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RAO Bulletin Update
15 January 2006

THIS BULLETIN UPDATE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES:

== AOL Advisory [05]----------------------- (5700 Removed from
directory)
== Cell Phone Use on Bases ---------------- (Prohibited while driving)
== NDAA Update [10] -----------------------(President as signed into
law)
== Tricare User Fee [02] ---------------------(Endorsed by Joint
Chiefs)
== Tricare User Fee [03] -------------------- (Savings questionable)
== SCSD [01] --------------------------------- (No longer applicable)
== GI Bill [10] -------------------------------- (Simplification
sought)
== VA Insurance Dividends 2006 ---------- (1.2 million vets eligible)
== Jet Lag Avoidance ------------------------ (Tips to reduce impact)
== Medicare Rates 2006 [03] --------------- (Not yet finalized)
== Reserve Reemployment Rights [02] --- (Implementation regs finalized)
== VA Disability Lump Sum --------------- (Under consideration)
== Thrift Savings Plan [03] ----------------- (Enrollment changes)
== Tricare Reserve Select [04] ------------- (Costly for users)
== Tricare Uniform Formulary [07] ------- (More drugs proposed)
== Medicare Part D [04] --------------------- (Cost exceed VA program)
== Tricare Prime Travel Impact ------------ (50% cost share)
== VA Hospice Care ------------------------- (Terminally ill care)
== Mobilized Reserve 11 JAN 06 ---------- (Decrease continues)
== In Memory Medal ------------------------- (H.R. 2370)
== AF Reservists Virtual Accounts -------- (Now available)
== Navy Reserve Bonus---------------------- ($15K available to some)
== Reserve Component Drill Pay 2006 ---- (Online calculator available)
== Identity Theft [07] ------------------------ (VA eligibles targeted)
== International Direct Deposit ------------- (Country list grows)
== Anheuser-Busch Hero Salute[ 01] ------- (Program extended)

AOL ADVISORY 05: Purging of AOL email addees from the Bulletin
directory continues. Since 15 DEC over 5700 have been removed and are no
longer being sent the Bulletin. All were sent a message advising them this
would happen if they did not respond. To date only 76 have been
reinstated due to responses that indicated they were able to receive the
Bulletin via AOL. A couple of hundred submitted new email addee to receive
the Bulletin at. The large number of non-responses confirms AOL's policy
which prohibits the majority of their customers from receiving email
from anyone they decide is not conforming to their standards. Because
the Bulletin does not meet their standards they are not allowing any
message traffic from our email addee to reach the majority of their
customers. Nor, in the majority of cases do they notify the sender or intended
recipient the email was blocked. Input from purged AOL users who were
able to receive the deletion notice (about 6%) confirms AOL will not
allow their customers any choice in what they want to receive. In
upcoming weeks AOL deletions will continue for the remaining 60% of the
directory that has not been purged. Those being blocked who cannot provide
an alternate addee to send to can read the latest Bulletin at
http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html .

Other recipients of the RAO Bulletin Updates are reminded that if
they no longer desire to receive the Bulletin all they need do is click
the UNSUBSCRIBE button at the end of this or any future Bulletin they
receive. No message is needed. Your email addee will be deleted
automatically from the directory and a confirmation email will be sent to you
noting this. All Bulletin recipients should have both the email addee
raoemo@sbcglobal.net & raoemo@mozcom.com entered into their address
book to reduce the possibility of it being blocked as spam. [Source:
Director, RAO Baguio 31 DEC 05]

CELL PHONE USE ON BASES: A new federal law prohibits using cell phones
while driving on Defense Department installations. The new regulation,
published in the Federal Register in April 2005, states that anyone
driving a motor vehicle on a DoD installation cannot use a cell phone
unless the vehicle is safely parked or the driver is using a hands-free
device. Each service is preparing its own regulations, which will be
implemented by base commanders. Many installations already have implemented
the new restrictions, and the rest will implement the rules on their
own schedule. There is no deadline for installations to implement but it
is expected most will do so this year. This regulation is a minimum
requirement, and installation commanders still have the authority to put
stricter rules in place. Each installation will determine the punishment
for violation of the rules. As the installations implement the
restrictions, they have a responsibility to notify the public by putting up
signs or putting notices in base newspapers. Many installations are
allowing a grace period in which motorists in violation of the rule will be
warned and not ticketed. The law comes in response to statistics citing
an increased number of cell phones as direct and indirect contributing
factors to traffic accidents. For example, in 2002, 611 accidents in
California were charged directly to cell phone usage. It's unclear
whether the new law will apply to bases overseas. [Source: NavNews 6 JAN 06
++]

NDAA UPDATE 10: On 7 JAN 06 President George Bush signed the FY 2006
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which became Public Law
109-163. The NDAA contains many provisions that benefit servicemembers and
families reported in previous updates have. Some additional ones which
will impact on the veteran/dependent community are:

* Moratorium on Commissary Privatization Studies through 31 DEC 08.
* Maximum Age for Enlistment increased from 35 to 42.
* Authorization for gray-area retirees to travel Space-A on same basis
as retirees receiving retired pay.
* Expansion of authority to cover dependent travel to visit
hospitalized wounded within the United States.
* Authorization of MGIB Benefits for mobilized members for Licensing
and Certification tests up to $2K.
* Authorization of credit for members mobilized in response to
declaration of federal emergencies in New York City and Arlington County, VA
immediately after 9/11.
* Authorization for Governors to order members to provide military
support, on reimbursable basis, to civilian law enforcement agency for
domestic counter-terrorism.
* Authorization of educational assistance for reserves supporting
contingency operations. Secretary of Veterans Affairs must prescribe form
and manner of eligible member's election among the multiple benefits.
Break in service allowed if individual continues to serve in the Selected
Reserve.
* Exemption for Guard/Reserve families from having to reapply for SSI
for up to 24 months after a previous period of eligibility (vs. normal
12 months) if the Guard/Reserve member was called to active duty.
* Authorization for veteran's preference for members of Selected
Reserve who are released from active duty.
* Requirement for service members to designate a person authorized to
direct disposition of their remains should they die in military status
to avoid challenges in family disputes.
* Continued TRICARE Prime coverage for children of members who die on
active duty. Coverage eligibility is until age 21, or 23 if enrolled in
higher education for deaths since 7 OCT 01.
* Increased SGLI coverage to $400,000, death gratuity to $100,000 for
all deaths in the line of duty, retroactive to 7 OCT 01, and $150,000
free SGLI coverage in combat zones. Spousal notification is required
if member elects less than maximum or changes beneficiary designation.
* Authorization for home of selection travel for dependents of deceased
member up to three years after death of member.
[Source: NCOA DC msg. 11 JAN 06]

TRICARE USER FEE UPDATE 01: The Joint Chiefs are joining the Defense
Department in seeking to more than triple annual enrollment fees for
officers in Tricare Prime and double the fees for enlisted retirees by
2008. DoD wants Congress to jack up fees for those under-65 officer
retirees from $240 a year for individual coverage to $750, and from $450
annually for family coverage to $1,500. The department wants to raise fees
for enlisted retirees under age 65 to $450 for individuals and $900 for
families. The deductible for Tricare Standard also would be raised, and
an annual enrollment fee would be imposed. Medicare-eligible retirees
also would take a hit, with copayments for retail generic drugs jumping
from $3 to $5 and for brand name drugs from $9 to $15 retail and $10 by
mail order. DoD claims it needs the money from the retirees to balance
the defense budget. [Source: Armed Forces News 6 JAN 06]

TRICARE USER FEE UPDATE 02: At least a few Pentagon analysts believe
the Bush administration will face a new credibility challenge if Tricare
officials tell Congress, as they have the Joint Chiefs, that plans to
raise Tricare fees and deductibles for retirees under age 65 and their
families will save $25 billion over nine years. Documents used during
talks on the planned fee increases for 3 million beneficiaries fuel
rising skepticism. They show savings of $31.6 billion, an average of $3.5
billion per year from fiscal 2007 through 2015. About 80% of those
savings, or $24.9 billion, is traced to the effect of higher Tricare fees.
The higher fees will generate $5.4 billion in added revenues through
2015. The remaining 78% of projected savings ( $19.5 billion) hinge on an
assumption that 600,000 beneficiaries, facing the higher fees, will
stop using Tricare and shift to employer-provided health plans. The
magnitude of the shift is said to be based on the experiences of civilian
HMOs when they've raised fees.

Some officials don't think Tricare users will behave similarly.
Even after Tricare Prime enrollment fees are tripled, as planned for
officer retirees, it is likely relatively few will leave Tricare because
most employer plans still will cost more. Officially, the planned fee
increases aren't expected to be unveiled until after the administration's
2007 budget request and the Quadrennial Defense Review report are sent
to Congress next month. DoD's 2005 report to Congress on Tricare shows
that the percentage of under-65 military retirees who use private
health insurance has slid from 46.9 percent in 2002 to 39.7 percent in 2004,
a shift that alarms Defense health officials. The report also shows
that a private sector employee's share of health costs rose by 50% from
fiscal 2000 through 2004 while the relative cost of Tricare for under-65
retirees fell by 8%, thanks to stagnant Tricare fees and deductibles.
The report presents bar charts showing out-of-pocket costs for under-65
retirees enrolled in Tricare Prime totaled $681 in fiscal 2004 compared
to $3,684 in health insurance premiums paid by civilian counterparts.

Defense officials believe they already have authority to raise
Tricare fees or deductibles and drug co-payments. Legislation might be
needed, however, to set an enrollment fee for retirees who use Tricare
Standard. The planned increase in pharmacy co-payments is expected to
generate $6.7 billion in savings through 2015. They would affect all
retirees and their families, including those 65 and older. Indeed, $3.7
billion of the projected cost savings would come from older beneficiaries.
The goal is to discourage them from using the retail network, a more
costly alternative than mail order or base pharmacies. The current $3
co-payment for generic drugs would rise to $5 in the retail network and
fees would be dropped if ordered by mail. The current $9 co-pay for brand-
name drugs would rise to $15 in the retail network and to $10 by mail.
A proposal still under discussion would curb pharmacy costs still more
by requiring retirees needing prescription refills to use mail order or
base pharmacies rather than Tricare retail outlets. The mandatory
mail-order policy for refills would save an additional $2.6 billion over
nine years.

Opponents of the Tricare fee increases hope Congress will step in
to stop them. Congressional staffers recently said the odds of that
happening narrow if the Joint Chiefs, as expected, VIGOROUSLY endorse the
fee increases as being critical for keeping health care costs under
control. "If the uniformed guys support it, " said a seasoned armed
services committee staff member, "I think it will be very difficult to turn.
" "My gut feeling, " said another staff member, ¡§is that there will be
expressions of concern and a careful assessment of what they plan to
do. But I would not say that any effort by the department to get hold of
these costs, by any means available, is unwarranted. " Military health
care is expected to reach $64 billion and account for 12% of DoD's
total budget by 2015.

The official plan to increase Tricare fees may not be released
until the President submits his budget for FY07 later this month or in
early February. Thus, what has been disclosed to date could change and may
include additional elements. One of these is a likely initiative to
include a proposal to increase the third tier $22 pharmacy copayment and
establish a new fourth tier of drugs for which the beneficiary would
have to pay the full cost. [Source: Stars and Stripes Tom Philpott
article 11 JAN 05 ++]

SCSD UPDATE 01: SCSD became effective 1 OCT 99 for qualified retirees
with VA disabilities rated 70% or more within 4 years of retirement. No
benefits are payable under the Special Compensation Severely Disabled
(SCSD) program for periods after 31 DEC 03 when it was replaced with the
more generous benefits under the Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay
(CRDP) program. Initially, members had to have 20 years of service for
the computation of retired pay. Those retired under disability
retirement provisions (i.e., chapter 61, title 10, United States Code) were
excluded from eligibility. The criteria were relaxed 1 OCT 01, to include
chapter 61 retirees so long as they had the required 20 years of
service. Effective 1 FEB 02, the criteria were again relaxed to include those
with disabilities rated 60% or more within 4 years of retirement.
37,000 members were eventually compensated. Members not compensated who
provide evidence of their qualifications may be retroactively compensated
for any months in which they met the requirements of law. Applications
for SCSD were neither required nor accepted. Qualified members were
identified and paid by DFAS using data in DoD and VA system files.

The rates applicable over various periods were as follows and
based on the disability rating compensated by the VA for the month of
entitlement:
1. Oct 1999: 60%(n/a); 70%($100); 80%($100); 90%($200); 100%($300)
2. Feb 2002: 60%($50); 70%($100); 80%($100); 90%($200); 100%($300)
3. Jan 2003: 60%($50); 70%($100); 80%($125); 90%($225); 100%($3325)
4. Program repealed in Jan. 2004
[Source: NCPOA Don Harribine Newsletter 2 JAN 05]

GI BILL UPDATE 10: The Partnership for Veterans' Education, a group of
more than 50 military and education organizations, is seeking to
simplify the GI Bill program and increase the benefits for reserve and
National Guard troops. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs
administers education benefits for active-duty members and former active-duty
veterans, and the Defense Department handles Reserve Component benefits.
This split of responsibility has created major differences in payments,
fees, time lengths of eligibility and the types of education and
training authorized. The partnership proposes a three-level plan consisting
of (1) active-duty members and former active-duty veterans, (2) drilling
reservists, and (3) reservists mobilized for at least 90 days. A panel
from DoD and the VA is studying the recommendations. [Source: Armed
Forces News 16 Dec 05]

VA INSURANCE DIVIDENDS IN 2006: The VA has announced more than 1.2
million veterans nationwide are in line to receive $414 million in annual
insurance dividends over the coming year. The dividend payments from VA
will be sent to an estimated 1,239,600 policyholders on the anniversary
date of their policies. Sent automatically through different payment
options, the specific dividend amount will vary based on the age of the
veteran, the type of insurance, and the length of time the policy has
been in force. Dividends are paid each year to veterans holding certain
government life insurance policies and who served between 1917 and
1956. The dividends are drawn from the earnings on the trust fund into
which veterans have paid insurance premiums over the years, and are linked
to returns on investments in U.S. government securities.

World War II veterans comprise the largest group receiving 2006
insurance dividend payments. One million veterans holding National
Service Life Insurance ("V") policies are expected to receive total payments
of $322.6 million. Another 45,000 World War II era veterans with
Veterans Reopened Insurance ("J", "JR" and "JS") policies will share a
dividend of $11.4 million. Over 186,000 Korean War era veterans who have
maintained Veterans Special Life Insurance ("RS" and "W") policies can
expect to receive dividends totaling $79.1 million. Dividends totaling
$1.2 million will be paid to 8,600 veterans holding U.S. Government Life
Insurance ("K") policies, which are held by veterans who served between
World War I and 1940.

VA administers a wide range of additional life insurance programs
that provide comprehensive coverage and security for veterans and their
families while not paying a direct annual dividend. They include
special life insurance for disabled veterans, home mortgage life insurance
coverage, and the widely utilized Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
(SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) programs. Veterans who
have questions about their policy may call the VA Insurance offices at
1(800) 669-8477; by e-mail to VAinsurance@vba.va.gov, or on the
Internet at www.insurance.va.gov. [Source: VA News release 8 DEC 05]

JET LAG AVOIDANCE: Jet lag is very common after long flights, and is
especially difficult for older adults and people with health problems.
It occurs because crossing multiple time zones tends to disrupt your
circadian rhythms, confusing your natural 24-hour body clock, which
regulates your waking and sleeping hours and keeps you aligned with your
environment. Symptoms of jet lag may include: fatigue; insomnia;
disorientation; swollen hands and feet; headaches; digestive problems; and
lightheadedness. The symptoms feel especially acute if you fly from west to
east, because it is more difficult for your body to adjust to losing
time when you journey east than to gaining time when you fly from east to
west. You can avoid jet lag altogether by following these 10 simple
steps

1. Adjust your bedtime by a hour a day, a few days before your trip.
Change your sleep pattern to match the schedule you will keep at your
destination. This will help you avoid jet lag during your trip.
2. Resetting your watch at the beginning of your flight may help you
adjust more quickly to the time zone you will be visiting.
3. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your flight. The air
on planes is extremely dry, and some experts believe that dehydration
is a leading cause of jet lag. Virtually everyone agrees that
dehydration can make jet lag worse.
4. Avoid drinking alcohol or anything with caffeine during your
flight. (That includes many soft drinks as well as coffee or tea.) Both
alcohol and caffeine increase dehydration.
5. Sleep on the plane if it is nighttime at your destination. Use
earplugs, headphones, eye masks or other sleep aids to help block out noise
and light, and a travel pillow to make yourself more comfortable so you
can sleep.
6. Stay awake during your flight if it is daytime at your destination.
Read, talk with other passengers, watch the movie, or walk the aisles
to avoid sleeping at the wrong time.
7. Exercise as much as you can on the flight, but review the two
preceding tips. If you need to sleep to match nighttime at your destination,
do that. Many airlines include instructions for in-flight exercises on
a card or in the airline 's magazine; check the seat pocket in front of
you. Try these in-flight exercises:
- Stretch your back, arms and leg muscles
- Walk up and down the aisle when the seat belt sign is turned
off
- Squeeze a rubber ball or a pair of socks to stimulate good
circulation in your hands and arms; alternate hands.
- While sitting in your seat, lift one knee and flex your foot
for the count of 10; repeat with the other leg
8. Eat lightly but strategically. Remember that high-protein meals are
likely to keep you awake, foods high in carbohydrates promote sleep,
and fatty foods may make you feel sluggish.
9. Take supplements. Some people claim that melatonin, a natural
hormone produced by our bodies, will cure jet lag by promoting sleep. Others
swear by a homeopathic product called "No Jet Lag". Melatonin can be
purchased online or at most health food stores. No Jet Lag is available
online and at many retail outlets that sell travel supplies.
10. Relax on the first day at your destination. If you have the luxury
of arriving at your destination a day or two before you have to engage
in important activities that may require a lot of energy or sharp
intellectual focus. Give yourself a break and let your body adjust to the
time change a little more gradually.
[Source: About Senior Living article 21 DEC 05
http://seniorliving.about.com]

MEDICARE RATES 2006 UPDATE 03: The Senate passed its budget
reconciliation bill (S. 1932) late in 2005, which included language to repeal the
4.4% cut in Medicare reimbursement rates slated to take effect on 1 JAN
06 and freeze Medicare and TRICARE reimbursement rates at 2005 levels.
It also included some some last minute changes in unrelated parts of
that bill. Before the bill could be sent to the White House, it required
additional approval from the House because of the changes.
Unfortunately, the House had already recessed for the year, so the measure could
not be passed before the 1 January deadline. As a result, Medicare was
required by law to institute the 4.4% reduction in reimbursement rates.

When the House reconvenes at the end of January, lawmakers will
consider the Senate measure. Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has
tentatively scheduled a House vote for 1 FEB. While a close vote is predicted,
the House is expected to pass the measure. Once approved and signed into
law, Medicare will automatically reset reimbursement rates effective 1
JAN. Medicare then will automatically reprocess all claims filed since
the first of the year, and reimburse each provider accordingly.
However, Medicare has acknowledged that it could take until July before all
the claims have been reprocessed. Doctors who choose to stop seeing
Medicare beneficiaries because of the temporary cut will be given a 45-day
reenrollment period to rejoin the program. Tricare officials announced
that Tricare will continue to pay claims at the 2005 rate on the
assumption that the legislation will be passed soon, as expected. [Source:
FRA Newsbytes 13 Jan 06 ++]

RESERVE REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS UPDATE 02: More than a decade after the
passage of a law designed to protect the employment rights of military
service members, the Labor Department has finalized the first-ever set of
regulations addressing its implementation. The 1994 Uniformed Services
Employment and Re-employment Act (USSERA) builds on the Veterans'
Re-employment Rights law passed in the 1940s by barring discrimination
against military members and veterans, and by establishing re-employment
rights for those who want to return to the jobs they held prior to
serving. Written by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, the rules
are intended to explain and clarify the 1994 law. The nearly 70-page
document was published in the Federal Register and will take effect on 18
JAN 06. The regulations come at a time when the mobilization of
National Guard and Reserve service members is the largest since World War II,
with a total of 529,310 called to duty since the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks.

Complaints of USERRA violations are correspondingly on the rise
since 2002, though there was a dip in fiscal 2005. According to a Labor
spokesman, a lack of awareness and understanding has been the biggest
cause of USERRA complaints. The new regulations provide comprehensive
guidance on USERRA, which works to preserve the seniority, promotion,
health care, pension and other benefits of citizen soldiers when they
return home to the jobs they left to serve the country. Publication of
regulations was mandated in the original USERRA law, but Labor did not
complete a draft until 20 SEP 04. It yielded 80 comments from a
variety of sources. A report published last year by the American Bar
Association was critical of
USERRA enforcement efforts. According to the report the Veterans'
Employment and Training Service, which is charged with reviewing initial
complaints of USERRA violations, was taking too long to investigate cases,

The regulations are written in plain English and are intended to
be used by human resource departments and not lawyers. The Labor
Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service typically is the first
to see complaints that the law has been violated. But in February 2005,
the Office of Special Counsel began investigating the USERRA claims of
federal workers with Social Security numbers ending in an
odd-numbered digit. The effort was a demonstration project and was
intended to relieve some of Labor's burden. Labor has continued to handle
state and local government claims. Along with the final regulations,
Labor has also published the final version of information leaflets.
[Source: GOVEXEC.com article by Daniel Pulliam 23 DEC 05]

VA DISABILITY LUMP SUM: The Department of Veterans Affairs is
considering a controversial change in disability benefits that would provide a
one-time lump sum, rather than monthly payments, to those with low-rated
disabilities. Veterans' groups do not like the idea, recommended in a
May report from the VA's inspector general as a way to cut costs.
Donald Mooney of the American Legion, testifying 7 DEC before the House
Veterans' Affairs Committee about problems in processing disability claims,
said such lump-sum payments would create a number of problems. For
example:
- If a service-connected condition worsened over time, it is unclear if
or how the veteran could get an increase in disability compensation.
- It is unclear whether a spouse would be entitled to service-connected
death benefits in such cases.
- Since the VA often inaccurately assigns an initial disability rating,
if a veteran is paid too little or too much, the process for getting
more money or repaying money would be problematic.

The idea of lump-sum disability benefits was first raised in 1996
by the Veterans' Claims Adjudication Commission, which noted that
veterans making multiple claims for the same disability were a large reason
for a backlog of claims, and that most of the repeat claims came from
veterans with comparatively less-severe disabilities who were trying to
get their disability ratings increased. The Government Accountability
Office (GAO), which has been studying VA claims processing, noted that
about 65% of disabled veterans have disabilities rated at 30% or less,
which consume a large amount of the VA's administrative time and
resources . A survey of veterans in 2000 showed that about one-third of those
with newly received disability rates expressed interest in the idea of
a one-time payment instead of monthly disability pay. The GAO's
representative noted that a one-time benefit would be potentially useful to
some veterans as they make the transition from military to civilian
life. However, this was talked about only as an option, with veterans
retaining the choice to get traditional monthly disability pay if they did
not want a lump sum.

A lump-sum payment system saves money only if the payment received
is less than a veteran would get in a lifetime through monthly payments
and if a veteran waives the right to a re-evaluation of the disability
in the future. The 1996 commission asked Congress to approve paying
reduced lump-sum disability payments, but lawmakers never acted. No
immediate action is expected on the new IG recommendation either, but a new
panel (the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission) is looking at
possible changes to veterans' compensation, particularly for those with
low-rated disabilities. That 13-member commission, appointed in February,
is due to complete its work next August, but its members already have
been talking about the need for an extension. [Source: Times staff
writer Rick Maze article 26 DEC 05]

TRICARE RESERVE SELECT UPDATE 03: Effective in 2006, civilian and
military employees may contribute the full amount to their Thrift Savings
Plan (TSP) accounts that is allowed by the Internal Revenue Service
($15,000 for 2006). They may start, change, stop or resume their TSP
contributions at any time (except those in the 6-month non-contribution period
following a financial hardship in-service withdrawal). Service members
also may invest all or part of their bonuses, special pay or incentive
pay, as long as they contribute from basic pay. Those serving in
tax-free combat zones are allowed up to $44,000 in annual contributions.
Military participants can enroll or change their contribution amount at
https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx, or by filling out a form TSP-U-1 at
local finance offices. They can change contribution allocations by
calling 1 (877) 968-3778 from the 50 States, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico,
Guam, American Samoa and Canada; calling 1 (404) 233-4400 from
elsewhere, or visiting www.tsp.gov. [Source: Armed Forces News 16 Dec 05 ]

TRICARE RESERVE SELECT UPDATE 04: In the final version of the FY2006
Defense Authorization Act Congress has agreed to extended eligibility to
Tricare Standard on a premium basis to any drilling member of the
National Guard or Reserve who agrees to continue in uniform, not just to
those who have been mobilized in support of a contingency operation.
Premiums will differ, depending on the status of the Guard or Reserve member
and their access to other health insurance. The legislation creates
three categories of beneficiaries in Tricare Reserve Select (TRS):
1) A category for those who deploy for a contingency operation and are
entitled to participate at a cost
share of 28/72 (those currently eligible for TRS);
2) A new category for those who are unemployed or are not offered
employer sponsored health
care, who will now be eligible to buy into Tricare at a cost share of
50/50; and
3) A new category for all others who may participate in Tricare
Standard at a cost share of 15/85.

This makes nearly all members of the Selected Reserve eligible for
military Tricare coverage, but the price will be steep for those who
haven't been mobilized since 9/11. Unmobilized members who don't have access
to health care through a civilian employer will have to pay almost
twice the premiums paid by those previously mobilized -- about $145/mo vs.
$81 for single and $452/mo vs. $253 for family coverage, respectively.
Tricare premiums for unmobilized members with access to
employer-sponsored coverage will be set even higher, at $246/mo and $768/mo for single
and family coverage. [Source: NMFA Government and You News 21 DEC 05
++]

TRICARE UNIFORM FORMULARY UPDATE 07: On 19 DEC the Defense Department
convened the Beneficiary Advisory Panel (BAP) to review recommendations
to move certain Alzheimer's medications, nasal steroids,
antidepressants, and antibiotics to the third ($22-copayment) tier of the TRICARE
formulary. The drugs involved are:
a) Alzheimer's: Cognex.
b) Nasal Corticosteroids: Beclovent AQ, Vancenase AQ/DS, Rhinocort AQ,
and Nasacort AQ.
c) Antibiotics: Azithromycin (Zmax only) and Ketek.
d) Antidepressants: Prozac Weekly, Sarafem, Lexapro, Paxil CR,
Cymbalta, and Wellbutrin XL.

They also recommended that a prior authorization be required for
Mescasermin (increlex). The beneficiary panel expressed two general concerns
with the recommendations.
ƒÞ The full range of medications should be made available to active
duty members if deemed medically necessary by the doctor. Currently,
active duty personnel are denied access to third-tier drugs except when
special-ordered by a military pharmacy. In many cases, members are
assigned out of the vicinity of military facilities, and they should have the
same medical-necessity access as all other TRICARE beneficiaries.
ƒÞ In some cases, the beneficiary panel urged a longer transition
period to ensure beneficiaries are informed about the changes and have an
opportunity to discuss alternative medications with their doctors. It was
noted that the panel had not yet seen a DoD communication plan to
inform the TRICARE Standard population and their providers about such
changes.

All committee recommendations and comments must be forwarded to the
Director of Tricare Management Activity for final approval or
modification. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 21 DEC 05 ++]

MEDICARE PART D UPDATE 04: A study by FamiliesUSA reports prices for
the most commonly used prescription drugs will be significantly higher
under the new Medicare drug plan than comparable prices under the
Veterans Affairs drug plan. The survey by the consumer health group said the
annual costs of the 20 drugs most use by seniors under the Medicare
program will exceed VA prices by as much as 689% -- or $1,156 -- for 20 mg
of the cholesterol drug Zocor. The survey showed that half of the top
20 drugs exceeded the lowest VA prices by 48.2%, or $261. Of the 20 most
prescribed drugs all but one of the prices under the VA drug plan were
lower than the Medicare plan. Following are the most significant
difference:

-- A one-year supply of the the heartburn pill Nexium supply in a
Medicare drug plan is $836.28, compared with $968.40 under the VA plan.
-- A one-year supply of the osteoporosis treatment Fosamax is $493.32
under the VA plan, compared with the lowest available Medicare
prescription drug plan price of $709.68.
-- A one-year supply of the acid reflux medication Protonix is $253.32
under the VA plan, compared with
the lowest available Medicare prescription drug plan price of $1,080;
-- A one-year supply of the cholesterol-reducing medication Lipitor is
$497.16 under the VA plan, compared with the lowest available Medicare
prescription drug plan price of $717.84

The complete study results can be viewed at
http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/newsroom/press-releases/drug-prices-in-medicare-plans.html. It
should be noted the VA plan limits drug choices and requires members to
use VA pharmacies, while Medicare plans cover at least two medications
from every major drug category and allow beneficiaries to fill
prescriptions at retail drug stores. As part of the Medicare prescription drug
law, Congress barred Medicare officials from negotiating with
pharmaceutical companies. The VA, by contrast, leverages its position as a
large-scale purchaser of drugs to lower overall prices for veterans' drugs.
The study compared recent prices in two Medicare regions, one covering
the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware, and one covering Ohio.
FamiliesUSA Executive Director Ron Pollack, stated at a news conference
that since the government covers about three-fourths of the drug costs,
"bottom line" is "millions of seniors will be burdened with
unaffordable costs and the American taxpayers will be fleeced. The drug program
was promoted on the basis that competition among drug companies would
lower medication prices. Their study indicates that did not happen.
Separately, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which
represents pharmacy benefit managers, criticized the study, saying seniors will
save an average of 31% on drugs bought at retail pharmacies and 45% by
mail order. The Medicare drug plan goes into effect in January for
Medicare recipients who signed up for the program. [Source:
Kaisernetwork.org Daily Health Policy Report 22 DEC 05 ++]

TRICARE PRIME TRAVEL IMPACT: Tricare Prime is great for people who
live near a military hospital or other military treatment facility. They
get priority access to free care without concerns about space
availability (usually); drugs are free; even a stay in a civilian hospital is
dirt cheap. But Tricare Prime is not a good choice for people who travel
frequently and range far from their primary care manager (PCM). Anytime
you get non-emergency care from a provider that is not your PCM, or if
your PCM did not refer you to that provider, your claim falls under the
Tricare Prime Point of Service Option, called POS. A Tricare claim for
those services will have an automatic $300 deductible. And then, if
there is anything left for Tricare to pay on, you will have a 50% cost
share on whatever Tricare allows. If you have to be hospitalized, the 50%
cost share can put an end to your travels for a long while because,
unlike Tricare Standard or even Tricare Prime, there is no catastrophic
cap on deductibles and cost shares under the POS.

Ordinarily, when a family has paid $3,000 in cost shares and
deductibles in a fiscal year, the catastrophic cap is activated. Tricare
will pay 100% of the amount it allows on each claim. No more cost shares
will be withheld from Tricare's payments for the rest of that fiscal
year. That is not the case under the Tricare Prime POS. There is no limit
to the amount of cost shares you can be responsible for paying. Tricare
Prime members have priority access to military medical care only at
their home base. At any other military hospital, they are subject to
space-available considerations as if they were not enrolled in Prime.
Considering the possible out of pocket cost with Prime, it might be to your
advantage to utilize your other Tricare Standard option and obtain a
good Tricare supplement from a recognized insurer. [Source: NavyTimes
James E. Hamby article 5 DEC 05 ++]

VA HOSPICE CARE: Hospice is a movement to another mode of care giving
when a terminal illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments
and when the primary goal of care is comfort and care of the bereaved
friends and family. The Veterans Health administration (VHA) is
committed to providing compassionate and humane care to terminally ill
veterans and their families. The now include Hospice and palliative care in
the Medical Benefits Package for eligible enrolled veterans. While many
aspects of hospice activities have been incorporated into VA's approach
to the care of terminally ill patients in the past, a formally
structured hospice program provides them an opportunity to focus their efforts
in providing compassionate care in a timely and coordinated manner.
Hospice and palliative care optimize the comfort and dignity of the
patient through the effective management of pain and other symptoms. All VA
medical centers assure that hospice care is made available to all
enrolled veterans who need and select this type of care.

A variety of organizational models may be utilized at any
particular VA medical center. The VA medical center designates a Palliative
Care Consultation Team consisting of, at a minimum, a physician, nurse,
social worker, chaplain and administrator. The role of the team will be
to consult with the patient's primary care team on pain management and
other care issues. The team recommends policies and procedures to
hospital management; assumes a leadership role in promoting the hospice
concepts of care; facilitates communications with community hospice
agencies, and conducts educational programs for the VA medical center and
community staff. The team is expected to maintain expertise in palliative
care and in the ethical issues involved in the care of patients
approaching the end of life.

If hospice care is appropriate for the enrolled veteran the VA
medical center in which the veteran is enrolled may provide hospice care
directly in their facility or purchase it from community hospice
agencies. The veteran may prefer to use their Medicare, Medicaid or private
insurance coverage for hospice. In most situations there is no charge
for hospice care regardless of payer source. Hospice care services are
available to patients of any age, religion, or race. Hospice services are
appropriate for many end-stage terminal diagnoses including cancer,
AIDS, end-stage heart disease, respiratory and lung disease and end-stage
Alzheimer's disease. Patients with a life expectancy of 6 months or
less are appropriate for hospice. In most cases hospice services are
provided to veterans in their homes but having hospice care at home does
not mean a person must die at home. Hospice may also be provided in VA
Healthcare facilities, freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, nursing
homes or in other long-term cares facilities.

Whether the care is provided in the home or in an institution, the
hospice team includes the patient's personal physician, a hospice
physician or medical director, nurses, home health aides, social workers,
clergy or other counselors, trained volunteers and speech physical and
occupational therapists if needed. The job of the hospice team is to
manage the patient's pain and symptoms, assist the patient with the
emotional and psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying, provide needed
drugs, medical supplies and equipment, coach the family on how to care for
the patient, deliver special services like speech and physical therapy
when needed, make short-term inpatient care available when pain or
symptoms become too difficult to manage at home. Hospice also provides
regular in-home nursing visits and 24-hour telephone access to nursing
staff for information, support and visits if needed.. Hospice provides
bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends. Discussion
of death and dying is not forced but support staff remains available to
discuss any issues that the patient/family chooses with regard to the
care of someone who is terminally ill.

On occasion caregivers may need a break or some respite from daily
care giving. For patients receiving Medicare, caregivers relief and
respite care may be provided in a Medicare-approved facility such as a
freestanding hospice facility, a hospital, nursing home or other long-term
care facility which is covered by Medicare for up to five days at a
time. A hospice patient has the right to stop receiving hospice care at
any time for any reason. On occasion a terminally ill hospice patient's
health improves, or his or her illness goes into remission. A patient's
condition may become stable to the point that the hospice team and
physicians believe that the patient cannot be certified as terminally ill
and therefore is not longer eligible for the hospice benefit. However,
at any point in time, a patient can return to hospice care as long as
the eligibility criteria is met and certification by the physician and
hospice team is received. At www.va.gov/sta/guide/division.asp you can
determine the locations & phone numbers of all VA medical centers.
Contact the one nearest you and request to speak with a Social Worker for
assistance if you are interested in this VHA program. [Source: VA web site
www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg/docs/HPCare.DOC Oct 05]

MOBILIZED RESERVE 11 JAN 06: Army National Guard and Army Reserve on
active duty in support of the present partial mobilization is now
113,476. In addition the other services have mobilized 4,014 Navy Reserve;
7,670Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve; 7,115 Marine Corps
Reserve; and 414 Coast Guard Reserve. As of 11 JAN this brings the total
National Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized, to
132,689, including both units and individual augmentees. This is a decrease
of 11,399 from last month's 7 DEC 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/Oct2005/d20060111ngr.pdf
for those now mobilized. [Source: DoD News Release No. 1266-05 7 JAN
11]

IN MEMORY MEDAL: Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) introduced on 16 MAY 05 the "In
Memory Medal For Forgotten Veterans Act" (HR 2370) which was referred
to the House Committee on Armed Services. This is a bill to direct the
Secretary of Defense to issue a medal to certain veterans who died
after their service as a direct result of that service, or who were
presumptively exposed to ionizing radiation, herbicide agents, or chemical
agents during their service in the Armed Forces. For deceased personnel
the medal shall be issued to the next-of-kin or representative of such
person, as designated by the Secretary of Defense. The bill establishes
a medal, to be known as the 'Jesus (Chuchi) Salgado Medal', to be
issued to any of the following:
(1) Veterans who died as a result of their service in the Vietnam war
and whose name is not eligible for placement on the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial
(2) Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation who are or were at the time
of death eligible to receive benefits from the VA attributable to the
presumption of service-connection.
(3) Veterans exposed to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam who
are or were eligible at the time of death eligible to receive benefits
from the VA attributable to the presumption of service-connection.
(4) Veterans exposed to certain chemical agents who served on active
duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf
War who are or were entitled at the time of death to receive
compensation from the United States attributable to the presumption of
service-connection.
[Source: New Mexico e-Veterans News 21 May 05]

AF RESERVISTS VIRTUAL ACCOUNTS: Air Force reservists can now create
their own account on the Reserve Personnel Center's Virtual Personnel
Center-Guard Reserve portal. Interested reservists should go to
https://arpc.afrc.af.mil/support/newaccount.asp and fill out all
required blanks on the electronic form.Reservists with no e-mail address can
establish one at www.gimail.af.mil/login.asp. Once the account is
activated, the reservist can make address updates, find assignment
information, review benefits and entitlements and search career opportunities..
They also can get a reissue of the 20-year letter and/or a mortgage
letter. The following sections will provide:
- Points management section provides the number of points accumulated.
- Promotions section will help individuals prepare for promotion
boards.
- Retirements section will provide what is needed for retirement and
what is available to accomplish it.
- Retraining section will provide alternate career fields members can
go to and eligibility criteria important documents for Reserve Airmen.
[Source: Armed Forces News 6 JAN 06]

NAVY RESERVE BONUS: The Navy Reserve is offering Naval Reserve
affiliation bonuses of $15,000 to certain petty officers leaving active duty as
well as to former Sailors. Candidates must agree to serve six years in
the selected reserve and cannot have completed more than 16 years of
total service. They must possess one of the following skills or be
trainable for one: master-at-arms, hospital corpsman, gunner's mate,
intelligence specialist, builder, steelworker, construction electrician,
construction mechanic, diver, explosive ordnance specialist, SEAL, or special
warfare combatant crewman. Retention is high in the Navy's active duty
ranks, but the Navy Reserve has not met its recruiting goals since JAN
85. Additional information is available at www.navyreserve.com or call
1(800) 872-8767. [Source: Armed Forces News 6 JAN 06]

RESERVE COMPONENT DRILL PAY 2006: The 2006 Reserve and National Guard
Drill Pay online calculators are now available at
www.military.com/Reserve_Drill_Pay and www.military.com/NG_Drill_Pay. These pay rates are
effective as of 1 JAN 06. Typically, one drill weekend includes four
drill periods. E-1 personnel with less than four months of service earn
$39.27 per drill period. To utilize the calculators all you need do is
select your pay grade, minimum time in service, and number of drill
periods. [Source: Military.com newsletter JAN 05]

IDENTITY THEFT UPDATE 07: There appears to be an identity theft scam
going on in Mississippi, Alabama and possibly Pensacola, Florida.
Individuals are calling VA beneficiaries and advising them that their VA
files have been destroyed as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The caller
advises that VA is trying to rebuild their files and requests their Social
Security Numbers and other personal information. VA OIG has agents
looking into this with local police agencies. [Source: Jim Gaughran, VA OIG
Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Investigations Division]

INTERNATIONAL DIRECT DEPOSIT: The Defense Finance and Accounting
Service (DFAS) recently initiated International Direct Deposit (IDD) for U.S.
military retirees and annuitants living outside the United States. The
first five countries included Australia, Canada, France, Germany and
the United Kingdom where IDD availability was effective with the 1 DEC 05
pay date. The program allows U.S. military retirees and annuitants to
have their monthly payments sent electronically to their local banks
where they reside. Deposits are made in the local currency rather than
U.S. dollars, saving many the expense of converting dollars for use in the
local economy. Payments arrive in bank accounts on the same day they
are released from DFAS and the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. For
those receiving checks via mail, IDD also offers an alternative to lost,
misrouted or stolen mail, thus reducing the chances of check and identity
theft. Nations chosen for IDD eligibility have met the financial
responsibility and system requirements of the Federal Reserve Bank. Simply
put, the banks and other financial institutions in those countries
provide secure and trustworthy services and have systems compatible with
transferring funds from the U.S. to your account.

The IDD program for DFAS will enter another phase in February
2006. Enrollment packages will be sent to retirees and annuitants living
in an additional 38 countries which are: Anguilla , Antigua & Barbuda,
Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Cayman
Islands, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Greece, Grenada,
Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malta, Mexico,
Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland,
Portugal, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent &
Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago. Each enrollment package
will include the necessary instructions, form, and return envelope to
begin requests for IDD service. DFAS can only offer IDD for your
military retired or annuitant pay. If you want your Social Security, VA, OPM
or railroad retirement also sent to your local bank, you must contact
these agencies to enroll.

At www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/of1199i.pdf
you can obtain an enrollment packages if you do not receive one in the
mail. Your bank representative must complete and sign Section C and you
must sign section D and E (as appropriate). Then mail your application
using the return envelope provided to: Federal Reserve Bank of New York
International Treasury Services E. Rutherford Oper. Ctr, 1st Floor 100
Orchard Street East Rutherford, NJ 07073. DFAS Retired and Annuitant
Pay officials urge each enrollee to make sure the form is accurately
completed and signed. Incomplete or incorrect bank account numbers, names
or addresses will require sending the form back and delaying the
process. One item that might be overlooked is the name used in an individual's
bank account ¡V it must match the name in their DFAS pay account.
Otherwise, it may be misrouted once it is received by the bank. Processing
time should be around four weeks from the time DFAS received your
request. For additional information military retirees and annuitants without
Internet access can call 00-1-216-522-5955 to speak with a Retired and
Annuitant Pay customer service representative. Those with Internet
access can send their questions online via
https://ca.dtic.mil/dfas/s-retired/ret1-pay.htm (for retirees) or
https://ca.dtic.mil/dfas/s-retired/annuity1-pay.htm (for annuitants).
[Source: DFAS Retired Pay Newsletter 13 Jan 06]

ANHEUSER-BUSCH HERO SALUTE UPDATE 01: A tribute program that provided
free admission to Anheuser-Busch theme parks to more than 900,000
members of U. S. and coalition armed forces and their families has been
extended through 2006. The program provides a single day's free admission
to any one SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, Sesame Place, Adventure
Island or Water Country USA for the servicemember and as many as three of
his or her direct dependents. Any active duty, active reserve or Ready
Reserve servicemember or National Guardsman is entitled under the
program. He or she need only register, either online at www.herosalute.com or
in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Defense
Department photo ID. Also included in the offer are members of foreign
military forces serving in the coalitions in Iraq or Afghanistan or in the
United States attached to American units for training. Inactive, standby
and retired reserve members, military retirees, U. S. Merchant Marine
and civilian DoD employees are ineligible for the program. Dependents
may take advantage of the offer without their service member, though an
adult must accompany minor dependents.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg and SeaWorld San Antonio are seasonal
operations that will remain closed until spring 2006. The remaining
parks, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld San Diego are
open year round. Personnel interested in visiting those parks can check
operating schedules at www.herosalute.com. Here's to the Heroes is the
fourth tribute to military personnel offered by Anheuser-Busch since
Yellow Ribbon Summer welcomed servicemembers home from the Gulf War in
1991. More than 3 million people have visited Anheuser-Busch Adventure
Parks free under these programs [Source: American Forces Press Service 5
JAN 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 or
http://Wildfleckenveterans.com
AL/AMVETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/AD37
member
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