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