NAUS Weekly Update for May 9, 2008

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National Association
for Uniformed ServicesŽ®Weekly Update May 9, 2008
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"All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education that I received from her."

~ Founding Father, George Washington ~

WASHINGTON REPORT

Update on the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act and TRICARE fees
The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel moved quickly on Wednesday, May 7, to complete mark-up of its section of the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act (HR 5658).

And the news is good.

Chaired by Susan Davis (D-CA) and Ranking Member John McHugh (R-NY), the House Subcommittee took NAUS-endorsed action to reject the Pentagon and Task Force plan to steeply raise TRICARE fees and co-pays. The Subcommittee' s action replicates that taken last week by the Senate Armed Services Committee. It, too, rejected the Pentagon/Task Force plan for fiscal year 2009.

Like its Senate counterparts, the subcommittee included a 3.9 percent pay raise for active duty forces which is 0.5 percent above the amount requested; language that would increase manpower levels for the Army and Marine Corps; create a tuition assistance program for military spouses who are pursuing portable careers and authorize a "career intermission" pilot program which would allow those who are seeking a military career time off from active duty for a period of several years in order to pursue other life achievements.

Unlike the Senate, the House seeks to cut long-term health costs by extending preventive care programs (e.g. smoking cessation) under TRICARE to retirees under age 65. According to Chairwoman Davis, insufficient funding prevented them from making these programs available to TRICARE for Life beneficiaries, but she was hopeful that could change in the future. Ranking member McHugh acknowledged that the exclusion of TRICARE for Life beneficiaries was discriminatory, and expressed optimism that the additional funds could be found prior to next week's markup of the bill by the full House Armed Services Committee.

A few hurdles remain to complete action on the final bill. But at this point everything looks good for retiree health care. NAUS anticipates no change as the NDAA moves to final decision, date unknown.

NAUS Concern: In concluding remarks, Chairwomen Susan Davis demonstrated an unwelcome weakness when she said, "While we prohibit a fee increase this year, it is unclear that we will be able to continue to sustain prohibitions on health care fees in the future, we will need to work together to find a fair and equitable solution that protects our beneficiaries and ensures the financial viability of the military health care system for the future." Similar messages were heard last week in the Senate from chairman of the Senate Personnel subcommittee, Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Ranking Member Lindsay Graham (R-SC).

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Holds Hearing
On Wednesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee met to receive testimony on 28 separate veterans bills.

The two areas of testimony of greatest interest to NAUS members are enhanced education benefits for veterans and enactment of the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act (S.961/H.R.23) .Regarding education, the VA said it could not support S. 22, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, introduced by Sen. Webb (D-VA). Its main objection was that it did not include transferability to dependents and that it would have an adverse effect on retention. VA also foresees the need for costly administrative mechanisms that would take two years or more to put into effect to ensure that the proper payments were made.

The VA also does not support S. 961 as they believe it would create a "service pension for a particular class of individual based on no eligibility requirement other than a valid certificate of qualifying service from the Secretary of Transportation or Secretary of Defense. Further, this bill would authorize the payment of a greater benefit to a Merchant Mariner...than a veteran currently receives for a service connected disability rated as 60 percent disabled."

The second panel of veterans service organizations, almost unanimously, agreed that S. 22 was the preferred bill that would meet the needs of most veterans. When pressed by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) whether or not they would accept large increases and improvements in the current MGIB, of course they said yes, but would prefer that S. 22 and/or elements of other competing bills were incorporated into a bill to provide the best possible educational benefits for all military members, including the Guard and Reserve. The veterans organizations for the most part did not object to S. 961, except for the costs involved and that it might take money from other programs. NAUS submitted testimony to the Committee as well, which supports S. 961 as a long neglected "thank you" to the Merchant Marine.

The final panel of former Merchant Mariners H. Gerald Starnes and Charles Dana Gibson was enlightening in expanding on some of the experiences and exploits of the brave men who transported all the necessary supplies to fight WW II on two fronts. The most surprising testimony was from Mr. Gibson, who as an historical writer had done extensive research on the Merchant Marine and Army Transport Service during the war. He dispelled one of the myths that the Merchant Marine had gone on strike during the war. In fact they had signed an agreement to not strike while hostilities continued and they didn't.

You can read the entire NAUS testimony by Clicking Here to read it from our website.

To read the complete testimonies of all the participants Click Here.

Delay for Supplemental War Spending Bill
Facing objections from many members, the House leadership has delayed consideration of the Emergency Supplemental War Spending Bill. The bill is additionally facing a veto threat from the White House if it includes more than the $108 billion requested by the President. NAUS will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed.

HEALTH CARE NEWS

Understanding Your TRICARE Benefits
TRICARE beneficiaries who want a thorough understanding of TRICARE benefits can participate in TRICARE University's free on-line course. Simply log on to www.tricare. mil/tricareu, click "online training" and select the TRICARE Public course.

Mail-Order Pharmacy
Tired of driving to the retail pharmacy? Want to save time and money? Using the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) allows you to get the medications you take on a regular basis delivered directly to your home.

Signing up for TMOP home delivery and transferring your retail prescriptions is quick, simple and hassle free. Just call the Member Choice Center (MCC) at 1-877-363-1433 to speak with a patient advocate or sign up online by Clicking Here. If you are currently using a retail pharmacy to obtain your medications, the MCC will transfer those prescriptions to TMOP for you by working with your physician to secure a new prescription that will maximize your TMOP benefit.

Using the TMOP allows you to reduce repeated trips to the retail pharmacy, parking and waiting in line at the prescription counter. It is the most cost-effective and convenient option for you and the military health system.

The TMOP dispenses up to a 90-day supply of maintenance medications such as those you take for high blood pressure, asthma or diabetes, for the same copayment you pay for up to a 30-day supply from a network retail pharmacy.

This means, you are able to get three times as much medication for your money, saving as much 66 percent compared to retail costs. Plus, delivery is free for standard shipping and handling. To learn more or to begin using TMOP, call a patient advocate at 1-877-363-1433 or Click Here.
Urgent Health Care Options Expanded for Active Duty Overseas
Thanks to a recent change, overseas service members with a serious illness or injury will no longer be required to travel to distant military treatment facilities if appropriate civilian help is nearby. The TRICARE Management Activity made the announcement earlier this month.
Under the new policy, service members and their families can use local clinics when the nearest military treatment facility (MTF) is short-staffed, or too far away for quick response. The prospective patient's only requirement is to obtain permission from the TRICARE Global Remote Overseas (TGRO) contractor first.

Additional information including contact numbers for TGRO regional offices can be found by Clicking Here.

ACTIVE DUTY NEWS

Free Amusement Park Admission
Continuing a long tradition of support for our troops, Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks are offering complimentary admission to active-duty military representing all five armed services, active members of a reserve or National Guard unit, and/or up to three direct dependents. The offer is valid for one complimentary, single-day admission per person, per year, to one of the following Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks: SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg, Sesame Place, Adventure Island and Water Country USA. For information on how to apply for the complimentary tickets, visit the Here's to the Heroes website.


Military Spouse Appreciation Day
Starting in 1984, the Armed Forces has set aside a special day to acknowledge the significant contributions of our spouses. Today, Friday, May 9, 2008, has been designated Military Spouse Appreciation Day. The life of a military family is one of unique challenges. Spouses continue to meet these challenges with grace and strength. Take time to thank your spouse for a job well done.


Online Housing Referral Expanding
DoD is expanding the Automated Housing Referral Network overseas beginning with bases in Europe. The Network is a free DoD-sponsored housing referral website for service members who are looking for homes in the continental U.S. The website contains listings for off-base rentals, on-base military housing, shared rentals, temporary lodging, and homes being sold by military members. Military home buyers and sellers can also obtain free real estate counseling assistance by personal advisers who have been screened by military housing officials at the Military Moving Station website.

VETERANS NEWS

VA Seeking Additional Volunteers
The VA is encouraging more Americans to join its 85,000 volunteers in the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS). VAVS volunteers are involved in helping VA medical staff in hospices, outpatient clinics and home-based programs. Volunteers are also active at many of the 125 national cemeteries managed by the VA, where they place flags on gravesites, provide military honors and help with landscaping. Volunteers are also important in programs that reach out to homeless veterans, including annual "stand downs" held in many communities to provide health check ups, clothing, and benefits assistance to the homeless. To become a volunteer, contact your nearest VA facility, or complete a form at the VA Voluntary Service webpage.


New Veterans Employment Report
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its biennial report, "The Employment Situation of Veterans: 2007." The BLS report states that the unemployment rate for veterans who have served since September 2001 is 6.1 percent. Veterans, who are current or past members of the National Guard or Reserve, who served since September 2001, had a lower unemployment rate of just 2.6 percent. The report is available at the BLS' website. For more information on all the veterans' employment programs offered by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), visit the VETS website.

New Office Established (VA Press Release)
This week the VA and its federal partners announced the establishment the Federal Recovery Coordinator Program (FRCP) office. "The Office is already actively at work with dozens of severely injured patients around the country," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

In coordination with the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services, the joint Federal Recovery Coordinator Program is designed to cut across bureaucratic lines and reach into the private sector as necessary to identify services needed for seriously wounded and ill service members, veterans and their families.

At VA, which is coordinating the recovery coordinators' office, a director has been appointed, Ginnean Quisenberry, and six field staff members are actively working with 85 patients at three major military treatment facilities, with four additional coordinators expected to be appointed soon.

Currently the federal recovery coordinators are based at three military hospitals most likely to receive severely wounded service members evacuated from the combat theater: Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

A fourth site, Naval Medical Center San Diego, will receive two of the additional four field staff expected to be appointed soon.

Participating patients will include those with seriously debilitating burns, spinal cord injuries, amputations, visual impairments, traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

While initially focused in early stages for current military hospital inpatients, the FRCP involvement is expected to be a lifetime commitment to veterans and their families. The coordinators will maintain contacts by phone, visits and e-mail.

When a veteran settles in a remote area, VA will be able to use multimedia systems that integrate video and audio teleconferencing so that veterans may visit a federal clinic or private center near their homes to link up with their case coordinator for a meeting.

NAUS NEWS

Happy Mother's Day
NAUS wishes every Mom in the country a super happy Mother's Day on Sunday. We send a special salute to the members of our affiliated association The Society of Military Widows and wish them all a very great day.
Memorial Day
This year Memorial Day is on Monday May 26. Start making your plans to attend the parades and memorial services held in nearly every town and hamlet in America. NAUS will again have the privilege of placing a wreath, on behalf of all our members, at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. We hope you can participate in your local celebrations and if you do please send us some pictures.