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“Given the importance of this bill to our troops, their families, and our national security, I’m nowhere close to giving up on completing the defense authorization bill, even though we will only have days, not weeks, to complete it. I have spoken to Senator Inhofe, Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith, and I know they are equally determined.” ~ Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), commenting on the Senate adjourning for Thanksgiving break. ~Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on AddThisWASHINGTON REPORT Congress Recesses for ThanksgivingBoth the House and Senate recessed yesterday for a Thanksgiving break. The Senate left the NDAA hanging with much work to do and only one week left in 2013 when both the House and Senate are scheduled to be in session. The House returns on Dec. 2 and the Senate on Dec. 9. NAUS sincerely hopes the staffs are conducting a lot of negotiations while the Representatives and Senators are not here. Might be a good thing. Please let your elected officials know that not passing the NDAA would be disastrous for DoD already fighting the horrendous Sequestration cuts. Tell them to do their duty and “provide for the common defense” as stated in the Constitution. Administration Continues Attacks on TRICAREThe White House this week urged the Senate to support its effort to increase the amount military retirees pay for their health insurance. The current version of the fiscal 2014 Senate Defense authorization bill does not include President Obama’s proposals to impose higher fees and create new enrollment fees for some plans in TRICARE, the military’s massive health insurance program. The White House believes its initiatives would “control the growth of health care costs” at the Defense Department “while keeping retired beneficiaries’ share of these costs well below the levels experienced when the TRICARE program was implemented in the mid-1990s,” said an administration statement on the fiscal 2014 Defense authorization bill (S. 1197). The administration estimated that its TRICARE proposals would save between $902 million and $9.3 billion through fiscal 2018. President Obama proposed military health care reforms in his fiscal 2014 budget, including higher fees and new enrollment fees for some TRICARE plans phased in over time. For example, the administration wants to increase TRICARE Prime enrollments fees, increase TRICARE Standard/Extra deductibles, and implement an enrollment fee for new TRICARE for Life beneficiaries. None of the proposals would affect active duty members. Congress has resisted the administration’s TRICARE proposals so far, opting instead for more modest increases in TRICARE enrollment fees and prescription drug co-payments. The House fiscal 2014 defense authorization bill, which the chamber passed in June, rejected most of the administration’s proposed increases to TRICARE fees for retirees and other changes to the military’s health care system. Please use the NAUS CapWiz system to send a message to your elected officials that drastic increases in TRICARE fees threaten older retirees and their families due to their limited income. Use one of the prepared messages and change it to what you want to say. Please make sure your senators know how you feel about these outrageous proposals to go back on promised and earned benefits. Senate Committee Moves to Advance Fund All VA ProgramsOn Tuesday, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted 13-1 to approve S. 932, the “Putting Veterans First Act.” The bill is designed to protect all veterans programs from any future government shutdown. Unfortunately if the bill is ultimately passed it would not immediately help because it would provide funding one year in advance. If another shutdown does occur on Jan. 15 only veterans medical programs that have already received advanced funding would be covered. If passed the bill would have its provisions first apply in fiscal 2015, which begins on Oct. 1, 2014. The bill enjoys wide support from veterans’ groups and bipartisan support from lawmakers. But the Administration, VA and a few members of Congress are not yet on board. Current law already provides advance funding for VA medical programs and services. This bill would add VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration, information technology program, National Cemetery Administration, construction and the Office of Inspector General. The bill also would allow advance funding for actual benefits payments. The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has passed similar legislation that does not include advance funding of benefits, although there appears to be widespread agreement to also prevent disability and survivors benefits and GI Bill education benefits from lapsing if Congress fails to pass a budget by the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year. Welcome to the NAUS Weekly Update. Please email us any feedback, corrections or tips. You can join NAUS online here. COLA Bill SignedThe annual cost of living increase for VA benefits was signed into law on Thursday by President Obama, according to the White House press office. Disabled veterans, their children and the spouses of deceased veterans will receive a 1.5 percent cost of living increase in their benefits Jan. 1, and the VA will get an increase of $294 million to help it reduce the backlog of veterans’ disability claims. The additional $294 million for the VA was allocated as part of the bipartisan legislation that the President signed into law in October to end the partial government shutdown. That money will be used to pay overtime for VA employees processing disability claims, accelerate the agency’s efforts to convert paper records to electronic records, and help military personnel leaving the armed services to move into civilian life. HEALTH CARE NEWS TRICARE to Close Walk-in Service CentersThe Defense Department will close its CONUS Based walk-in TRICARE Service Centers in the U.S., as part of the reorganization of the military medical system under the Defense Health Agency. After a year-long review, military health system leaders concluded that customers could be better served with a toll-free TRICARE telephone customer service center or online. Many centers are located within military hospitals and clinics, but some are in freestanding buildings on military installations or in the nearby civilian community. They often are staffed with one or two individuals. According to data provided by TRICARE, utilization rates at service centers have varied from eight to 3,000 customers per month. The cost of running a center ranges from $30 to $216 per walk-in customer. Closing the centers will save a projected $250 million over the next five years. To accommodate additional customers, TRICARE’s toll-free customer service call centers will be improved, to include adequate staff and technology upgrades. The changeover is likely to begin in spring 2014 and overseas TRICARE Service Centers will not be affected. TRICARE Dental Program Rates to ChangeEffective Feb. 1, 2014, the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) monthly premium rates will change. These rate changes are regular annual increases that are part of the TDP contract. Ongoing premiums can be paid via a member’s payroll allotment/deduction. Members who are not able to pay using this method can opt for electronic funds transfer or credit card payments. Visit the Metlife TRICARE site for information regarding payment options. The following lists your new TDP monthly premium rates: Single Premium (one family member): $10.96Family Premium (more than one family member): $32.89Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve (Special Mobilization Only) Sponsor-Only Premium: $10.96Single Premium1 (one family member, excluding sponsor): $27.40Family Premium (more than one family member, excluding sponsor): $82.23Sponsor and Family Premium: $93.19Individual Ready Reserve (Non-Special Mobilization) Sponsor-Only Premium: $27.40Single Premium1 (one family member, excluding sponsor): $27.40Family Premium (more than one family member, excluding sponsor): $82.23Sponsor and Family Premium: $109.63 Under the TDP, there is a $1,300 annual maximum benefit per beneficiary, per plan year for non-orthodontic services. Each plan year begins May 1 and ends April 30. Payments for certain diagnostic and preventive services are not applied against the annual maximum. There is an additional $1,200 maximum for dental care necessitated by an accident. ACTIVE DUTY NEWS GI Bill Benefits to Family MembersService members have the opportunity to transfer the benefit to immediate family members. Legally, GI Bill benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active duty, giving activated National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as all other active duty members. These benefits include:(1) Up to the full amount of tuition and fees for a state-operated college or university.(2) Monthly housing allowance, which is based upon the location of the school.(3) Annual books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000. The Post-9/11 GI Bill also provides work-study programs, tutorial assistance and license and certification test reimbursement. For more information, visit VA's GI Bill website. Military Family Appreciation MonthMilitary Family Appreciation Month is observed every November to recognize and honor Army families for their contributions and sacrifices. Throughout the month of November, community leaders, businesses and garrisons are teaming up to recognize Army and military families through a variety of activities such as family fun nights, fun runs, discounts at Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities, sporting events and special recognitions during community activities. For more information, visit the U.S. Army Stand-To! website and the National Military Family Association website. VETERANS NEWSVA Warns of FraudThe VA alerted NAUS this week about a new scam aimed at veterans. FRAUD ALERT: Veterans should be aware of a marketing scam targeting callers trying to reach the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Call Center or GI Bill Call Center. A marketing company has established two fraudulent numbers that differ from the two official VA call center numbers by one digit. If the fraudulent number is dialed by mistake, the answering party will offer a gift card and try to obtain personal and financial information, including credit card information, from the caller. The answering party may even transfer the caller to the VA after the caller’s information is obtained. Note that VA will never ask you for a credit card number or banking information over the phone. Before giving personal sensitive information over the phone make sure you know who you are taking to.[/i][/i][/color] The numbers to be avoided are:800-872-1000 (the VA National Call Center number is 800-827-1000)888-442-4511 (the VA GI Bill Call Center number is 888-442-4551) VA has notified law enforcement authorities to address this situation. Please pass this information along to other veterans you know. Post 9/11 GI Bill Helps One MillionThe VA announced this week that 1 million veterans, service members and family members have benefited from the Post-9/11 GI Bill since the program's inception in August 2009. To date, the Veterans Benefits Administration, which administers the program, has distributed over $30 billion. In general, Veterans and Servicemembers who have served on active duty for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001 are eligible.
