxas Blvd., Pasay
City 1300, Republic of Philippines or FAX 011-632-838-4566 or send an
email to manlvaro.inqry@vba.va.gov. [Source: VA FMP Director ltr dtd 24
Mar 04 ++]
SPACE A TRAVEL REDUCTION UPDATE 01: Patriot Express is the
AMC-managed, military-chartered commercial air service for transporting DoD
customers to and from overseas locations. Members of the retiree community
also use the service for space available travel. According to the Air
Mobility Command’s Air Transportation Division the reengineering process
to significantly scale down Patriot Express is on track. Since the
1960s, Patriot Express or a similar program has provided regular passenger
service from the United States to 27 locations in the European Command,
Central Command and Pacific Command areas of operation. At one time,
the system handled more than 340,000 passengers a year with more than
two-thirds of the seats on the contracted aircraft filled by passengers on
permanent change-of-station orders. In DEC 01 AMC saw the need to
recapture declining passenger movement to avert substantial financial
losses. Numerous improvements were made in an effort to attract DOD
passengers back to its use. These included price reductions, free headphones,
meal upgrades and reconfigured aircraft that offer passengers more leg
room. In spite of these, DOD customers continued to book commercial
flights, leaving empty seats on Patriot Express flights.
With commercial flights the preferred mode of travel, AMC directed
reengineering of Patriot Express. As part of that process, all
routes—except for those into locations with no commercial airline service or
those with force protection considerations—would be phased out over a
three-year period. By fiscal 2008, the command will eliminate all but a
handful of Patriot Express missions. As part of the reengineering
process, the Defense Department approved the closure of AMC passenger gateways
at Los Angeles International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and all overseas
passenger reservation centers. Although the Seattle-Tacoma gateway
closed on 30 SEP 05, AMC is maintaining a limited Patriot Express route
supporting weekly missions to Japan, including Misawa and Yokota air
bases and Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station. Additionally, following the
Los Angeles and Seattle closures, a Pacific Command request was approved
to extend Patriot Express service from Seattle to Kadena AB, Japan. AMC
is continuing to monitor usage but initial duty passenger numbers are
not encouraging. Unless these increase significantly in the next few
months, operations cannot continue simply to support Space A travel.
Accordingly, Patriot Express reengineering will continue as planned with
the elimination of all Pacific routes on 30 SEP 06. [Source: Air Force
Retiree News Service 5 Apr 06]
REEBOK SNEAKERS ALERT: Stars and Stripes reports that a heart-shaped
charm bracelet given away with various styles of children's Reebok
sneakers and sold through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service was
recalled by the manufacturer due to high levels of lead. AAFES sold the
shoes with the free bracelet from May 04 until this MAR 06. Consumers
should immediately throw the bracelet away. For more information, contact
Reebok at 1(800) 994-6260, or log on to www.reebok.com. [Source:
Military.com Military Report 3 Apr 06]
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE UPDATE 03: At a hearing 30 MAR before the Senate
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of
Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of
Columbia senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) the ranking member and subcommittee
chairman George Voinovich (R-OH) voiced concern over loopholes in policies
giving veterans preference for federal jobs. By law, veterans are
given a leg up when competing in federal agencies for open jobs and for
keeping their jobs during reductions in force. The senators are concerned
that some agencies may be employing a type of “designer RIF,” where
managers target certain employees for layoffs outside the civil service’s
merit rules by forcing them to move locations, or to quit their jobs.
Richard Weidman, director of government relations for Vietnam Veterans
of America, told the panel that there are numerous incidents in which
veterans inappropriately lose their jobs through involuntary
repositioning, such as taking somebody who has family ties for four generations in
the state of Ohio and repositioning them to another state, knowing they
will not move. Government officials, however, said they do not think
the practice is a major problem. Dan Blair, deputy director of OPM, told
the subcommittee that he was not aware of any widespread use of
involuntary repositioning, and that such a move would likely be a prohibited
personnel practice. Sen. Akaka requested that a meeting of the Chief
Human Capital Officers Council be held to discuss the problem.
Sen. Akaka and Voinovich also asked how the Outstanding Scholar
program, a hiring authority that allows agencies to give students with a
3.5 grade point average an advantage in applying for jobs, affects
veterans’ preference. Weidman and representatives from the American Legion
and Disabled American Veterans expressed their strong dislike of the
program. The Merit Systems Protection Board, a quasi-judicial body that
handles federal workplace disputes, ruled in the fall of 2005 that
hiring an employee through the Outstanding Scholar program over a veteran
violates veterans’ preference rules. OPM, however, asked MSPB to
reconsider its ruling, and the board’s decision is pending. Blair said he
could not fully comment on the program because of the ongoing litigation,
but asked the senators to consider the numbers: for every one person
hired through the Outstanding Scholar program, 43 are hired as a result of
veterans’ preference. Despite criticism over this and the involuntary
repositioning, both senators commended the representation of veterans in
the government. Veterans make up about a quarter of the federal
workforce.
Sen. Voinovich offered a suggestion for increasing compliance with
veterans’ preference rules: include observance of veterans’ preference
as a category for ratings under the Defense and Homeland Security
departments’ new pay-for-performance systems. He feels vets should be
measured on performance and if they don’t meet the standard, they should get
docked. Voinovich and Akaka said they will write a letter to OPM
Director Linda Springer to follow up on their concerns. [Source:
GovExec.com Today 3 Apr 06]
MILITARY SAVINGS DEPOSIT PROGRAM: Don't confuse this with the Thrift
Savings Plan (TSP). which is available to everyone in the military. The
Savings Deposit Program is available only to those serving in
designated combat zones. Under this program military members deployed in combat
zones, qualified hazardous duty areas, or certain contingency
operations may deposit all or part of their unallotted pay into a DOD savings
account up to $10,000 during a single deployment. Interest accrues on
the account at an annual rate of 10% and compounds quarterly. Although
federal income earned in hazardous duty zones is tax-free, interest
accrued on earnings deposited into the SDP is taxable.
To be eligible service member must be receiving Hostile
Fire/Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP) and serving in a designated combat zone or in
direct support of a combat zone for more than 30 consecutive days or
for at least one day for each of three consecutive months. Designated SDP
areas remain designated until the Undersecretary of Defense withdraws
the designation or until the areas’ designation for Imminent Danger Pay
terminates, whichever is first. Effective dates are:
- 2 AUG 90: Members serving in the Persian Gulf Conflict to include the
Arabian Peninsula to include the Persian Gulf (as defined by the
Arabian Peninsula, the Strait of Hormuz, and that part of the Gulf of Oman
which lies north of 25 degrees north latitude and 057-30 degrees east
longitude), Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, United
Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
- 1 JAN 96: Members serving in Operation Joint Endeavor to include the
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Macedonia,
Hungary, and the air space thereof, or the waters of the Adriatic Sea of
North of 40 degrees North, plus forces operational control/tactical
control to Supreme Allied Commander, EUROPE for the purpose of executing
Operation Joint Endeavor.
- 1 JAN 97: Members serving in Operation Joint Guard.
- 20 JUN 98: Members serving in Operation Joint Forge to include the
total land area of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro,
Slovenia, Macedonia, Hungary, and the airspace thereof, or the waters of the
Adriatic Sea north of 40 degrees North.
- 1 NOV 01: Members serving in Operation Enduring Freedom to include
the total land area of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.
The waters of the red sea, the gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea (portion
north of 10 degrees North latitude and 68 degrees East longitude) or in
the airspace thereof.
- 1 FEB 03, members serving in Operation Enduring Freedom\Iraqi
Freedom to include the total land area of the Arabian Peninsula to include
the Persian Gulf (as defined by the Arabian Peninsula, the Strait of
Hormuz, and that part of the Gulf of Oman which lies north of 25 degrees
north latitude and 057-30 degrees east longitude), Bahrain, Iraq, Iran,
Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and
Yemen.
Service members can begin making deposits on their 31st
consecutive day in the designated area. Deposits may be discontinued at any time.
Eligibility to make deposits terminates on the date of departure from
theater. Account balances are usually paid out within 90 days after the
member leaves the eligible region. To receive funds, mail or fax a
written request to DFAS- Cleveland Center (DFAS-CL) ATTN: Code FMAA, 1240
East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44199-2055. The savings program is not
new. Deposit programs date back to the Civil War, but the program has
been in its current form since 1966. It provided Vietnam veterans a way
to earn extra money while on their Southeast Asia tours. It was
discontinued due to lack of participation in 1972, but was reinstated during
the Gulf War. Service members wishing to sign up for the savings
deposit program or seeking more information should visit their local finance
office. [Source: Your guide to US Military Apr 06]
DEPLOYMED RESEARCHLINK: The DeployMed ResearchLINK debuted 3 APR 06.
The site contains information that is very difficult to locate
elsewhere about what’s happening in research within DoD, VA and Health and
Human Services regarding the health aspects of military deployments. It
features government-funded scientific studies of medical issues
experienced by military members during their deployments. The site at
www.deploymentlink.osd.mil/deploymed/ will initially contain 1991 Gulf
War-related medical research that’s been compiled by government researchers.
Around June, additional medical information gathered from Operations
Enduring and Iraqi Freedom will be added. By clicking on the geographic
area of the site’s world map, users can see the major deployments to that
area, medical research topics associated to those deployments, and
reports/publications resulting from that research.
The link eventually will offer a cornucopia of medical research
drawn from military deployments inclusive of servicemembers’ exposure to
leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis, a curable parasitic infection caused by
sand fly bites, is brought on by one-celled creatures that enter the
human blood stream. It is usually evidenced by skin sores. The disease can
be successfully treated with antibiotics, and if left untreated the
infection eventually will heal on its own accord. U.S. servicemembers
during the Gulf War experienced about 32 cases of leishmaniasis and more
than 1,000 U.S. military members who’ve served in Afghanistan, Iraq and
other Middle Eastern theaters of operation have contracted it over the
past few years. The disease is much more common in Iraq than it is in
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. [Source: American Forces Press Service 31 MAR
06]
DFAS myPay SYSTEM UPDATE 03: All current myPay military retired users
who request or already have a myPay Personal Identification Number
(PIN) and access myPay are consenting to receive ONLY an electronic 1099R.
Information concerning myPay can be found on the Defense Finance and
Accounting Service (DFAS) homepage at https://mypay.dfas.mil. The consent
to receive an electronic 1099R (i.e. view and download our online) will
remain in effect each year unless an election is made to receive a hard
copy by mail. Retirees may opt out of this election electronically
through myPay or submit a written request to Defense Finance and Accounting
Service, U.S. Military Retirement Pay, P.O. Box 7130, London, KY
40742-7130. Electronic 1099R will be available yearly on myPay and will be
available for the entire year. The electronic 1099R will discontinue
upon the death of a retired member or when the retiree enters into a
non-pay or tax exempt status for an entire calendar year. Retirees and
annuitants with questions and concerns regarding incorrect tax information
can call the Cleveland Contact Center at 1(800) 321-1080 or write:
- For Retirees: Defense Finance and Accounting Service, U.S. Military
Retirement Pay, P.O. Box 7130 London, KY 40742-7130
- For Annuitants: Defense Finance and Accounting Service, U.S.
Military Annuitant Pay, P.O. Box 7131, London, KY 40742-7131
[Source: Fort Gordon Retiree E-Notes Apr 06]
AFRH GULFPORT UPDATE 01: The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in
Gulfport MS was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina last year and
many residents were relocated to the Washington, D.C, AFRH campus
(formerly the Soldiers & Airmen’s Home). During a House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs hearing,
Timothy Cox, chief operating officer of the AFRH, outlined five options for
the future of the Gulfport facility:
1. Renovate the existing structure: A seven-phase plan involves moving
all electrical and hydraulic systems off the first floor, enlarging
room size and eliminating structural problems that create barriers for
residents. The process would take 13 years and cost an estimated $589
million.
2. Tear down and construct new: The estimated cost is $383 million and
would take about two years.
The remaining three options involve aligning/combining the Gulfport and
DC facilities and not returning residents to Gulfport. These would use
the property for other purposes, reposition and relocate the homes as
non-profit entities, or sell the property. Congressional approval is
required to move ahead with any of the five proposals, which are outlined
in a special report that was recently sent to Congress. Reconstruction
of the Gulfport facility is a high priority of military community whose
fraternal organizations are tracking the issue with members of Congress
and others to ensure timely action on the Gulfport Home. FRA’s National
Executive Secretary Joe Barnes raised the issue of rebuilding the Home
during a recent meeting with Command SGTMAJ William Gainey, senior
enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor, whose congressional district includes
Gulfport, and Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott are also concerned
about the status of the facility and are urging DoD officials to expedite
the decision-making process. [Source: FRA Newsbytes 1 Apr 06]
VA CEMETERIES: In a speech given by Secretary Nicholson at the
National Press Club on 27 MAR he noted that in 2007, “Taps” will sound for
more than 107,000 veterans or approximately 300 a day. This is a sharp
increase from just two years ago. In response to this growing need, VA is
conducting one of the most ambitious expansions of national cemeteries
since the Civil War. Three new cemeteries will soon be added to the 122
existing cemeteries, and six more are in the planning stages. By 2009,
the capacity will have nearly doubled. Burial benefits for veterans
include a gravesite in any of our 122 national cemeteries with available
space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government
headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial
Certificate, at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for
Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national
cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed
remains. Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a
national cemetery include burial with the veteran, perpetual care, and the
spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed
on the veteran's headstone, at no cost to the family. [Source:
American Forces Press Service 29 MAR 06 ++]
TMOP UPDATE 03: Last year, only 6% of 6.6 million military
beneficiaries with prescriptions to fill used the Tricare Mail Order Program
(TMOP). By contrast, 51% had at least one prescription filled through
Tricare’s more costly retail network. That means that most beneficiaries pay
more than necessary for medicines. It also means the DoD pays many
millions of dollars more than it should for drugs. Every prescription filled
in Tricare retail outlets, which reached 50 million last year, costs
the government 30% to 40% more than mail order. In an effort to reverse
this trend the first-ever campaign by Tricare to increase mail order use
is being initiated.
It will begin with an effort to educate beneficiaries on the
convenience and cost-savings of prescriptions filled by mail. Beneficiaries
need to know that mail order users already save 66% on co-payments
because prescriptions filled by mail provide a 90-day supply versus 30 days
in the retail network. Second, the government saves on each
prescription not filled in the retail network. The reason is that drug stocks on
base and for mail order are purchased at federally negotiated price
discounts. A third factor to consider, is the convenience of mail order.
Generic drugs also lower costs. Tricare has a mandatory generic
substitution policy. Any prescription for a brand name drug must be filled by
generic medicine of identical ingredients and strength, if available.
Then, unless Congress intercedes, Tricare will restructure
pharmacy co-payments so mail order usage becomes more attractive, and retail
less so. Tricare officials hope to use the change in co-payments not
only to encourage more beneficiaries to use mail order but also generic
drugs. The plan would end the $3 co-payment on mail order generics. At
the same time, co-pay for the retail network would rise from $3 up to $5
for generic and from $9 up to $15 for brand name drugs. The company
Express-Scripts runs the TMOP. To reach it beneficiaries can email
TMOP.customer.relations@express-scripts.com; call (866) 363-8667, or
(866) 275-4732 from overseas; or write to Express Scripts Inc., P.O. Box
52150, Phoenix, AZ 85072. [Source: Honolulu Advertiser article by Tom
Philpott 27 Mar 06 ++]
RESERVE GI BILL UPDATE 02: Hearings held in the nation’s capital and in
Arkansas on March 15 and 22, respectively, offered contrasting
perspectives on a proposal to modernize educational benefits under the
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). The Partnership for Veterans Education, which is a
broad-based group of military, veterans and higher education
associations, is urging Congress to combine the reserve and active duty MGIB
programs. At present they are overseen by different committees under
different laws. The partnership believes that synchronizing benefits to the
length and type of service performed will better support military
recruiting, reenlistment, and readjustment objectives. Reserve MGIB benefit
value has fallen far behind its original relationship to active duty
benefits. Many Reservists say they really can’t use the benefit because
they deploy too much to be able to use it while serving, and their
eligibility under current law ends when they get out. Unfortunately, senior
DoD officials who testified before the full House Veterans Affairs
Committee on 15 MAR do not share those concerns. They told the Committee
they see no significant shortcomings in the Reserve GI Bill program.
Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR) noted the disconnect between DoD’s input and the
statements of National Guard and Reserve commanders at the same hearing.
Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) and Snyder were skeptical of
DoD’s argument that it would hurt retention to let Guard and Reserve
members use their benefits after leaving service.
A week later, Rep. John Boozman (R-AR), Chairman of the Economic
Opportunity Subcommittee held a field hearing in Rogers, Arkansas which
is in his home district. A panel of Army and Air National Guard Iraq
War veterans recommended starting Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
briefings before redeployment. Asked by Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD)
for their comments on a new program that provides increased benefits for
mobilized members, they told her they’d never heard of it. It’s
extremely disappointing that these returning veterans were unaware of new
benefits designed specifically for them. They can hardly use them if
they’re not being told about them. A second panel testified on problems in
administering MGIB benefits, including lengthy delays in processing
Reserve benefits. MOAA Deputy Director Bob Norton, USA (Ret) urged the
Subcommittee to work with the House Armed Services Committee to forge a
total force MGIB that scales benefits in proportion to service performed
and allows a post-service use by reservists who earn mobilization
upgrades to their MGIB benefits. Norton noted that failure to raise Reserve
benefits along with active duty benefits has cost Reservists to date
about $200 a month. Rather than the current $297 monthly maximum, they’d
have been eligible for $500 a month. As for barring use post-service
use, he noted that current law will make the earlier Guard witnesses
forfeit the $22,300 benefit they earned during mobilization. Norton’s
statement can be viewed on MOAA’s Web site at
http://moaaonline.org/ct/i1ziiuF1ezWz/ . [Source: MOAA Update 24 Mar
06]
109TH CONGRESS SENATE PENDING VET BILLS: The following veteran related
legislation is pending in the second session of the 109th Congress’
Senate. To be enacted most need a sufficient number of cosponsors to
bring them to the floor for a vote. Your congressional representatives
will not sign on as cosponsors unless they receive input from a sufficient
number of their voting constituents that the changes are desired. To
find out if you are affected by any of these bills refer to
http://thomas.loc.gov and/or http://www.govtrack.us which are
searchable by topic or bill number. If in doubt as to who your legislator is,
he/she can be found at www.congress.org/congressorg/home/. Let your
Senator’s office know what you want. This is an election year and they
want your vote:
- S.0013 To provide for population shifts and inflation, PTSD
treatment, full CRDP, seamless transition to vet status, and vet education in VA
funding
- S.0484 To allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health
insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for
TRICARE supplemental premiums.
- S.0614 to permit Medicare-eligible veterans to receive an out-patient
medication benefit, to provide that certain veterans who receive such
benefit are not otherwise eligible for medical care and services from
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
- S.0633 To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in
commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while serving in the
Armed Forces of the United States.
- S.0716 To enhance services provided by vet centers, to clarify and
improve the provision of bereavement counseling by the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
- S.0909 to expand eligibility for governmental markers for marked
graves of veterans at private cemeteries.
- S.0996 to improve the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
- S.1162 to repeal the 10-year limits on use of Montgomery GI Bill
educational assistance benefits, and for other purposes.
- S.1177 To improve mental health services at all facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
- S.1180 To reauthorize various programs servicing the needs of
homeless veterans for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, and for other purposes.
- S.1182 Veterans Health Care Act of 2005
- S.1190 To provide sufficient blind rehabilitation outpatient
specialists at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- S.1191 To establish a grant program to provide innovative
transportation options to veterans in remote rural areas.
- S.1252 to increase the amount of supplemental insurance available for
totally disabled veterans
- S.1271 To provide improved benefits for veterans who are former
prisoners of war. (Provisions of measure incorporated into S. 1235, as
amended, the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2005)
- S.1272 to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the
United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and
the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.
- S.1537 To provide for the establishment of Parkinson's Disease
Research Education and Clinical Centers in the Veterans Health Administration
of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Multiple Sclerosis Centers of
Excellence.
- S.1571 To establish a comprehensive program for testing and treatment
of veterans for the Hepatitis C virus.
- S.1751 to expand the State sentences for which burial in National
Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery are prohibited to include any
sentence of life imprisonment for a State capital crime.
- S.1947 to enhance adaptive housing assistance for disabled veterans.
- S.1990 To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach
activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
- S.1991 to establish a financial assistance program to facilitate the
provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran families
in permanent housing, and for other purposes.
- S.2014 to expand and enhance educational assistance for survivors and
dependents of veterans.
- S.2091 to provide for certain servicemembers to become eligible for
educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill.
- S.2147 To extend the period of time during which a veteran’s multiple
sclerosis is to be considered to have been incurred in, or aggravated
by, military service during a period of war.
- S.2351 to provide additional funding for mental health care for
veterans, and for other purposes.
- S.2358 To establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to
report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
- S.2361 to increase and index educational benefits for veterans under
the Montgomery GI bill to ensure adequate and equitable benefits for
active duty members and members of the selected Reserve, and to include
certain servicemembers previously excluded from such benefits.
- S.2415 To increase burial benefits for veterans, and for other
purposes.
- S.2416 To expand the scope of programs of education for which
accelerated payments of educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill
may be used, and for other purposes.
- S.2500 To enhance the counseling and readjustment services provided
by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
- S.2563 To increase, effective as of December 1, 2006, the rates of
compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the
rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of
certain disabled veterans.
- S.2617 To protect military retirees and their families from DoD's
proposed increase in health care fees. Refer to H.E. 4949
[Source: DAV Mid-Year Workshop & http://thomas.loc.gov Apr 06 ++]
109TH CONGRESS HOUSE PENDING VET LEGISLATION: The following veteran
related legislation is pending in the second session of the 109th
Congress’ House of Representatives. To be enacted most need a sufficient
number of cosponsors to bring them to the floor for a vote. Your
congressional representatives will not sign on as cosponsors unless they receive
input from a sufficient number of their voting constituents that the
changes are desired. To find out if you are affected by any of these
bills refer to http://thomas.loc.gov and/or http://www.govtrack.us which
are searchable by topic or bill number. If in doubt as to who your
legislator is, he/she can be found at www.congress.org/congressorg/home/.
Let your representative’s office know what you want. This is an
election year and they want your vote:
- H.R. 0023 To provide benefits to certain individuals who served in
the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service
and the Naval Transport Service) during WWII.
- H.R. 0076 To improve access to medical services for veterans seeking
treatment at Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics with
exceptionally long waiting periods.
- H.R. 0079 To establish the Medicare Eligible Military Retiree Health
Care Consensus Task Force.
- H.R. 0090 To establish a comprehensive program for testing and
treatment of veterans for the Hepatitis C virus
- H.R. 0202 To provide for identification of members of the Armed
Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for
health testing of such members, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 0303 To permit certain additional retired members of the Armed
Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both
disability compensation from the VA for their disability and either retired pay
by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special
Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law
with respect to such concurrent receipt. (Refer to S.558)
- H.R. 0322 To allow refunding the Part B premium paid by military
retirees.
- H.R. 0601 To provide for the eligibility of Indian tribal
organizations for grants for the establishment of veterans cemeteries on trust
lands.
- H.R. 0590 To provide for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct
a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of contracting for the
use of private memory care facilities for veterans with Alzheimer’s
Disease
- H.R. 0922 To improve treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder for
veterans of service in Afghanistan and Iraq and the war on terrorism.
- H.R. 0994 To allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay
health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for
TRICARE supplemental premiums.
- H.R. 1588 To allow a six-year extension of eligibility for
readjustment counseling services for Vietnam-era veterans.
- H.R. 2188 To authorize the placement in a national cemetery of
memorial markers for the purpose of commemorating servicemembers or other
persons whose remains are interred in an American Battle Monuments
Commission cemetery.
- H.R. 2959 To provide for the establishment of Parkinson’s Disease
Research Education and Clinical Centers in the Veterans Health
Administration of the VA (Provisions of this measure incorporated in Section 6 of
HR. 1220, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of
2005.)
- H.R. 2962 To revise the eligibility criteria for presumption of
service-connection of certain diseases and disabilities for veterans exposed
to ionizing radiation during military service, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 2963 To improve compensation benefits for veterans in certain
cases of impairment of vision involving both eyes.
- H.R. 3082 To require that 9% of procurement contracts entered into by
the VA be awarded to small business concerns owned by veterans, and for
other purposes.
- H.R. 3209 To add nasopharyngeal cancer to the statutorily prescribed
presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange during
military service in Vietnam.
- H.R. 3279 To reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
through 2009, at $50 million annually
- H.R. 3434 To establish a presumption of service connection for
certain veterans with Hepatitis C, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 3457 To provide for WWII veterans to be in the same priority
category for health care services from the Department of Veterans Affairs
as WWI veterans.
- H.R. 3579 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide
sufficient blind rehabilitation outpatient specialists at medical
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- H.R. 3665 To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide
adaptive housing assistance to disabled veterans residing temporarily in
housing owned by a family member and to make direct housing loans to
Native American veterans, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 3948 To eliminate the deductible and change the method of
determining the mileage reimbursement rate for the beneficiary travel program
administered by the VA 29 SEP 05
- H.R. 4025 To eliminate the deductible and change the method of
determining the mileage reimbursement rate under the beneficiary travel
program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes 7 OCT 05
- H.R. 4259 To establish the Veterans' Right to Know Commission
- H.R. 4843 To increase, effective as of December 1, 2006, the rates of
disability compensation for veterans with service-connected
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors
of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 4949 To prohibit increases in fees for military health care.
- H.R. 4983 To recognize the exemplary service of the National Guard in
Iraq and to direct the President to begin the redeployment of United
States military forces from Iraq, starting with National Guard units.
- H.R. 4992 To provide for Medicare reimbursement for health care
services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans in facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs
- H.R. 5037 To prohibit certain demonstrations at cemeteries under the
control of the National Cemetery Administration and at Arlington
National Cemetery, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 5044 To allow taxpayers to designate that income tax
overpayments be paid over for veterans' health benefits
[Source: DAV Mid-Year Workshop & http://thomas.loc.gov Apr 06 ++]
Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & VITA Baguio
City RP
PSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517
Tel: (760) 839-9003 or FAX 1(801) 760-2430; When in RP: (74) 442-7135
or FAX 1(801) 760-2430
Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net. When in Philippines raoemo@mozcom.com
Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html
AL/AMVETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/AD37
member
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