Welcome to the dRC Veteran’s page. We are dedicated to helping to provide resources, news updates and upcoming events to encourage independent living to our military community.

New Online Enrollment Application Available for Servicemembers

To Be Introduced at Demobilization Sites Nationwide

WASHINGTON (Feb. 3, 2012) – The Department of Veterans Affairs partnered with the First Army at Camp Shelby, Miss., to launch a streamlined version of its online application for VA health benefits (VA Form 1010EZ) for Servicemembers returning from deployment.  VA will introduce it at demobilization sites nationwide by early spring 2012.

“This online application demonstrates VA’s commitment to work with the Department of Defense to make it easier for Servicemembers to get the care they earned by their service,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The new, online system noticeably reduces the paperwork and reduces a 10-day process to three days.”

The application is used to enroll in the VA health care system, which has more than 1,000 sites of care across the country.

Enrollment for VA health care is done as part of a Servicemember’s demobilization.  The online form allows the application to be completed during a regularly scheduled briefing for all Servicemembers on VA benefits.

Quick enrollment is important for returning troops because recently discharged combat Veterans are eligible for five years of cost-free care and medications for conditions potentially related to combat service.

The new application was piloted as part of the demobilization process at Camp Shelby.  Based on the results, VA plans to collaborate with DoD to offer this online application at all 61 demobilization sites nationally.

For more information, Servicemembers may contact VA at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) or visit VA’s health eligibility website at www.va.gov/healthbenefits.

DoD FY 2013 Budget Provisions Devalue Military Service
The Administration released its proposed FY 2013 budget this week, including plans to drastically increase existing TRICARE Prime enrollment fees, implement new fees for TRICARE Standard and TRICARE-for-Life beneficiaries, and increase pharmacy co-pays. FRA’s National Executive Director (NED) Joe Barnes and Healthcare Advisor Bob Washington met with TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) leadership for a briefing on these and other changes to the Military Health Service (MHS) outlined in the budget.

These proposals are in addition to the 13-percent TRICARE Prime fee hike imposed for this year and, if approved, would be tiered based on the beneficiary’s retired pay.

TRICARE Prime family enrollment fees, which were recently increased to $520 per year for all beneficiaries, would increase in FY 2013 to between $600 and $820, based on retirement pay. The fees will continue to increase annually until FY 2017, when beneficiaries will pay between $893 and $2,043 per year.

TRICARE Standard and Extra families would see a new annual enrollment fee of $140 in FY 2013, which will gradually increase to $250 by FY 2017. After that, the annual fee will be indexed to healthcare inflation.

A new enrollment fee would also be implemented for TRICARE-for-Life (TFL) families beginning in FY 2013. The new tiered fees will range from $35 to $115 per year and will be increased through FY 2016 to between $150 and $450 based on retired pay.

Individual annual enrollment fees for Prime, Standard, and TFL would be half of the family fee indicated above. After FY 2017, the fees will rise based on healthcare inflation. Additionally Senator James Webb (Va.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services’ Military Personnel Subcommittee, met with FRA staff and other members of the Military Coalition at FRA Headquarters today to further discuss the Administration’s budget proposal.

Pharmacy co-pays would also rise according to the plan, with brand name retail prescriptions ($12 for a 30-day supply) and home-delivery ($9 for a 90-day supply) both increasing to $34 by FY 2017. The cost for generic medications obtained from retail pharmacies is slated to increase from $5 to $9 over the next five years.  Non-formulary retail prescriptions would be eliminated and non-formulary mail-order co-pays would gradually increase from $25 to $66 by FY 2017. There will be no pharmacy co-pays for generic home-delivery until FY 2017, when it would be set at $9. No co-pays will be required for prescriptions filled at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs).

The budget also calls for a commission to study and propose changes to the military retirement system. This BRAC-like process bypasses the expertise of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and subcommittees and only allows Congress an up-or-down vote on the commission’s recommendations. The budget also requests a 1.7 percent increase in active duty and Reserve pay that is equal to the Employment Cost Index (ECI), and makes deep cuts in Army and Marine Corps end strength over five years.

VA, DHS Budgets for FY 2013
Chris Slawinski, FRA’s National Veterans Service Officer, and Director of Legislative Programs John Davis attended a budget briefing on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) FY 2013 budget this week.  Unlike the Defense budget, the Administration’s VA budget request includes a 10.5-percent increase ($140.3 billion) over the current fiscal year and also contains $54.5 billion in advanced appropriations for VA health care in FY 2014. Funding for non-VA outpatient care is increased by almost 14 percent over the FY 2012 budget. The increased funding is in response to estimates that more than one million current active duty personnel will become veterans over the next five years.

The budget also addresses a number of other VA priorities, including efforts to reduce the backlog of unresolved disability claims and reduce unemployment and homelessness among veterans.

In related news, the U. S. Coast Guard’s FY 2013 budget, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget request, is reduced from $8.6 billion for the current fiscal year (FY 2012) to $8.3 Billion for FY 2013. The plan also calls for manpower reductions of 1,000.

Doc Fix Agreement
A vote is expected today on a conference report to legislation (H.R. 3630) that will again postpone cuts to medical reimbursement rates for Medicare and TRICARE providers.  Lawmakers are expected to extend the “doc fix” through December 31, 2012, delaying a 27.4-percent cut in reimbursement rates for physicians seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients.

In addition the legislation will extend the Social Security payroll tax cut for employees, and extend unemployment benefits for certain unemployed citizens.

Senate Bill Excludes Defense from Sequestration
A group of senators announced legislation (S. 2065) this week that would eliminate approximately $110 billion in automatic cuts (sequestration) to the Defense budget for 2013.  The “Down Payment to Protect National Security Act,” was introduced by Senator Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and cosponsored by Senators John McCain (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), John Cornyn (Texas), Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), John Thune (S.D.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.). The legislation proposes to cover the bill’s cost with savings derived from a federal employee pay freeze and employee attrition.

The measure is similar to a House bill introduced by Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The House version, also called the “Down Payment to Protect National Security Act” (H.R. 3662), would amend the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) by excluding the Department of Defense (DoD) budget from the first year of sequestration (mandatory budget cuts) required by the BCA.  Requiring half of sequestration cuts to come from DoD would strip approximately 20 percent of the Defense budget and could endanger not only national security but also important military pay and benefit programs.

Direct link to support the Senate Bill:  http://www.capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=60943611

Direct link to support the House bill:  http://www.capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=58817506

Military Health System Conference
NED Joe Barnes and ORM Bob Washington represented FRA at the 2011 Military Health System (MHS) Conference this week at the Gaylord Convention Center, National Harbor, Md.. Keynote speakers at the event included Dr. Jonathan Woodson, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs); Dr. JoAnn Rooney, acting Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), Navy Surgeon General VADM Adam Robinson and his sister-service counterparts.

Woodson cited four major cost-saving initiatives, including:

•    Expanding patient-centered medical home concepts throughout the MHS
•    Reducing tobacco use and obesity
•    Improving patient safety

·     Greater focus on innovation

The conference theme was “From Health Care to Health.” During the four-day conference, the 3,000 attendees learned about the state of military medicine across the services and attended breakout sessions focused on 12 tracks, including wounded warrior care and DoD/VA collaboration.

CFPB to Track Military Scammers
The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new Office of Military Affairs (OMA) has initiated a first-of-its-kind database to track fraud aimed at active duty service members at home and overseas. The database known as ROAM (Repeat Offenders Against Military) will function as a central database for all companies and individuals that repeatedly try to cheat military personnel in financial transactions. ROAM will be accessible by all state attorneys general, U.S. attorneys and judge advocates from all five branches of the armed forces, which will help streamline investigations.

FY 2013 DoD Budget Details
In anticipation of the Administration’s FY 2023 budget request, which goes to Capitol Hill on February 13th, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Army General Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, held a press conference yesterday to discuss achieving $480 billion in Defense budget cuts over the next 10 years, beginning in 2013. Panetta indicated that the cost of military personnel has grown at an unsustainable rate and the Department of Defense (DoD) must get healthcare costs under control. The proposed solutions include:

• TRICARE fee increases for retirees under age 65 using a tiered approach based on retired pay that requires senior-grade retirees to pay more;
• A new enrollment fee for TRICARE-for-life retirees, with rates also based on retired pay levels;
• Increases in pharmacy co-pays that provide incentives for use of generic medication and TRICARE’s Home Delivery program; and
• A BRAC-type commission to review retirement benefits and recommend “cost-effective” changes.

Panetta also stated that active duty and Reserve annual pay increases for FY 2013 (1.7 percent) and FY 2014 will be equal to the Employment Cost Index (ECI), but for FY 2015 through FY 2021 proposed pay hikes will be less than the ECI.

Doc Fix, Payroll Tax Debate
House and Senate members tasked with extending the deadlines for implementing scheduled Medicare/TRICARE reimbursement-rate cuts (doc fix) and Social Security payroll tax cuts appear to be deadlocked. Little progress was made during the first meeting of the conference committee for the “Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act” (H.R. 3630), which is also includes language related to extending long-term unemployment benefits.

Prior to the holidays, lawmakers extended these programs through February 29, 2012, and the so-called “doc fix” has been entangled in a bitter partisan struggle over other issues. If legislation is not passed before February 29, 2012, doctors seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients will have their reimbursements cut by more than 27 percent. Many healthcare providers have threatened to stop seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients if the cuts take effect, causing anxiety within the military and retiree communities. FRA is tracking this closely and strongly supports a permanent resolution to ensure all beneficiaries have access to quality medical care.

House Subcommittee Examines VA Disability Rating System
The House Veterans Affairs (VA) Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing this week on the VA disability rating system. The panel focused on the progress VA has made in implementing recommendations by the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors in 2007, which is also referred to as the Dole-Shalala Commission.

The claims backlog and confusion about the rating system are the most common complaints made by veterans about VA, which currently has a backlog of more than 886,000 claims, with 66 percent taking more than 120 days to process. This figure is up from 389,000 in 2009.

The Subcommittee questioned witnesses on the differences between the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA ratings systems, which are often in direct conflict with one other and cause confusion for many veterans. Panel members called for DoD and VA to standardize the ratings system to equalize physical and mental injuries.

FRA Honors Outstanding USMC, USN Personnel
For the 14th consecutive year FRA recognized top Marine Corps enlisted personnel during awards ceremonies at Quantico MCB, Va. FRA National President (NP) Jeffrey Gilmartin presented awards this week to top-performing Marines at the 2011 Combined Awards Program. GEN James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Michael P. Barrett participated in the this annual ceremony that recognizes the Corps’ top recruiters, drill instructors (DI), Marine Corps embassy security guards (ESG), career retention specialists and combat instructors (CI). FRA hosted a reception following the ceremony.

At a separate ceremony John Davis, director of Legislative Programs, represented NP Gilmartin by presenting special achievement awards to the Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s 2011 Staff Non-Commissioned Officers in Charge and Prior Service Recruiters Staff Non-Commissioned Officers in Charge in recognition of their outstanding service.  BGEN Joseph L. Osterman, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, and Sergeant Major Michael A. Logan participated in the event.

FRA also supported the Navy’s Recruiter of the Year (ROY) program this year, honoring the Navy’s top recruiters during their visit to the nation’s capital. In addition to hosting the ROYs for lunch on Capitol Hill and coordinating a U.S. Capitol tour, FRA participated in a special ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial. FRA NP Gilmartin, FRA Auxiliary President Gini Larson, National Executive Director Joe Barnes and other FRA and Auxiliary leaders joined VADM Scott R. Van Buskirk, Chief of Naval Personnel; RADM Earl L. Gay, commander of Navy Recruiting Command, and Navy Recruiting Force Master Chief Earl S. Gray, Jr. in recognizing the Navy’s top 15 recruiters for 2011.

VISN 6 Year in Review

VA Deploying 20 New Mobile Vet Centers

Additions to Fleet Will Expand Veterans’ Access to VA Services Across U.S.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (January  4, 2012) — The Department of Veterans Affairs today deployed 20 additional Mobile Vet Centers from the production facility of Farber Specialty Vehicles to increase access to readjustment counseling services for Veterans and their families in rural and underserved communities across the country.

“Mobile Vet Centers allow VA to bring the many services our Vet Centers offer Veterans to all communities, wherever they are needed,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Robert A. Petzel. “VA is committed to expanding access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans and their families, and these 20 new vehicles demonstrate that continued commitment.”

In an event attended by Petzel, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, representatives of the Ohio congressional delegation, and Veterans service organizations, VA launched the 20 new vehicles to their destinations ranging across the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

These customized vehicles–which are equipped with confidential counseling space and a state of the art communication package—travel to communities to extend VA’s reach to Veterans, Servicemembers and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities.  The vehicles also serve as part of the VA emergency response program.

The 20 new, American-made vehicles will expand the existing fleet of 50 Mobile Vet Centers already in service providing outreach and counseling services.  The 50 Mobile Vet Centers were also manufactured by Farber Specialty Vehicles.  In fiscal year 2011, Mobile Vet Centers participated in more than 3,600 federal, state and locally sponsored Veteran-related events.  The VA contract for the 20 Mobile Vet Centers totals $3.1 million.

During the announcement event, Petzel also announced that Farber Specialty Vehicles recently won a competitive bid to produce 230 emergency shuttle vehicles for VA over the next five years.  The shuttles will provide routine transportation for Veteran patients in and around various metro areas during normal operations, but convert to mobile clinics that will facilitate the evacuation of patients and their care teams during disasters and emergencies.  The VA contract for the 230 emergency shuttles totals $53.5 million.

VA has 300 Vet Centers serving communities across the country, offering individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families, family counseling for military related issues, bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death, military sexual trauma counseling and referral, outreach and education, substance abuse assessment and referral, employment assessment and referral, VA benefits explanation and referral, and screening and referral for medical issues including traumatic brain injury and depression.

More than 190,000 Veterans and families made over 1.3 million visits to VA Vet Centers in fiscal year 2011.

To find out more about Vet Center services or find a Vet Center in your area, go to www.vetcenter.va.gov.

The 20 new mobile Vet Centers will be based at:

• Birmingham, Ala.
• San Diego, Calif.
• Atlanta, Ga.
• Western Oahu, Hawaii
• Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Evanston, Ill.
• Indianapolis, Ind.
• Baltimore, Md.
• Pontiac, Mich.
• Kansas City, Mo.
• Jackson, Miss.
• Greensboro, N.C.
• Lakewood, N.J.
• Reno, Nev.
• Stark County, Ohio
• Lawton, Okla.
• Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Nashville, Tenn.
• Washington County, Utah
• Green Bay, Wis.

*Celebrate the USO-NC 70th Anniversary to honor America’s Armed Forces March 31, 2012 with a marriage vow renewal ceremony on the USS North Carolina at 11am followed in the evening with a gala reception and dance at the Hannah Block Historic USO Building.  Click here for all the details.  DO NOT MISS THIS IMPORTANT EVENT FOR VETERANS IN THE WILMINGTON AREA.

*The VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic on Medical Center Dr in Wilmington is offering flu shots from 1pm until 3pm daily Monday through Friday, except holidays.  This is a walk-in opportunity with no appointment necessary. For more links to Mid Atlantic VA benefits, click here.

*All Veterans, families and friends are invited to an Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser breakfast to support the NEW HANOVER COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL.  It will be Sat. Feb 11, 2012 from 8:00am til 10:00am at Applebee’s, 5120 New Centre Dr. Wilmington, NC.  Call Madeline Nicholson at 910-726-4260 for more information. See the calendar section for details and a map.

*VET CONNECTION:  Starting Jan. 4, 2012, a free and confidential support group for Veterans and Active Duty Military experiencing reintegration or service connected issues will meet every Wed. from 6 to 7:30pm at the VFW Post 2573 at 2722-B Carolina Beach Rd. Wilmington, NC.  Contact Mary Skov at 910-264-6936 for more info.  See calendar for map and directions to the VFW.

*If you are in the Fayetteville area, check out the NC Veterans Park.  VFW post 2573 member Tommy Townsend is featured in a recent NBC News Video of his hand being bronzed for the Veteran Memorial Site.  Click here for the video.

Early Retirement Program to be Implemented
Beginning January 1, 2012, the services are authorized to implement Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA). An FRA-supported provision (Section 504) in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA, H.R. 1540) reinstates the TERA provision that will allow officers and noncommissioned officers to retire with at least 15 years of service and receive retired pay at a reduced rate. TERA was authorized from 1991 to 1996 in conjunction with force reductions during that period. In addition to retirement pay, the program includes TRICARE coverage and is not available for Coast Guard personnel because that service is not implementing involuntary separations.

The DFAS website has not been updated to reflect this new change, but we’ll publish details in future editions of NewsBytes and FRA Today as they become available.

Retiree Account Statements
Most military retirees will receive two annual Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Retiree Account Statements (RAS) by January 31, 2012. These two-page documents summarize pay, benefits and deductions, and provide other important retirement pay information.

One statement (dated December 2, 2011) includes the new payment amount as of December 30, 2011, based on a 3.6-percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2012. Another statement (dated December 12, 2011) shows the new payment amount as of February 1, 2012, based on federal income tax adjustments caused by changes to the 2012 tax tables.

A monthly electronic Retiree Account Statement (eRAS) is now available to all military retirees currently receiving retirement payments. The eRAS is only available on myPay,  the official online account management system for DFAS. The statements are available by the first of each month, and date back to Nov. 1, 2011, when the eRAS was first offered. Retirees only need to   register an email address in their myPay  account, and DFAS can send an email reminder each month when individual statements are available.
Visit  https://www.mypay.gov for more information.

If retirees cannot access myPay  or they need a RAS that is no longer in their myPay  account, they should fax a detailed written request to 800-469-6559 or mail it to DFAS Retired Pay, P.O. Box 7130, London, KY 40742-7130. Requests should be dated and must include your name, Social Security number and signature. Please specify exactly what information is needed and the dates that should be included in the statement.

Deadline for FRA Education Foundation Scholarships
The deadline to apply for FRA Education Foundation scholarships is April 15, 2012. The Foundation’s board of directors encourages all eligible candidates to apply now for academic awards of up to $5,000. Applications are available online at www.fra.org/foundation

Applicants must be affiliated with the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, either through their own service or that of a spouse, parent or grandparent. FRA Education Foundation scholarships are funded through private donations, established trusts and corporate sponsorships, and recipients are selected based on financial need, academic standing, character and leadership qualities. The Foundation awarded more than $124,000 in scholarships last year and donations in any amount are welcome at any time.

Some scholarships have very specific award criteria. The Hazel E. Benn Scholarship, for example, is available to children of Navy enlisted personnel who are serving or have served as a hospital corpsman assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps. Please visit www.fra.org/foundation for applications, to donate or obtain further information.

More VGLI Available for some Veterans
Veterans under age 60 that are currently covered under the Veterans Group Life Insurance program (VGLI) and have less than maximum coverage can now purchase additional coverage up to $400,000. Veterans can increase their coverage by $25,000 at each five-year anniversary date. The VGLI program allows newly discharged veterans to convert the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage they had while in the service.  Veterans can request the additional coverage during the 120-day period prior to each five-year anniversary date. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has indicated that less than 22 percent of eligible veterans take advantage of this program.

For additional information about VGLI go to: www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2244

Cool New Resource: Paws and Stripes

Paws and Stripes™ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for wounded veterans of our United States military that works to provide service dogs for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.  The service dogs are obtained only from shelters, and are trained by professionals specializing in service dogs.  It is the aim of this organization to provide these dogs and training for no cost to the veteran. The flat cost to sponsor a dog and veteran is $2000.00. To learn more, visit their website at http://www.pawsandstripes.org/home.html.

New Telephone Service: Coaching into Care

VA has several programs that help family members provide support to their Veterans, like Caregiver Support, counseling at your local Vet Center, and an initiative that got started earlier this year: Coaching into Care.

Coaching into Care is a telephone service that provides assistance to family members and friends trying to encourage their Veteran to seek health care for possible readjustment and mental health issues. It’s a national phone service that places priority to linking Veterans with benefits and services available in their own communities.

If you think your Veteran friend or family member is having a difficult time and could benefit from readjustment counseling or mental health care, please utilize the Coaching into Care service: call 1-888-823-7458 or email CoachingIntoCare@va.gov .

Triad-Area WWII vets take Flight of Honor to Washington D.C. Memorials

From a story from News 14 Carolina: Over the weekend, nearly 100 veterans embarked on a journey to the nation’s capital as part of the Triad Flight of Honor. During the day trip, the 80- and 90-year-old veterans flew from Greensboro to Washington, D.C., for a day of touring the memorials built in their names. Once 16 million strong, more than 1,200 World War II vets are now dying each day, making this a once-in-a-lifetime trip to their memorial.

The Triad Flight of Honor, a service project of Rotary District 7690, will only take two more trips before the program comes to an end. To learn more or to help support the Honor Flight Network, visit http://www.honorflight.org/. You can also follow them on Facebook.

Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation

Fall is here, and the anticipation is building for many outdoorsmen as a new season approaches.  Here’s a great resource for our wounded veterans who enjoy outdoor sports. Established in 2007, the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation (WWIA) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Apollo Beach Florida. The WWIA is dedicated to serving our nation’s combat wounded, Purple Heart recipients, by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities. To learn more about the WWIAF visit their website at www.wwiaf.org/.

National Veterans Wheelchair Games 2011-2012

The largest annual wheelchair sports competition in the world, this event offers 17 different sports to Veterans who use wheelchairs due to spinal cord injuries, amputations and neurological diseases. The Games promote rehabilitation through rigorous competition in such events as basketball, rugby, softball, handcycling and others.

While past Games have produced national and world-class champions, the Games also provide opportunities for newly disabled Veterans to gain sports skills and be exposed to other wheelchair athletes. Visit their website to learn more about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

Project Lifesaver: New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and Pilot Club of Wilmington Team Up to Offer Locating System

Project Lifesaver is a locating system for individuals who have Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Down’s Syndrome, Autism or other brain related disorders which cause the person to wander. Person’s who are enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program wear a personalized bracelet that emits a tracking signal. Search and rescue teams can locate the person using this tracking signal. For more information, click PROJECT LIFESAVER to view the PDF brochure, or by visiting their website at http://www.ncpltaskforce.org/

VoicesofVISN6-November

In the November Edition: Wilmington Breaks Ground on New Clinic, Richmond to hose VAMC Wheelchair Games 2012, VA Helping Homeless Veterans, VISN Increasing Internet Use to Keep Veteran Informed

DVA Caregiver Support Line

As reported by the Disabled American Veteran’s news, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is increasing its support to caregivers with a new, toll-free telephone line for the caregivers of veterans of all eras.   The National Caregiver Support Line — 1-855-260-3274 — serves as the primary resource and referral center to assist caregivers, veterans and others seeking caregiver information. To read more about this, please visit their website at:  http://www.dav.org/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=382

Military Budget to Shrink in FY 2013 and Beyond
President Obama opened a Pentagon press conference this week by announcing further austerity measures that will likely include another round of cuts in the Defense Department (DoD) budget. Cutting the DoD budget by $500 billion over 10 years will include reductions in manpower, by as many as 20,000 Marines and 27,000 in Army soldiers and additional cuts would bring the DoD spending plan into compliance with the Budget Control Act (BCA), which requires massive automatic cuts (sequestration) to the federal budget by January 1, 2013. When asked about specific cuts to pay and benefits at the press conference, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that specifics will be available when the Administration releases its FY 2013 budget request to Congress next month.

Related to this, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced the “Down Payment to Protect National Security Act” (H.R. 3662) that would amend the BCA by excluding the DoD budget from the first year of sequestration (2013). FRA supports this legislation, noting that DoD is already identifying over $450 billion in budget cuts over the next 10 years. The additional $500 billion in reductions could jeopardize essential military pay and benefit programs, which would have a negative impact on recruiting, retention and overall military readiness.

FRA Weighs In on Stolen Valor Act
FRA signed a Friend of the Court (Amicus) brief in conjunction with the pending U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Alvarez, which will decide whether Congress has the constitutional authority to prohibit people from lying about their military awards and decorations.

The “Stolen Valor Act” was signed into law in 2005, prohibiting anyone from falsely claiming military decorations or medals. Xavier Alvarez, a member of the Three Valley Water District Board of Directors, falsely claimed during a public meeting of the Board that he was a retired Marine, had been wounded many times in combat, and had been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Alvarez pleaded guilty to violating the Stolen Valor Act and appealed its constitutionality, claiming it violated his First Amendment (Freedom of Speech) rights. The U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit held that the Stolen Valor Act was unconstitutional.

House Panel Examines Military Mortuary
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform notified Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta that the committee will review allegations of mishandling remains of service members killed in action (KIA). The Dover Air Force Base Mortuary handles the remains of KIAs returning home and the investigation is in response to an Air Force Inspector General report that found “gross mismanagement” at the mortuary, and a Washington Post article that indicated that the mortuary had inappropriately disposed of KIA cremated remains in a landfill.

DFAS 2011 Tax Statements Available
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is providing 2011 tax statements electronically and through traditional postal delivery. Distribution of the statements to military service members, military retirees and federal civilian employees began in mid-December and all employees and beneficiaries should receive their W-2s and 1099Rs by January 31, 2012.

For most, tax statements will be available online using the DFAS myPay pay management system (https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx) a week or more before they are delivered by mail.

Second Legislative Session Begins
The House returns next week for the Second Session of the 112th Congress, and the Senate returns the following week. Lawmakers can still consider legislation introduced in the first session (2011), as well as new bills that are introduced this year.

In addition to being a presidential election year, the 2012 elections in November will also determine 33 Senate seats and all House of Representatives posts. New boundaries have been defined by state legislatures for all House districts, except in states that have only one congressional district.  Another unique aspect of the coming year is the threat of sequestration that includes $500-$600 billion in automatic cuts to the Defense budget, beginning on January 1, 2013, unless Congress acts to delay, repeal or restructure sequestration this year.

New Form and Legislation for Reporting Retiree Deaths
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) launched a new online form to make it easier for grieving family members to report the deaths of military retirees. The form and additional information are available at:
http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/newsevents/newsletter/newform.html

This new form will help eliminate the problem of overpayment, which can result in financial and emotional hardship for the family when repayment is required without warning. The problem most often occurs when a military retiree dies late in the month. If the death report and other administrative details are not handled before the next retirement payment is processed, an overpayment occurs for the period between the retiree’s death and the end of the month. DFAS is required to recoup this overpayment directly from the survivor’s bank account and can do so with little or no warning.

Jones’ proposal would allow survivors to retain the full month’s retired pay for any month in which the retiree was alive for at least 24 hours. To offset the cost associated with this proposal, a provision of the bill would delay the first Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity payment until the month after the retiree dies. Congress passed a similar law in 1996 allowing surviving spouses to retain veterans’ disability and VA pension payments issued for the month of the veteran’s death.

Walgreens No Longer in TRICARE Network
The retail pharmacy contract between Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) and the Walgreens pharmacy chain has expired, which means Walgreens is no longer a TRICARE pharmacy network provider as of Jan. 1, 2012. In addition to 56,000 other network pharmacies, TRICARE beneficiaries have other options for filling prescriptions, including military pharmacies (at no cost) and convenient TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Generic medications are available at no cost through Home Delivery.

Beneficiaries who use non-network pharmacies, including Walgreens, pay full prescription costs upfront and submit their own claims for reimbursement. Reimbursement will occur only after the non-network deductible is met. Out-of-network costs include a 50-percent point-of-service cost share for TRICARE Prime, after deductibles are met. All other non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries pay the greater of a $12 co-pay or 20 percent of the total cost for formulary medications and the greater of  $25 or 20 percent of the total cost for non-formulary medications, after deductibles are met.

TRICARE beneficiaries changing from Walgreens pharmacy can simply take their current prescription bottle to their new network pharmacy to have the prescription transferred. To find a nearby network pharmacy, use the “find a pharmacy” feature on www.express-scripts.com/tricare. Beneficiaries who want help finding a pharmacy, changing their medications to Home Delivery or who have other questions can contact Express Scripts at 1-877-885-6313.