From: FRA NewsBytes
[Newsbytes@fra.org]
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 3:54
AM
To: fra@fra367.org
Subject: FRA NewsBytes --
10-02-09
In this week's
NewsBytes:
FRA Criticizes TRICARE Standard Costs Increase
VA Offers
Emergency Checks to Students with Delayed Education Benefits
$555 Million
DoD Homeowners Assistance Program Details Announced
VA Pharmacy Benefits
Examined
FRA's Your Voice Conference Call Highlights the Association's
Marketing Efforts
FRA Criticizes TRICARE Standard Costs
Increase
TRICARE has unexpectedly announced increases for some
out-of-pocket costs paid by TRICARE Standard beneficiaries at civilian hospitals
for inpatient care and inpatient behavioral health services for FY 2010 (October
1, 2009 through September 30, 2010). In a letter to Secretary of
Defense Robert Gates, FRA noted his previous statements that fees would not be
increased and requested that these increases not be implemented. FRA
specifically asked Gates to pay particular attention to inpatient TRICARE
Standard co-pay, which will jump from $535 to $645 or more than 20
percent. A copy of the letter is available at www.fra.org.
For active duty family
members using TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra, the daily cost share for
inpatient services at civilian hospitals increased from $15.65 to $16.30 per day
or $25 per admission, whichever is greater. There is no charge for separately
billed professional services. The daily cost share for retirees,
their families and other eligible beneficiaries using TRICARE Standard for
inpatient admissions at civilian hospitals increased from $535 to $645 per day
or 25 percent of the total charge, whichever is less. Additionally, this
beneficiary group must pay 25 percent of the TRICARE-allowable charge for
separately billed professional services.
The out-of-pocket
costs for retirees, their families and other eligible beneficiaries for
inpatient behavioral health services at low-volume civilian hospitals also
increased from $193 to $197 per day or 25 percent of the billed charge,
whichever is less.
These inpatient copay increases are the
topic of this week's Military Update column (10-1-09) by syndicated columnist
Tom Philpott, which is available at www.fra.org.
For additional information,
visit the TRICARE Web site at http://www.tricare.mil/costs.
VA
Offers Emergency Checks to Students with Delayed Education Benefits
The
Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to
be given to students who have applied for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits
and have not yet received their government payment. The checks will be an
advance on each student's education benefits and the amount will be deducted
from future benefits payments. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the maximum
payment, with many veterans receiving smaller amounts based upon their likely
monthly benefit. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at the VA's
57 regional benefits offices across the country starting October 2,
2009. Veterans must bring a photo ID and proof of enrollment to
receive the on-the-spot payment.
Further information is available at http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1783
For
a full list of the regional offices, please visit http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp
Students
without transportation can request free van service, provided by volunteers, to
carry them to the nearest benefits office. To obtain this service,
vets should call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the "Volunteer
Transportation Coordinator." Transportation will be on a first-come,
first-served, space-available basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical
centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1
Veterans
can also apply online for the emergency benefits at www.va.gov, starting October 2. Online applicants
will receive their emergency payments through the mail after
processing.
If you have questions about the GI Bill, please call the VA's
toll-free hot line, 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551). VA officials report more than
100 agents are available to answer questions.
$555 Million DoD
Homeowners Assistance Program Details Announced
The Department of
Defense (DoD) this week announced details for the temporary expansion of the
Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). Using $555 million in funds from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), this program is designed to
partially reimburse eligible military personnel, surviving spouses, and federal
civilian employees whose service to the nation has required them to relocate and
sell their primary residence at a loss.
Potential eligible
personnel include:
- Active and former service members of the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard;
- Civilian employees of the DoD,
Coast Guard, and non-appropriated fund activities; and
- Surviving spouses
of both fallen service members and civilian employees.
Eligible
personnel who have sold a primary home for a loss or are considering selling
their home are encouraged to visit the DoD HAP Web site (http://hap.usace.army.mil) to check
specific program criteria and apply online, if eligible.
The DoD HAP has
been providing financial assistance to military personnel and DoD civilians
since 1966, mainly at base realignment and closure (BRAC) sites where government
action caused a decrease in market home values. While the HAP
expansion is not designed to pay 100 percent of losses or to cover all declines
in value, it can help protect eligible applicants from financial catastrophe due
to significant losses in their home values.
Supporting military families
is one of administration's highest priorities and includes leadership and
engagement by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.
VA
Pharmacy Benefits Examined
FRA staff attended the House Veterans'
Affairs Health Subcommittee hearing this week that focused on whether the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) meets the pharmaceutical needs of veterans
and retirees registered with the VA. Specifically, the hearing
highlighted the VA's national formulary (list of prescription drugs covered by
VA), which was created in 1996 to lower drug costs by allowing bulk
purchasing.
Witnesses stated that VA's national formulary is
too restrictive, limits access to specific drugs that veterans need and that
getting prescriptions for non-formulary medications is an extremely
time-intensive process. Most veterans get most of the prescription
medications they need, however there are concerns that innovative drugs are not
added to the list in a timely manner, and witnesses noted that the process used
by VA to add drugs to the formulary is unclear and ambiguous. The hearing also
addressed patient safety and what VA can do to prevent adverse drug events due
to missed doses, drug interactions, and preparation
errors.
Subcommittee members pledged to continue to work with
VA until the pharmaceutical needs of all veterans have been
met.
FRA's Your Voice Conference Call Highlights the Association's
Marketing Efforts
Plan now to participate in FRA's Your Voice Conference
Call on Wednesday, October 7, 2009.
You are invited to join Eileen
Murphy, FRA's director of Marketing and Communications, as she discusses the
Association's marketing initiatives, including use of FRA's website, social
media, networking, coordination with affinity partners and more. This is also a
great opportunity to share your ideas!
The call begins at noon (EDT) on
Wednesday, October 7, 2009. To participate in the teleconference, dial
1-800-391-1709 and use access code
444143.
____________________________________________________________________
To
share your views on these and other important topics, visit www.fra.org/discuss and click on "News."
FRA is the oldest and largest association representing the interests of
current and former Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel. If you are not
a member and are eligible, please join FRA at www.fra.org. The larger the membership base, the
louder your voice is heard on Capitol Hill!
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