From: Director, RAO Baguio [raoemo@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:57 PM
Subject: RAO Bulletin Update 15 Nov 2007
Attachments: Veteran
Senate Legislation Update 07-11-13.doc; Veteran
House Legislation Update 07-11-13.doc
RAO Bulletin Update
15 November 2007
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
=3D=3D Tricare Shingles Vaccine ----------------- (= Age 60 and Older)
=3D=3D VA Homeless Vets [07] -------- (Setting the = Record Straight)
=3D=3D VA Disability/Comp System --------- (System Improvements)
=3D=3D WRAMC [12] ------------------ (Xmas Greeting= s to Wounded)
=3D=3D Bone Marrow Donor Registration --------- (En= rollees Sought)
=3D=3D CA & Federal Death Benefits ----------- = (Service Connected)
=3D=3D CA & Federal Death Benefits ------- (Non= service Connected)
=3D=3D SSN Protection Tips ----------------------- = (Things you can do)
=3D=3D
=3D=3D VA Agent Orange Claims [02] ----------- (Fas= ter OK Sought)
=3D=3D Hawaii Veterans Home -----------------------= ----- (1st to Open)
=3D=3D
=3D=3D
=3D=3D HVAC [03] ----------------------------------= - (Vet Bills Hearing)
=3D=3D MOAA Data Breach ---------------------- (Ema= il Addees Only)
=3D=3D VA Budget 2008 Update [10] ---- (Combined Sp= ending Bill)
=3D=3D VA Fraud [03] ----------------------- (King = WI Veterans Home)
=3D=3D Tricare Data Breach [01] ------------ (Ident= ity Theft Unlikely)
=3D=3D VA Physician Quals [01] -------------- (56,0= 00 under Review)
=3D=3D DoD Disability Eval System [08] ----------- = (Single Physical)
=3D=3D Mobilized Reserve 7 NOV 07 ---------- (Net D= ecrease 2362)
=3D=3D DoD Retiree Pay Offset ---------- (Retired B= enefits Program)
=3D=3D Retiree/Annuitant Pay Dates 2008 -----------= ---------- (DFAS)
=3D=3D NG Transition Assistance Advisor ------ (Ser= vices Provided)
=3D=3D VA Vision Legislation [01] ---------------- = (Criteria Relaxed)
=3D=3D VA Burial Benefits [01] ----- (Sunset Provis= ion Elimination)
=3D=3D VA Hep “C” Care [01] ------- (Tr= eatment Completion Rates)
=3D=3D VA Aids Care [01] ----------- (Testing Delay Complications)
=3D=3D Travel Packing Tips ------------------------= - (Making it easier)
=3D=3D Tricare Supplemental Ins [02] -------------- (Cafeteria plans)
=3D=3D USERRA [03] --------------------------------= -- (OSC vs. VETS)
=3D=3D Reserve GI Bill [08] -------------------- (Clarification sought)
=3D=3D Tricare Nexium Copay Lowered ----------- (No= w only $3.00)
=3D=3D VetJobs [01] -------------------------- (Job= Fairs thru 14 DEC)
=3D=3D Federal Recovery Coordinators --------------= ---- (DoD & VA)
=3D=3D Military Pay Raise 2009 --------------------= ----- (3.4% Likely)
=3D=3D VA Diabetes Mellitus Care [03] --------- (Av= andia Deletion)
=3D=3D VA Diabetes Mellitus Care [04] ----------- (=
=3D=3D TV Analog to Digital Conversion ---------- (= Did you know?)
=3D=3D Veteran Legislation Status 13 NOV 07 --- (Wh= ere We Stand)
Note: I will be shifting to the United States 22 NOV 07.
TRICARE SHINGLES VACCINE: Following a Centers for D=
isease
Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation on 19 Oct 07, Tricare now covers
Zostavax, the vaccine designed to prevent shingles for beneficiaries 60 and
older. Shingles is a painful viral disease that affects more than one milli=
on
Americans every year. More th=
an
half of those cases happen in people age 60 or older. Shingles is caused by=
the
varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox in children.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> It remains in the body for decades,
sleeping in nerve cells along the spinal column. A shingles rash usually appears on=
one
side of the face or body and lasts between two and four weeks. It is painful and can be accompani=
ed by
fever, headache, chills and upset stomach. The CDC recommends a single dose=
of
shingles vaccine for everyone age 60 and older. In a shingles prevention st=
udy
done by the Veterans Administration Cooperative Trial, run by Dr. Michael O=
xman
out of the
VA HOMELESS VETS UPDATE 07: Recent newspaper articles ha=
ve
noted that one in four homele=
ss
persons in the
* VA i=
s the
largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless. Services provided include health c=
are,
outreach and case management, employment, rehabilitation, transitional
residential care, therapeutic work and assistance with permanent housing.
* Ther= e has been a 22% reduction in the number of homeless veterans in comparison to estimates as recent as five years ago. The estimated number of homeless veterans fell from 250,000 to today’s 195,000 on any given night. =
* Only= about 30% of homeless veterans are chronically homeless, which are the hardest to reach among the homeless population. VA’s programs are designed to directly serve this important group. =
* VA supports more than 15,000 beds in transitional housing facilities and VA residential treatment programs.
* 100,= 000 veterans – more than half the number of homeless veterans - receive VA health care each year. VA exp= ects to spend $1.6 billion for medical treatment and $287 million for homeless specific programs in FY 08. =
* 346 program clinicians are working nationwide who contact homeless veterans as = part of their dedication to the homeless health care outreach effort.
* More= than $300 million in grants have been provided to local partners for homeless programs.
* VA partners with hundreds of communities on Stand Downs across the nation. Stand Downs give homeless veterans= a temporary refuge where they can obtain food, shelter, clothing and a range = of community and VA assistance. Providers can contact VA’s Homeless Veterans Programs Office at http://www1.va.gov/homeless/, (202) 273-5764, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.
[Source: VA Media Relations 8 Nov 07 ++]
VA DISABILITY/COMPENSATION SYSTEM: On 6 NOV the DoD and VA signed an
agreement for a pilot program to begin this month to evaluate a single phys=
ical
examination that would be used by DoD to determine the medical fitness of
injured personnel to remain in uniform and by VA for awarding disability
compensation. The DVA is comm=
encing
a study to determine the appropriate level and duration of transition payme=
nts
that should be paid to all eligible veterans who are participating in a
rehabilitation program. It also intends to solicit outside bids to be able =
to
award one contract to conduct two important technical studies that will ass=
ist
decisions to be made regarding the updating of our military disability
system. Full details about the
competitive solicitation for the studies will be available on
http://www.fedbizopps.gov. The studies are part of the recommendations of t=
he
President’s Commission on Care for
* Crea= te a schedule for rating disabilities based upon current concepts of medicine and disabil= ity, taking into account loss of quality of life and loss of earnings resulting = from specific injuries or combination of injuries.
* Exam= ine the nature of injuries and combination of injuries for which disability compensation is payable under various disability programs of the Federal and State governments and other countries;
* Examine the extent to which quality of life and loss of earnings are independently taken into account in various disability programs of the Federal and State governments and other countries;
* Examine the effect of an injury or combination of injuries on a veteran's loss of earni= ngs, such as inability to work in certain occupations, and on a veteran's qualit= y of life, such as activities of independent living, recreational and community activities, and personal relationships, including the inability to particip= ate in favorite activities, social problems related to disfigurement or cogniti= ve difficulties, and the need to spend increased amounts of time performing activities of daily living; and
* Addr= ess measurement of the effect of an injury or combination of injuries on a veteran's psychological state, loss of physical integrity, and social inadaptability.
= &nb= sp;
The study will make recommendations concerning the following:
* The appropriate injuries or combination of injuries to include in the schedule;=
* The appropriate level of compensation for loss of quality of life;
* The appropriate standard or standards for determining whether an injury or combination of injuries has caused a loss in a veteran's quality of life;
* The appropriate level of compensation for loss of earnings; and
*
[Source: VA Media Relations 8 Nov 07 ++]
WRAMC UPDATE 12: In response to numerous requ=
ests
from many well meaning people who want to do something for our "wounded
warriors" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC),
=
"
- http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/
- http= ://www.redcross.org
- http= ://www.usocares.org/
For individuals without computer access, your local
military installation, the local National Guard or military reserve unit in
your area may offer the best alternative to show your support to our return=
ing
troops and their families. WR=
AMC
will continue to receive process and deliver all mail that is addressed to a
specific individual. As Walter Reed continues to enhance the medical care a=
nd
processes for our returning service members, it must also must keep our
patients and staff members safe while following Department of Defense
policy. The outpouring of
encouragement from the general public, corporate
BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRATION: Every 15 minutes someone in the
=
The C.W. Young Program works in conjunction with the National Marrow
Donor Program (NMDP) which brings donors together, within the U.S. and from
across the world, in a confidential and secure data search system. In addition to the NMDP in the
• Age 18 to 60 and in good health
• Active Duty Military, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reservist
• Immediate family member of an Active Duty Service Member
• A DoD civilian employee
For additional info on the C.W. Young Donor Program= , as well as a list of walk-in locations or to establish a walk-in registration program refer to www.dodmarrow.org. [Source: Tricare News Release 2007 No. 07-86 dtd 8 Nov 07 ++]
CALIFORNIA & FEDERAL DEATH BENEFITS: Veterans who are residents of
A. Claim Requirements:
1. Verify disposition of veteran’s VA check (= if any).
2. If veteran was a military retiree, notify service department.
3. Complete and submit VA Form 21-534, Application = for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, or Accrued Benefits b= y a Spouse or Child, for surviving spouse and/or children. Also, VA Form 21-535, Application = for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s), for dependent parent(s)= .
4. Complete and submit VA Form 21-530, Application = for Burial Allowance.
5. Provide veteran’s death certificate or oth= er appropriate proof of death.
6. Provide medical evidence as needed to relate veteran’s death to service or to SC disability.
7. Provide dependency documents, if not previously submitted (marriage certificate, birth certificate(s), death certificate(s), divorce decree(s), VA Form(s) 21-674, as applicable). If an adult child is claimed as disabled (helpless), submit appropriate medical evidence in supp= ort.
8. Submit medical evidence to show need for aid and attendance (surviving spouse or dependent parent) or that surviving spouse = is housebound, if applicable.
9. Verify whether or not the surviving spouse or ei= ther dependent parent is also a veteran?
B. Benefits:
1. Social Security death payment.
2. Possible VA accrued benefits (if there was an unresolved claim or if there were unnegotiated checks at the time of the veteran’s death).
3. Eligibility for SC burial allowance, headstone or grave marker; U.S. flag; Presidential Memorial Certificate.
4. Life insurance payments (VA, other Government, or commercial).
5. Possible eligibility for additional allowance for surviving spouse or dependent parent on account of being so helpless as to = be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person (includes nursi= ng home patients), or for surviving spouse on account of being housebound.
6. Certificate of Eligibility for home loan guarant= y.
7. Eligibility for CAL-VET Home Loan.
8. Eligibility for CAL–VET Home Mortgage Insu= rance.
9. Eligibility for property tax exemption on princi= ple residence.
10. Eligibility for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance for surviving spouse and/or children= under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 35.
11. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for surviving spouse and children (Plan A). Requires wartime service. May not be authorized concurrently with VA education assistance under Chapt= er 35.
12. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for children (Plan B). May be authorized concurrently with education assistance under Chapter 35.
13. Eligibility for son(s) and/or daughter(s) to co= mpete for admission to military academies.
14. Eligibility for 10-point preference for Federal= Civil Service employment (surviving spouse and/or natural mother).
15. Eligibility for 10-point preference for State of California employment (surviving spouse).
16. If veteran was a military retiree, possible pay= ments under SBP/RSFPP.
17. Eligibility for a military identification card = if the veteran was a military retiree or was rated SC, 100% at time of death.
18. Eligibility for health care coverage under CHAM= PVA unless there is also eligibility under TRICARE (if the veteran was a milita= ry retiree).
[Source: CA Dept of VA website Nov 07 ++]
CALIFORNIA & FEDERAL DEATH BENEFITS: Veterans who are residents of Cali= fornia who die as a result of a non-service connected (NSC) disability or condition are entitled to a number of state and federal benefits. Following is a checklist that can = be used by their survivors or estate managers to assist in obtaining these benefits. This checklist was = last updated OCT 06:
A. Claim Requirements:
1. Verify disposition of veteran’s VA check (= if any).
2. If veteran was a military retiree, notify service department.
3. If veteran was SC and rated totally disabled (10= 0% or IU) at time of death, review for possible DIC. (Generally, requires veteran= to have been rated totally disabled for 10 continuous years immediately preced= ing death. If out of service less than 10 years at time of death, rated totally disabled for at least 5 continuous years, from date of discharge from servi= ce to date of death. If a former POW, rated totally disabled for one year immediately preceding death.)
4. Submit VA Form 21-534, Application for Dependenc= y and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, or Accrued Benefits by a Spouse or Child, for surviving spouse and/or children.
5. Submit VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial Allowance.
6. There is no minimum length of service requiremen= t for DIC. For death pension, veteran must have had a minimum of 90 consecutive d= ays of active service or was discharged because of SC disability. If veteran entered service after 1980, the service requirement is 24 continuous months= or the full period for which called to active duty, whichever is less, unless discharged sooner because of hardship, reduction-in-force, or SC disability= . In any event, at least one day of service must have been during a wartime peri= od.
Note—if veteran died while on active duty und= er circumstances precluding payment of DIC (i.e., willful misconduct), veteran must have served honorably for at least two years, at least one day of which was during a wartime period.
7. Submit veteran’s death certificate or other appropriate proof of death.
8. Provide dependency documents, if not previously submitted (marriage certificate, birth certificate(s), death certificate(s), divorce decree(s), VA Form(s) 21-674, as applicable). If an adult child is claimed as disabled (helpless), submit appropriate medical evidence in supp= ort.
9. Report projected family income—include inc= ome from all sources, including farm and/or business. Also list deductions/exclusions—veteran’s final expenses, unreimbursed medical expenses, children’s wages, etc.
10. Report net worth.
11. Provide medical evidence to show that surviving spouse is housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, if applicabl= e.
12. Verify if surviving spouse is also a veteran? <= /p>
B. Benefits:
1. Social Security death payment.
2. Possible VA accrued benefits (if there was an unresolved claim or if there were unnegotiated checks at the time of the veteran’s death).
3. Possible eligibility for burial and/or interment allowance; headstone or grave marker; U.S. flag; Presidential Memorial Certificate.
4. Life insurance payments (VA, other Government, or commercial).
5. Possible additional pension or DIC for surviving= spouse on account of being so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person (includes nursing home patients) or being housebound.
6. Eligibility for CAL–VET Home Mortgage Insu= rance.
7. Eligibility for property tax exemption on princi= ple residence (if veteran was entitled to such exemption prior to death).
8. If veteran was a military retiree, possible paym= ents under SBP/RSFPP.
9. Eligibility for a military identification card i= f the veteran was a military retiree or was rated SC, 100% at time of NSC death. =
10. Eligibility for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 35, for surviving spouse and/or children (if veteran was rated SC, permanently totally disabled at time of NSC death).
11. Eligibility for CAL-VET College Tuition and Fee Waiver for children (Plan B) if veteran had a (rated) SC disability at time= of death.
12. Eligibility for health care coverage under CHAM= PVA unless there is also eligibility under TRICARE (if the veteran was a milita= ry retiree) (if veteran was rated SC, permanently totally disabled at time of = NSC death).
13. Eligibility for 10-point preference for State of California employment (surviving spouse).
[Source: CA Dept of VA website Nov 07 ++]
SSN PROTECTION TIPS: “What is your social security number?” is a question many of us are asked on a regular bas= is without realizing that large amounts of our personal information, including tax, credit, education, and medical information, are keyed to our social se= curity number. Imagine the damage identity thieves could do if they had this information. To protect your own social security number and those of the veterans you service, you can do the following:
-- Never put a social security number in the header= of an email.
-- Never file documents by social security numbers.=
-- Ask creditors and merchants if you can substitut= e a special password or code to use instead of your social security number.
-- Shred any documents that have any personal infor= mation or credit account numbers on them before discarding.
-- Cover the screen or keypad when using an ATM so thieves cannot read your personal identification number (PIN).
-- Always drop your outgoing mail in the U.S. Posta= l blue boxes or at the post office instead of your home mailbox.
[Source: FDVA msg 7 Nov 07 ++]
KANSAS VET CEMETERY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 7 NOV the award of= a $4.4 million partial grant to establish the Kansas State Veterans' Cemetery= at Ft. Riley in Manhattan. This = will be the fourth state cemetery in Kansas. A total grant of $6.7 million is authorized, which will pay 100% of allowable costs to build the new 90-acre cemetery in the central part of the state. However, because VA is operating without 2008 congressional appropriations, under a continuing resolution, o= nly $4,359,000 is currently available to be awarded. Once the remaining $2,355,= 692 is available, VA will make the final grant award. The new cemetery will ser= ve more than 30,000 veterans and family members who live in the area. In its initial 30-acre development, the cemetery will provide 4,000 full-casket gravesites, 700 in-ground cremation burial sites and 786 columbarium niches= for cremation remains. The grant also will cover the costs of cemetery infrastr= ucture, including administration and maintenance buildings, roads, utilities, landscaping and irrigation, a memorial walkway, an assembly area and a committal service shelter. Design costs and equipment to operate the cemete= ry are also funded. Three other Kansas state veterans cemeteries, located in F= ort Dodge, Wakeeney and Winfield, also received federal assistance through VA's State Cemetery Grants Program. The nearest state cemetery is the Wakeeney cemetery, approximately 180 miles away. The nearest national cemetery is Leavenworth National Cemetery, about 300 miles away. VA's State Cemetery Gr= ants Program is designed to complement VA's 125 national cemeteries across the country. The program helps states establish new veterans’ cemeteries = and expand or improve existing state cemeteries. To date, the VA program has he= lped establish 73 state veterans’ cemeteries in 36 states, including Saipan and Guam, which provided more than 22,000 burials in fiscal year 2007. Since the program began in 1980, VA has awarded 162 grants totaling more than $312 million. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA Web site on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov, or by calling VA regional offices at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Kansas veterans’ cemeteries can be obtained by call= ing the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs at (785) 296-3976 or at http://www.kcva.org/cp/. [Source: VA News Release 9 Nov 07 ++]
VA AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS UPDATE 02: The chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has a radical idea to cut the huge and seemingly intractable backlog of veterans’ benefits claims. To focus = on handling new claims from Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, Rep. Bob Filner= (D-CA) says the Department of Veterans Affairs should approve — with minimal questioning — claims filed by Vietnam veterans, especially those whose claims deal with exposure to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange. In an interv= iew 8 NOV, Filner said he sees no way for VA to make headway in reducing the backlog of more than 400,000 claims without “radical” reforms t= hat must include eliminating an adversarial process that puts veterans in a defensive position. “We know Agent Orange is a carcinogen, and that p= eople could be exposed directly or indirectly in Vietnam,” he said. “= We don’t need to be demanding scientific proof any longer.” Expand= ed compensation would include paying the disputed claims of Navy veterans who served in the waters off Vietnam and never came ashore but think they still have herbicide-related health problems.
= Filner’s idea would require an act of Congress. He envisions linking it with other disability legislation. Filner, a longtime advocate of improved Agent Orange benefits, has another motive in pushing for VA approv= al of Vietnam-era claims. He thinks it will be easier to pass disability benef= its reforms aimed at helping Iraq and Afghanistan veterans — including a controversial plan that would consider income loss, quality of life and a v= eterans’ continued participation in rehabilitation when setting monthly benefits payments — if older veterans think the government is also doing somet= hing to help them. “We have to do something for both groups,” Filner said. To cut the backlog, Filner thinks VA needs a system that quickly appr= oves relatively simple claims and provides partial benefits — maybe 30 per= cent or 40 percent of full payment — for veterans while they are waiting f= or their claims to be verified and approved. VA and some veterans groups oppos= e such a system out of concern that automatically approving claims with no prior verification could encourage fraud. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 9 = Nov 07 ++]
HAWAII VETERANS HOME: Hawaii's first long-term-care faci= lity exclusively for military veterans will open on the Hilo Medical Center camp= us on 12 NOV. The $30 million, 9= 5-bed Yukio Okutso Veterans Home also will provide adult day health services. It = is named after a former Hilo resident who was a technical sergeant with the fa= med 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Okutso fought and died in World War II. It is Hawaii's first State Veteran= s Home and is part of the state's public hospital network, Hawaii Health Systems C= orp. HHS has contracted out management of the home to Avalon Health Care Inc. St= ate Veterans Homes are built in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which contributes up to 65 percent of the cost of building, buying= or renovating nursing homes for veterans.&nbs= p; [Source: Pacific busin= ess News article 7 Nov 07 ++]
CAMP LEJEUNE TOXIC EXPOSURE UPDATE 01: Federal environmental regula= tors say testing shows no chemical contamination under Marine Corps housing for military families at Camp Lejeune. The Environmental Protection Agency and Marine Corps say a network of monitoring wells show the chemical contaminat= ion from a Superfund site doesn’t extend under a school and housing. Base officials closed wells in 1987 that were contaminated with solvents from a = dry cleaners across the street from some base housing. Government figures estim= ate that up to 1 million people were exposed and some unborn babies later devel= oped cancers and birth defects. In July, base officials notified residents of ne= arly 900 homes that testing was being conducted. [Source: MarineTimes Associated= Press article 9 Nov 07 ++]
VET CEMETERY PENNSYLVANIA UPDATE 01: The Department of Veterans Affairs= (VA) and Dolington Land LP, a subsidiary of real estate developer Toll Brothers = Inc. and the owner of a 205-acre site in Bucks County in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania near Washington's Crossing Historic Park, have signed an "offer to sell" agreement under which VA will purchase for $10.5 million the site for the construction of a new national cemetery. With this step taken, VA expects to complete the formal purchase of the property by M= AR 08. Once the purchase is finalized and the cemetery design is complete, ini= tial construction will begin in mid 2008. Burials at the new national cemetery, which will serve more than 580,000 veterans and their families who live in = the area, are expected to begin in late 2008. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery,= the nearest open national cemetery in Pennsylvania, is 120 miles from the site = of the new cemetery. Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in a national cemete= ry. Other burial benefits for eligible veterans include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker - ev= en if they are not buried in a national cemetery. [Source: VA Media Relations 7 Nov 07 ++]
HVAC UPDATE 03:&nb= sp; The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing on several bills designed to increase benefits and services for veterans. The following bills were considered:
• HR. 3047, The Veterans Claims Processing Innovation Act, authorizes changes to increase effectiveness of the VA clai= ms filing system and establish a work credit system within VBA regional office= s. It also calls on VA to enter into a contract for evaluating employees of VB= A.
• HR 3249, The Veterans Burial Benefits Impro= vement Act would increase burial benefits to the IB recommended levels - non-servi= ce connected burial expenses from $300 to $1,270 and plot allowance from $300 = to $745.
• HR 3286 would reduce the period of time fro= m ten years to one year for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by VA.
• HR 3415 authorizes memorial markers in nati= onal cemeteries for those interred in an American Battle Monument Commission cemetery.
• HR 1137 increases the Medal of Honor special pension from $1,000 to $2,000.
• HR 4084 requires a study on VA's disability ratings schedule with regard to recent commission reports that called for a quality of life payment. It also allows transfer of a pending claim in the event of the death of the veteran to the claimants' survivor and requires an annual report on the workload of the US Court of Appeals for Veteran's Clai= ms.
• HR 3954, Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act, would reimburse volunteers who provide funeral honors detail.
For more information on any of the bills visit the = Thomas website and type the bill # in the box at: http://thomas.loc.gov/ [Source:<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> VFW Washington Weekly 9 Nov 07 ++]=
MOAA DATA BREACH:&= nbsp; MOAA's e-mail contractor, Convio, has informed them that someone illegally gained access to Convio's files and downloaded e-mail addresses f= rom 92 of Convio's clients, one of which was MOAA. No information was stolen th= at allows MOAA to reasonably believe could be used by the data thief to compro= mise your identity - that is, no Social Security numbers, account numbers, or ot= her financial information. No names were stolen, except to the extent an e-mail address included a person's name. However, the data thief did obtain thousands of e-mail addresses of = MOAA members and some non-members who have used their services or subscribed to their e-mail products - including the e-mail address. Unfortunately, today's reality is that dedicated "data-mining" individuals and organizat= ions routinely obtain e-mail addresses within minutes from anyone who hooks up a computer and starts an e-mail account. Nevertheless, you should remain vigi= lant in protecting your identity by reviewing all of your financial account stat= ements regularly and monitoring free credit reports available from national consumer-reporting agencies. As a result of the breach there is a possibili= ty that those affected may receive some additional spam (junk mail) or be targ= eted with phishing e-mails. In phishing or similar scams, you may receive an e-m= ail that appears to be from a well-known or trusted organization, urging you to= go to a website and enter personal information. It is likely that you have received such phishing e-mails in the past. If you receive such e-mails, you should promptly delete them and you should not respond to them in any way. Reputable firms do not ask for personal information in this manner. MOAA has confirmed that Convio has severely tightened its security, and MOAA is revi= ewing security precautions on all of their data systems, both internally and with other contractors who may have access to member data in one form or another. Following are a series of questions and answers about this incident for your review. Should you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to contact MOAA's Member Service Cente= r at 1-800-234-6622, or by e-mail at msc@moaa.org.
Questions and Answers
1. How many e-mails have been stolen? MOAA was one = of 92 organizations affected by the e-mail contractor's data loss. The theft included e-mail addresses of 260,000 MOAA members, subscribers, and prospects.
2. What other data has been stolen? No other person= al financial data (SSNs, birthdates, account numbers, etc.) was affected. Webs= ite passwords were stolen with regard to a very few individuals, but you did not have a password stolen - only an e-mail address.
3. How can you be sure what has been taken? The contractor electronically tracked the data that was downloaded.
4. How could I be affected personally by this e-mail address theft? What should I do now? You may receive additional "spam" (junk mail) messages, or you may receive so-called "phishing" messages with official-looking company logos that ask = you to log into a website and provide your personal information to "verify&qu= ot; one thing or another. You should immediately delete all such messages and y= ou should not respond.
5. Should I change my e-mail address? That is your decision, but it is probably not necessary. As you may know from experience, dedicated "spammers" and "phishers" have ways of obtain= ing your e-mail address electronically.
6. Should I enroll in an identity-theft program? Wi= ll MOAA or Convio pay for it? It is your decision, but we don't believe that's necessary. Your e-mail address alone will not allow anyone to steal your identity. MOAA will not pay for you to enroll in an identity-theft program under these circumstances. NOTE: Those interested= in knowing what protraction an identity theft program provides might want to c= heck out www.lifelock.com.
7. How did this breach happen? A credential belongi= ng to one of the contractor's employees was stolen, which allowed the thief to log onto the contractor's system and access e-mail addresses owned by members of MOAA and members of dozens of other organizations.
8. What is MOAA doing to prevent a recurrence? Firs= t, Convio contacted the FBI to alert it about the theft. Second, we at MOAA are working with Convio to ensure it reviews and upgrades its data-security protections. Finally, MOAA is initiating an internal review, and similar reviews with all of our other outside contractors, to assess and, where necessary, upgrade the protection accorded all of our members' personal dat= a.
9. Why does MOAA have to use an outside online serv= ice provider? Can't it be done in-house? Unfortunately, the complexity of e-mail guidelines and anti-spam laws have made it very difficult for organizations like MOAA to keep track of all the rules, outdated e-mail addresses, and un= ique requirements of the hundreds of different Internet Service Providers like A= OL, Yahoo, etc. We must hire contractors who specialize in managing all these requirements to ensure we can properly deliver MOAA's weekly Legislative Update, News Exchange, and other e-mail communications to those who wish to subscribe to them.
10. Who can I contact if I have questions about this situation? If you have additional questions, please contact MOAA's Member Service Center by calling 1-800-234-6622 or e-mailing the Center at msc@moaa.org.
[Source: Norb Ryan, Jr. Vice Admiral, US Navy, Reti= red MOAA President and CEO msg 9 Nov 07 ++]
VA BUDGET 2008 UPDATE 10: House Democratic leaders fai= led 6 NOV in an attempt to use the politically untouchable veteran’s budget= to produce a veto-proof tally for the health and education funding bill. A 269= -142 vote fell short of the two-thirds margin that would be needed to override a veto of a House-Senate compromise measure that combines the Labor-HHS-Educa= tion and Military Construction-VA funding bills. If anything, the power play solidified GOP opposition to the bill as 47 Republicans voted for it -- six fewer than when an earlier version passed the House in JUL 07. Moreover, the plan was certain to unravel in the Senate, where Republicans were poised to= use the rules to cleave the measure in two, setting the health and education bi= ll on course to be vetoed by Bush without the veterans' money attached. The government currently is being funded through 16 NOV by a continuing resolut= ion at fiscal 2007 levels.
= The latest temporary funding measure has been attached to the fiscal 2008 Defense spending bill (HR 3222), which negotiators agreed to on 6 NOV.= The new defense spending bill provides the Pentagon $459 billion - about 10% mo= re than last year's funding but $3.5 billion less than the Administration requested. It also includes $11.6 billion to send more mine-resistant vehic= les to ground troops in Iraq. The continuing resolution will allow continued operations of other federal agencies through 14 DEC - a good indication that Congress doesn't expect to finish up all of its appropriations and other wo= rk at least until mid-December. = The continuing resolution also includes $2.9 billion in special "bridge&qu= ot; funding for the VA to get a head start on meeting higher funding needs for = the new fiscal year until Congress passes the VA Appropriations Bill. The bill = will now go to the President for signature, and he is expected to sign it into l= aw. The President has pledged to sign the VA appropriations bill, even though it provides $3.7 billion more than the Administration requested. [Source: FDVA VA News 7 Nov 07 ++]
VA FRAUD UPDATE 03: State Department of Justice = agents on 5 NOV searched the office of an official at the Wisconsin Veterans Home = in central Wisconsin, looking for evidence that he embezzled money from a recreational fund for the 700 veterans who live there. State Division of Criminal Investigation agents who carried out the search seized a computer = from the office of Richard Calcut, 52, of Waupaca, according to a search warrant filed in Dane County Circuit Court. Calcut is a public information officer = and volunteer coordinator at the state-run nursing home for veterans in King, a= bout 110 miles north of Madison just outside of Waupaca. Calcut, who has worked at the home= for about 23 years, was placed on paid administrative leave on 22 OCT. In addition to his duties, Calcut = also served as a liaison between the home and a group called the King Recreation Committee, which was established by veterans organizations to provide recreational activities to those who live at the Veterans Home. Calcut has = not been charged with any crime. Justice Department spokesman Kevin St. John declined to comment on the case.
Calcut, reached at home, said he was not aware of t= he search and did not want to comment on the case. State Department of Veterans Affairs spokesman Andy Schuster said nobody from the department would comme= nt because of the open investigation.
= According to the search warrant in early October, the state Departme= nt of Veterans Affairs asked the King Recreation Committee to review its check= book and bank account statements from the First National Bank of Waupaca for 200= 5, 2006 and 2007. The review found dozens of checks made payable to the bank. Corresponding entries in the check register, however, indicated that the ch= ecks were written to legitimate vendors who did business with the Veterans Home.= But at least one of those vendors told investigators the company was always paid for its services by the Veterans Home itself, not by the committee. Diane Gallenberg, who is the treasurer for the committee, told DCI agent Amy Lehm= ann that she did not know why any checks would be made out to the National Bank= of Waupaca. Lehmann wrote that writing a check to a bank is one way to receive cash for it. Between 2 APR 05= and 16 AUG 07, there were about 50 checks, totaling about $59,851, where the pa= yee on the check and in the register were different. The review also found nume= rous checks payable to the home that were deposited into the committee’s b= ank account. Calcut was not authorized to make those deposits into the committee’s account. Crowley and other DVA staff interviewed Calcut between 25 SEP and 2 OCT. In those interviews, Calcut said he was given che= cks for $300 each month to spend on prizes for committee activities. He said he cashed the checks but did not keep a record of how the money was spent. Cal= cut also told officials that he never cashed a committee check for his own pers= onal benefit.
= The case is the second controversy this year involving the Wisconsin Veterans Home. Earlier this year, it was revealed that former deputy comman= dant Christine Hotvedt continued to draw her salary of $93,500 while she worked part-time from California during the months before her official retirement. In March, after H= otvedt retired, Commandant Bill Crowley asked her to return to the home and resume= her old position in a deal that would have allowed her to collect her retiremen= t on top of her salary. Hotvedt decided in April not to return to the job. [Sour= ce: Wisconsin State Journal Ed Treleven article 6 Nov 07 ++]
TRICARE DATA BREACH UPDATE 01: It is unlikely that any iden= tity theft occurred earlier this year as the result of a massive data breach of coded government health care records at a private defense contractor’s non-secure computer server, the firm’s executive vice president said recently. “We haven’t seen any compromise attributable to our d= ata breach,” said SAIC’s Arnold Punaro, referring to the 29 MAY discovery that nea= rly 900,000 records of troops, family members and other government employees had been exposed. “In the intervening months, we haven’t seen anyth= ing that would change our view.” Punaro also disclosed that SAIC employees have been disciplined and, in some cases, lost their jobs over the exposure= of the sensitive data. Asked to elaborate, Punaro said that “a number of employees are no longer with us, and a number of employees were disciplined.” Punaro declined to say how many were fired or disciplin= ed. The actions were taken, he said, “without regard to location or rank,” indicating that punishments weren’t limited to the Shali= mar, Fla., location where the server was located.
= He stressed that it was “our employees” who stored the d= ata incorrectly. Storage of such data on an unsecured server is a violation of = both SAIC and Defense Department policy. SAIC previously said the information, maintained under several health care contracts with the government, was variously a combination of names, addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates and/or limited health information in the form of codes. Some of the d= ata was no more than a piece of an individual’s record, such as an isolat= ed medical appointment file. In some cases, the information was transmitted ov= er the Internet in an unencrypted form. The information was exposed while being processed, according to SAIC. The breach was discovered when U.S. Air Forces Europe detected such an unsecured transmission. Punaro said he still couldn’t say how long the data was exposed before the breach was discovered. SAIC ultimately notified about 867,000 individuals that their records were exposed in the breach. Punaro said the data has since been mov= ed and secured and that out of hundreds of calls received after SAIC’s J= uly disclosure of the breach SAIC has gotten a couple of complaints about possi= ble identity theft. SAIC has agreed to do some additional review which is being provided at no cost to the government or affected people. [Source: NavyTimes William H. McMichael article 7 Nov 07 ++]
VA PHYSICIAN QUALIFICATIONS UPDATE 01: Testifying before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Veterans Affairs officials, on the defensive ove= r several deaths connected to one former VA doctor, told a Senate panel 6 NOV that th= ree other surgeons at the Illinois hospital where he worked were recently place= d on leave. The VA officials did not offer specifics about the three surgeons, b= ut Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the news is unfortunately a developing pattern= of problems of the surgical staff at the VA in Marion IL. VA officials called their response to the Marion deaths swift and their credentialing process f= or doctors the envy of the health-care industry. But the top official present,= Dr. Gerald Cross, also expressed some concerns about the agency's ability to ke= ep tabs on doctors once they've been granted privileges to treat VA patients. Under questioning from Durbin, the officials said they also have begun to review the qualifications of all 56,000 independently licensed health-care providers in the VA system. They flagged 17,000 of those providers, or about 30%, for further review because of their answers to questions on credential= ing forms.
= The hearings followed questions about the VA's physician credentiali= ng procedures first raised in September about deaths at the Marion hospital. T= he story revealed that Dr. Jose Veizaga-Mendez, a surgeon with a troubling professional history, was operating on veterans at the hospital for more th= an a year after surrendering his license in Massachusetts during a disciplinary proceeding. Officials linked some of those nine surgery deaths to Veizaga-Mendez, whose medical license was suspended indefinitely last month= by the State of Illinois. Veizaga-Mendez agreed to stop practicing medicine in Massachusetts last year after a state licensing board there accused him of grossly substandard care leading to serious complications and deaths. The surrender was dubbed voluntary and non-disciplinary, but Veizaga-Mendez remained licensed in Illinois and continued to work at the Marion VA facili= ty until resigning in August. Durbin has asked federal prosecutors to investig= ate the Marion VA, saying employees have made deeply disturbing claims of flawed patient care, shoddy oversight and possibly criminal behavior. Durbin is no= t on the Veterans Affairs committee but was allowed to take part in the hearing.= He pledged to push federal legislation to reform hiring practices at VA hospit= als nationwide.
= Separately the VA announced a multi-disciplinary assessment team wil= l be sent to the Marion Hospital to review the allegations made by hospital employees relating to operations at the facility. The team will assess pers= onnel practices and procedures at the facility; review issues related to equal employment opportunity; assess how well employees and managers are communicating; and evaluate how well the facility is implementing hiring processes and procedures. The Assessment Team will include experts from human resources, employee and lab= or relations experts; a representative from VHA’s National Center for Organizational Development; a representative from VA’s Office of Gene= ral Counsel; an environment of care expert; an Office of Resolution Management representative; and VA leaders and managers from other health care facilities. The team is expec= ted to be on-site within one week and composed of seven to 10 members. Team member= s will also assess the impact of issues that have already been raised at Marion on= the manner in which care is delivered to veterans at the hospital, and will edu= cate employees about issues they have raised concerning possible retaliation.
= Upon completion of their review, team members will provide recommend= ations for improvements at the facility to Acting Secretary Mansfield. They will also suggest follow-up activities to ensure their recommendations are fully implemented. VA began = its review of issues at Marion as a result of a JUN 07 statistical analysis by = its National Surgical Quality Improvement Program which indicated higher levels= of mortality than expected among patients at the facility over a six month time frame. As a result, VA’s Office of the Medical Inspector conducted an on-site review of the facility= to determine if community standards of care were met for certain patients who underwent surgery there between OCT 05 and SEP 07. This clinical review is ongoing. VA’s Office of the Inspector General is also conducting an investigat= ion at the request of Department leadership, which includes, but is not limited= to, a review of surgical care at the hospital over the last 12 months. The Inspector General’s revi= ew of Marion’s quality of care is also ongoing, and the office will careful= ly review all relevant information to include the assessment team’s repo= rt to see if the information the team gathers will shed light or add additional information to the Inspector General’s investigation. [Source: VA Pre= ss Release 6 Nov 07 ++]
DOD DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM UPDATE 08: In a landmark agreement to simplify life for service members with medical problems as they leave the military and return to the civilian world, the Department of Veterans Affai= rs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) signed a memorandum to pilot a sin= gle physical examination to be used by both Departments. “This agreement commits VA and DoD to develop a single process to assess the medical condit= ions of wounded, injured or ill service members. We will make it easier for these h= eroes to go back to their homes, with the key questions about their eligibility f= or VA compensation already decided.” said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield. = The agreement, signed Nov. 6 by Mansfield and Dr. David S.C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, calls for a pilot program to evaluate a single physical examination that would be used by DoD to determine the medical fit= ness of injured personnel to remain in uniform and by VA for awarding disability= compensation. This announcement continues progress on the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Sen. Robert Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala.
The pilot, which begin= s late this month, involves VA and DoD facilities in Washington, D.C. Service members from the Walter Re= ed Army Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, and the= Air Force’s Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base will participate in the pilot.
Medical evaluations will be performed by VA, althou= gh the agreement notes the physicals could actually take place in VA medical cente= rs, military installations, VA contracted examination centers or other faciliti= es. The memorandum says the process “lays the foundation for building a network of qualified providers and resources that will meet both DoD and VA requirements and ease the transition of members from military service to veteran status.” The evaluations will be based upon VA’s system= for disability examinations and include an examination of medical conditions identified by military physicians that call into question a service member’s fitness for duty, as well as other applicable medical condit= ions identified by the service member together with VA. [Source: VA Press Release 7 Nov 07= ++]
MOBILIZED RESERVE 7 NOV 07: The Army, Air Force and Marine Cor= ps announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 25 July 07 = in support of the partial mobilization. The net collective result is 2,362 less reservists mobilized than last reported in the Bulletin on 25 JUL 07 and 636 fewer reservists mobilized than last week. At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on acti= ve duty in support of the partial mobilization of the Army National Guard and = Army Reserve is 72,642; Navy Reserve, 5,895; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 7,113; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,265; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 3= 47. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been mobilized to 93,262, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are currently mobilized, can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2007/d20071107ngr.pdf .[Source: DoD News Release 7 Nov 07 ++]
DOD RETIREE PAY OFFSET REDUCTION: The Department of Defense ha= s two programs designed to reduce the reduction in retired pay due to receipt of Veteran Administration compensation, for certain disabled retirees. Concurr= ent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) provides a 10-year phase-out of t= he offset to military retired pay due to receipt of VA disability compensation= for members whose combined disability rating is 50% or greater . Members retired under disability provisions must have 20 years of service. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) pays added benefits to retirees who receive VA disability compensati= on for combat-related disabilities and have 20 years of service. To find out if either of these pro= grams apply to you and to obtain the appropriate paperwork to apply refer to the following:
• New Retired Benefit Programs general information paper at http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/concurrent_retire_07a.pdf
• CRSC Information paper Updated NOV 06 at http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/crsc_nov06.pdf
• Revised CRSC guidance effective 1 JAN 04 at http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/CRSC_Guidance_104.pdf
• CRSC Application (DD FORM 2860) at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2860.pdf or http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/forminfo/forminfopage2483.= html
Veterans must apply to their own branch of Service = for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) benefits. Applicants are urged to contact their own branch of Service for additional information. Link to your Service web site:
• Army at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/crsc/index.html
• Navy & Marine corps at http://www.donhq.navy.mil/corb/crscb/combatrelated.ht= m
• Air force at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/crsc/default.asp?prods3=3D2039&prods2= =3D39&prods1=3D1&cats1=3D144&p_cats=3D144
For more info refer to http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/mppcrsc.html. [Source: Under Secretary of Defense Personnel & Readiness notice 28 Mar 07 ++]
RETIREE/ANNUITANT PAY DATES 2008: The following reflects the D= FAS schedule of retiree and annuitant pay dates through 2008. This information = may help to avoid any confusion as to when you should expect to see the payment deposited to your account. Remember that payday is always on the first busi= ness day of the month.
December 3, 2007
January 2, 2008 &nb= sp;
February 1, 2008 <= /span>
March 3, 2008
April 1, 2008
May 1, 2008
June 2, 2008 =
July 1, 2008
August 1, 2008
September 2, 2008
October 1, 2008
November 3, 2008 <= /span>
December 1, 2008
[Source: Military.com Nov 07 ++
NATIONAL GUARD TRANSITION ASSISTANCE ADVISOR: The Transition Assistance Ad= visor (TAA) is tasked with assisting Guardsmen who are transitioning back to the = unit or community; in accessing federal, state and local resources. The National Guard has placed a TAA in all fifty-four states and territories, usually in National Guard Joint State Headquarters.&n= bsp; Many TAA’s are veterans or spouses of military service members= and have worked through the disability process themselves. The TAA initiative b= egan in MAY 05 when the National Guard Bureau signed a memorandum of agreement w= ith the Department of Veterans Affairs. In partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies TAA’s coordinate the following services:
• VA Benefits
• Educational Benefits
• Financial Guidance
• Readjustment Counseling
• Family Counseling
• USERRA / ESGR Assistance
• TRICARE Enrollment and Eligibility Information
• VSO support
• Local community resources
The program is primarily designed to serve the memb= ers of the National Guard and their families.&nbs= p; However they will provide services to members in all of the Reserve components and other returning service members. [Source: NMFA Government and You E-News for 6 Nov 07 ++]
VA VISION LEGISLATION UPDATE 01: The Senate on 2 NOV passed H= .R. 797, the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act. H.R. 797, introduced by Congresswo= man Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), was modified in the Senate to include additional provisions for blinded veterans. U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affai= rs Committee authored S. 1163, the Senate companion to H.R. 797. The legislation expands VA's eligibility requirements for certain benefits available to visually-impaired veterans which are presently unnecessarily narrow. This legislation would relax the criteria for those benefits to cover all veterans who fit the standard definition for legal blindness. The Senate-passed bill would alter this standard for two groups of veterans: th= ose with service-connected blindness in one eye who later lose vision in the ot= her eye, and those who receive special compensation for multiple disabilities t= hat include vision impairment. It= would amend the vision impairment criteria used by VA so as to encompass veterans with 20/200 vision or less, the standard for blindness used by the Social Security Administration and the American Medical Association. [Source: Sen. Akaka Press Release = 2 Nov 07 ++]
VA BURIAL BENEFITS UPDATE 01: On 2 NOV the Senate passed H= .R. 797, the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act. H.R. 797, introduced by Congresswo= man Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), which was modified in the Senate to include four additional provisions for burial and memorial benefits. Senator Daniel K. A= kaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee authored S. 1163, the Senate companion to H.R. 797. This legislation:
1. Permanently authorizes VA to provide government headstones or markers for the privately-marked graves of veterans interred = at private cemeteries. Current law authorizes VA to furnish, upon request, an appropriate headstone or marker for the grave of an eligible individual who died after 10 SEP 01, and who is buried in a private cemetery, notwithstand= ing that the grave is marked by a headstone or marker furnished at private expe= nse. Thus, in some cases, an individual's grave may have two markers--one privately-purchased and one furnished by VA. Prior to 2001, this authority = had been suspended for eleven years, making those who died between 1 NOV 90 and= 10 SEP 01 ineligible for the benefit. Furthermore, the current authority is only temporary, set to expire = on 31 DEC 07. This bill would ad= dress these temporal constraints by eliminating the sunset and making the authori= ty permanent, and by making the authority retroactive to cover the eleven-year= gap in current law.
2. Instructs VA to design a medallion or other devi= ce to signify a decedent's veteran status, to be placed on a privately purchased headstone or marker, as an alternative to a government furnished headstone = or marker.
3. Extends the current two-year window for States t= o be reimbursed for the unclaimed remains of veterans. To assist States in meeting some or = all of its cemetery operations and maintenance expenses, current law requires V= A to pay to States a $300 plot allowance for the interment or inurnment of eligi= ble veterans and reserve component members.
4. Authorizes $5 million for operational and mainte= nance expenses at state cemeteries.
[Source: Sen. Akaka Press Release 2 Nov 07 ++]
VA HEPATITIS “C” CARE UPDATE 01: A review of Veterans Affairs data = on the rates and factors predicting treatment completion for HCV showed that of 134,934 infected veterans, only 16,043 were prescribed treatment, reported Adeel A. Butt, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues. Only 12% of veterans infected with= the hepatitis C virus (HCV) were prescribed treatment for it, and less than one-fourth of those treated completed a 48-week course of treatment, investigators reported here. And among 10,461 vets with more than one year = of follow-up, only 22.5% completed a full 48-week treatment course, the investigators reported at the meeting of the American Association for the S= tudy of Liver Diseases. Black veterans were less likely to complete therapy, as = were those with pretreatment anemia, coronary artery disease, and a greater numb= er of comorbidities.
= The authors used the VA's national patient care database and other VA data sets to create a cohort of veterans diagnosed with HCV from 1998 throu= gh 2003. They collected demographic and clinical information, pharmacy data, a= nd laboratory results, and conducted multivariate analyses to determine which factors might predict completion of therapy. In multivariate analyses, the = odds ratio for noncompletion among patients with anemia at baseline (hemoglobin 10-14 mg/dL) was 0.66 (95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.78), and for those with depression the odds ratio for completing therapy was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.6= 9 to 0.89). Patients on pegylated interferon therapy were more likely to complete treatment compared with tho= se on standard interferons. However, there was no association between HIV co-infection and the likelihood of treatment completion. The authors noted = that at least some of the risk factors for noncompletion, such as anemia and depression, and smaller numbers of patients being treated at the site are modifiable. "Strategies = to address these comorbidities should be instituted before universal advocacy = of HCV treatment for every infected person, if therapeutic success at the popu= lation level is to be achieved," the investigators noted. They called for further study of t= he effect of consolidating services to higher volume centers that are experien= ced in such treatment, and whether better training of workers at low-volume cen= ters could improve treatment completion rates. The study was funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. [Source: MedPage Today Neil Osterweil article 4 Nov 07 ++]
VA AIDS CARE UPDATE 01: Despite the availability of life-s= aving antiretroviral treatment, people infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency = virus) continue to die and suffer from complications of AIDS, mainly due to delayed diagnosis and initiation of treatment. A researcher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and colleagues at Yale University have shed light on why this problem persists. Led by Dr. Neel Gandhi, assis= tant professor of medicine and of epidemiology and population health at Einstein, the researchers examined 4,368 patients presenting for AIDS treatment to Veteran's Administration (VA) Medical Centers nationwide for the first time between 1998 and 2002. Their aim was to determine whether patients who had received medical care in the VA healthcare system were diagnosed with the H= IV infection that causes AIDS earlier than patients outside the VA or those wh= o were accessing the VA system for the first time. Half of all the patients in the study had AIDS at the time of presentation -- a high rate that nevertheless= was similar to studies conducted outside the VA healthcare system. "What w= as particularly astounding to us was the fact that 40% of these patients with = AIDS had previously received medical care at the VA for other illnesses, but had= not been diagnosed with HIV infections and treated earlier," explains Dr. Gandhi. "This occurred even though they had an average of six physician visits over three-and-a-half years. Even more concerning was that those patients who already interacted with the healthcare system for several years suffered the end-stage complications of AIDS at the same rate as those who = were new to the VA healthcare system."
= One explanation for why this may occur is that patients with HIV infection remain asymptomatic until very late in the disease, providing few clues to doctors of the patient's underlying HIV infection. "In our st= udy, we found that only 12% of patients with AIDS at the time of presentation for treatment had previously suffered from an illness indicative of unrecognized HIV infection," notes Dr Gandhi. "The vast majority of these pati= ents with AIDS had no signs or symptoms of HIV infection until they suffered end stage complications from AIDS. Most of these AIDS complications could have = been prevented if these HIV-infected people had been routinely screened when they were first seen by a doctor and had begun antiretroviral treatment earlier.= A previously published study has shown routine screening for HIV infection is= a cost-effective addition to the screening done for other life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease and several types of cancer. Assuming that patients give their permission to be screened for HIV, the potential savings from diagnosing an infection earlier would be quite significant." The findings of the study support a recommendation by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to screen all patients in all healthcare settings for HIV-infection. [Source: Medical Care Journal Karen Gardner article 5 Nov 07 ++]
TRAVEL PACKING TIPS: Learn from those who have be= en there, done that, and know how. The AARP recently requested their members to submit packing tips. Following are the top 20 which wer= e most frequently submitted:
1. Use “seven-day pill holders” to sepa= rate earrings and necklaces.
2. Packing additional plastic bags. They can be use= d for packing souvenirs, dirty clothes or even as a small “washer.” <= /p>
3. Bring a stain-cleaning pen and a small container= of laundry detergent, or just use shampoo for simple laundering.
4. Consider shipping your luggage ahead of time, or= ahead of you before you return.
5. Take extra hangers, as hotels and cruise ships r= arely have enough. Taking your clothes already on hangers will limit wrinkles.
6. A couple dryer sheets will keep your suitcase sm= elling fresh.
7. Bring a charger or extra batteries for your digi= tal camera. Also, have the photo cards put on CD right away if you can as a bac= kup (and don’t erase the cards until you’re sure!)
8. For ladies, it’s easy to base your wardrobe around one color, such as blue or black, and then coordinate your purse, sh= oes, blouses, etc. to go with the color.
9. Take older underwear and t-shirts, then throw th= em away after wearing them. This will give you more room in your suitcase for souvenirs.
10. O= n your next three trips, write down what you wear each day. On your fourth trip you will have an accurate list of what you really need, not what you think you need.
11. In your carry on baggage put your bathing suit,= a change or two of clothing and basic toiletries. If your luggage is lost, you’ll still have a way to freshen up, something to change into and c= an go to the pool. And as airport delays are so common, bring snacks, bottled water (if permitted), your meds, and reading material with you on the plane= .
12. Pre-address stick-on labels for postcards to the folks back home and you won't have to carry along a bulky address book. Don= 't forget to bring along email addresses.
13. Pack half of your spouse’s clothing in yo= ur suitcase and vice versa. That way if one bag is lost, you’ll both have some of your luggage.
14. Bring along a poncho from the dollar store. The= y are compact…and great for sudden showers.
15. Create a master packing list on your computer. = Each time you travel, print a copy of that list. As you put things into your suitcase, check it off the list. Before you go out the door, look at your l= ist and see if everything you need has been checked-off. It reduces the stress = of packing, and you’re less likely to forget something.
16. Carry your cell phone charger with you.
17. Print business cards with your vacation on one = side (cruise, etc.) and your names and email addresses on the other. That way, people you meet will remember you and be able to contact you with letters a= nd photos.
18. Reduce the risk of having expensive jewelry by wearing something simple that will go with everything like a gold chain, go= ld bracelet and small hoop earrings.
19. To avoid having to lug luggage to your motel ea= ch night on a long driving trip pack paper sacks with each days change: shirt, pants, underclothes, etc. Each day take a bag with you into the motel. You = can then use the sacks for your dirty clothes.
20. Carry lightweight cheap flip-flops to wear arou= nd the hotel room or out to the pool and never leave home without a travel alarm clock.
[Source: AARP 2 Nov 07 ++]
TRICARE SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE UPDATE 02: Many Tricare beneficiaries a= re getting letters from their employer stating they will no longer offer Trica= re supplements as an employer sponsored medical option effective 1 JAN 08. Tricare beneficiaries should look = closely at their health care options. A provision of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal = year 2007 prohibits employers from offering their employees financial or other incentives to use Tricare rather than the company’s Group Health Plan (GHP). The legislation applie= s to any employer, including states and units of local government with 20 or more employees, and mirrors the same prohibition that currently applies to Medic= are. Beneficiaries have earned their right to Tricare benefits through their ser= vice and this remains unchanged. T= ricare beneficiaries should take measures to understand and look closely at all of their health care options offered by Tricare and their current employer bef= ore deciding what is best for them and their families. Eligible beneficiaries can enroll = in Tricare on their own without taking employer incentives if desired.
= The employer can still offer “cafeteria plans” to their Tricare eligible beneficiaries as long as the plans are offered to all of t= heir employees, including those that are not eligible for Tricare. The legislation does not have an i= mpact on “Tricare Supplement” plans that are not offered by the emplo= yer; but are sold by beneficiary associations or commercial insurers. A cafeteria plan is defined as a fringe-benefit plan under which employees may choose among various benefits that best fit their needs, up to a specified dollar value. The legislation was initiated after evidence showed many employers were consciously working to shift their heal= th care costs to Tricare by offering financial incentives urging eligible employees to use Tricare rather than the employer’s GHP. For more information about Tricare supplements refer to http://www.Tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Medical/OHI/SupplementalInsurance. For information about enrolling in Tricare refer to www.Tricare.mil. [Source: Tricare News Release No. = 07-84 dtd 1 Nov 07 ++]
USERRA UPDATE 03:&= nbsp; A demonstration project designed to study which of two federal agenc= ies is better suited to investigate military service members' complaints about their federal employment rights was inconclusive and merits further review, members of a Senate committee said 31 OCT. Congress created the demonstrati= on project in 2004 after criticism from several Guard members and reservists t= hat the Labor Department's Veterans Employment and Training Service took far too long to investigate alleged violations of the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) at federal agencies. The la= w is designed to protect veterans from employment discrimination resulting from their service. Under the project, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and V= ETS were assigned shared responsibility for receiving and investigating federal sector USERRA claims. A Government Accountability Office report issued in J= uly did not reach a conclusion about which is better suited to handle the cases. George Stalcup, director of strategic issues at GAO, testified that data problems at both agencies affected GAO's ability to draw conclusions.
Still, representatives from OSC and VETS pleaded their case for sole responsibilit= y. OSC Deputy Special Counsel James Byrne testified that giving OSC sole overs= ight would remove the burden from VETS, freeing it to focus on providing quality services to USERRA claimants in the private sector. Additionally, Byrne sai= d, federal claims often have a mix of other potential violations that would fa= ll under OSC's jurisdiction, such as prohibited personnel practices. But Charl= es Ciccolella, assistant secretary of Labor for veterans' employment and train= ing, testified that the GAO report clearly indicates the Labor Department resolv= es cases faster than OSC. Unlike OSC, which has only a headquarters and four f= ield offices, VETS positions USERRA investigators in each state and territory, he said. Lawmakers seemed intent on extending the current setup. "It is n= ot clear to me that results of the demonstration project and the GAO report provide sufficient evidence to permit this committee to decide on the proper jurisdiction of these claims," said Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka, (D-HI). "I believe that a good case can be made= for retaining jurisdiction by both VETS and OSC." If members choose to extend the demonstration project, then they should set clear goals, Stalcup said. "Legislation creating the current demonstration project was not specif= ic in terms of the objectives," he said. Mathew Tully, an Army Reserve officer and attorney who represents many federal reservists with USERRA cla= ims, testified that should the demonstration project continue, GAO should also consider the number of service members who represent themselves or seek pri= vate counsel and go directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
= During the demonstration project, Tully, Rinckey & Associates investigated and prosecuted before the MSPB a total of 1,802 cases, more th= an four times the combined number of cases that VETS and OSC handled over the = same period, Tully said. Of the cases handled by the law firm, 73% of veterans w= ere awarded the remedy they were seeking, he added. But if the decision must be made between VETS and OSC, Tully said OSC is better positioned. "The Department of Labor has built a reputation over the last 13 years of poor investigative work [and] poor use of investigative tools. I have no doubts = that if [OSC] is allowed to continue to investigate and prosecute USERRA claims = that their reputation will grow." Tully said. Committee members and witness= es noted that better preventative measures also are needed. Byrne said OSC has= an outreach program to educate managers on USERRA issues, but acknowledged that such programs are typically not implemented until after a violation is recognized. Tully recommended giving OSC disciplinary authority so that fed= eral supervisors are held personally accountable for USERRA violations. "Personal liability is the ultimate deterrent," he said, "and its implementation would have a profound effect on those unsavory individua= ls who might otherwise commit a USERRA violation." [Source: GOVEXEC.com Brittany R. Ballenstedt article 1 Nov 07 ++]
RESERVE GI BILL UPDATE 08: The House Committee on Oversight a= nd Government Reform is seeking answers from Defense Secretary Robert Gates regarding the recent deployment of the 1/34th Brigade Combat Team relative = to how some of the soldiers from Minnesota and other states deployed with the 1/34th were ordered to active duty for less than 730 days and some for the = full 730 days. An active duty soldier on orders for two years (730 days) or longer, need only serve 20 months= on active duty to qualify for MGIB educational benefits. Although hundreds of soldiers assigned to the 1/34th BCT served on active duty for 22 months, th= ey were denied active duty MGIB educational benefits because their orders were= for less than the statutory 730 day (two year) period. Those soldiers of the 1/= 34th on the same deployment whose orders read for 730 days and who served the sa= me 22 months did qualify for active duty MGIB benefits. The Committee wants to know if the National Guard and the Army have “responded appropriately= to rectify the problems caused by these orders” and if procedures are in place for future deployments to maximize legitimate eligibility for benefit= s. [Source: NGAUS LEGIT 2 Nov 07 ++]<= /p>
TRICARE NEXIUM COPAY LOWERED: The Tricare Management Activ= ity (TMA) announced that due to a negotiated price break from the manufacturer = they are lowering the co-pay for Nexium. Tricare beneficiaries will now only pay= a $3.00 co-pay. This is true at both retail pharmacies and the Tricare mail o= rder pharmacies (TMOP). At retail, beneficiaries can get a 30-day supply; while through TMOP it is up to a 90-day supply. Nexium is a heartburn treatment k= nown as a proton pump inhibitor. Approximately 500,000 Tricare beneficiaries take this type of drug. At a meeting with Express Scripts Inc. TREA Executive Director Deirdre Parke Holleman was told that Nexium is the most popular dr= ug for Tricare beneficiaries. (In fact the purple pill is extremely popular th= roughout the country.) While the co-pay for Nexium dropped other proton pump inhibit= ors, Prevacid, Zegerid, Protonix and Aciphex, co-pays increased to $22.00. For m= ore information refer to: http://www.Tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=3D330.= [Source: TREA Washington Update 2 = Nov 07 ++]
VETJOBS UPDATE 01: VetJobs is the leading Inter=
net
niche job board for reaching the 14 million military veterans currently in =
the
work force, as well as the 250 thousand active duty military personnel who
transition each year, and their family members. It is a source for veterans
seeking employment in information technology, program and project managemen=
t,
sales, linguists, logistics, transportation, human resources, manufacturing,
engineering, finance, healthcare, accounting and senior executives and is
recognized in the industry as the leading recruitment site to reach the
military market. It offers employers candidates (i.e. veterans) with divers=
ity,
leadership skills, technical skills, security clearances and who have verif=
iable
work backgrounds. The followi=
ng Job
Fair list prides the date, location and title of upcoming job fairs in the
Continental United States (CONUS) during the period 15 NOV thru 14 DEC. Cli=
ck
any job fair below to display details and contact information for the event=
. To
view job fairs scheduled over the next 12 months refer to
www.acap.army.mil/transitioner/job_fairs/index.cfm?caller=3Dtransitioner.
NOV 15 Jacksonville, FL CivilianJobs.com Job Fair
NOV 15 San Diego, CA Hire Patriots Job Fair
NOV 15 Fort Leonard Wood, US ACAP/ACS Semi-Annual J= ob Fair
NOV 16 Tucson, AZ All-Veterans Job Fair
NOV 18 - 19 Chicago, IL Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for Transitioning Military
NOV 29 Arlington, VA Cleared Job Fair
DEC 2 - 3 Atlanta, GA Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for Transitioning Military
DEC 2 - 3 Cincinnati, OH Orion International Milita= ry Hiring Conference
DEC 2 - 3 Washington, DC Orion International Milita= ry Hiring Conference
DEC 2 - 3 Fishkill, NY Orion International Military Hiring Conference NE Technicians Only
DEC 2 - 3 Dallas, TX Orion International Military H= iring Conference
DEC 2 - 4 San Diego, CA Orion International Militar= y Hiring Conference
DEC 3 - 4 Norfolk, VA Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference (Technicians)
DEC 4 Tampa, FL Mac Dill AFB Defense Technology &am= p; Intelligence Career Day
DEC 5 Live Oak, TX NCOA Job Leader National Job Fai= r
DEC 6 Fort Drum, NY ACAP/M.O.R.E. Job Fair
DEC 6 San Diego, CA Military Stars Western Regional Career Expo
DEC 5 - 7 Raleigh, NC Orion International Military = Hiring Conference
DEC 6 - 7 Atlanta, GA Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
DEC 6 - 7 Irvine, CA Lucas Group Military Hiring Co= nference
DEC 6 - 7 Dallas, TX Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
DEC 6 - 7 Washington, DC Lucas Group Military Hiring Conference
DEC 9 - 10 Norfolk, VA Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for Transitioning Military
DEC 9 - 10 Austin, TX Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for Transitioning Military
DEC 9 - 10 San Diego, CA Bradley-Morris, Inc. Hiring Conference for Transitioning Military
DEC 10 Irving, TX MilitaryStars Southwest Regional = Career Expo
DEC 13 San Diego, CA CivilianJobs.com Job Fair
[Source: VetJobs Veteran Eagle 1 Nov 07 ++]
FEDERAL RECOVERY COORDINATORS: The Department of Defense (D= oD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) on 31 OCT signed an agreement to provide "federal recovery coordinators" who will ensure life-long medical= and rehabilitative care services and other federal benefits are provided to seriously wounded, injured and ill active duty service members, veterans and their families. The agreement= puts into place one of the top recommendations of the President's Commission on = Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Sen. Robert = Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. Under this agreement the first group of federal recovery coordinators will be provided= by VA in coordination with DoD and will be assigned to select military treatme= nt facilities throughout the nation. They will support existing military servi= ce and veteran programs and care providers by coordinating needed services bet= ween DoD and VA and state and private and voluntary organizations, while serving= as the ultimate life-long resource for wounded, ill and injured and their fami= lies who may have concerns about federal services or benefits. Job announcements for the new posi= tions have been posted, with the first 10 federal recovery coordinators scheduled to be hired by 1 DEC. Plans call for the new employees to be trained and in place= at the military's major health care facilities during JAN 08.
The first 10 coordinators will work at military health care faciliti= es and at any other locations where patients are later assigned. They will be located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and the Naval Medical Center Balboa in San Diego. Additional recovery coordinators will be added in the future as needs are determined.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The coordinators will have a backg= round in social services or nursing and will work closely with the clinical and non-clinical case management teams to develop and execute federal individual recovery plans. Those plans, developed for the severely wounded, injured or ill, specify what services are needed across the continuum of care, from recovery through rehabilitation to reintegration to civilian life. The coordinators also will work closely with family members to take care of the= ir services and needs. The coordinators will have access to and support from the DoD's under secretary= of defense for personnel and readiness and VA's under secretary for health, as well as the commanders of facilities where service members and veterans rec= eive treatment. These federal reco= very coordinators are in addition to other programs that have been established by the military services. [Sourc= e: DoD News Release No. 1265-07 dtd 31 Oct 07 ++]
MILITARY PAY RAISE 2009: If history is a guide, federal emp= loyees will be in line for a 3.4% pay raise in 2009, based on figures released 31 = OCT by the Labor Department. Why does the 2009 pay raise have to be projected t= his far ahead of time? Unlike retired pay cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), military pay raises aren't automatic or mandatory. They have to be budgeted for, and the funds have to be appropriated. The Pentagon is preparing the FY2009 budget right now, so OCT 07 is the latest they can wait for ECI data= to set the 2009 raise. From SEP = 06 to SEP 07, the change in the Labor Department's Employment Cost Index was 3.4%= , a figure that President Bush is likely to use as a basis for his pay raise recommendation when he releases his 2009 budget proposal in FEB 08. That me= ans -- unless the Administration or Congress chooses to pick a different number= -- active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members will get a 3.4% raise in J= AN 09.
= For the past several years, federal employees have received raises e= qual to those granted to their military counterparts. Under a 2004 law, military salaries must be increased annually at a rate equal to the change in the ECI for the private sector's wages. That same law, the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, previously tacked on an additional 0.5% to the change in= the cost index to determine the overall military raise. But the law called for raises from 2007 on to be equal to the ECI, without the extra bump. Contrar= y to the 2004 law, however, Congress is poised to approve a 2008 pay raise for military and civilian personnel of 3.5%, 0.5% higher than last year's chang= e in the ECI. The 2008 raise still awaits final approval, as Congress completes = the appropriations process. Meanwhile, military and civilian personnel may be on track to receive the 0.5% bump through 2012. Under the House version of the fiscal 2008 Defense authorization bill, military members would get a guaran= teed pay raise of 0.5% above the ECI from fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2012. The provision, if passed in conference committee and signed by President Bush, likely would give federal labor unions an edge in pushing for an equivalent raise for federal civilian employees. Although the ECI has become the de fa= cto basis for the civilian pay raise, another law on the books is supposed to dictate civilian pay.
In 1990, Congress passed the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA), which = established a formula to close the gap between the government and the private sector. T= he complex formula would have granted civilian employees an average pay hike m= uch higher than the raises they have received since its passage. But FEPCA has = not been implemented as intended. Instead, each year the president uses a looph= ole that allows him to override the formula and propose a much lower pay raise. Congress then typically pushes for pay parity between the civilian and mili= tary workforce. A chunk of the 3.4% pay hike employees would receive in 2009 if = the change in the ECI is used would be allocated for locality pay. At the Defen= se Department, however, across-the-board increases will not be so exact for so= me employees. Sophisticated new pay systems at Defense and other agencies give management broader discretion in setting pay, effectively providing them the ability to override the 3.4 percent figure. In 2009, the Pentagon plans to = give certain employees in the National Security Personnel System raises based on= the quality of their work. For those employees, the government wide raise will = go to pay pools and will be distributed based on the performance ratings. [Sou= rce: GovernmentExecutive.com Brittany R. Ballenstedt article 31 Oct 07 ++]
VA DIABETES MELLITUS CARE UPDATE 03: The U.S. Department of Veter= ans Affairs has deleted rosiglitazone (Avandia), the diabetes drug that has been linked to increased risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure, from i= ts formulary. The action followed an internal review of medical records of diabetes patients treated in the VA system. Moreover, the VA representative= to the FDA's 15-member Drug Safety Oversight Board (DSOB) rallied other member= s in an attempt to have rosiglitazone pulled from the market. According to Senat= or Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the move to ban rosiglitazone fell only one vote sho=