NAUS Weekly Update for March 14, 2008

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National Association
for Uniformed Services®Weekly Update March 14, 2008
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"The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men."

~ Samuel Adams ~

WASHINGTON REPORT

House and Senate Pass Budget Resolutions
Late Thursday, both the House and Senate narrowly approved budget resolutions for FY 2009. The Senate passed S.Con.Res. 70 by 51-44 and the House passed H.Con.Res. 312 by 212-207. The House recommended an additional increase in VA spending of $4.9 billion and the Senate recommended a comparable amount. Earlier Thursday, NAUS endorsed a similar spending increase during House appropriations testimony (please see below related article). The two resolutions now head to a conference committee in an effort to find House-Senate agreement for the congressional budget blueprint.

NAUS Congressional Testimony
On Thursday, Legislative Director Rick Jones presented NAUS testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. Rick emphasized the need for Congress to ensure that funding for BRAC remain at a high level in order to ensure that troops and their families are provided adequate housing and services when they are returning from deployments and when overseas based elements are returned to be based in here in the States. NAUS testimony also recommended more than $4 billion in additional funding over current year spending to address continuing concerns in the provision of veterans health care, especially in the area of traumatic brain injury and prosthetics, and to address growing backlogs in claims adjudications. Additionally, Rick called for a $115 million increase over the $85 million Administration request in funding for State veterans' nursing homes. Without the additional $115 million fewer than 25 of the 92 currently approved projects will be funded. With the increasing numbers of older veterans, this is a priority item that helps the VA in caring for veterans throughout the country. NAUS will continue to push this issue in order to assure that the facilities needed, nearer to their homes, will be available for all veterans. For the full testimony from the NAUS website Click Here.

Congressional Remembrance Ceremony
On Thursday, March 13, NAUS attended a Congressional Remembrance Ceremony honoring America's troops and their families. In separate addresses, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader John Boehner commended all who have served and, with grace and dignity, recognized those who have lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a special day, as one speaker said, "to take time from the regular routine to stop, think, and express our thanks and gratitude for the sacrifices our military families have made, and continue to make." NAUS attended the day of remembrance, held in the Capitol Rotunda, at the invitation of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and we appreciate Speaker Pelosi and congressional leaders taking time to honor our troops and remember our veterans and their families.

Secret Session
On Thursday, the full House entered into an unusual, historic secret session to debate issues in dispute on the pending renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a bill to provide the intelligence community with appropriate authority to monitor effectively communications of terrorists.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the special session—which can be attended only by Members of the House and those officers and employees essential to the session—has occurred only five times since 1812.

At issue is whether the House should agree with Senate approved FISA legislation, which provides legal protections to telecommunication companies that cooperate with our government's lawful requests for assistance in targeting terrorist threats.

The Senate FISA bill passed last month with a bipartisan, super majority of 68 to 29. The House vote is scheduled for vote today, Friday, on the eve of another two-week vacation.

Coast Guard Requests Resources for Modernizing Shore Facilities
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen addressed the issue of construction and improvements in shore facilities in March 5 testimony before the House Appropriations Committee.

"Vital shore infrastructure required to maintain our front line assets is in critical need of renovation and repair," Allen said. "Ultimately, the future operational success of the Coast Guard is dependent upon a comprehensive recapitalization of front line assets and shore and support infrastructure. "

The Coast Guard is requesting $50 million for shore facilities in 2009—an increase of $12.1 million more than current year funding.

HEALTH CARE NEWS

Mental Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance
Creation of the Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Service is one of the many steps the TRICARE Management Activity has taken to enhance its behavioral health care program.

Active duty service members and their enrolled family members living in the U.S. who need help locating and making appointments with behavioral health care providers can contact their regional managed care support contractors for assistance. TRICARE Overseas Program beneficiaries can also use the appointment assistance line when traveling in the U.S.


The toll-free numbers are: North Region, 1-877-747-9579; South Region 1-877-298-3514; and West Region, 1-866-651- 4970.

As a reminder, active duty service members must have a referral from their primary care manager for behavioral health care before calling the appointment assistance line. TRICARE Prime active duty family members can receive the first eight outpatient behavioral health care visits per fiscal year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) without a referral, but they must receive the care from TRICARE network providers to avoid point-of-service cost sharing charges.

Lastly, the Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Service is not a help line for behavioral health treatment, counseling or advice, rather a service intended to ensure those who need this type of care have access to it in the most expeditious way possible.


For more information about TRICARE and the behavioral health appointment assistance service, visit the mental health and behavior section at www.tricare. mil and enter a profile.

Shingles Vaccine Fact Sheet
Thinking about getting the shingles vaccine but want to know more about it? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have put together a fact sheet that provides information on shingles and the newly approved vaccine developed to prevent it. To find the CDC fact sheet Click Here.

More Formulary Changes Announced
Earlier this week the TRICARE Management Activity announced the impending reclassification of five drugs as nonformulary (Tier 3), which will increase their co-pays to $22 for a 30 day supply. The hypertension drug Exforge, attention deficit hyperactivity drug Vyvanse, and contraceptive Lybrel will be reclassified as nonformulary medications beginning April 16, 2008. Arthritis medications Enbrel and Kineret will follow on June 18.

A sixth medication, the prostate drug Flomax, continues to be classified as non-formulary. However, beginning April 16, Step Therapy and prior authorization requirements will apply to first-time patients. Step Therapy is the practice of beginning drug therapy for a medical condition with the most cost-effective and safest drug first (usually generics) before progressing to other more costly or risky therapy (if necessary). In this instance, patients must have been prescribed a series of medications before the prescription for Flomax can be filled.

Beneficiaries taking third-tier medications may consult their health care providers about changing to a first- or second-tier alternative. Whenever providers prescribe medications, beneficiaries should ask if a generic alternative is in that drug class available that would provide the same clinical results.

Beneficiaries can also ask providers if establishing medical necessity for the third-tier medication is appropriate. If medical necessity is established for a third-tier medication, the co-payment is reduced to $9. Third-tier medications are not available at military treatment facility (MTF) pharmacies unless an MTF provider establishes medical necessity and writes the prescription. To obtain Medical necessity forms and criteria Click Here.

For a complete list of medications, their formulary status and where they are available, Click Here.

Beneficiaries may find more information on the TRICARE Retail Pharmacy and locations, and the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy at www.express- scripts.com/ TRICARE. They may also call 866-363-8779 for the retail pharmacy or 866-363-8667 for the mail order pharmacy.

ACTIVE DUTY NEWS

Sites Selected for Summer Camps
One of the organizations we work with in The Military Coalition, The National Military Family Association (NMFA), has announced locations for its 2008 Operation Purple Summer Camps.

The NMFA website states, "The goal of these free summer camps is to bring together youth who are experiencing some stage of a deployment and the stress that goes along with it. Operation Purple camps give kids the coping skills and support networks of peers to better handle life's ups and downs."

This year, NMFA's Operation Purple Camps will host children at 64 locations in 36 states and territories. Information about specific camp locations is available on the Operation Purple website. Specific camp information will be available when registration opens. Registration begins March 24, 2008. Interested families can sign-up to receive e-mail notices and announcements on the website.

VETERANS NEWS

DeCA Implements New Lockout Procedure
The recent spate of food recalls has prompted the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to implement a procedure that will prevent shoppers from purchasing unsafe items. Through the use of a procedure called Universal Product Code "lockout," DeCA can now block an entire UPC at the register. This will ensure that recalled products are not inadvertently sold to customers. For more information, click here to visit the DeCA Homepage.

VA to Pilot Innovative Remote Benefits Delivery Program in Montana
Soon rural Montana veterans will have easier access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits information and assistance through the innovative use of video conferencing technology.

VA staff and the Valley Veterans Service Center (VVSC), a grassroots organization run by volunteers to assist veterans in Southwestern Montana, will operate the new video conferencing program.

Veterans will be able to go to the VVSC and conduct a videoconference with the Ft Harrison VA regional office and address issues face-to-face pertaining to their benefits. TheVVSC will schedule appointments with veterans on Fridays during normal business hours.

For more information about this program, see the complete VA press release at
Click Here.

New "Travel Nurse Program" Hits the Road
To help deal with a nationwide shortage of nurses and to improve the quality of care for veterans, the VA has created a "Travel Nurse Corps" which will work throughout the Department's medical system.

The Travel Nurse Corps is part of a three-year pilot program and will be headquartered at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Initially, it will place as many as 75 nurses at VA medical centers across the country. Some of the goals of the program are to improve recruitment, decrease turnover of experienced nurses and maintain high standards of patient care.

To learn more about VA's Travel Nurse Corps, visit the Web site here;
email your questions to travelnurse@ va.gov or call toll free at (866) 664-1030. Phoenix area residents can call (602) 200-2398.

TAX INFORMATION

"Easy and Free" for Non-filers to Receive Stimulus Payment (IRS News Release)

Individuals who normally do not file a tax return, but must do so this year in order to receive their 2008 economic stimulus payment can use a free filing tool. IRS officials announced these individuals could use the IRS Free File program to help them file returns for 2007.

The IRS and several of its partners in the Free File Alliance can now accept returns submitted by people who have no legal requirement to file other than to receive their payments. People in this category should take care to use only those companies listed on the Free File section for the payments under "Online Tools" at www.irs.gov.

Individuals and families must have at least $3,000 of income from any combination of earned income, Social Security retirement or disability benefits, certain Railroad retirement benefits, or disability compensation, disability pension, or survivor benefits paid by Veterans Affairs. The minimum economic stimulus payment is $300 for individuals and $600 for married couples.

To obtain a payment, all people who are eligible for payments of up to $600 for individuals ($1,200 for married couples) must file a tax return in order for the IRS to know their name, address and eligibility. Parents also may qualify for a $300 payment for each eligible child younger than 17. Valid Social Security numbers are required.

Taxpayers who normally file a tax return and want to use Free File should simply go to the main Free File page on the Web and click "Start Now" to see a list of the 19 companies offering free preparation and electronic filing to the IRS. Free File is available to 97 million taxpayers who earn $54,000 or less.

There is no charge for using IRS Free File. With just a few answers, people can complete a simple form and use IRS e-file. IRS officials also urges all filers to use direct deposit, if they have a checking or savings account, because it is the fastest way to receive an economic stimulus payment.

For more information Click Here to visit the IRS' Economic Stimulus Payments Information Center.

NAUS NEWS

Long-time NAUS Member
RADM Martin "Red" Doan Carmody, USN (Ret), NAUS member since 1980, passed away Friday March 7th in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

As a fresh ensign in 1942, RADM Martin "Red" Doan Carmody fought with his fellow aviators in the key World War II battle for Guadalcanal and served in related fiery combat action throughout the Solomons in the South Pacific. He flew 58 missions as a carrier pilot flying with VA-10 from the carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) and the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), 68 more missions in Korea, and in 1965, took command of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) for combat operations in Vietnam.

Memorial services for retired Navy RADM Carmody will be held at the NAS Oceana Chapel at 1100, Saturday, 15 March. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Should you need additional information, please feel free to contact Capt Art Page, USN (Ret) at email: pageam@earthlink. net

NAUS on the Road
Slowly and surely the weather is getting warmer and that means NAUS will again be participating in numerous Retiree Appreciation Days and Chapter meetings around the country.

Wednesday, April 2, NAUS President MG Matz and his wife Linda will be at the NAUS General Bob Bernstein TX-10 chapter meeting in Austin, Texas. The meeting will start at 12:00 noon in Building 8 at Camp Mabry.

Saturday, April 12, MG Matz will be the keynote speaker at the Dover, AFB Retiree Appreciation Day in Dover, Delaware. Come by and say hello to MG Matz and his wife Linda and bring a friend to join.

Thursday, April 17, NAUS Director of Chapter Management Hal Grant will be the featured speaker at the inaugural meeting of the NAUS Greater Houston Area TX-29 Chapter. The meeting will begin at 5:00pm at the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines Reserve Center at 1902 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, Texas. For more information contact Chapter President GySgt Henry Palomo at 713-849-5808 or email Hpalomo@aol. com. There are over 300 NAUS members in the Houston area and we hope to see many of you there.

Saturday, April 26, NAUS Legislative Director Rick Jones will be the keynote speaker at the Retiree Appreciation Day at Malmstrom, AFB in Montana.
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Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen stand in harm's way around the globe to defend our nation and our cherished liberties. NAUS asks you to please pray for their continued strength and protection—and pray as well for their families, who daily stand in support of their spouses, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters.

GODBLESSAMERICANational Association for Uniformed Services®
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