NAUS Weekly Update for February 15, 2008

[admin]

If this email does not display properly, please view our online version.National Association
for Uniformed Services®Weekly Update February 15, 2008
Send this NAUS Weekly Update to a friend!

"I was also very disappointed that the budget again proposes increasing health care fees on military service members and their families ... ."

~ House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton ~

Speaking on the Defense Fiscal Year 2009 Budget

WASHINGTON REPORT

Military Widows Win Right to Sue Government for SBP
In a decision this week, a U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge has denied the Government's motion to dismiss and is allowing three military widows to sue for a combined $105,000 in accumulated back pay from their military Survivor Benefit Plans (SBP). The widows contend that the government has illegally withheld these payments since Dec. 16, 2003.

If these three widows, Margaret Haverkamp, Iva Rogers and NAUS member Patricia Sharp, prevail in their suit, hundreds of other widows could also be awarded SBP repayments. Those affected are very narrowly defined. They must be surviving spouses who remarried at age 57 or older AND who had their SBP cut or totally eliminated by their decision to accept Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If the judge in the case accepts the widows' motion for summary judgment, which is possible, the lawyer for the widows "hopes" that the government will allow the ruling to apply to other spouses of veterans who fall into the same category. NAUS will closely monitor this case and report any developments as it presents a step in the right direction for all spouses who see a reduction in SBP by the amount of DIC received.

Defense Sec. Gates slips on ice, breaks arm
Defense Sec. Robert Gates fractured his right arm in a fall on an icy step at his home in Washington, D.C., and was treated Wednesday at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, the Pentagon said.

Gates had the accident Tuesday night but waited to be examined until the next morning when he got to the Defense Department, where he underwent a series of X-rays. He was taken to Bethesda in suburban Maryland and returned to the Pentagon later Wednesday.

Because of the accident, Gates canceled a scheduled appearance Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill where he was to testify on the Pentagon's budget for the new fiscal year beginning
Oct. 1. According to the Department, the injury is not expected to disrupt the Sec.'s future schedule.

HEALTH CARE NEWS

Referral and Prior Authorization Requirements for TRICARE Standard
TRICARE Standard puts the power to manage your health care in your hands by not requiring referrals. However, some services may require prior authorization.

Under TRICARE Standard prior authorization is required for the following services:

• <LI class=MsoNormal>Adjunctive dental services <LI class=MsoNormal>Home health services <LI class=MsoNormal>Hospice care <LI class=MsoNormal>Non-emergency inpatient behavioral health care, including non-emergency inpatient admissions for substance use disorders <LI class=MsoNormal>Outpatient behavioral health care after the eighth visit in a fiscal year (Oct. 1–Sept. 30) <LI class=MsoNormal>Transplants (solid organ and stem cell)
• TRICARE Extended Care Health Option services

Your network provider can coordinate the authorization with the regional TRICARE contractor. Once an authorization is granted, the contractor will also issue service beginning and ending dates for medical or surgical services. For behavioral health authorizations, the contractor will specify a certain number of visits, in addition to the beginning and ending dates. All authorized care must be received before the authorization' s end date. If not, your provider must acquire a new authorization. Additional authorization rules may apply, so it's best to call your regional TRICARE contractor if you have questions.

TriWest Named "Top-Level" Employer of Guard, Reserve Troops
Earlier this week, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Association (ESGR) added TriWest Healthcare Alliance to its list of companies that provide extra-ordinary support for employees serving in the National Guard and Reserves. TriWest administers the military's health care plan, TRICARE, in California and 20 other western States for 2.9 million TRICARE beneficiaries.

To be recognized by the ESGR as a top employer, companies must meet certain criteria. These criteria are:

• <LI class=MsoNormal>Signing a statement of support publicly demonstrating support for employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserves <LI class=MsoNormal>Reviewing internal Human Resources policies to ensure they are compliant with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) <LI class=MsoNormal>Promoting training for managers and above in how to effectively manage their employees who serve in the Reserve Component <LI class=MsoNormal>Adopting polices and implementing programs that go above and beyond what is required by the USERRA
• Serving as an advocate for employee service in the National Guard and Reserve and helping to promote the mission of the ESGR.

About half of TriWest's nearly 2,000 employees are retired military or spouses and family members of Service members and military retirees.

ACTIVE DUTY NEWS

Nurse Commissioning Program Seeks Enlisted Applicants
Officials at the Air Force Personnel Center(AFPC) will conduct the annual Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program(NECP) board May 13-14 to select candidates for fall 2008 and spring 2009 start dates.The program offers active duty enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn a bachelor degree in a high-need academic major. NECP students will complete their degree at a college or university with an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment or a college or university with a "cross-town agreement." To be considered by the board Airmen must contact AFPC by Feb. 22 and state an intent to apply; send transcripts for an academic evaluation by Mar. 31; and submit an application by May 2. For more information go to http://www.af. mil/news/ story.asp? id=123086097.

Navy Relaxes Management Controls for Tuition Assistance and NCPACE
Restrictions on enlisted sailor participation in Tuition Assistance (TA) and Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) based on time in service and end of obligated service have been rescinded. The change was announced by Navy Administration message (NAVADMIN) 42-08 released Feb. 12. Sailors with less than 19 years time in service and meeting all other requirements may participate in TA or NCPACE as long as course completions occur prior to separation from active duty. For more information, go to http://www.navy. mil/search/ display.asp? story_id= 34954.

First National Security Cutter Launched
The U. S. Coast Guard's first national security cutter, the Bertholf, took to the sea last Friday, operating in concert with the service's new maritime patrol aircraft, the Ocean Sentry HC-144, and a newly re-engined HC-65 helicopter. The Bertholf is the Coast Guard's largest ever patrol cutter. Last week's launch signaled the beginning of four days of builder trials that will test the cutter's systems and performance in advance of the Coast Guard formally accepting it. The new cutter will be commissioned this summer and home ported in Alameda, Calif.

Tax Information for Members of the U.S. Armed Forces
The tax laws provide some special benefits for active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, particularly those serving in combat zones. The Internal Revenue Service maintains a separate page on its website to assist members with issues such as military pay exclusions and deadline extensions. The page is located at http://www.irs. gov/newsroom/ article/0, ,id=97273, 00.html.

Postal Service Offers First-Time Military Discount
Planning to send a care package to a U.S. military service member serving abroad? Send it after March 3 to take advantage of a new flat-rate box from the U.S. Postal Service that is 50 percent larger and delivered for $10.95 to an APO/FPO address — $2 less than for domestic destinations.

The new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box (12" x 12" x 5 ½" or 800 cubic inches) will be available in Post Offices nationwide beginning March 3, but customers can begin ordering them Feb. 20 at usps.com/supplies or by calling 800-610-8734. Some of the new boxes are co-branded with the logo America Supports You, which is a Department of Defense program that connects citizens offering support to the military and their families.

The $2 discount is applied when the Boxes are shipped to an APO/FPO destination. The two existing flat-rate boxes (11 7/8" x 3 3/8" x 13 5/8" and 11" x 8 ½" x 5 ½"), which currently retail for $8.95 for U.S. addresses, are not available for the military discount. For more information, please visit usps.com.

VETERANS NEWS

DFAS Directed by Pentagon to Clear Backlog
At a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) asked Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England what was being done to clear the backlog of Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments back pay claims at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS),.

Secretary England acknowledged the problem exists. The Pentagon Comptroller, Tina Jones, who oversees DFAS said she had directed the DFAS Director to triple the number of people working on the claims and he is doing so. DFAS has stated they will complete the oldest of the claims by April and will continue to expedite the remaining claims.

VA and DoD Announce Joint Benefits Website
This week the VA and DoD announced that they have begun preliminary work on a joint website to support the needs of wounded, ill or injured service members.

In a joint statement before the Senate Armed Forces Committee, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and VA Deputy Secretary Gordon Mansfield announced that the eBenefits Website will be based upon the VA's successful MyHealtheVet website. No additional information was given nor a launch date provided. NAUS applauds this decision and strongly hopes that this project will be given the highest priority and will launch in the very near future. Our returning wounded warriors and their families deserve this service as soon as possible.

Veterans, make sure your family knows where to find your DD-214
Requests for DD-214s can be made on-line. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in the National Archives is the place to go. Go to this website http://vetrecs. archives. gov/. Military veterans, next of kin and certain other authorized individuals may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. The required Standard Form 180 must still be completed and the requester will still be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request. The form must be printed, signed and sent in, but 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 centers mailroom and processing time.

Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know and their dependents.

Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project (VHP) collects and preserves the remembrances of American war veterans and civilian workers who supported them. These collections of first-hand accounts are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for use by researchers and to serve as an inspiration for generations to come. The Project collects remembrances of veterans who served in World War I, World War II, the Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War or the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

U.S. citizen civilians who actively supported war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, defense contractors, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories. VHP relies on volunteers throughout the nation to collect veterans' stories on behalf of the Library of Congress. These stories are made available to researchers and the general public, both at the Library in Washington, D.C., and via the VHP website athttp://www.loc. gov/vets/ vets-home. html.

NAUS Remembers The Four Chaplains

The Four Chaplains were four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other soldiers during the sinking of the USAT Dorchester during World War II. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out; 230 of the 904 men aboard the ship were rescued.
The chaplains, who all held the rank of lieutenant, were the Methodist Reverend George L. Fox, the Jewish rabbi Alexander D. Goode, the Roman Catholic Priest John P. Washington and the Reformed Church in America Reverend Clark V. Poling. The four chaplains were sailing on then USAT Dorchester troop transport on Feb. 3, 1943, when the vessel was torpedoed by the Kriegsmarine' s U-223. As the vessel sank, the four chaplains calmed the frightened soldiers and sailors, aided in the evacuation of the ship, and helped guide wounded men to safety. The chaplains also gave up their own life belts