From: FRA NewsBytes
[newsbytes@fra.org]
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 1:21
AM
To: fra@fra367.org
Subject: FRA Newsbytes -- 23 October
2009
This week in NewsBytes:
The
Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth Speaks at FRA Convention
FRA Launches Education
Foundation at National Convention
President Approves Advance Funding for the
VA
NDAA Goes to President for Signature
House Examines VA Billing
Practices
The Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth Speaks at FRA
Convention
The Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth, Assistant VA Secretary for
Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, addressed delegates at FRA and LA FRA's
National Conventions this week in Virginia Beach, Va. During her
speech, she thanked members of both organizations for their continuing service
to our nation and our country's warriors, sharing the Administration's
"covenant" to care for all veterans and assured delegates their VA medical
benefit would not be compromised in any future health care reform
efforts.
We must care for all veterans, regardless of income, race or
background," said Duckworth, "because, frankly, nobody asked about that when
they enlisted." Duckworth also outlined many of the VA's current efforts, such
as:
The largest five-year budget in VA history that increases funding $25
billion above the budget baseline
Progress on implementing electronic health records, which will help create a
seamless transition from DoD to VA
Improved outreach and screening for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
Faster processing of disability claims, improved care for rural and minority
veterans
More than $161 million in emergency checks have been issued to service
members, veterans, retirees and colleges experiencing delayed Post 9/11 GI Bill
benefits
Re-instated health care benefits to more than 266,000 Priority Group 8
veterans
Encouraging veterans who have never registered with the VA to do so
- and efforts are underway to make that process easier
A
major in the Illinois Army National Guard, Duckworth served in Iraq as an
Assistant Operations Officer and flew combat missions as a Black Hawk helicopter
pilot. During a mission north of Baghdad in 2004, her aircraft was struck by a
rocket-propelled grenade, resulting in the loss of both her legs and partial use
of one arm. She spoke passionately about the recovery of her comrades and the
lessons she learned from her own transition from Defense to VA health care and
benefit systems.
Highlights from Duckworth's speech and other convention
news will be published in the December issue of FRA Today .
FRA
Launches Education Foundation at National Convention
In its ongoing
effort to support higher education, the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA)
introduced the FRA Education Foundation during the opening ceremonies of the
Association's national convention this week in Virginia Beach, Va. Announced to
coincide with FRA's 85th anniversary, the foundation will expand the
Association's already generous scholarship program.
"We're looking
forward to increasing the reach of our existing scholarship program," explains
FRA's National Executive Director Joe Barnes. "Thanks to the generosity of our
members and corporate sponsors, the program has grown substantially in recent
years. In 2000, FRA awarded $37,141 to16 students. In 2009, we were able to
support 28 students by presenting nearly $100,000 in scholarships. We believe
the FRA Education Foundation will allow us to assist even more scholars through
the development of more and larger scholarships, as well as other educational
programs."
FRA's scholarship program has been helping deserving students
reach their educational and professional goals for decades, awarding annual
scholarships of up to $5,000 to FRA members, their spouses, children and
grandchildren who are pursuing college degrees. Further information about the
Association's existing scholarship program is available at www.fra.org/foundation.
President
Approves Advance Funding for the VA
President Obama signed legislation
this week authorizing advanced funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA). The measure will put VA health care on a two-year budget cycle and fund
Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) medical accounts one year in advance. FRA
addressed this issue in congressional testimony and in discussions between
members of FRA's Board of Directors and lawmakers in April. Advanced funding
will ensure more timely funding for veterans' health care delivered through the
Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The new policy enhances Congress' ability
to develop appropriation bills that authorize sufficient funding for VA health
care services.
NDAA Goes to President for Signature
The Senate passed the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA,
H.R. 2647) this week, and now the legislation goes to the President for
signature. For the fourth consecutive year, military retirees under age 65 are
not burdened by drastically higher TRICARE fees increases and the FY2013
cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) reduction was also eliminated from the
legislation.
This is due, in large part, to advocacy work by FRA and
other veteran-related associations and grassroots efforts of concerned
individuals. Nearly 3,000 FRA shipmates contacted their elected officials
through the FRA Action Center at www.fra.org.
For a detailed explanation of the contents of the NDAA related to our shipmates,
please review the October 9, 2009 NewsByte by www.fra.org/ndaa
House Examines VA
Billing Practices
The House Veterans Affairs Committee Health
Subcommittee conducted an oversight hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs'
(VA) billing practices to identify why, in certain instances, it is
inappropriately billing veterans for health care. VA is authorized to collect
reasonable charges from veterans' health insurance companies to offset the cost
of treatment for non service-connected conditions. However, the Subcommittee has
been informed that VA is billing veterans and their insurers for care provided
for conditions directly related to the service-connected disabilities.
Subcommittee members expressed concern that service-connected veterans
are being saddled with inappropriate bills, and sought to find out what steps VA
has taken to address the issue.
Earlier this year, the Obama
Administration considered a plan to bill veterans' private insurance for
service-connected care, but the proposals was withdrawn following strong
opposition from FRA and other military and veterans' organizations.
____________________________________________________________________
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