From: FRA NewsBytes [Newsbytes@fra.org]
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 2:45 AM
To: fra@fra367.org
Subject: FRA NewsBytes -- 12-4-09
This week in NewsBytes:
Senate Considers Health Care Bills
TRICARE Requires Electronic Payments in 2010
TRS Premiums Increase in 2010
Senate Passes Caregiver Bill
FRA Represented at Pearl Harbor Ceremony

Senate Considers Health Care Bills
Health care issues take center stage in the Senate this month, as lawmakers consider national health care reform and prepare to debate cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates. FRA is closely monitoring the progress of these measures to ensure shipmates' access to quality health care is not compromised.

The Senate considered "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (H.R. 3590) this week. In its current form, the health care reform measure does not directly impact military or Veterans' Affairs (VA) beneficiaries. Earlier legislation passed by the House (H.R. 3962, Section 311) specifically excludes TRICARE and VA health care from the national health care legislation. The Association believes that military and VA health care services are integral of military readiness and serve the unique needs of current and former service members, their families and survivors. Merging these programs into a bulky bureaucracy designed to provide health care to all Americans would broaden their focus and reduce effectiveness. FRA expressed its views in independent correspondence to congressional leaders, as well as in letters to sent behalf of the entire Military Coalition (TMC), and encourages shipmates to visit the FRA Action Center at www.fra.org to send a pre-written message of support to their senators.

The Senate is also expected to consider the House-passed "Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act" (H.R. 3961) in the coming weeks. The measure seeks to halt a 21-percent cut in Medicare and TRICARE reimbursement rates scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2010, and includes a 1.2-percent increase to provider reimbursement rates. Unless this rate cut is eliminated or delayed, many doctors are expected to stop seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients. Nearly 1,900 shipmates used the FRA Action Center to advance this bill in the House and now your help is needed to move the measure through the Senate.  Please visit the Action Center at www.fra.org to weigh in on this legislation.


TRICARE Requires Electronic Payments in 2010
Starting in 2010 TRICARE Prime beneficiaries who pay enrollment fees will need to pay their premiums by electronic means. Electronic payments will be required of retired service members, family members of retirees, survivors and eligible former spouses who are TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. These changes mean that enrollees must pay by allotment from the sponsor's military retired pay, electronic funds transfer from their financial institution, or recurring credit card payment.

For more information and make the change by visiting the Web site of your TRICARE regional MCSC:

Health Net Federal Services (North Region)
https://www.hnfs.net/bene/enrollment/fees/Enrollment+Fees-Payments.htm

Humana Military Healthcare Services (South region)
http://www.humanamilitary.com/south/bene/billing-enrollment/PaymentOptions.asp

TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West region)
http://www.triwest.com/epay


TRS Premiums Increase in 2010
FRA strongly supported the congressionally mandated reductions in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) premiums that took effect in January 2009. The law that authorized the fee cuts also required that premiums for 2010 would be 28 percent of the average costs of delivering care to the Reserve Components in 2007 and 2008. DoD announced the following increases that will take effect on February 1, 2010:

  • The TRS member-only premium for 2010 will increase by $2.11 (4.4 percent) to $49.62 and
  • The TRS family premium for 2010 will rise to $197.65 per month - a $17.48 (9.7%) increase.


    Senate Passes Caregiver Bill
    The Senate recently passed "The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act"(S. 1963) that includes provisions for caregiver support, women veterans' health care, rural health improvements, mental health care, homeless veterans, and other related matters. The bill, sponsored by Senate Veterans Affairs (VA) Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), combines provisions from several VA-related House bills.

    The caregiver assistance provisions provide training for a family member or other caregiver in order to adequately care for qualifying veterans. The women's provisions include a plan to improve health care services, training and certification for mental health care providers on sexual trauma, care for newborn children of women veterans, and a study to address additional women veteran issues. Earlier this year DMD Penny Collins participated in a roundtable discussion of women veterans hosted by the House Veterans Affairs Committee. The measure also includes some of the Administration's plans to assist homeless veterans and those who live in rural areas.

    The rural health provisions include authorization for the VA to do pilot programs to expand access to health care for veterans in rural areas. Members are urged to use the FRA Action Center (www.fra.org) to contact their US Representative on this issue.


    FRA Represented at Pearl Harbor Ceremony
    Gary Blackburn, National President of the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), will represent all FRA members at a December 7th ceremony commemorating the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The event, hosted jointly by the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy, will pay tribute to those who fought and died at Pearl Harbor, as well as those who continued the 44-month fight in the aftermath of the 1941 surprise attack. The ceremony provides an opportunity for FRA and others to express gratitude to Pearl Harbor and Pacific War veterans for their sacrifices and perseverance towards victory.

    Visit FRA's Facebook page at www.fra.org/fb to share your plans for commemorating Pearl Harbor Day.
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