Rao Bulletin Update 15 Nov 2007

RAO Bulletin Update
15 November 2007

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Tricare Shingles Vaccine ----------------- (Age 60 and Older)
== VA Homeless Vets [07] -------- (Setting the Record Straight)
== VA Disability/Comp System --------- (System Improvements)
== WRAMC [12] ------------------ (Xmas Greetings to Wounded)
== Bone Marrow Donor Registration --------- (Enrollees Sought)
== CA & Federal Death Benefits ----------- (Service Connected)
== CA & Federal Death Benefits ------- (Nonservice Connected)
== SSN Protection Tips ----------------------- (Things you can do)
== Kansas Vet Cemetery ------------------- (Manhattan Location)
== VA Agent Orange Claims [02] ----------- (Faster OK Sought)
== Hawaii Veterans Home ---------------------------- (1st to Open)
== Camp Lejeune Toxic Exposure [01] -------- (Nothing Found)
== Vet Cemetery Pennsylvania [01] ------------- (Dolington Site)
== HVAC [03] ----------------------------------- (Vet Bills Hearing)
== MOAA Data Breach ---------------------- (Email Addees Only)
== VA Budget 2008 Update [10] ---- (Combined Spending Bill)
== VA Fraud [03] ----------------------- (King WI Veterans Home)
== Tricare Data Breach [01] ------------ (Identity Theft Unlikely)
== VA Physician Quals [01] -------------- (56,000 under Review)
== DoD Disability Eval System [08] ----------- (Single Physical)
== Mobilized Reserve 7 NOV 07 ---------- (Net Decrease 2362)
== DoD Retiree Pay Offset ---------- (Retired Benefits Program)
== Retiree/Annuitant Pay Dates 2008 --------------------- (DFAS)
== NG Transition Assistance Advisor ------ (Services Provided)
== VA Vision Legislation [01] ---------------- (Criteria Relaxed)
== VA Burial Benefits [01] ----- (Sunset Provision Elimination)
== VA Hep “C” Care [01] ------- (Treatment Completion Rates)
== VA Aids Care [01] ----------- (Testing Delay Complications)
== Travel Packing Tips ------------------------- (Making it easier)
== Tricare Supplemental Ins [02] -------------- (Cafeteria plans)
== USERRA [03] ---------------------------------- (OSC vs. VETS)
== Reserve GI Bill [08] -------------------- (Clarification sought)
== Tricare Nexium Copay Lowered ----------- (Now only $3.00)
== VetJobs [01] -------------------------- (Job Fairs thru 14 DEC)
== Federal Recovery Coordinators ------------------ (DoD & VA)
== Military Pay Raise 2009 ------------------------- (3.4% Likely)
== VA Diabetes Mellitus Care [03] --------- (Avandia Deletion)
== VA Diabetes Mellitus Care [04] ----------- (Education Drive)
== TV Analog to Digital Conversion ---------- (Did you know?)
== Veteran Legislation Status 13 NOV 07 --- (Where We Stand)

Note: I will be shifting to the United States 22 NOV 07.

TRICARE SHINGLES VACCINE: Following a Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommendation on 19 Oct 07, Tricare now covers
Zostavax, the vaccine designed to prevent shingles for beneficiaries 60 and
older. Shingles is a painful viral disease that affects more than one
million Americans every year. More than half of those cases happen in
people age 60 or older. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus,
the same virus that causes chickenpox in children. It remains in the
body for decades, sleeping in nerve cells along the spinal column. A
shingles rash usually appears on one side of the face or body and lasts
between two and four weeks. It is painful and can be accompanied by
fever, headache, chills and upset stomach. The CDC recommends a single
dose of shingles vaccine for everyone age 60 and older. In a shingles
prevention study done by the Veterans Administration Cooperative Trial, run
by Dr. Michael Oxman out of the University of California, San Diego,
Zostavax was more than 50% effective in reducing the incidence of
shingles and more than 60% effective in reducing some of its associated
symptoms. Even in people who suffer from the disease, most of those who
were vaccinated experienced less pain. Tricare covers all immunizations
recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and
formally endorsed and adopted by the CDC. For more information on
shingles and the vaccine refer to the CDC Web site,
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-shingles.pdf. [Source: Tricare News Release
No.07-89 dtd 13 Nov 07 ++]

VA HOMELESS VETS UPDATE 07: Recent newspaper articles have noted
that one in four homeless persons in the United States are veterans.
While this may be true the VA has been addressing the situation with
ongoing programs to reduce veteran homeliness and provide medical care and
would like to set the record straight on its efforts. Accordingly, the
following facts are provided:

* VA is the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the
homeless. Services provided include health care, outreach and case
management, employment, rehabilitation, transitional residential care,
therapeutic work and assistance with permanent housing.
* There has been a 22% reduction in the number of homeless
veterans in comparison to estimates as recent as five years ago. The
estimated number of homeless veterans fell from 250,000 to today’s 195,000 on
any given night.
* Only about 30% of homeless veterans are chronically homeless,
which are the hardest to reach among the homeless population. VA’s
programs are designed to directly serve this important group.

* VA supports more than 15,000 beds in transitional housing
facilities and VA residential treatment programs.
* 100,000 veterans – more than half the number of homeless
veterans - receive VA health care each year. VA expects to spend $1.6
billion for medical treatment and $287 million for homeless specific programs
in FY 08.
* 346 program clinicians are working nationwide who contact
homeless veterans as part of their dedication to the homeless health care
outreach effort.
* More than $300 million in grants have been provided to local
partners for homeless programs.
* VA partners with hundreds of communities on Stand Downs across
the nation. Stand Downs give homeless veterans a temporary refuge
where they can obtain food, shelter, clothing and a range of community and
VA assistance. Providers can contact VA’s Homeless Veterans Programs
Office at http://www1.va.gov/homeless/, (202) 273-5764, or e-mail VA at
homelessvets@mail.va.gov.
[Source: VA Media Relations 8 Nov 07 ++]

VA DISABILITY/COMPENSATION SYSTEM: On 6 NOV the DoD and VA signed an
agreement for a pilot program to begin this month to evaluate a single
physical examination that would be used by DoD to determine the medical
fitness of injured personnel to remain in uniform and by VA for
awarding disability compensation. The DVA is commencing a study to determine
the appropriate level and duration of transition payments that should
be paid to all eligible veterans who are participating in a
rehabilitation program. It also intends to solicit outside bids to be able to award
one contract to conduct two important technical studies that will
assist decisions to be made regarding the updating of our military
disability system. Full details about the competitive solicitation for the
studies will be available on http://www.fedbizopps.gov. The studies are
part of the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Care for
America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Sen. Bob Dole
and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. The
studies will:

* Create a schedule for rating disabilities based upon current
concepts of medicine and disability, taking into account loss of quality
of life and loss of earnings resulting from specific injuries or
combination of injuries.
* Examine the nature of injuries and combination of injuries for
which disability compensation is payable under various disability
programs of the Federal and State governments and other countries;
* Examine the extent to which quality of life and loss of earnings
are independently taken into account in various disability programs of
the Federal and State governments and other countries;
* Examine the effect of an injury or combination of injuries on a
veteran's loss of earnings, such as inability to work in certain
occupations, and on a veteran's quality of life, such as activities of
independent living, recreational and community activities, and personal
relationships, including the inability to participate in favorite
activities, social problems related to disfigurement or cognitive difficulties,
and the need to spend increased amounts of time performing activities of
daily living; and
* Address measurement of the effect of an injury or combination
of injuries on a veteran's psychological state, loss of physical
integrity, and social inadaptability.

The study will make recommendations concerning the following:
* The appropriate injuries or combination of injuries to include
in the schedule;
* The appropriate level of compensation for loss of quality of
life;
* The appropriate standard or standards for determining whether
an injury or combination of injuries has caused a loss in a veteran's
quality of life;
* The appropriate level of compensation for loss of earnings; and
* The appropriate standard or standards for determining whether
an injury or combination of injuries has caused a veteran loss of
earnings.
[Source: VA Media Relations 8 Nov 07 ++]

WRAMC UPDATE 12: In response to numerous requests from many well
meaning people who want to do something for our "wounded warriors" at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Bethesda Naval Medical Center and
all the other military Medical facilities where these brave men and
women are receiving care, there are several appeals going around the
internet. Please read the below statement taken directly from the Walter
Reed website. As you can see there are many other ways to show your
support:

"Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those
individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include
packages and letters, addressed to "Any Wounded Soldier" that Walter
Reed will not be accepting these packages in support of the decision by
then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001.
This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients
and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense. In
addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service
Member" or "Any Wounded Service Member" letters or packages. Mail to
"Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be
delivered. Instead of sending an "Any Wounded Soldier" letter or package
to WRAMC, consider making a donation to one of the more than 300
nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families
listed on the "America Supports You" website,
www.americasupportsyou.mil. Other organizations that offer means of showing your support for our
troops or assist wounded servicemembers and their families include:
- http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/
- http://www.redcross.org
- http://www.usocares.org/

For individuals without computer access, your local military
installation, the local National Guard or military reserve unit in your area may
offer the best alternative to show your support to our returning troops
and their families. WRAMC will continue to receive process and
deliver all mail that is addressed to a specific individual. As Walter Reed
continues to enhance the medical care and processes for our returning
service members, it must also must keep our patients and staff members
safe while following Department of Defense policy. The outpouring of
encouragement from the general public, corporate America and civic groups
throughout the past year has been incredible. Our Warriors in
Transition are amazed at the thanks and support they receive from their
countrymen." [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 8 Nov 07 ++]

BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRATION: Every 15 minutes someone in the United
States is diagnosed with a medical condition that requires treatment
with bone marrow or a blood stem cell transplant. Every day more than
6,000 men, women and children around the world search the National Donor
Program Registry for a life-saving donor. Thousands of lives are lost
because a match is never found. According to Army Major General (MG)
Elder Granger, Deputy Director, Tricare Management Activity each year
more than 35,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with
leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia (marrow failure), and other
life-threatening blood disorders. Seventy-five percent of patients in need of a
marrow transplant cannot find a match within their own family. November is
National Marrow Awareness Month, and The C.W. Bill Young/Department of
Defense (DoD) Marrow Donor Program, named for Congressman C.W. Bill
Young who initiated and supported its development, is working hard to
provide hope and help to patients waiting to find a marrow donor. The C.W.
Young Donor Program is only for Military donors.

The C.W. Young Program works in conjunction with the
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) which brings donors together, within the
U.S. and from across the world, in a confidential and secure data
search system. In addition to the NMDP in the U.S., there are numerous
organizations around the world that share this database, working together
to find matches for any individual requiring a transplant. Since the
creation of the NMDP in 1986, more than six million Americans, including
more than 400,000 Service members, have registered as marrow donors.
Hundreds of marrow donor drives are conducted on Military installations
and ships each year. In addition, The C.W. Bill Young/DoD Marrow Donor
Program, in cooperation with participating commands, has established
“walk-in” registration programs for eligible personnel who wish to join
the DoD Marrow Donor Program Registry. Joining the registry is almost
effortless and completely painless. Participants fill out a short
two-page DoD consent form and a swab is taken from inside their mouth.
Potential donors receive an official card signifying they have registered
as a bone marrow donor. They are added to the NMDP National Registry
through the DoD Marrow Donor Program. To be eligible to join the registry
through the DoD program you must be:
• Age 18 to 60 and in good health
• Active Duty Military, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reservist
• Immediate family member of an Active Duty Service Member
• A DoD civilian employee
For additional info on the C.W. Young Donor Program, as well as a list
of walk-in locations or to establish a walk-in registration program
refer to www.dodmarrow.org. [Source: Tricare News Release 2007 No. 07-86
dtd 8 Nov 07 ++]

CALIFORNIA & FEDERAL DEATH BENEFITS: Veterans who are residents of
California who die as a result of service connected (SC) disabilities are
entitled to a number of state and federal benefits. Following is a
checklist that can be used by their survivors or estate managers to assist
in obtaining these benefits. This checklist was last updated OCT 06:

A. Claim Requirements:
1. Verify disposition of veteran’s VA check (if any).
2. If veteran was a military retiree, notify service department.
3. Complete and submit VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and
Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, or Accrued Benefits by a Spouse
or Child, for surviving spouse and/or children. Also, VA Form 21-535,
Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s), for
dependent parent(s).
4. Complete and submit VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial
Allowance.
5. Provide veteran’s death certificate or other appropriate proof of
death.
6. Provide medical evidence as needed to relate veteran’s death to
service or to SC disability.
7. Provide dependency documents, if not previously submitted (marriage
certificate, birth certificate(s), death certificate(s), divorce
decree(s), VA Form(s) 21-674, as applicable). If an adult child is claimed as
disabled (helpless), submit appropriate medical evidence in support.
8. Submit medical evidence to show need for aid and attendance
(surviving spouse or dependent parent) or that surviving spouse is housebound,
if applicable.
9. Verify whether or not the surviving spouse or either dependent
parent is also a veteran?

B. Benefits:
1. Social Security death payment.
2. Possible VA accrued benefits (if there was an unresolved claim or if
there were unnegotiated checks at the time of the veteran’s death).
3. Eligibility for SC burial allowance, headstone or grave marker; U.S.
flag; Presidential Memorial Certificate.
4. Life insurance payments (VA, other Government, or commercial).
5. Possible eligibility for additional allowance for surviving spouse
or dependent parent on account of being so helpless as to be in need of
the regular aid and attendance of another person (includes nursing home
patients), or for surviving spouse on account of being housebound.
6. Certificate of Eligibility for home loan guaranty.
7. Eligibility for CAL-VET Home Loan.
8. Eligibility for CAL–VET Home Mortgage Insurance.
9. Eligibility for property tax exemption on principle residence.
10. Eligibility for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance for
surviving spouse and/or children under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 35.
11. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for
surviving spouse and children (Plan A). Requires wartime service. May not be
authorized concurrently with VA education assistance under Chapter 35.
12. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for children
(Plan B). May be authorized concurrently with education assistance
under Chapter 35.
13. Eligibility for son(s) and/or daughter(s) to compete for admission
to military academies.
14. Eligibility for 10-point preference for Federal Civil Service
employment (surviving spouse and/or natural mother).
15. Eligibility for 10-point preference for State of California
employment (surviving spouse).
16. If veteran was a military retiree, possible payments under
SBP/RSFPP.
17. Eligibility for a military identification card if the veteran was a
military retiree or was rated SC, 100% at time of death.
18. Eligibility for health care coverage under CHAMPVA unless there is
also eligibility under TRICARE (if the veteran was a military retiree).

[Source: CA Dept of VA website Nov 07 ++]

CALIFORNIA & FEDERAL DEATH BENEFITS: Veterans who are residents of
California who die as a result of a non-service connected (NSC) disability
or condition are entitled to a number of state and federal benefits.
Following is a checklist that can be used by their survivors or estate
managers to assist in obtaining these benefits. This checklist was
last updated OCT 06:

A. Claim Requirements:
1. Verify disposition of veteran’s VA check (if any).
2. If veteran was a military retiree, notify service department.
3. If veteran was SC and rated totally disabled (100% or IU) at time of
death, review for possible DIC. (Generally, requires veteran to have
been rated totally disabled for 10 continuous years immediately
preceding death. If out of service less than 10 years at time of death, rated
totally disabled for at least 5 continuous years, from date of discharge
from service to date of death. If a former POW, rated totally disabled
for one year immediately preceding death.)
4. Submit VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation, Death Pension, or Accrued Benefits by a Spouse or Child, for
surviving spouse and/or children.
5. Submit VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial Allowance.
6. There is no minimum length of service requirement for DIC. For death
pension, veteran must have had a minimum of 90 consecutive days of
active service or was discharged because of SC disability. If veteran
entered service after 1980, the service requirement is 24 continuous months
or the full period for which called to active duty, whichever is less,
unless discharged sooner because of hardship, reduction-in-force, or
SC disability. In any event, at least one day of service must have been
during a wartime period.
Note—if veteran died while on active duty under circumstances
precluding payment of DIC (i.e., willful misconduct), veteran must have served
honorably for at least two years, at least one day of which was during a
wartime period.
7. Submit veteran’s death certificate or other appropriate proof of
death.
8. Provide dependency documents, if not previously submitted (marriage
certificate, birth certificate(s), death certificate(s), divorce
decree(s), VA Form(s) 21-674, as applicable). If an adult child is claimed as
disabled (helpless), submit appropriate medical evidence in support.
9. Report projected family income—include income from all sources,
including farm and/or business. Also list deductions/exclusions—veteran’s
final expenses, unreimbursed medical expenses, children’s wages, etc.
10. Report net worth.
11. Provide medical evidence to show that surviving spouse is
housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, if applicable.
12. Verify if surviving spouse is also a veteran?

6. Eligibility for CAL–VET Home Mortgage Insurance.
7. Eligibility for property tax exemption on principle residence (if
veteran was entitled to such exemption prior to death).
8. If veteran was a military retiree, possible payments under
SBP/RSFPP.
9. Eligibility for a military identification card if the veteran was a
military retiree or was rated SC, 100% at time of NSC death.
10. Eligibility for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance
benefits under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 35, for surviving spouse and/or children
(if veteran was rated SC, permanently totally disabled at time of NSC
death).
11. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for children
(Plan B) if veteran had a (rated) SC disability at time of death.
12. Eligibility for health care coverage under CHAMPVA unless there is
also eligibility under TRICARE (if the veteran was a military retiree)
(if veteran was rated SC, permanently totally disabled at time of NSC
death).
13. Eligibility for 10-point preference for State of California
employment (surviving spouse).
[Source: CA Dept of VA website Nov 07 ++]

SSN PROTECTION TIPS: “What is your social security number?” is a
question many of us are asked on a regular basis without realizing that
large amounts of our personal information, including tax, credit,
education, and medical information, are keyed to our social security number.
Imagine the damage identity thieves could do if they had this
information. To protect your own social security number and those of the veterans
you service, you can do the following:

-- Never put a social security number in the header of an email.
-- Never file documents by social security numbers.
-- Ask creditors and merchants if you can substitute a special password
or code to use instead of your social security number.
-- Shred any documents that have any personal information or credit
account numbers on them before discarding.
-- Cover the screen or keypad when using an ATM so thieves cannot read
your personal identification number (PIN).
-- Always drop your outgoing mail in the U.S. Postal blue boxes or at
the post office instead of your home mailbox.
[Source: FDVA msg 7 Nov 07 ++]

KANSAS VET CEMETERY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced
7 NOV the award of a $4.4 million partial grant to establish the
Kansas State Veterans' Cemetery at Ft. Riley in Manhattan. This will be the
fourth state cemetery in Kansas. A total grant of $6.7 million is
authorized, which will pay 100% of allowable costs to build the new 90-acre
cemetery in the central part of the state. However, because VA is
operating without 2008 congressional appropriations, under a continuing
resolution, only $4,359,000 is currently available to be awarded. Once the
remaining $2,355,692 is available, VA will make the final grant award.
The new cemetery will serve more than 30,000 veterans and family
members who live in the area. In its initial 30-acre development, the
cemetery will provide 4,000 full-casket gravesites, 700 in-ground cremation
burial sites and 786 columbarium niches for cremation remains. The grant
also will cover the costs of cemetery infrastructure, including
administration and maintenance buildings, roads, utilities, landscaping and
irrigation, a memorial walkway, an assembly area and a committal service
shelter. Design costs and equipment to operate the cemetery are also
funded. Three other Kansas state veterans cemeteries, located in Fort
Dodge, Wakeeney and Winfield, also received federal assistance through
VA's State Cemetery Grants Program. The nearest state cemetery is the
Wakeeney cemetery, approximately 180 miles away. The nearest national
cemetery is Leavenworth National Cemetery, about 300 miles away. VA's State
Cemetery Grants Program is designed to complement VA's 125 national
cemeteries across the country. The program helps states establish new
veterans’ cemeteries and expand or improve existing state cemeteries. To
date, the VA program has helped establish 73 state veterans’ cemeteries
in 36 states, including Saipan and Guam, which provided more than
22,000 burials in fiscal year 2007. Since the program began in 1980, VA has
awarded 162 grants totaling more than $312 million. Information on VA
burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the
VA Web site on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov, or by calling VA
regional offices at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Kansas veterans’
cemeteries can be obtained by calling the Kansas Commission on
Veterans Affairs at (785) 296-3976 or at http://www.kcva.org/cp/. [Source: VA
News Release 9 Nov 07 ++]

VA AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS UPDATE 02: The chairman of the House Veterans’
Affairs Committee has a radical idea to cut the huge and seemingly
intractable backlog of veterans’ benefits claims. To focus on handling new
claims from Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
says the Department of Veterans Affairs should approve — with minimal
questioning — claims filed by Vietnam veterans, especially those whose
claims deal with exposure to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange. In an
interview 8 NOV, Filner said he sees no way for VA to make headway in
reducing the backlog of more than 400,000 claims without “radical” reforms
that must include eliminating an adversarial process that puts veterans
in a defensive position. “We know Agent Orange is a carcinogen, and
that people could be exposed directly or indirectly in Vietnam,” he said.
“We don’t need to be demanding scientific proof any longer.” Expanded
compensation would include paying the disputed claims of Navy veterans
who served in the waters off Vietnam and never came ashore but think
they still have herbicide-related health problems.

Filner’s idea would require an act of Congress. He envisions
linking it with other disability legislation. Filner, a longtime advocate of
improved Agent Orange benefits, has another motive in pushing for VA
approval of Vietnam-era claims. He thinks it will be easier to pass
disability benefits reforms aimed at helping Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
— including a controversial plan that would consider income loss,
quality of life and a veterans’ continued participation in rehabilitation
when setting monthly benefits payments — if older veterans think the
government is also doing something to help them. “We have to do something
for both groups,” Filner said. To cut the backlog, Filner thinks VA
needs a system that quickly approves relatively simple claims and provides
partial benefits — maybe 30 percent or 40 percent of full payment — for
veterans while they are waiting for their claims to be verified and
approved. VA and some veterans groups oppose such a system out of concern
that automatically approving claims with no prior verification could
encourage fraud. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 9 Nov 07 ++]

HAWAII VETERANS HOME: Hawaii's first long-term-care facility
exclusively for military veterans will open on the Hilo Medical Center campus on
12 NOV. The $30 million, 95-bed Yukio Okutso Veterans Home also will
provide adult day health services. It is named after a former Hilo
resident who was a technical sergeant with the famed 442nd Regimental
Combat Team. Okutso fought and died in World War II. It is Hawaii's first
State Veterans Home and is part of the state's public hospital network,
Hawaii Health Systems Corp. HHS has contracted out management of the
home to Avalon Health Care Inc. State Veterans Homes are built in
partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which contributes up
to 65 percent of the cost of building, buying or renovating nursing
homes for veterans. [Source: Pacific business News article 7 Nov 07 ++]

CAMP LEJEUNE TOXIC EXPOSURE UPDATE 01: Federal environmental
regulators say testing shows no chemical contamination under Marine Corps
housing for military families at Camp Lejeune. The Environmental Protection
Agency and Marine Corps say a network of monitoring wells show the
chemical contamination from a Superfund site doesn’t extend under a school
and housing. Base officials closed wells in 1987 that were contaminated
with solvents from a dry cleaners across the street from some base
housing. Government figures estimate that up to 1 million people were
exposed and some unborn babies later developed cancers and birth defects.
In July, base officials notified residents of nearly 900 homes that
testing was being conducted. [Source: MarineTimes Associated Press article
9 Nov 07 ++]

VET CEMETERY PENNSYLVANIA UPDATE 01: The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) and Dolington Land LP, a subsidiary of real estate developer
Toll Brothers Inc. and the owner of a 205-acre site in Bucks County in the
southeastern part of Pennsylvania near Washington's Crossing Historic
Park, have signed an "offer to sell" agreement under which VA will
purchase for $10.5 million the site for the construction of a new national
cemetery. With this step taken, VA expects to complete the formal
purchase of the property by MAR 08. Once the purchase is finalized and the
cemetery design is complete, initial construction will begin in mid
2008. Burials at the new national cemetery, which will serve more than
580,000 veterans and their families who live in the area, are expected to
begin in late 2008. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, the nearest open
national cemetery in Pennsylvania, is 120 miles from the site of the new
cemetery. Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their
spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in a national
cemetery. Other burial benefits for eligible veterans include a burial flag,
a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or
marker - even if they are not buried in a national cemetery. [Source: VA
Media Relations 7 Nov 07 ++]

HVAC UPDATE 03: The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing
on several bills designed to increase benefits and services for
veterans. The following bills were considered:
• HR. 3047, The Veterans Claims Processing Innovation Act, authorizes
changes to increase effectiveness of the VA claims filing system and
establish a work credit system within VBA regional offices. It also calls
on VA to enter into a contract for evaluating employees of VBA.
• HR 3249, The Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act would increase
burial benefits to the IB recommended levels - non-service connected
burial expenses from $300 to $1,270 and plot allowance from $300 to $745.
• HR 3286 would reduce the period of time from ten years to one year
for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's
survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by VA.
• HR 3415 authorizes memorial markers in national cemeteries for those
interred in an American Battle Monument Commission cemetery.
• HR 1137 increases the Medal of Honor special pension from $1,000 to
$2,000.
• HR 4084 requires a study on VA's disability ratings schedule with
regard to recent commission reports that called for a quality of life
payment. It also allows transfer of a pending claim in the event of the
death of the veteran to the claimants' survivor and requires an annual
report on the workload of the US Court of Appeals for Veteran's Claims.
• HR 3954, Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act, would
reimburse volunteers who provide funeral honors detail.
For more information on any of the bills visit the Thomas website and
type the bill # in the box at: http://thomas.loc.gov/ [Source: VFW
Washington Weekly 9 Nov 07 ++]

MOAA DATA BREACH: MOAA's e-mail contractor, Convio, has informed them
that someone illegally gained access to Convio's files and downloaded
e-mail addresses from 92 of Convio's clients, one of which was MOAA. No
information was stolen that allows MOAA to reasonably believe could be
used by the data thief to compromise your identity - that is, no Social
Security numbers, account numbers, or other financial information. No
names were stolen, except to the extent an e-mail address included a
person's name. However, the data thief did obtain thousands of e-mail
addresses of MOAA members and some non-members who have used their
services or subscribed to their e-mail products - including the e-mail
address. Unfortunately, today's reality is that dedicated "data-mining"
individuals and organizations routinely obtain e-mail addresses within
minutes from anyone who hooks up a computer and starts an e-mail account.
Nevertheless, you should remain vigilant in protecting your identity by
reviewing all of your financial account statements regularly and
monitoring free credit reports available from national consumer-reporting
agencies. As a result of the breach there is a possibility that those
affected may receive some additional spam (junk mail) or be targeted with
phishing e-mails. In phishing or similar scams, you may receive an e-mail
that appears to be from a well-known or trusted organization, urging
you to go to a website and enter personal information. It is likely that
you have received such phishing e-mails in the past. If you receive
such e-mails, you should promptly delete them and you should not respond
to them in any way. Reputable firms do not ask for personal information
in this manner. MOAA has confirmed that Convio has severely tightened
its security, and MOAA is reviewing security precautions on all of
their data systems, both internally and with other contractors who may have
access to member data in one form or another. Following are a series
of questions and answers about this incident for your review. Should
you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to contact MOAA's
Member Service Center at 1-800-234-6622, or by e-mail at msc@moaa.org.
Questions and Answers
1. How many e-mails have been stolen? MOAA was one of 92 organizations
affected by the e-mail contractor's data loss. The theft included
e-mail addresses of 260,000 MOAA members, subscribers, and prospects.
2. What other data has been stolen? No other personal financial data
(SSNs, birthdates, account numbers, etc.) was affected. Website passwords
were stolen with regard to a very few individuals, but you did not
have a password stolen - only an e-mail address.
3. How can you be sure what has been taken? The contractor
electronically tracked the data that was downloaded.
4. How could I be affected personally by this e-mail address theft?
What should I do now? You may receive additional "spam" (junk mail)
messages, or you may receive so-called "phishing" messages with
official-looking company logos that ask you to log into a website and provide your
personal information to "verify" one thing or another. You should
immediately delete all such messages and you should not respond.
5. Should I change my e-mail address? That is your decision, but it is
probably not necessary. As you may know from experience, dedicated
"spammers" and "phishers" have ways of obtaining your e-mail address
electronically.
6. Should I enroll in an identity-theft program? Will MOAA or Convio
pay for it? It is your decision, but we don't believe that's necessary.
Your e-mail address alone will not allow anyone to steal your identity.
MOAA will not pay for you to enroll in an identity-theft program under
these circumstances. NOTE: Those interested in knowing what
protraction an identity theft program provides might want to check out
www.lifelock.com.
7. How did this breach happen? A credential belonging to one of the
contractor's employees was stolen, which allowed the thief to log onto the
contractor's system and access e-mail addresses owned by members of
MOAA and members of dozens of other organizations.
8. What is MOAA doing to prevent a recurrence? First, Convio contacted
the FBI to alert it about the theft. Second, we at MOAA are working
with Convio to ensure it reviews and upgrades its data-security
protections. Finally, MOAA is initiating an internal review, and similar reviews
with all of our other outside contractors, to assess and, where
necessary, upgrade the protection accorded all of our members' personal data.
9. Why does MOAA have to use an outside online service provider? Can't
it be done in-house? Unfortunately, the complexity of e-mail guidelines
and anti-spam laws have made it very difficult for organizations like
MOAA to keep track of all the rules, outdated e-mail addresses, and
unique requirements of the hundreds of different Internet Service
Providers like AOL, Yahoo, etc. We must hire contractors who specialize in
managing all these requirements to ensure we can properly deliver MOAA's
weekly Legislative Update, News Exchange, and other e-mail communications
to those who wish to subscribe to them.
10. Who can I contact if I have questions about this situation? If you
have additional questions, please contact MOAA's Member Service Center
by calling 1-800-234-6622 or e-mailing the Center at msc@moaa.org.
[Source: Norb Ryan, Jr. Vice Admiral, US Navy, Retired MOAA President
and CEO msg 9 Nov 07 ++]

VA BUDGET 2008 UPDATE 10: House Democratic leaders failed 6 NOV in an
attempt to use the politically untouchable veteran’s budget to produce
a veto-proof tally for the health and education funding bill. A
269-142 vote fell short of the two-thirds margin that would be needed to
override a veto of a House-Senate compromise measure that combines the
Labor-HHS-Education and Military Construction-VA funding bills. If
anything, the power play solidified GOP opposition to the bill as 47
Republicans voted for it -- six fewer than when an earlier version passed the
House in JUL 07. Moreover, the plan was certain to unravel in the Senate,
where Republicans were poised to use the rules to cleave the measure in
two, setting the health and education bill on course to be vetoed by
Bush without the veterans' money attached. The government currently is
being funded through 16 NOV by a continuing resolution at fiscal 2007
levels.
The latest temporary funding measure has been attached to the
fiscal 2008 Defense spending bill (HR 3222), which negotiators agreed to on
6 NOV. The new defense spending bill provides the Pentagon $459
billion - about 10% more than last year's funding but $3.5 billion less than
the Administration requested. It also includes $11.6 billion to send
more mine-resistant vehicles to ground troops in Iraq. The continuing
resolution will allow continued operations of other federal agencies
through 14 DEC - a good indication that Congress doesn't expect to finish up
all of its appropriations and other work at least until mid-December.
The continuing resolution also includes $2.9 billion in special
"bridge" funding for the VA to get a head start on meeting higher funding
needs for the new fiscal year until Congress passes the VA Appropriations
Bill. The bill will now go to the President for signature, and he is
expected to sign it into law. The President has pledged to sign the VA
appropriations bill, even though it provides $3.7 billion more than the
Administration requested. [Source: FDVA VA News 7 Nov 07 ++]

VA FRAUD UPDATE 03: State Department of Justice agents on 5 NOV
searched the office of an official at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in central
Wisconsin, looking for evidence that he embezzled money from a
recreational fund for the 700 veterans who live there. State Division of
Criminal Investigation agents who carried out the search seized a computer
from the office of Richard Calcut, 52, of Waupaca, according to a search
warrant filed in Dane County Circuit Court. Calcut is a public
information officer and volunteer coordinator at the state-run nursing home
for veterans in King, about 110 miles north of Madison just outside of
Waupaca. Calcut, who has worked at the home for about 23 years, was
placed on paid administrative leave on 22 OCT. In addition to his duties,
Calcut also served as a liaison between the home and a group called the
King Recreation Committee, which was established by veterans
organizations to provide recreational activities to those who live at the
Veterans Home. Calcut has not been charged with any crime. Justice Department
spokesman Kevin St. John declined to comment on the case.
Calcut, reached at home, said he was not aware of the search and did
not want to comment on the case. State Department of Veterans Affairs
spokesman Andy Schuster said nobody from the department would comment
because of the open investigation.

According to the search warrant in early October, the state
Department of Veterans Affairs asked the King Recreation Committee to review
its checkbook and bank account statements from the First National Bank
of Waupaca for 2005, 2006 and 2007. The review found dozens of checks
made payable to the bank. Corresponding entries in the check register,
however, indicated that the checks were written to legitimate vendors
who did business with the Veterans Home. But at least one of those
vendors told investigators the company was always paid for its services by
the Veterans Home itself, not by the committee. Diane Gallenberg, who is
the treasurer for the committee, told DCI agent Amy Lehmann that she
did not know why any checks would be made out to the National Bank of
Waupaca. Lehmann wrote that writing a check to a bank is one way to
receive cash for it. Between 2 APR 05 and 16 AUG 07, there were about 50
checks, totaling about $59,851, where the payee on the check and in the
register were different. The review also found numerous checks payable to
the home that were deposited into the committee’s bank account. Calcut
was not authorized to make those deposits into the committee’s
account. Crowley and other DVA staff interviewed Calcut between 25 SEP and 2
OCT. In those interviews, Calcut said he was given checks for $300 each
month to spend on prizes for committee activities. He said he cashed
the checks but did not keep a record of how the money was spent. Calcut
also told officials that he never cashed a committee check for his own
personal benefit.

The case is the second controversy this year involving the
Wisconsin Veterans Home. Earlier this year, it was revealed that former deputy
commandant Christine Hotvedt continued to draw her salary of $93,500
while she worked part-time from California during the months before her
official retirement. In March, after Hotvedt retired, Commandant Bill
Crowley asked her to return to the home and resume her old position in
a deal that would have allowed her to collect her retirement on top of
her salary. Hotvedt decided in April not to return to the job. [Source:
Wisconsin State Journal Ed Treleven article 6 Nov 07 ++]

TRICARE DATA BREACH UPDATE 01: It is unlikely that any identity theft
occurred earlier this year as the result of a massive data breach of
coded government health care records at a private defense contractor’s
non-secure computer server, the firm’s executive vice president said
recently. “We haven’t seen any compromise attributable to our data
breach,” said SAIC’s Arnold Punaro, referring to the 29 MAY discovery that
nearly 900,000 records of troops, family members and other government
employees had been exposed. “In the intervening months, we haven’t seen
anything that would change our view.” Punaro also disclosed that SAIC
employees have been disciplined and, in some cases, lost their jobs over
the exposure of the sensitive data. Asked to elaborate, Punaro said that
“a number of employees are no longer with us, and a number of employees
were disciplined.” Punaro declined to say how many were fired or
disciplined. The actions were taken, he said, “without regard to location or
rank,” indicating that punishments weren’t limited to the Shalimar,
Fla., location where the server was located.

He stressed that it was “our employees” who stored the data
incorrectly. Storage of such data on an unsecured server is a violation of
both SAIC and Defense Department policy. SAIC previously said the
information, maintained under several health care contracts with the
government, was variously a combination of names, addresses, Social Security
numbers, birth dates and/or limited health information in the form of
codes. Some of the data was no more than a piece of an individual’s record,
such as an isolated medical appointment file. In some cases, the
information was transmitted over the Internet in an unencrypted form. The
information was exposed while being processed, according to SAIC. The
breach was discovered when U.S. Air Forces Europe detected such an
unsecured transmission. Punaro said he still couldn’t say how long the data
was exposed before the breach was discovered. SAIC ultimately notified
about 867,000 individuals that their records were exposed in the breach.
Punaro said the data has since been moved and secured and that out of
hundreds of calls received after SAIC’s July disclosure of the breach
SAIC has gotten a couple of complaints about possible identity theft.
SAIC has agreed to do some additional review which is being provided at no
cost to the government or affected people. [Source: NavyTimes William
H. McMichael article 7 Nov 07 ++]

VA PHYSICIAN QUALIFICATIONS UPDATE 01: Testifying before the Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee Veterans Affairs officials, on the defensive
over several deaths connected to one former VA doctor, told a Senate
panel 6 NOV that three other surgeons at the Illinois hospital where he
worked were recently placed on leave. The VA officials did not offer
specifics about the three surgeons, but Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the
news is unfortunately a developing pattern of problems of the surgical
staff at the VA in Marion IL. VA officials called their response to the
Marion deaths swift and their credentialing process for doctors the
envy of the health-care industry. But the top official present, Dr. Gerald
Cross, also expressed some concerns about the agency's ability to keep
tabs on doctors once they've been granted privileges to treat VA
patients. Under questioning from Durbin, the officials said they also have
begun to review the qualifications of all 56,000 independently licensed
health-care providers in the VA system. They flagged 17,000 of those
providers, or about 30%, for further review because of their answers to
questions on credentialing forms.

The hearings followed questions about the VA's physician
credentialing procedures first raised in September about deaths at the Marion
hospital. The story revealed that Dr. Jose Veizaga-Mendez, a surgeon with
a troubling professional history, was operating on veterans at the
hospital for more than a year after surrendering his license in
Massachusetts during a disciplinary proceeding. Officials linked some of those
nine surgery deaths to Veizaga-Mendez, whose medical license was
suspended indefinitely last month by the State of Illinois. Veizaga-Mendez
agreed to stop practicing medicine in Massachusetts last year after a state
licensing board there accused him of grossly substandard care leading
to serious complications and deaths. The surrender was dubbed voluntary
and non-disciplinary, but Veizaga-Mendez remained licensed in Illinois
and continued to work at the Marion VA facility until resigning in
August. Durbin has asked federal prosecutors to investigate the Marion VA,
saying employees have made deeply disturbing claims of flawed patient
care, shoddy oversight and possibly criminal behavior. Durbin is not on
the Veterans Affairs committee but was allowed to take part in the
hearing. He pledged to push federal legislation to reform hiring practices
at VA hospitals nationwide.

Separately the VA announced a multi-disciplinary assessment team
will be sent to the Marion Hospital to review the allegations made by
hospital employees relating to operations at the facility. The team will
assess personnel practices and procedures at the facility; review
issues related to equal employment opportunity; assess how well employees
and managers are communicating; and evaluate how well the facility is
implementing hiring processes and procedures. The Assessment Team will
include experts from human resources, employee and labor relations
experts; a representative from VHA’s National Center for Organizational
Development; a representative from VA’s Office of General Counsel; an
environment of care expert; an Office of Resolution Management
representative; and VA leaders and managers from other health care facilities. The
team is expected to be on-site within one week and composed of seven to
10 members. Team members will also assess the impact of issues that
have already been raised at Marion on the manner in which care is
delivered to veterans at the hospital, and will educate employees about issues
they have raised concerning possible retaliation.

Upon completion of their review, team members will provide
recommendations for improvements at the facility to Acting Secretary
Mansfield. They will also suggest follow-up activities to ensure their
recommendations are fully implemented. VA began its review of issues at Marion
as a result of a JUN 07 statistical analysis by its National Surgical
Quality Improvement Program which indicated higher levels of mortality
than expected among patients at the facility over a six month time
frame. As a result, VA’s Office of the Medical Inspector conducted an
on-site review of the facility to determine if community standards of care
were met for certain patients who underwent surgery there between OCT 05
and SEP 07. This clinical review is ongoing. VA’s Office of the
Inspector General is also conducting an investigation at the request of
Department leadership, which includes, but is not limited to, a review of
surgical care at the hospital over the last 12 months. The Inspector
General’s review of Marion’s quality of care is also ongoing, and the
office will carefully review all relevant information to include the
assessment team’s report to see if the information the team gathers will
shed light or add additional information to the Inspector General’s
investigation. [Source: VA Press Release 6 Nov 07 ++]

DOD DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM UPDATE 08: In a landmark agreement
to simplify life for service members with medical problems as they leave
the military and return to the civilian world, the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a
memorandum to pilot a single physical examination to be used by both
Departments. “This agreement commits VA and DoD to develop a single process to
assess the medical conditions of wounded, injured or ill service members.
We will make it easier for these heroes to go back to their homes,
with the key questions about their eligibility for VA compensation
already decided.” said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H.
Mansfield. The agreement, signed Nov. 6 by Mansfield and Dr. David S.C. Chu,
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, calls for a
pilot program to evaluate a single physical examination that would be
used by DoD to determine the medical fitness of injured personnel to
remain in uniform and by VA for awarding disability compensation. This
announcement continues progress on the recommendations of the President’s
Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired
by former Sen. Robert Dole and former Health and Human Services
Secretary Donna Shalala.

The pilot, which begins late this month, involves VA and DoD
facilities in Washington, D.C. Service members from the Walter Reed Army
Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, and the
Air Force’s Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base will
participate in the pilot.
Medical evaluations will be performed by VA, although the agreement
notes the physicals could actually take place in VA medical centers,
military installations, VA contracted examination centers or other
facilities. The memorandum says the process “lays the foundation for building a
network of qualified providers and resources that will meet both DoD
and VA requirements and ease the transition of members from military
service to veteran status.” The evaluations will be based upon VA’s system
for disability examinations and include an examination of medical
conditions identified by military physicians that call into question a
service member’s fitness for duty, as well as other applicable medical
conditions identified by the service member together with VA. [Source: VA
Press Release 7 Nov 07 ++]

MOBILIZED RESERVE 7 NOV 07: The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps
announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 25 July 07
in support of the partial mobilization. The net collective result is
2,362 less reservists mobilized than last reported in the Bulletin on 25
JUL 07 and 636 fewer reservists mobilized than last week. 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. The total number currently on active duty in support of the
partial mobilization of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is
72,642; Navy Reserve, 5,895; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve,
7,113; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,265; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 347. This
brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been
mobilized to 93,262, including both units and individual augmentees. A
cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are
currently mobilized, can be found at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2007/d20071107ngr.pdf .[Source: DoD
News Release 7 Nov 07 ++]

DOD RETIREE PAY OFFSET REDUCTION: The Department of Defense has two
programs designed to reduce the reduction in retired pay due to receipt
of Veteran Administration compensation, for certain disabled retirees.
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) provides a 10-year
phase-out of the offset to military retired pay due to receipt of VA
disability compensation for members whose combined disability rating is
50% or greater . Members retired under disability provisions must have
20 years of service. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) pays
added benefits to retirees who receive VA disability compensation for
combat-related disabilities and have 20 years of service. To find out if
either of these programs apply to you and to obtain the appropriate
paperwork to apply refer to the following:

• New Retired Benefit Programs general information paper at
http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/concurrent_retire_07a.pdf
• CRSC Information paper Updated NOV 06 at
http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/crsc_nov06.pdf
• Revised CRSC guidance effective 1 JAN 04 at
http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/CRSC_Guidance_104.pdf
• CRSC Application (DD FORM 2860) at
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2860.pdf or
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/forminfo/forminfopage2483.html

Veterans must apply to their own branch of Service for Combat-Related
Special Compensation (CRSC) benefits. Applicants are urged to contact
their own branch of Service for additional information. Link to your
Service web site:

• Army at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/index.html
• Navy & Marine corps at
http://www.donhq.navy.mil/corb/crscb/combatrelated.htm
• Air force at
http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/crsc/default.asp?prods3=2039&prods2=39&prods1=1&cats1=144&p_cats=144

For more info refer to http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/mppcrsc.html.
[Source: Under Secretary of Defense Personnel & Readiness notice 28
Mar 07 ++]

RETIREE/ANNUITANT PAY DATES 2008: The following reflects the DFAS
schedule of retiree and annuitant pay dates through 2008. This information
may help to avoid any confusion as to when you should expect to see
the payment deposited to your account. Remember that payday is always on
the first business day of the month.

December 3, 2007
January 2, 2008
February 1, 2008
March 3, 2008
April 1, 2008
May 1, 2008
June 2, 2008
July 1, 2008
August 1, 2008
September 2, 2008
October 1, 2008
November 3, 2008
December 1, 2008
[Source: Military.com Nov 07 ++

NATIONAL GUARD TRANSITION ASSISTANCE ADVISOR: The Transition
Assistance Advisor (TAA) is tasked with assisting Guardsmen who are
transitioning back to the unit or community; in accessing federal, state and local
resources. The National Guard has placed a TAA in all fifty-four
states and territories, usually in National Guard Joint State Headquarters.
Many TAA’s are veterans or spouses of military service members and
have worked through the disability process themselves. The TAA initiative
began in MAY 05 when the National Guard Bureau signed a memorandum of
agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In partnerships with
federal, state, and local agencies TAA’s coordinate the following
services:

• VA Benefits
• Educational Benefits
• Financial Guidance
• Readjustment Counseling
• Family Counseling
• USERRA / ESGR Assistance
• TRICARE Enrollment and Eligibility Information
• VSO support
• Local community resources

The program is primarily designed to serve the members of the National
Guard and their families. However they will provide services to
members in all of the Reserve components and other returning service members.
[Source: NMFA Government and You E-News for 6 Nov 07 ++]

VA VISION LEGISLATION UPDATE 01: The Senate on 2 NOV passed H.R. 797,
the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act. H.R. 797, introduced
by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), was modified in the Senate to
include additional provisions for blinded veterans. U.S. Senator Daniel
K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee authored S.
1163, the Senate companion to H.R. 797. The legislation expands VA's
eligibility requirements for certain benefits available to
visually-impaired veterans which are presently unnecessarily narrow. This
legislation would relax the criteria for those benefits to cover all veterans
who fit the standard definition for legal blindness. The Senate-passed
bill would alter this standard for two groups of veterans: those with
service-connected blindness in one eye who later lose vision in the
other eye, and those who receive special compensation for multiple
disabilities that include vision impairment. It would amend the vision
impairment criteria used by VA so as to encompass veterans with 20/200 vision
or less, the standard for blindness used by the Social Security
Administration and the American Medical Association. [Source: Sen. Akaka
Press Release 2 Nov 07 ++]

VA BURIAL BENEFITS UPDATE 01: On 2 NOV the Senate passed H.R. 797,
the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act. H.R. 797, introduced by
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), which was modified in the Senate to
include four additional provisions for burial and memorial benefits.
Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs
Committee authored S. 1163, the Senate companion to H.R. 797. This
legislation:

1. Permanently authorizes VA to provide government headstones or
markers for the privately-marked graves of veterans interred at private
cemeteries. Current law authorizes VA to furnish, upon request, an
appropriate headstone or marker for the grave of an eligible individual who died
after 10 SEP 01, and who is buried in a private cemetery,
notwithstanding that the grave is marked by a headstone or marker furnished at
private expense. Thus, in some cases, an individual's grave may have two
markers--one privately-purchased and one furnished by VA. Prior to 2001,
this authority had been suspended for eleven years, making those who
died between 1 NOV 90 and 10 SEP 01 ineligible for the benefit.
Furthermore, the current authority is only temporary, set to expire on 31 DEC
07. This bill would address these temporal constraints by eliminating
the sunset and making the authority permanent, and by making the
authority retroactive to cover the eleven-year gap in current law.
2. Instructs VA to design a medallion or other device to signify a
decedent's veteran status, to be placed on a privately purchased headstone
or marker, as an alternative to a government furnished headstone or
marker.
3. Extends the current two-year window for States to be reimbursed for
the unclaimed remains of veterans. To assist States in meeting some or
all of its cemetery operations and maintenance expenses, current law
requires VA to pay to States a $300 plot allowance for the interment or
inurnment of eligible veterans and reserve component members.
4. Authorizes $5 million for operational and maintenance expenses at
state cemeteries.
[Source: Sen. Akaka Press Release 2 Nov 07 ++]

VA HEPATITIS “C” CARE UPDATE 01: A review of Veterans Affairs data on
the rates and factors predicting treatment completion for HCV showed
that of 134,934 infected veterans, only 16,043 were prescribed treatment,
reported Adeel A. Butt, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and
colleagues. Only 12% of veterans infected with the hepatitis C virus
(HCV) were prescribed treatment for it, and less than one-fourth of those
treated completed a 48-week course of treatment, investigators reported
here. And among 10,461 vets with more than one year of follow-up, only
22.5% completed a full 48-week treatment course, the investigators
reported at the meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver
Diseases. Black veterans were less likely to complete therapy, as were
those with pretreatment anemia, coronary artery disease, and a greater
number of comorbidities.

The authors used the VA's national patient care database and other
VA data sets to create a cohort of veterans diagnosed with HCV from
1998 through 2003. They collected demographic and clinical information,
pharmacy data, and laboratory results, and conducted multivariate
analyses to determine which factors might predict completion of therapy. In
multivariate analyses, the odds ratio for noncompletion among patients
with anemia at baseline (hemoglobin 10-14 mg/dL) was 0.66 (95%
confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.78), and for those with depression the odds ratio
for completing therapy was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.89). Patients on
pegylated interferon therapy were more likely to complete treatment
compared with those on standard interferons. However, there was no
association between HIV co-infection and the likelihood of treatment
completion. The authors noted that at least some of the risk factors for
noncompletion, such as anemia and depression, and smaller numbers of patients
being treated at the site are modifiable. "Strategies to address these
comorbidities should be instituted before universal advocacy of HCV
treatment for every infected person, if therapeutic success at the
population level is to be achieved," the investigators noted. They called for
further study of the effect of consolidating services to higher volume
centers that are experienced in such treatment, and whether better
training of workers at low-volume centers could improve treatment
completion rates. The study was funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
[Source: MedPage Today Neil Osterweil article 4 Nov 07 ++]

VA AIDS CARE UPDATE 01: Despite the availability of life-saving
antiretroviral treatment, people infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus) continue to die and suffer from complications of AIDS, mainly due
to delayed diagnosis and initiation of treatment. A researcher at the
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and colleagues
at Yale University have shed light on why this problem persists. Led
by Dr. Neel Gandhi, assistant professor of medicine and of epidemiology
and population health at Einstein, the researchers examined 4,368
patients presenting for AIDS treatment to Veteran's Administration (VA)
Medical Centers nationwide for the first time between 1998 and 2002. Their
aim was to determine whether patients who had received medical care in
the VA healthcare system were diagnosed with the HIV infection that
causes AIDS earlier than patients outside the VA or those who were
accessing the VA system for the first time. Half of all the patients in the
study had AIDS at the time of presentation -- a high rate that
nevertheless was similar to studies conducted outside the VA healthcare system.
"What was particularly astounding to us was the fact that 40% of these
patients with AIDS had previously received medical care at the VA for
other illnesses, but had not been diagnosed with HIV infections and
treated earlier," explains Dr. Gandhi. "This occurred even though they had
an average of six physician visits over three-and-a-half years. Even
more concerning was that those patients who already interacted with the
healthcare system for several years suffered the end-stage complications
of AIDS at the same rate as those who were new to the VA healthcare
system."

One explanation for why this may occur is that patients with HIV
infection remain asymptomatic until very late in the disease, providing
few clues to doctors of the patient's underlying HIV infection. "In our
study, we found that only 12% of patients with AIDS at the time of
presentation for treatment had previously suffered from an illness
indicative of unrecognized HIV infection," notes Dr Gandhi. "The vast majority
of these patients with AIDS had no signs or symptoms of HIV infection
until they suffered end stage complications from AIDS. Most of these
AIDS complications could have been prevented if these HIV-infected people
had been routinely screened when they were first seen by a doctor and
had begun antiretroviral treatment earlier. A previously published
study has shown routine screening for HIV infection is a cost-effective
addition to the screening done for other life-threatening diseases, such
as heart disease and several types of cancer. Assuming that patients
give their permission to be screened for HIV, the potential savings from
diagnosing an infection earlier would be quite significant." The
findings of the study support a recommendation by the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) to screen all patients in all healthcare
settings for HIV-infection. [Source: Medical Care Journal Karen Gardner
article 5 Nov 07 ++]

TRAVEL PACKING TIPS: Learn from those who have been there, done that,
and know how. The AARP recently requested their members to submit
packing tips. Following are the top 20 which were most frequently
submitted:

1. Use “seven-day pill holders” to separate earrings and necklaces.
2. Packing additional plastic bags. They can be used for packing
souvenirs, dirty clothes or even as a small “washer.”
3. Bring a stain-cleaning pen and a small container of laundry
detergent, or just use shampoo for simple laundering.
4. Consider shipping your luggage ahead of time, or ahead of you before
you return.
5. Take extra hangers, as hotels and cruise ships rarely have enough.
Taking your clothes already on hangers will limit wrinkles.
6. A couple dryer sheets will keep your suitcase smelling fresh.
7. Bring a charger or extra batteries for your digital camera. Also,
have the photo cards put on CD right away if you can as a backup (and
don’t erase the cards until you’re sure!)
8. For ladies, it’s easy to base your wardrobe around one color, such
as blue or black, and then coordinate your purse, shoes, blouses, etc.
to go with the color.
9. Take older underwear and t-shirts, then throw them away after
wearing them. This will give you more room in your suitcase for souvenirs.
10. On your next three trips, write down what you wear each day. On
your fourth trip you will have an accurate list of what you really need,
not what you think you need.
11. In your carry on baggage put your bathing suit, a change or two of
clothing and basic toiletries. If your luggage is lost, you’ll still
have a way to freshen up, something to change into and can go to the
pool. And as airport delays are so common, bring snacks, bottled water (if
permitted), your meds, and reading material with you on the plane.
12. Pre-address stick-on labels for postcards to the folks back home
and you won't have to carry along a bulky address book. Don't forget to
bring along email addresses.
13. Pack half of your spouse’s clothing in your suitcase and vice
versa. That way if one bag is lost, you’ll both have some of your luggage.
14. Bring along a poncho from the dollar store. They are compact…and
great for sudden showers.
15. Create a master packing list on your computer. Each time you
travel, print a copy of that list. As you put things into your suitcase,
check it off the list. Before you go out the door, look at your list and
see if everything you need has been checked-off. It reduces the stress of
packing, and you’re less likely to forget something.
16. Carry your cell phone charger with you.
17. Print business cards with your vacation on one side (cruise, etc.)
and your names and email addresses on the other. That way, people you
meet will remember you and be able to contact you with letters and
photos.
18. Reduce the risk of having expensive jewelry by wearing something
simple that will go with everything like a gold chain, gold bracelet and
small hoop earrings.
19. To avoid having to lug luggage to your motel each night on a long
driving trip pack paper sacks with each days change: shirt, pants,
underclothes, etc. Each day take a bag with you into the motel. You can then
use the sacks for your dirty clothes.
20. Carry lightweight cheap flip-flops to wear around the hotel room or
out to the pool and never leave home without a travel alarm clock.
[Source: AARP 2 Nov 07 ++]

TRICARE SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE UPDATE 02: Many Tricare beneficiaries
are getting letters from their employer stating they will no longer
offer Tricare supplements as an employer sponsored medical option
effective 1 JAN 08. Tricare beneficiaries should look closely at their health
care options. A provision of the John Warner National Defense
Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007 prohibits employers from offering their
employees financial or other incentives to use Tricare rather than the
company’s Group Health Plan (GHP). The legislation applies to any
employer, including states and units of local government with 20 or more
employees, and mirrors the same prohibition that currently applies to
Medicare. Beneficiaries have earned their right to Tricare benefits
through their service and this remains unchanged. Tricare beneficiaries
should take measures to understand and look closely at all of their health
care options offered by Tricare and their current employer before
deciding what is best for them and their families. Eligible beneficiaries
can enroll in Tricare on their own without taking employer incentives if
desired.

The employer can still offer “cafeteria plans” to their Tricare
eligible beneficiaries as long as the plans are offered to all of their
employees, including those that are not eligible for Tricare. The
legislation does not have an impact on “Tricare Supplement” plans that are
not offered by the employer; but are sold by beneficiary associations or
commercial insurers. A cafeteria plan is defined as a fringe-benefit
plan under which employees may choose among various benefits that best
fit their needs, up to a specified dollar value. The legislation was
initiated after evidence showed many employers were consciously working
to shift their health care costs to Tricare by offering financial
incentives urging eligible employees to use Tricare rather than the
employer’s GHP. For more information about Tricare supplements refer to
http://www.Tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Medical/OHI/SupplementalInsurance.
For information about enrolling in Tricare refer to www.Tricare.mil.
[Source: Tricare News Release No. 07-84 dtd 1 Nov 07 ++]

USERRA UPDATE 03: A demonstration project designed to study which of
two federal agencies is better suited to investigate military service
members' complaints about their federal employment rights was
inconclusive and merits further review, members of a Senate committee said 31 OCT.
Congress created the demonstration project in 2004 after criticism
from several Guard members and reservists that the Labor Department's
Veterans Employment and Training Service took far too long to investigate
alleged violations of the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) at federal agencies. The law is designed to
protect veterans from employment discrimination resulting from their
service. Under the project, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and VETS
were assigned shared responsibility for receiving and investigating
federal sector USERRA claims. A Government Accountability Office report
issued in July did not reach a conclusion about which is better suited to
handle the cases. George Stalcup, director of strategic issues at GAO,
testified that data problems at both agencies affected GAO's ability to
draw conclusions.

Still, representatives from OSC and VETS pleaded their case for
sole responsibility. OSC Deputy Special Counsel James Byrne testified
that giving OSC sole oversight would remove the burden from VETS, freeing
it to focus on providing quality services to USERRA claimants in the
private sector. Additionally, Byrne said, federal claims often have a
mix of other potential violations that would fall under OSC's
jurisdiction, such as prohibited personnel practices. But Charles Ciccolella,
assistant secretary of Labor for veterans' employment and training,
testified that the GAO report clearly indicates the Labor Department resolves
cases faster than OSC. Unlike OSC, which has only a headquarters and
four field offices, VETS positions USERRA investigators in each state and
territory, he said. Lawmakers seemed intent on extending the current
setup. "It is not clear to me that results of the demonstration project
and the GAO report provide sufficient evidence to permit this committee
to decide on the proper jurisdiction of these claims," said Senate
Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka, (D-HI). "I believe that
a good case can be made for retaining jurisdiction by both VETS and
OSC." If members choose to extend the demonstration project, then they
should set clear goals, Stalcup said. "Legislation creating the current
demonstration project was not specific in terms of the objectives," he
said. Mathew Tully, an Army Reserve officer and attorney who represents
many federal reservists with USERRA claims, testified that should the
demonstration project continue, GAO should also consider the number of
service members who represent themselves or seek private counsel and go
directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

During the demonstration project, Tully, Rinckey & Associates
investigated and prosecuted before the MSPB a total of 1,802 cases, more
than four times the combined number of cases that VETS and OSC handled
over the same period, Tully said. Of the cases handled by the law firm,
73% of veterans were awarded the remedy they were seeking, he added. But
if the decision must be made between VETS and OSC, Tully said OSC is
better positioned. "The Department of Labor has built a reputation over
the last 13 years of poor investigative work [and] poor use of
investigative tools. I have no doubts that if [OSC] is allowed to continue to
investigate and prosecute USERRA claims that their reputation will
grow." Tully said. Committee members and witnesses noted that better
preventative measures also are needed. Byrne said OSC has an outreach program
to educate managers on USERRA issues, but acknowledged that such
programs are typically not implemented until after a violation is recognized.
Tully recommended giving OSC disciplinary authority so that federal
supervisors are held personally accountable for USERRA violations.
"Personal liability is the ultimate deterrent," he said, "and its
implementation would have a profound effect on those unsavory individuals who
might otherwise commit a USERRA violation." [Source: GOVEXEC.com Brittany
R. Ballenstedt article 1 Nov 07 ++]

RESERVE GI BILL UPDATE 08: The House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform is seeking answers from Defense Secretary Robert Gates
regarding the recent deployment of the 1/34th Brigade Combat Team relative
to how some of the soldiers from Minnesota and other states deployed
with the 1/34th were ordered to active duty for less than 730 days and
some for the full 730 days. An active duty soldier on orders for two
years (730 days) or longer, need only serve 20 months on active duty to
qualify for MGIB educational benefits. Although hundreds of soldiers
assigned to the 1/34th BCT served on active duty for 22 months, they were
denied active duty MGIB educational benefits because their orders were
for less than the statutory 730 day (two year) period. Those soldiers of
the 1/34th on the same deployment whose orders read for 730 days and
who served the same 22 months did qualify for active duty MGIB benefits.
The Committee wants to know if the National Guard and the Army have
“responded appropriately to rectify the problems caused by these orders”
and if procedures are in place for future deployments to maximize
legitimate eligibility for benefits. [Source: NGAUS LEGIT 2 Nov 07 ++]

TRICARE NEXIUM COPAY LOWERED: The Tricare Management Activity (TMA)
announced that due to a negotiated price break from the manufacturer
they are lowering the co-pay for Nexium. Tricare beneficiaries will now
only pay a $3.00 co-pay. This is true at both retail pharmacies and the
Tricare mail order pharmacies (TMOP). At retail, beneficiaries can get a
30-day supply; while through TMOP it is up to a 90-day supply. Nexium
is a heartburn treatment known as a proton pump inhibitor.
Approximately 500,000 Tricare beneficiaries take this type of drug. At a meeting
with Express Scripts Inc. TREA Executive Director Deirdre Parke Holleman
was told that Nexium is the most popular drug for Tricare
beneficiaries. (In fact the purple pill is extremely popular throughout the
country.) While the co-pay for Nexium dropped other proton pump inhibitors,
Prevacid, Zegerid, Protonix and Aciphex, co-pays increased to $22.00. For
more information refer to:
http://www.Tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=330. [Source: TREA
Washington Update 2 Nov 07 ++]

VETJOBS UPDATE 01: VetJobs is the leading Internet niche job board
for reaching the 14 million military veterans currently in the work
force, as well as the 250 thousand active duty military personnel who
transition each year, and their family members. It is a source for veterans
seeking employment in information technology, program and project
management, sales, linguists, logistics, transportation, human resources,
manufacturing, engineering, finance, healthcare, accounting and senior
executives and is recognized in the industry as the leading recruitment
site to reach the military market. It offers employers candidates (i.e.
veterans) with diversity, leadership skills, technical skills, security
clearances and who have verifiable work backgrounds. The following Job
Fair list prides the date, location and title of upcoming job fairs in
the Continental United States (CONUS) during the period 15 NOV thru 14
DEC. Click any job fair below to display details and contact
information for the event. To view job fairs scheduled over the next 12 months
refer to
www.acap.army.mil/transitioner/job_fairs/index.cfm?caller=transitioner. For fairs outside the Continental United States scroll to the
end of CONUS job fairs.

NOV 15 Jacksonville, FL CivilianJobs.com Job Fair
NOV 15 San Diego, CA Hire Patriots Job Fair
NOV 15 Fort Leonard Wood, US ACAP/ACS Semi-Annual Job Fair
NOV 16 Tucson, AZ All-Veterans Job Fair
NOV 18 - 19 Chicago, IL Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for
Transitioning Military
NOV 29 Arlington, VA Cleared Job Fair
DEC 2 - 3 Atlanta, GA Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for
Transitioning Military
DEC 2 - 3 Cincinnati, OH Orion International Military Hiring Conference
DEC 2 - 3 Washington, DC Orion International Military Hiring Conference
DEC 2 - 3 Fishkill, NY Orion International Military Hiring Conference
NE Technicians Only
DEC 2 - 3 Dallas, TX Orion International Military Hiring Conference
DEC 2 - 4 San Diego, CA Orion International Military Hiring Conference
DEC 3 - 4 Norfolk, VA Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
(Technicians)
DEC 4 Tampa, FL Mac Dill AFB Defense Technology & Intelligence Career
Day
DEC 5 Live Oak, TX NCOA Job Leader National Job Fair
DEC 6 Fort Drum, NY ACAP/M.O.R.E. Job Fair
DEC 6 San Diego, CA Military Stars Western Regional Career Expo
DEC 5 - 7 Raleigh, NC Orion International Military Hiring Conference
DEC 6 - 7 Atlanta, GA Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
DEC 6 - 7 Irvine, CA Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
DEC 6 - 7 Dallas, TX Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
DEC 6 - 7 Washington, DC Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
DEC 9 - 10 Norfolk, VA Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for
Transitioning Military
DEC 9 - 10 Austin, TX Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for
Transitioning Military
DEC 9 - 10 San Diego, CA Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for
Transitioning Military
DEC 10 Irving, TX MilitaryStars Southwest Regional Career Expo
DEC 13 San Diego, CA CivilianJobs.com Job Fair
[Source: VetJobs Veteran Eagle 1 Nov 07 ++]

FEDERAL RECOVERY COORDINATORS: The Department of Defense (DoD) and
Veterans Affairs (VA) on 31 OCT signed an agreement to provide "federal
recovery coordinators" who will ensure life-long medical and
rehabilitative care services and other federal benefits are provided to seriously
wounded, injured and ill active duty service members, veterans and
their families. The agreement puts into place one of the top
recommendations of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning
Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Sen. Robert Dole and former Health and
Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. Under this agreement the first
group of federal recovery coordinators will be provided by VA in
coordination with DoD and will be assigned to select military treatment
facilities throughout the nation. They will support existing military
service and veteran programs and care providers by coordinating needed
services between DoD and VA and state and private and voluntary
organizations, while serving as the ultimate life-long resource for wounded, ill
and injured and their families who may have concerns about federal
services or benefits. Job announcements for the new positions have been
posted, with the first 10 federal recovery coordinators scheduled to be
hired by 1 DEC. Plans call for the new employees to be trained and in
place at the military's major health care facilities during JAN 08.

The first 10 coordinators will work at military health care
facilities and at any other locations where patients are later assigned.
They will be located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington,
D.C.; the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; the Brooke Army
Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and the Naval Medical Center
Balboa in San Diego. Additional recovery coordinators will be added in the
future as needs are determined. The coordinators will have a background
in social services or nursing and will work closely with the clinical
and non-clinical case management teams to develop and execute federal
individual recovery plans. Those plans, developed for the severely
wounded, injured or ill, specify what services are needed across the
continuum of care, from recovery through rehabilitation to reintegration to
civilian life. The coordinators also will work closely with family
members to take care of their services and needs. The coordinators will have
access to and support from the DoD's under secretary of defense for
personnel and readiness and VA's under secretary for health, as well as
the commanders of facilities where service members and veterans receive
treatment. These federal recovery coordinators are in addition to
other programs that have been established by the military services.
[Source: DoD News Release No. 1265-07 dtd 31 Oct 07 ++]

MILITARY PAY RAISE 2009: If history is a guide, federal employees will
be in line for a 3.4% pay raise in 2009, based on figures released 31
OCT by the Labor Department. Why does the 2009 pay raise have to be
projected this far ahead of time? Unlike retired pay cost-of-living
adjustments (COLAs), military pay raises aren't automatic or mandatory. They
have to be budgeted for, and the funds have to be appropriated. The
Pentagon is preparing the FY2009 budget right now, so OCT 07 is the latest
they can wait for ECI data to set the 2009 raise. From SEP 06 to SEP
07, the change in the Labor Department's Employment Cost Index was
3.4%, a figure that President Bush is likely to use as a basis for his pay
raise recommendation when he releases his 2009 budget proposal in FEB
08. That means -- unless the Administration or Congress chooses to pick
a different number -- active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members
will get a 3.4% raise in JAN 09.

For the past several years, federal employees have received raises
equal to those granted to their military counterparts. Under a 2004
law, military salaries must be increased annually at a rate equal to the
change in the ECI for the private sector's wages. That same law, the
2004 National Defense Authorization Act, previously tacked on an
additional 0.5% to the change in the cost index to determine the overall
military raise. But the law called for raises from 2007 on to be equal to the
ECI, without the extra bump. Contrary to the 2004 law, however,
Congress is poised to approve a 2008 pay raise for military and civilian
personnel of 3.5%, 0.5% higher than last year's change in the ECI. The 2008
raise still awaits final approval, as Congress completes the
appropriations process. Meanwhile, military and civilian personnel may be on
track to receive the 0.5% bump through 2012. Under the House version of
the fiscal 2008 Defense authorization bill, military members would get a
guaranteed pay raise of 0.5% above the ECI from fiscal 2009 through
fiscal 2012. The provision, if passed in conference committee and signed
by President Bush, likely would give federal labor unions an edge in
pushing for an equivalent raise for federal civilian employees. Although
the ECI has become the de facto basis for the civilian pay raise,
another law on the books is supposed to dictate civilian pay.

In 1990, Congress passed the Federal Employees Pay Comparability
Act (FEPCA), which established a formula to close the gap between the
government and the private sector. The complex formula would have
granted civilian employees an average pay hike much higher than the raises
they have received since its passage. But FEPCA has not been implemented
as intended. Instead, each year the president uses a loophole that
allows him to override the formula and propose a much lower pay raise.
Congress then typically pushes for pay parity between the civilian and
military workforce. A chunk of the 3.4% pay hike employees would receive in
2009 if the change in the ECI is used would be allocated for locality
pay. At the Defense Department, however, across-the-board increases
will not be so exact for some employees. Sophisticated new pay systems at
Defense and other agencies give management broader discretion in
setting pay, effectively providing them the ability to override the 3.4
percent figure. In 2009, the Pentagon plans to give certain employees in the
National Security Personnel System raises based on the quality of
their work. For those employees, the government wide raise will go to pay
pools and will be distributed based on the performance ratings. [Source:
GovernmentExecutive.com Brittany R. Ballenstedt article 31 Oct 07 ++]

VA DIABETES MELLITUS CARE UPDATE 03: The U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs has deleted rosiglitazone (Avandia), the diabetes drug that has
been linked to increased risk of myocardial infarction and heart
failure, from its formulary. The action followed an internal review of
medical records of diabetes patients treated in the VA system. Moreover, the
VA representative to the FDA's 15-member Drug Safety Oversight Board
(DSOB) rallied other members in an attempt to have rosiglitazone pulled
from the market. According to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the move
to ban rosiglitazone fell only one vote short. Grassley said the DSOB
met on 2 OCT and seven members of the DSOB voted to pull the drug.
In a letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.,
Grassley demanded that the FDA make public both the DSOB vote and "information
from the FDA regarding the internal policies and procedures governing
the DSOB and the terms and conditions governing release of information
from the DSOB to the public."

In July members of two FDA advisory boards, meeting jointly,
voted 22 to one to keep the drug on the market. But those same advisers
also overwhelmingly agreed that the drug should carry a black box warning
about ischemic heart disease. The drug already has a black box warning
for heart failure. The FDA is expected to announce rosiglitazone label
changes within the next few weeks and although the agency is not
required to follow the advice of its advisers, it is widely expected that
the agency will order a black box warning about ischemic heart disease.
In his letter, dated 26 OCT, Grassley said he has been investigating
the FDA's handling of rosiglitazone since May when the New England
Journal of Medicine published a meta-analysis that reported a 43% increase in
the relative risk of MI and a 64% increase in relative risk of
cardiovascular deaths. Rosiglitazone is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline. [Source:
MedPage Today Peggy Peck article 30Oct 07 ++]

VA DIABETES MELLITUS CARE UPDATE 04: Acting Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield 13 NOV the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
plans to expand its efforts to prevent and control diabetes as part of
an ongoing campaign to help veterans eat healthy, watch their weight
and stay physically active. Mansfield said, “With over 25% of VA
patients living with diabetes, it is important to find ways to bring this
disease under control. VA is doing more than ever to educate our veterans,
research this disease and provide the type of specialized care that
diabetes demands.” He noted the Department has provided diabetic care to
70,000 veterans in more than 200,000 hospital and clinic visits since
2005. VA plans to keep expanding its diabetes awareness effort as part
of the Department’s broader HealthierUS Veterans campaign. Last year,
television stations around the nation aired more than 3,000 VA-produced
broadcasts about eating healthy and staying active. The Department
held a symposium for health care professionals in Washington, D.C., and
several public events around the country to inform veterans of the
dangers of diabetes.

Annual evaluations of veterans with diabetes show small but
continuing improvements in tested levels of blood sugar, LDL cholesterol and
blood pressure with treatment, including weight management. VA’s
tele-health program allows patients with diabetes to monitor and transmit
their blood pressure and blood glucose levels from home to VA facilities,
thus improving their access to care and allowing them to take control
of their own health through improved communication from home with their
health care providers.
VA’s research programs include centers investigating insulin
resistance, vascular damage and obesity, pre-clinical studies of new agents to
prevent and treat diabetes and clinical trials of new ways to prevent
kidney damage. Other VA research is seeking ways to reduce diabetes
complications that lead to disability, focusing on preventing loss of limbs
and avoiding obesity among paraplegic patients likely to gain weight
due to reduced movement. VA researchers also are examining the interplay
between genetics and the environment in determining glucose metabolism
and weight gain or loss. Some veterans with diabetes qualify for VA
disability compensation. Those veterans must have a diagnosis of
diabetes and evidence that it began or was aggravated during active duty or
within one year of release from duty. Since 2001, veterans who served in
Vietnam and later developed adult-onset (Type 2) diabetes have been
eligible for disability compensation. This policy affecting Vietnam
veterans is an outgrowth of research into the effects of Agent Orange.
[Source: VA News Release 13 Nov07 ++]

TV ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERSION: The US Department of Commerce has
announced that on 17 FEB 09 all television broadcast in the United States
will convert from analog to digital (i.e. DTV) format. Although the
conversion will not take effect until 2009, the conversion boxes should
be available JAN 08. Following are some consumer questions with answers
regarding the conversion and the Converter Coupon Program:

1. How do I know whether I need a converter? If you use “rabbit ears”
or a rooftop antenna for TV reception, you probably need a converter.
Television sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service do
not require converters. Televisions with digital tuners also do not
need converters. Take a short quiz at the DTV Transition Web site
www.dtvtransition.org to see whether the converter box is the right option for
your household to make the digital transition.

2. Can I request my coupons for the converter program today? No. The
converter coupon program will be up and running on 1 JAN 08. At that
time, the government will begin taking requests for coupons.

3. Can I pre-order my coupons before 1 JAN 08, by providing my address
to the government? No. By law, requests for coupons cannot be taken
before 1 JAN 08.

4. How can I request my coupons? Requests will be taken beginning 1 JAN
08, and going through 31 MAR 09. Check back to this website during
that period of time to find out convenient ways to request your coupons,
including calling a toll-free number.

5. How do I know whether I'm eligible for a coupon? All households in
the United States and its territories are eligible for coupons on a
first-come-first-served basis.

6. How many coupons can I request? Each household can request a maximum
of 2 coupons.

7. What is the value of a coupon? Each coupon is worth $40. Only one
coupon can be used per converter.

8. What information do I need to provide the government to request my
coupons? The government only requires information necessary to mail
coupons: name, household address and number of coupons needed (maximum of
2). Applications will be made available beginning in 2008.

9. Will my coupons expire? Yes. Coupons will expire 90 days after they
are issued.

10. Will I still need an antenna to receive my programming? Yes. If you
currently use an antenna to receive your over-the-air programming, you
will still need it after you install a converter.

11. Where can I buy a converter? Coupon-eligible converters are
currently not in stores. Beginning in early 2008, they will appear in stores
where you would also buy televisions and other consumer electronics
products.

12. Can I buy a converter online? It is expected that online retailers
will participate in the Coupon Program. Again, check back to this
website in early 2008 to see a list of participating retailers.

13. Can I use my coupon(s) to purchase any converter? No. The
government will provide a list of eligible converters and participating
retailers on its website. Consumers can also ask participating retailers what
converters in their stores can be purchased with a government coupon.

14. Can I use my coupon to purchase other consumer electronics
products, such as DVD recorders or televisions? No. Coupons will be
electronically coded to be redeemable only for purchase of eligible converters.

15. Can I use my coupon to get $40 off a converter I've already
purchased? No. Coupons must be presented at the point of sale and must be
redeemed at the time converters are purchased.

16. Will I need to buy a new television after 17 FEB 09? No. Your
existing television sets will continue to work after the digital transition
if they are connected to converters. You do not need to discard your
analog sets.

17. Will I receive Closed Captioning through a converter? Yes.
Manufacturers of converters are required to pass through Closed Captioning to
display on your television.

18. Will I receive High-Definition TV with the aid of a converter? No.
Analog televisions are not capable of displaying high-definition
resolution, but the picture will generally be better with a converter. If you
want to view high-definition TV, then you will need one of the newer
sets rated for "high-definition" resolution.

19. How do I know whether my facility is eligible for coupons? For
example, are prisons or group homes eligible to receive coupons? Applicants
must meet the Census definition of a household as consisting of "all
persons who currently occupy a house, apartment, mobile home, group of
rooms, or single room that is occupied as separate living quarters and
has a separate U.S. postal address."

20. Why is the transition from analog to digital television happening?
Because digital broadcasting is more efficient than the current
"analog" technology, less of the airwaves are needed to provide programming to
consumers. The unused spectrum which broadcasters no longer require
will be used for two important purposes. First, it will be given to first
responders - our nation's firefighters and police - to better
communicate with each other during emergencies. Second, this spectrum will be
auctioned off to provide innovative wireless broadband services to
consumers.

For additional information about the digital television transition,
refer to the following Web sites to become familiar with your options for
making a smooth digital transition:
• www.dtvtransition.org - a one-stop clearinghouse of consumer
information and tools to manage the digital transition, hosted by the DTV
Transition Coalition.
• www.dtv.gov - this is a government site offering comprehensive
resources, including a consumer guide on what to look out for as the digital
transition approaches.
• www.myceknowhow.com - the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
offers this information to help consumers understand various available
equipment options.
• www.ceretailers.org - representing consumer electronics retailers,
CERC (Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition) offers a Q & A about the
transition as well as a consumer advisory alerting consumers to the
cutoff date.
[Source: Various Nov 07 ++]

VETERAN LEGISLATION STATUS 13 NOV 07: For a listing of Congressional
bills of interest to the non-active duty veteran community that have
been introduced in the 110th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s House &
Senate attachments. By clicking on the bill number indicated you can
access the actual legislative language of the bill and see if your
representative has signed on as a cosponsor. Support of these bills through
cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to
move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A
good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have
signed onto the bill. A cosponsor is a member of Congress who has
joined one or more other members in his/her chamber (i.e. House or Senate)
to sponsor a bill or amendment. The member who introduces the bill is
considered the sponsor. Members subsequently signing on are called
cosponsors. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or
Senate. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can also review a copy of each bill’s
content, determine its current status, the committee it has been
assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To
determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored,
cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to
http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110/sponlst.html. The key to increasing
cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is
letting our representatives know of veteran’s feelings on issues. At
the end of some listed bills is a web link that can be used to do that.
Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov who your
representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to
communicate with a message or letter of your own making. [Source: RAO
Bulletin Attachment 29 Oct 07 ++]

Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA
Baguio City RP
PSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517
Tel: (760) 839-9003 when in U.S. & Cell: 0915-361-3503 when in
Philippines.
Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net Web:
http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html
AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/AD37 member

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