From: Director, RAO Baguio [raoemo@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 5:41 PM
Subject: RAO Bulletin Update 1 June 2007
Attachments: Veteran Legislation Update 07-05-30.doc
RAO Bulletin Update
1 June 2007
THIS BULLETIN UPDATE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE= S:
=3D=3D VA Health Care Funding [08] --- (Mandatory v= ice Discretionary)
=3D=3D Mobilized Reserve 30 MAY 07 --------------- = (Net Increase 4940)
=3D=3D Red Cross Scam -----------------------------= --- (Phony Calls)
=3D=3D GI Bill of Rights [01] ---------------------= (New Legislation)
=3D=3D Tattoo Laser Removal ---------------- (New T= echniques Available)
=3D=3D Jets for Vets ----------------- (Non- Relati= ve Travel Option)
=3D=3D AFRC
=3D=3D Military Health Care TF [06] ----- (Fee Incr= ease- Recommended)
=3D=3D Veteran Legislation 2007 [02] ------------- = (House Passes 6 Bills)
=3D=3D VA Clinic Openings [04] --------------------= ------ (38 in 22 States)
=3D=3D Gold Star Parents Annuity Act ---------- ($1= 25 Monthly Pension)
=3D=3D Passport Obtainment [01] -------------------= --- (Current Situation)
=3D=3D State Veterans Home Program [01] -------- (L= TC New Approach)
=3D=3D Tricare Uniform Formulary [19] ---------- (A= UG Tier 3 Changes)
=3D=3D Avandia Safety Alert ---------------- (Diabe= tes Type II Medicine)
=3D=3D AO & Prostrate Cancer ------------------= ---- (PSA Tests Essential)
=3D=3D VA Claim Backlog [08] ---------------------- (Increased Funding)
=3D=3D VA CBI ---------------------------------- (H= elp-line Service)
=3D=3D TMOP [06] ----------------------------------= ------ (Zero Copay Test)
=3D=3D NDAA 2008 [02] --------------------- (House Initiatives Opposed)
=3D=3D NDAA 2008 [03] ----------------------- (Amendments/Provisions)
=3D=3D Reserve Retirement Age [10] ---------- (Hous= e NDAA Inclusion)
=3D=3D
=3D=3D Gulf War Syndrome [03] ------------------- (= Sarin Gas Exposure)
=3D=3D VA Bonuses [02] ------------------------- (H= R 2292 Would Block)
=3D=3D Stolen SSN Usage ---------------------------= - (Impact on Benefits)
=3D=3D Military Unemployment Compensation ---------= (Vet & Spouse)
=3D=3D VA Success Questioned ------ (McClatchy News= paper's Report)
=3D=3D Veteran Legislation Status 30 MAY 07 -------= (Where we Stand)
Editor’s Note: Attached is a listing of veteran legislation with current cosponsor status that has been introduced in the 110th Congress. To see any of these bills passed i= nto law representatives need input from their veteran constituents to instruct = them on how to vote.
VA HEALTH CARE FUNDING UPDATE 08: On the heels of Memorial Day=
, Rep.
Phil Hare (D-IL), a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affair=
s,
introduced the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2007, a bill=
to
make VA health care a mandatory spending item within the federal budget. He=
was
joined by co-sponsors of the bill and representatives from the American Leg=
ion,
the
- The = fact that a backlog of 600,000 VA disability claims is not only inefficient, it’s immoral.
- The = fact that our nation’s vet centers are short on staff and many veterans suffering from PTSD are going without the counseling they need.
- The = fact that it’s hypocritical to say you support the troops while our wounded soldiers are living in rat-infested rooms at Walter Reed.
- The = fact that it is wrong to give senior VA officials lucrative bonuses at the same = time veterans are waiting in line to see a doctor.
- The = fact that the way we budget for the needs of our veterans is inadequate in an er= a of terror.
- The = fact that the VA actually ran out of money the last 2 years—suffering shortfalls of $1 billion in 2005 and $2 billion in 2006.
- The = fact that VA health care is currently the only major federal health program that= is not funded through mandatory appropriations.
He commented that the system is broken and said,
“It is nearly impossible to continue to meet the growing needs of our
veterans through discretionary spending. It is a 19th century solution to a
21st century challenge”. The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care=
Act
of 2007 has 73 co-sponsors, including the Chairman of the House Veterans=
217;
Affairs Committee. In additio=
n, the
idea of multi-year funding has bipartisan support. Representative Smith of =
MOBILIZED RESERVE 30 MAY 07: The Army, Air Force and Marine Cor= ps announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 30 MAY 07 in support of the partial mobilization. The net collective result is 4940 more reservists mobilized than last reported for 9 MAY 07. 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. Total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for = the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 67,769; Navy Reserve, 5,391; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 6,181; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,651; a= nd the Coast Guard Reserve, 356. This brings the total National Guard and Rese= rve personnel, who have been mobilized, to 86,348, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumu= lative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are currently mobilized, can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2007/d20070530ngr.pdf . [Source: DoD News Release 30 May 0= 7 ++]
RED CROSS SCAM: The American Red Cross has l=
earned
about a new scam targeting military families. This scam takes the form of f=
alse
information being told to military families. A caller (young-sounding, American
accent) calls a military spouse and identifies herself as a representative =
from
the Red Cross. The caller states that the spouse's husband (not identified =
by
name) was hurt while on duty in
=
Military family members are urged not to give out any personal
information over the phone if contacted by unknown/unverified individuals, =
to
include confirmation that your spouse is deployed. It is a federal crime, punishable =
by up
to 5 years in prison, for a person to falsely or fraudulently pretend to be=
a
member of, or an agent for, the American National Red Cross for the purpose=
of
soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or material. The American Red Cross ensures tha=
t the
American people are in touch with their family members serving in the
GI BILL OF RIGHTS UPDATE 01: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-=
NY)
and Patrick Murphy (D-PA), former U.S. Army Captain and
- Incr= ease Education Opportunities. The act will fund undergraduate education for servicemembers - eight college semesters of tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other educational costs (commensurate with costs paid by non-veterans). The education grant also can be used for specialized trade or technical training, and certification and licensing programs for both veter= ans and disabled veterans. Participants will not be required to pay into the program to receive grants.
- Inc= rease Veterans Housing Opportunities. The act will exempt Veterans from paying lo= an fees and expand opportunities for veterans to purchase, build, repair or improve a home by increasing access to low interest loans through the Veter= ans Affairs Home Loan Guaranty Loan Program for homes valued up to $625,000. The current program requires loan fees and is capped at the conforming loan rat= e of $417,000.
- Inc= rease Veterans Entrepreneurial Opportunities. The Clinton-Murphy bill would estab= lish a Veterans Microloan Program, administered by the Department of Veterans Af= fairs and the Small Business Administration. The program would provide Veterans microloans for entrepreneurial ventures up to $100,000 with interest rates capped at 2.5 percent and without requiring collateral. The program would a= lso direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide Veterans counseling, technical assistance, and community outreach assistance.
[Source: Sen. Clinton Press Release 16 May 07 ++]
TATTOO LASER REMOVAL: It is estimated that close to 10% =
of the
= You want to make sure you find a reputable dermatologist or cosmetic surgery center to ensure proper treatment and care. If possible, you should obtain a recommendation from your family physician for a dermatologist or s= kin surgery center that specializes in tattoo removal. Depending on the size and color of your tattoo, the number of treatments will vary. Your tattoo may be removed in two to four visits, though many more sessions may be necessary. = You should schedule a consultation, during which time a trained professional wi= ll evaluate your personal situation and advise you on the process. Treatment w= ith the laser varies from patient to patient depending on the age, size and typ= e of tattoo (amateur or professional). The color of the patient's skin, as well = as the depth to which the tattoo pigment extends, will also affect the removal technique.
= In general, this is what will happen during an office visit for tatt= oo removal using the newer lasers:
- Prot= ective eye shields are placed on the patient.
- The = skin's reaction to the laser is tested to determine the most effective energy for treatment.
- The treatment itself consists of placing a hand piece against the surface of the skin and activating the laser light. As many patients describe it, each pul= se feels like a grease splatter or the snapping of a rubber band against the s= kin.
- Smal= ler tattoos require fewer pulses while larger ones require more. In either case, the tattoo requires several treatments and multiple visits. At each treatme= nt, the tattoo should become progressively lighter.
- Imme= diately following treatment, an ice pack is applied to soothe the treated area. The patient will then be asked to apply a topical antibiotic cream or ointment.= A bandage or patch will be used to protect the site and it should likewise be covered with a sun block when out in the sun.
Most = patients do not require any anesthesia. However, depending on the location of the ta= ttoo and the pain threshold for the patient, the physician may elect to use some form of anesthesia (topical anesthesia cream, painkiller injections at the = site of the procedure). There are minimal side effects to tattoo removal by lase= rs. However, you should consider these factors in your decision:
- The = tattoo removal site is at risk for infection. You may also risk lack of complete pigment removal, and there is a slight chance that the treatment can leave = you with a permanent scar.
- You = may also hypopigmentation, where the treated skin is paler than surrounding skin, or hyperpigmentation, where the treated skin is darker than surrounding skin.<= /p>
- Cosm= etic tattoos like lip liner, eyeliner and eyebrows may darken following treatment with tattoo removal lasers. Further treatment of the darkened tattoos usual= ly results in fading.
Thanks to newer technology, treatment of tattoos wi= th laser systems has become much more effective with very little risk of scarr= ing. Laser treatment is often safer than many traditional methods such as excisi= on, dermabrasion or salabrasion (i.e. using moist gauze pads saturated with a s= alt solution to abrade the tattooed area) because of its unique ability to selectively treat pigment involved in the tattoo.
= Since tattoo removal is a personal option in most cases and is considered a cosmetic procedure, most insurance carriers will not cover the process unless it is medically necessary. Physicians or surgery centers practicing tattoo removal may also require payment in full on the day of the procedure. If you are considering tattoo removal, be sure to discuss associ= ated costs up front with the physician, and obtain all charges in writing before= you undergo any treatment. Note: = The information provided here is designed to provide general information only a= nd is not a replacement for a physician's advice. For details pertaining to yo= ur specific case, arrange a consultation with a physician experienced in the use of tat= too lasers. [Source: WebMD article 25 May 07 Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic, Department of Dermatology ++]
JETS FOR VETS:&nbs= p; Freedom Is Not Free (FINF) is sponsoring a program called Jets for V= ets in order to ease the burden of the cost of transportation for wounded milit= ary personnel and their families. The program enables volunteers to make would-be empty travel seats available on private jets to those wounded while serving. "Non-conforming" relativ= es such as fiancés, best friends, grandparents, and significant others = who do not qualify for Department of Defense travel benefits may also take adva= ntage of the program. For more information or to request a flight through the Jets for Vets Program, refer= to http://www.freedomisnotfree.com/Partnerships.aspxwebsite. FINF is an a-political, non-partisan 501(C)3 non-profit organization registered with t= he Registry of Chartiable Trusts which receives no federal, state or governmen= tal support or funding. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update for 25 May 07 ++]
AFRC VIRGINIA BEACH VA: The Army recently opened the Cape =
Henry
Inn, a military-only resort in Virginia Beach VA. The Inn offers 120 rooms,=
two
swimming pools, two outside cabanas, playgrounds and outside grills. The Army Family and Morale, Welfar=
e and
Recreation Command plan to expand the property over the next two years with
additional rooms and conference facilities. Those individuals who are Active
Duty, Retired, Reserve military, or DoD civilian must make reservations.
MILITARY HEALTH CARE TF UPDATE 06: At a briefing before the Defense H= ealth Board, the Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care revealed its support for higher Tricare premiums, fees and co-pays for military retirees under age 65. This DoD-appoin= ted task force will formally release its interim report to Congress on 31 MAY.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Although the specifics are not det= ailed, some of their preliminary recommendations are:
- Revi= ewing TRICARE contracts to ensure they contain the flexibility required to allow = for inclusion of best business practices.
- Alte= ring pharmacy incentives (including beneficiary copays) to encourage use of the lower-cost mail-order system.
- Reba= lancing" beneficiary fees "at or below" the share of DoD costs they repres= ented when TRICARE was implemented in 1996 (the co-chairs indicated beneficiaries under 65 paid 11% of DoD costs in 1996 vs. 4% today; DoD leaders previously cited those figures as 27% and 14%, respectively).
- Phas= ing in beneficiary fee increases over 3 to 5 years.
- Esta= blishing a formula for regular fee increases in the future.
- Incr= easing the catastrophic expense cap (currently $1,000 for active duty families and $3,000 for retiree/survivor families).
- Esta= blishing a tiered fee structure, with members in higher grades paying larger fees. <= /p>
- Requ= iring independent audits to ensure TRICARE pays only after any other insurance available to beneficiaries has paid.
= In announcing preliminary recommendations, Co-chair Gail Wilensky no= ted the importance of increasing fees yet ensuring premiums would not be more o= f a burden for retirees and families than fee levels were when Tricare was star= ted in 1996. The co-chair suggest= ed that Congress consider a one-time boost in military pay to help soften the blow. Some of the other recommendations include a full review of DoD pharmaceutical acquisition procedures, regular audits of the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), and closer screening of patients by MTF personnel for other health insurance coverage. [S= ource: MOAA Leg Up 25 May 07 ++]
VETERAN LEGISLATION 2007 UPDATE 02: The House passed six bills before = the Memorial Day recess to expand benefits and services for veterans. The bills= now move to the Senate for consideration. A brief description is provided below= :
- HR 0= 067 establishes a grant program for state veterans outreach activities.
- HR 0= 612 extends eligibility for health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf = or future hostilities from two years to five years after discharge or release.=
- HR 1= 470 requires VA to provide chiropractic care and services at all medical center= s by 2011.
- HR 1= 660 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery = for veterans in the southern Colorado region.
- HR 2= 199 authorizes five new research centers for the treatment of individuals with traumatic brain injuries. It also authorizes $7.5 million for a pilot progr= am of mobile veterans' centers to improve access to readjustment counseling for returning veterans.
- HR 2= 239 expands eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits to servicemembers awaiting medical discharge.
[Source: VFW Washington Weekly 25 May 07 ++]
VA CLINIC OPENINGS UPDATE 04: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson on 29 MAY announced plans to open 38 new clinics in 22 states. The new facilities, called community-based outpatient clinics, or CBOCs, will become operational by October 2008. Local VA officials will keep communities and their veterans informed= of milestones in the creation of the new CBOCs. VA's Proposed Sites for the New Outpatient Clinics are:
Alabama -- Childersburg
Arkansas -- Pine Bluff
Florida -- Jackson & Putnam
Georgia – Camden County & Stockbridge Cit= y
Idaho -- North Idaho
Indiana -- Elkhart County & Knox
Iowa -- Carroll, Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown & Shenandoah
Kansas -- Hutchison
Kentucky -- Madison (Berea), Daviess & Grayson = County
Maryland -- Andrews Air Force Base & Ft. Detric= k
Michigan -- Alpena County & Clare County
Missouri -- Branson &Jefferson City
Montana -- Cut Bank & Lewistown
Nebraska -- Bellevue
Ohio -- Hamilton & Parma
South Carolina -- Aiken & Spartanburg
South Dakota -- Wagner & Watertown
Tennessee -- Hawkins & Madison
Utah -- Western Salt Lake Valley
Virginia -- Charlottesville
Washington -- Northwest
West Virginia -- Monongalia
[Source: VA Press Release 29 May 07 ++]
GOLD STAR PARENTS ANNUITY ACT: In remarks on 24 MAY to the Gold S= tar Wives of America, Sen. Hillary Clinton announced that she will reintroduce legislation in the Senate to create a special monthly pension of $125 for G= old Star parents - surviving mothers and fathers whose sons or daughters lost t= heir lives while serving in the Armed Forces during a period of war. Under the Clinton's bill, the monthly stipend would be for life and would be in addit= ion to any other pension or benefit to which they may be entitled. Clinton introduced the Gold Star P= arents Annuity Act in the 108th and 109th Congresses and co-sponsored a previous v= ersion of the Gold Star Parents Annuity Act when that legislation was introduced during the 107th Congress by former Senator Max Cleland. [Source: Sen. Clinton Press Release 24 May = 07 ++]
PASSPORT OBTAINMENT UPDATE 01: A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, is= sue or verify United States passports. For info on obtaining a passport refer to http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. Five Things to Know About Passport= s are:
1. At present a passport is not needed for land or = sea travel to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada or Mexico.
2. There is a lot of information available on-line = at the State Department’s consular affairs web site www.travel.state.gov -- = what you need to bring when you apply for a passport, how to check the status of your application after it is submitted and how to send an e-mail to Passport Services if you have additional questions or need to communicate with them about the status of your application.
3. The State Department is receiving a very large n= umber of telephone calls from customers right now. To address this, they have dispatched additional temporary staff to their call center. If you are traveling or need your passport in order to get a visa within the next two weeks, call 1(877) 487-2778. Representatives are available from 07-2400 M-F= EST except holidays.
4. Routine processing time for a passport is now ab= out ten weeks. Expedited processing is about four weeks. The Department is doing everything possible ina an attempt to bring those times back to their normal six weeks and two weeks respectively.
5. There is an optional question on the passport ap= plication asking for departure date and destination.= If filled out it It he= lps to get the passport to customers in time for their trip.
[Source: Rep. Cathy Rodgers (R-WA-05) website May 07 ++]
STATE VETERANS HOME PROGRAM UPDATE 01: Legislation which would allow the = U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to take a new approach to the long-term care needs of veterans was introduced this week by U.S. Senator Larry Craig. The goal of the State Veterans Home Modernization Act (S.1441) is to transition the state home program from one focused heavily on beds to one that offers flexibility for home and community-based care. According to data by the Department of Veterans Affai= rs, at the current rate of Congressional funding, it will take nine years to fu= nd all of the new state home construction projects currently on VA’s lis= t. Craig said, “That doesn’t include any new applications. But eve= n as we move to build more facilities, I fear if we don’t begin to transit= ion to a more non-institutional family-focused approach to care, we may find ourselves 15 years from now, staring at thousands of empty state home beds wondering what to do with half of them." He noted that modern technolo= gy and newer long-term care approaches already enable people to live at home longer and happier. "It used to be that when people reached a certain = age, the only option was a nursing home. Now the general public is using assisted living facilities, where seniors can live in their own apartments but have professional help nearby as needed. &= nbsp; Craig said, “Americans are able to live at home using professionals who come by, once a day or a few times a week. We need to allow state homes to ha= ve that same kind of options when thinking of providing care to veterans. My legislation will allow them that flexibility." [Source: Senate Committee on Veter= an Affairs Press Release 23 May 07 ++]
TRICARE UNIFORM FORMULARY UPDATE 19: Selected medications are continuin= g on the TRICARE Uniform Formulary and 10 others have been designated as nonformulary (or third tier) effective 1 AUG 07, announced Army MG Elder Granger, Tricare Management Activity deputy director. The following drugs as reported in Update 18 will have nonformulary (or third tier) status: Sonata, Roserem; Ambien CR, Ultram ER, Travatan, Travatan Z; Istalol, Betimol, and Emsam. For a complete list of the status and effective date see the TRICARE press release at http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=3D282. First-tier medications (formulary generics) are available through a Tricare Retail Pharmacy for $3 copays for= up to a 30-day supply, and through the Tricare Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) for = $3 copays for up to a 90-day supply. Beneficiaries may purchase second-tier medications (formulary brand-name) for $9 for up to the same number of days through a Tricare Retail Network Pharmacy or through the TMOP. By using TMO= P, beneficiaries may save up to 66% on prescriptions. Beneficiary cost-shares = in non-network pharmacies are higher.
= Beneficiaries taking third-tier medications may consult their health care providers about changing to a first- or second-tier alternative. When providers prescribe medications, beneficiaries should ask if a generic alternative is available that would provide the same clinical results in th= at drug class. Beneficiaries can also ask providers if establishing medical necessi= ty for the third-tier medication is appropriate. If medical necessity is established for a third-tier medication, the co-payment is reduced to $9. Third-tier medications are not available at military treatment facility (MT= F) pharmacies unless an MTF provider establishes medical necessity and writes = the prescription. Medical necessity forms and criteria are available at www.tricare.mil/pharmacy/medical-nonformulary.cfm. For a complete list of medications, their formulary status and where they are available refer to www.tricareformularysearch.org/dod/medicationcenter/default.aspx. For information on the Tricare Retail Pharmacy and locations, and TMOP refer to= www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE or= call (866) 363-8779 for the retail pharmacy or (866) 363-8667 for the mail order pharmacy. For information about the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel review process, visit http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy/BAP. [Source: D= oD MHS Press Room News 9 May 07 ++]
AVANDIA SAFETY ALERT: The U.S. Food and Drug Administrat=
ion
(FDA) is aware of a potential safety issue related to Avandia (rosiglitazon=
e),
a drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Safety data from controlled clini=
cal
trials have shown that there is a potentially significant increase in the r=
isk
of heart attack and heart-related deaths in patients taking Avandia. Howeve=
r,
other published and unpublished data from long-term clinical trials of Avan=
dia,
including an interim analysis of data from the RECORD trial (a large, ongoi=
ng,
randomized open label trial) and unpublished reanalysis of data from DREAM =
(a
previously conducted placebo-controlled, randomized trial) provide
contradictory evidence about the risks in patients treated with Avandia.
= FDA's analyses of all available data are ongoing. FDA has not confir= med the clinical significance of the reported increased risk in the context of other studies. Pending questions include whether the other approved treatme= nt from the same class of drugs, pioglitazone, has less, the same or greater risks. Furthermore, there is inherent risk associated with switching patients with diabetes from one treatment to another even in the absence of specific risks associated with particular treatments. For these reasons, FDA is not asking GlaxoSmithKline, the drug's sponsor, to take any specific action at this ti= me. FDA is providing this emerging information to prescribers so that they, and their patients, can make individualized treatment decisions.
Avandia was approved in 1999 for treatment of type 2 diabetes, a ser= ious and life threatening disease that affects about 18 to 20 million Americans. Diabetes is a leading cause of coronary heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputation. Since the drug was approved, FDA has been monitoring several heart-related adverse events (e.g., fluid retention, ede= ma and congestive heart failure) based on signals seen in previous controlled clinical trials of Avandia alone and in combination with other drugs, and f= rom postmarketing reports. FDA has updated the product's labeling on several occasions to reflect these new data, most recently in 2006. The most recent labeling change for Avandia also included a new warning about a potential i= ncrease in heart attacks and heart-related chest pain in some individuals using Avandia. This new warning was based on the result of a controlled clinical trial in patients with existing congestive heart failure.
= Recently, the manufacturer of Avandia provided FDA with a pooled analysis (meta analysis) of 42 randomized, controlled clinical trials in wh= ich Avandia was compared to either placebo or other anti-diabetic therapies in patients with type 2 diabetes. The pooled analysis suggested that patients receiving short-term (most studies were 6-months duration) treatment with Avandia may have a 30-40% greater risk of heart attack and other heart-rela= ted adverse events than patients treated with placebo or other anti-diabetic therapy. These data, if confirmed, would be of significant concern since patients with diabetes are already at an increased risk of heart disease. Avandia is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, which is based in Research Tria= ngle Park, N.C. [Source: FDA Press Release 21 May 07 ++]
AO & PROSTRATE CANCER: A new study shows exposure to Agent Orange (AO) in the Vietnam War appears to boost veterans' risk for a recurr= ence of prostate cancer even after the organ is surgically removed. And if the cancer does return, it = tends to be more aggressive among veterans exposed to AO than in those not expose= d to the chemical defoliant. Black veterans are especially vulnerable to these tough-to-treat recurrences. Lead researcher Dr. Sagar Shah, a urology resident physician at the Medical Coll= ege of Georgia, will present his team’s findings at the annual meeting of= the American Urological Association, in Anaheim CA. He noted that Vietnam veter= ans PSAs [prostate specific antigen levels] should be checked regularly and that they be screened aggressively for prostate cancer. The sooner it is identif= ied the more treatment options are available.
Exposure to dioxin and AO has long been linked to increased risks fo=
r a
variety of malignancies, including leukemia’s, lymphomas, prostate ca=
ncer
and lung tumors, according to Phil Kraft, program director for the National
Veterans Services Fund, which lobbies on behalf of U.S. veterans. AO contai=
ns
dioxin, which, Shah said, "isn't really a tumor mutagen -- it doesn't
cause cancer -- but it is a tumor-promoter. So, if the cancer is there, it
makes it more prominent." In the new study, Shah's team sought to
determine if there were any differences in the rate or type of prostate can=
cer
recurrences seen among a group of 1,653 black and white Vietnam veterans --=
199
of whom had been exposed to Agent Orange. All of the veterans were treated
after first being diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1990 and 2006. The=
ir
treatment included surgical removal of the prostate gland. Examination of
biopsy samples under a microscope showed no pathological differences between
the tumors of men exposed to Agent Orange and those who were not exposed.
= Biochemical recurrence means that blood levels of the marker prostate-specific antigen (produced by prostate cancer cells) rose sharply = and steadily in the months after surgery. Doctors routinely test men for their blood levels of PSA to help spot prostate cancer. In this study, the shorter the time it took for a man's PSA level to double, the more aggressive his cancer appeared to be. Veterans exposed to AO had a higher relative risk of having a biochemical recurrence than unexposed veterans. The researchers found the rate of = post-surgical prostate cancer recurrence among white veterans rose by 42% if they had been exposed to AO, compared to non-exposed veterans, Black veterans exposed to = the herbicide fared even less well, with a recurrence rate that was 75% higher = than their non-exposed peers. And when prostate cancer did recur among veterans exposed to AO, "it seemed that they had a much shorter PSA doubling ti= me, a surrogate for aggressiveness," Shah said. Among black men with a can= cer recurrence, PSA levels doubled in just nine months for those exposed to AO, compared to 16 months for those unexposed to the toxin.
= “Why might black Vietnam veterans be most vulnerable? Numerous studies conducted among the general population have already suggested that genetics or other factors put black American men at higher prostate cancer = risk compared to whites. In addition, black troops serving in Vietnam were also = more likely to have higher levels of exposure than whites. They were more likely= to be ground troops and less likely to be officers away from AO exposure," Shah said. He stressed that t= he study did not look at recurrence rates for prostate cancer patients treated with methods other than surgery -- for example, with radiation. "We ju= st don't know about those outcomes," he said.
= In a separate study the June 2007 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch reported researchers have found that men between ages 40 and 64 who drink an average of four to seven glasses of red wine per week are only 52% as likel= y to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as those who do not drink red wine. In addition, red wine appears particularly protective against advanced or aggressive cancers. Even low consumption amounts seemed to help, and for ev= ery additional glass of red wine per week, the relative risk declined by 6%. Ma= ny doctors are reluctant to recommend drinking alcohol for health, fearing that their patients might assume that if a little alcohol is good, a lot might be better. The Harvard Men's Health Watch notes that men who enjoy alcohol and= can drink in moderation and responsibly may benefit from a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and cardiac death. [Source: Washington Post Health Day E.J. Mundell article 20 May 07 ++]
VA CLAIM BACKLOG UPDATE 08: U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) announced that her proposal to help our nation's veterans receive the benef= its they have earned and deserve has been included in a final budget agreement. Lincoln's provision provides the VA an additional $70 million to address the growing backlog of pending disability compensation claims. The provision addresses the growing backlog of pending disability claims by providing $65= .4 million to hire an additional 600 disability claims processors. The amendme= nt also provides $4.1 million to hire an additional 32 processors for the Boar= d of Veterans Appeals and provides the one-year cost for increased training resources and quality measures with $400,000 for Training and Performance Support Systems and $400,000 for Skills Certification. Last year, the backl= og of pending compensation and pension claims was 586,008. The most time-consu= ming and labor-intensive claims to process are the disability claims, which requ= ire ratings decisions. The number of disability claims received by the VA has increased nearly 23% since 2000. Last year, the backlog of disability claims was at 371,839. Today, it has grown to 405,536.
=
The Bush budget proposal requested 8,320 direct compensation full-ti=
me
employees (FTE), an increase of 457 FTE over last year's request. Lincoln's
provision provides an additional 600 direct compensation FTE to allow the B=
oard
of Veterans Appeals (BVA) to more effectively address the growing backlog of
pending disability claims as well as its current incoming workload. As the VA receives and adjudicates=
more
claims, the result will be a larger number of appeals which will make it mo=
re
difficult for them to address its growing backlog of claims. BVA staff has decreased since 2001=
in
spite of the number of cases it receives growing by 82.5%. It is estimated to reach 40,000 at=
the
end of 2007. With current staffing the appeals resolution time is estimated=
to
increase to 700 days next year. The Bush budget proposal recommended an
increase of $2.5 million (totaling $58.5 million) to hire an additional 31 =
FTE
to cope with the increases. The Lincoln proposal increases this to $4.1 mil=
lion
to bring the BVA's FTE level to approximately 500 and would allow the BVA to
better handle its incoming caseload, improve its timeliness, and reduce its
existing backlog. [Source:
VA CBI: The National Office of Compliance and Business Integrity (CBI) and the National Center for Ethics in Health Care joined together to celebrated National Compliance and Ethics Week, 20-26 MAY. National Corporate Compliance and Et= hics Week is an industry tradition celebrated by health care systems across the country. The goal is to raise awareness of Compliance and Business Integrity (CBI) and IntegratedEthics (IE) throughout VA. CBI provides reasonable assurance that VHA’s business operations follow all applicable laws, regulations and policies and promote standards of excellence in business practices. CBI operates a help-line service (866) 842-4357 where VA employe= es, veterans or their family members can report alleged compliance incidents for investigation. IE builds on VA’s reputation for quality and innovatio= n in health care. It paves the way for ethics quality to encompass all levels of health care quality through a national, systematic, integrated approach to ethics in health care. [Sourc= e: Secretary of VA VSO Liaison article 21 May 07++]
TMOP UPDATE 06:&nb= sp; Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-09) wants the Pentagon to find ways to cut = its pharmacy costs without penalizing beneficiaries. The Defense Department has complai= ned repeatedly that most retirees obtain their medications through retail outle= ts, which is far more expensive to the government than Tricare's mail-order pha= rmacy (TMOP) system. To date, the Pentagon's only proposal to change that behavior has been to propose raising retail pharmacy copays by nearly 70% to try to drive more beneficiaries to = use the mail-order system. Rep. Bilirakis has introduced H.R.2319, a bill that would require the Pent= agon to test a positive-incentive approach.&nbs= p; It calls for a two-year pilot program, starting by MAR 08, under whi= ch at least 2,000 beneficiaries who currently use only retail pharmacies would= be offered free access to the mail-order system to refill prescriptions for th= eir maintenance medications. Participants would be shown how much that would have saved them over= the previous year, and would be provided information on how to enroll in the mail-order program to have the medications delivered to their door at no co= st. Bilirakis' bill would require DoD to work with beneficiary associations to develop the details of this "beneficiary-friendly" program. The Secretary of Defense would hav= e to report to Congress on the results of the program, including surveys of beneficiary satisfaction and data on cost savings of the program for beneficiaries and the government. If the Pentagon is serious about saving money on pharmacy costs, it should be willing to expend a little planning effort and 41 cents in postag= e to generate hundreds (or in many cases, thousands) of dollars in savings for e= ach participating beneficiary. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 1= 8 May 07 ++]
NDAA 2008 UPDATE 02: As the House of Representatives prepared to pass its fiscal 2008 def= ense authorization bill, the White House urged lawmakers to reconsider a host of costly personnel initiatives added by the Armed Services Committee. In spit= e of this all were included in the House proposal. Initiatives opposed by the White H= ouse included:
1.) Bigger pay raises. The House voted for a 3.5% basic pay increase for January 2008 which was 0.5% higher than proposed by the Bush administration. The Ho= use would continue a string of annual raises set 0.5% higher than private sector wage growth through at least 2012. The White House’s 16 MAY OMB lette= r to committee leaders in a “Statement of Administration Policy” sai= d a 3% raise next January would be enough to keep military pay competitive. Bud= get officials complained the unnecessary extra half-percentage bump in pay would cost $265 million in 2008 and $7.3 billion over six years. When combined wi= th the overall military benefit package, the President’s proposal provid= es a good quality of life for servicemembers and their families. Both House Republicans and Democrats disagreed. Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) offered the amendment, adopted by the armed services committees, to stretch the string = of bigger raises out to 2012.
2.) Higher Tricare fees. The White House= was disappointed that the House bill did not allow Defense officials to raise Tricare fees and co-payments for retired military beneficiaries under 65 or allow implementation of some new set of cost-containment actions expected t= o be recommended soon by the DOD-appointed Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care. The administration said fee increases are needed to sustain a high-quality health care benefit by largely capturing the inflation increas= es that have occurred since cost sharing was first established in 1996.” Blocking any such initiatives this year would add $1.86 billion to military health costs in 2008 and more than $19 billion through 2013. The House bill also would restore $200 million in health care spending that Defense offici= als sought to remove through unspecified efficiency wedges imposed on service medical budgets.
3.) Fair pricing. The administrat= ion strongly opposed a provision in the House bill to require drug manufacturer= s to give the Defense Department the same price discounts on drugs dispensed thr= ough the Tricare retail network that they provide to base pharmacies, the Tricare mail order pharmacy and VA clinics and hospitals. The White House said mark= et competition, not government price control, is the most effective way to pro= mote discounts. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), reiterated that argument on the House floor. He said price-setting in Tricare retail pharmacies will eliminate re= tail competition and, in time, endanger drug discounts for veterans using VA hea= lth care.
4.) Reserve GI Bill. The administration opposed a provision that would transfer oversig= ht for the Reserve Montgomery GI Bill from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Proponents say it is a first step toward raising reserve GI bill benefits and increasing them in future years in con= cert with VA-provided active duty GI Bill benefits. The White House said the cha= nge would mean DOD loses control of a critical incentive program for reserve recruiting and retention.
The House subsequently passed its version of the FY= 08 National Defense Authorization Act inclusive of those items opposed by the White House by a vote of 397-27. The Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up its version of the defense authorization bill is JUN. That committee is said to be more suppor= tive of the administration’s view that military pay is competitive now and will stay competitive with a 3% raise in JAN 08. The final version of the NDAA will= be written in a conference committee made up of members from the House and Sen= ate after the Senate passes its FY 2008 NDAA. [Source: Stars & Stripes Tom Philpott article 19 May 07 ++]
NDAA 2008 UPDATE 03: The House of Representatives spent two days and approved more than 40 amendments before finally passing the FY2008 Defense Authorization Bill on = 17 MAY by a 397-27 vote. Some of the amendments adopted would:
- Exte= nd the military pay raise plus-ups (3.5% raise in 2008 and raises that are one-half percentage point larger than the average American's for 2009-2012) to also include uniformed members of the Coast Guard, Public Health Service and NOA= A Corps (Rep. Drake, R-VA).
- Requ= ire increased family support and mental health services for National Guard and Reserve personnel (Rep. Braley, D-IA).
- Let employees who are family members of mobilized military personnel use family= medical leave to deal with issues arising from that call to duty (Rep. Altmire, D-P= A).
- Auth= orize Guard and Reserve members up to 10 years after leaving service to use GI Bi= ll benefits (Rep. Carney, D-PA).
- Auth= orize vouchers for free mail delivery [less than 10 lbs] to military personnel in Iraq or Afghanistan or hospitalized in military facilities. (Rep. Altmire, D-PA/Rep. Udall, D-NM).
- Bar simultaneous deployment of both military parents to a combat zone when the military couple has minor dependents (Rep. LaHood, R-IL).
- Bar = courts from changing child custody orders while a servicemember is deployed, other than temporary orders issued in the best interest of the child. Original custody order to be reins= tated upon the member's redeployment (Rep. Turner, R-OH).
Other significant provisions in the Defense bill, in addition to those already mentioned would:
- Guar= antee funding for Walter Reed to protect against skimping on facilities for this closing installation.
- Requ= ire at least 30 days advance notice, and preferably 90 days, for Guard and Reserve members scheduled for deployment (can be waived during times of national emergency).
- Auth= orize DoD to make servicemembers' Thrift Savings Account deposits twice a month (i.e., from mid-month paycheck) rather than the current once per month.
- Auth= orize the service to pay part or all of the premium to continue a Guard/Reserve member's employer-provided health coverage when a dependent has special hea= lth care needs that are best served by continuing that coverage.
- Ease naturalization/visa issues for nonresident alien spouses/children of members assigned overseas by treating such periods of overseas assignment as reside= nce within the United States.
- Req= uire the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to ease stresses on survivors of mem= bers who die of service-connected causes by simplifying and clarifying SBP annui= ty recoupment and premium refund processes.
- Auth= orize surviving spouses that are also in receipt of the VA's dependency and indem= nity compensation (DIC) a monthly payment of $40 beginning on October 1, 2008.
- Expa= nd eligibility to include chapter 61 (disability) retirees with at least 15 ye= ars of service and at least a 60% combat-related disability rating.
- Incr= ease Army end-strength by 36,000; Marine Corps levels by 9,000; and Army National Guard by 1,300.
- Auth= orize $50 million in aid to school districts impacted by military populations, wi= th an additional $15 million for districts affected by base closures or other military population changes.
- Auth= orize the Secretary of Defense to reimburse drilling Guard and Reserve members up= to $300 per training session for travel costs to drill locations outside commu= ting distance, effective Oct. 1, 2008.
- Make= the Guard chief a four-star position.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 18 May 07 ++]
RESERVE RETIREMENT AGE UPDATE 10: In adherence to a “pay go= 221; rule the House would not consider an amendment to the FY08 NDAA that would = have included Rep. Latham’s legislation, (H.R. 1428), to lower the 60 year= age for receipt of retired pay by 3 months for every aggregate 90 days of deployment during a fiscal year. House rules would not allow the language t= o be considered without offsetting deductions from other existing military retirement benefits that would fund the projected $400 million dollar cost = of the bill. Unless the House leadership is willing to waive the blanket “pay go” rule that is blocking these legislative efforts, or the bill’s sponsors can identi= fy offsets, the House will not proceed on this issue Representative Saxton and the co-sponsors of of his bill H.R. 690 to reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55 did not seek an amendment to the FY08 NDAA that would have included the provisions of the S= axton bill. Senator Chambliss’ version of the bill, S.648, still has life in that chamber. [Source: NGAUS Leg Up 18 May 07 ++]
VET CEMETERY COLORADO: On 15 MAY the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously passed U.S. Rep. John Salazar’s (D-CO-0= 3) national cemetery bill H.R.1660 out of committee. The bill creates a new national ce= metery for Southern Colorado veterans that would be located in the Pikes Peak regi= on. Currently, the state has the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver and the Fort Lyon National Cemetery near Las Animas. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are approximately 150,000 veterans located in Southern Colorado. For years, veterans groups have listed the addition of a cemetery in Southern Colorado as one of their top priorities. Salazar, the only military veteran in the Colorado congressional delegation, has met with local veterans groups to build suppo= rt for this legislation. Several veterans’ organizations have endorsed t= he Salazar bill including the Colorado chapters of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Association for Service Disabled Veterans. H.R. 1660, now moves to the House floor for consideration. [Source: Rep. Salazar Press Release 15 May = 07 ++]
GULF WAR SYNDROME UPDATE 03: Scientists working with the Defense Department have found evidence that a low-level exposure to sarin n= erve gas could have caused lasting brain deficits in former service members. The= study, financed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the first to use Pentagon data on potential exposure levels faced by the troops and magnetic resonance imagin= g to scan the brains of military personnel in the exposure zone. Though the resu= lts are preliminary, the study is notable for being financed by the federal government and for being the first to make use of a detailed analysis of sa= rin exposure performed by the Pentagon, based on wind patterns and plume size.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The report, to be published in the= June issue of the journal NeuroToxicology, found apparent changes in the brain’s connective tissue (its so-called white matter) in soldiers exposed to the gas. The study found the extent of the brain changes corresponded to the extent of exposure (i.e. less white matter and slightly lar= ger brain cavities). White matter volume varies by individual, but studies have shown that significant shrinkage in adulthood can be a sign of damage.
= Previous studies had suggested that exposure affected the brain in s= ome neural regions, but the evidence was not convincing to many scientists. The= new report is likely to revive the long-debated question of why so many troops returned from that war with unexplained physical problems. Many in the scientific community have questioned whether the so-called gulf war illness= es have a physiological basis, and far more research will have to be done befo= re it is known whether those illnesses can be traced to exposure to sarin. The long-term effects of sarin on the brain are still not well understood. But several lawmakers who were briefed on the study say the DVA is now obligate= d to provide increased neurological care to veterans who may have been exposed. = Phil Budahn, a spokesman for the DVA, said the research required further examination. “It’s important to note that its authors describe = the study as inconclusive,” Mr. Budahn said, adding, “It was based = upon a small number of participants, who were not randomly chosen.”
= In March 1991, a few days after the end of the gulf war, American soldiers exploded two large caches of ammunition and missiles in Khamisiyah, Iraq. Some of the missiles contained the dangerous nerve gases sarin and cyclosarin. Based on wind patterns and the size of the plume, the Departmen= t of Defense has estimated that more than 100,000 American troops may have been exposed to at least small amounts of the gases. When the roughly 700,000 deployed troops returned home, about one in seven began experiencing a mysterious set of ailments, often called gulf war illnesses, with problems including persistent fatigue, chronic headaches, joint pain and nausea. According to the DVA those symptoms persist today for more than 150,000 of them, , more than the number of troo= ps exposed to the gases. Advocates for veterans have argued for more than a de= cade and a half that a link exists between many of these symptoms and the exposu= re that occurred in Khamisiyah, but evidence has been limited. [Source: The New York Times Ian Ur= bina article 17 May 07 ++]
VA BONUSES UPDATE 02: Rep. John Hall (D-NY-19), chairman= of the House Veterans’ Affairs disability assistance subcommittee has introduced the Pay Veterans First Act H.R. 2292. It is a response to the re= cent revelation that senior executive at the VA received $3.8 million in perform= ance bonuses in 2006. Hall said in a statement, “It is shocking and scanda= lous even by the VA’s own low standards that top officials at the VA would= be getting the most lucrative performance bonuses in government when there is a backlog of over 600,000 benefits claims. It is simply unacceptable that veterans are waiting longer and longer for benefits they desperately need w= hile senior staff members in charge of bad policy are rewarded with so-called performance bonuses. These bonuses are a deeply flawed approach to the principle of pay for performance.”
Congressma= n Jack Space (D-OH-18) sent a letter to Secretary Nicholson outlining his disgust = and lack of confidence. In it, Sp= ace asked for Nicholson’s immediate resignation. Documents obtained by the Associated Press raise questions of conflicts of interest or appearances of conflicts in connection with the bonuses since nearly two dozen officials w= ho received hefty performance bonuses also sat on the boards charged with recommending the bonus payments. According to a report provided to Congress, one of the people receiv= ing the biggest VA bonus last year, $33,000, was the deputy undersecretary for benefits, who Hall said is responsible for the system that has a backlog of more than 600,000 claims and takes an average of six months to issue an ini= tial decision on a claim and as long as two years to decide an appeal. Hall̵= 7;s bill would not force anyone to return bonuses already received, but would prevent 2007 bonuses from being awarded unless the claims backlog is substantially reduced. The bill would freeze 2007 bonuses for senior Depart= ment of Veterans Affairs employees until the backlog of veterans’ benefits claims is reduced below 100,000. Aides to Hall said this would give the VA until September, when performance awards are given, to make a big improveme= nt in the claims process. [Sourc= e: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 15 May 07 ++]
STOLEN SSN USAGE:&= nbsp; Victims of identity theft can have their benefits adversely affected= a number of ways if anyone uses their social security number for fraudulent purposes. In addition to the = risks it places on existing credit and bank accounts, use by an illegal immigrant= to obtain work or open accounts will inflate a victim's actual income on which many of their benefits are based. Age and alien status are factors as to the degree they are affected = if earnings are reported under their SSN. If it is suspected that someone has gained access or used your or a relative's number you must act quickly to report problems, correct SSA records and continue ongoing vigilance for new problems. Correcting an SSA r= ecord could take repeated attempts since some problems may not surface until years from now. Here's just a partial listing of what to watch out for:
- = Benefit reductions due to excess earnings. Earnings showing up under a victim= 's Social Security number could subject those benefits to reductions. For those still under full retirem= ent age, Social Security would withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 over $12,96= 0 in annual earnings, ($1,080 per month).
- IRS = audits and taxation of Social Security benefits.&= nbsp; Added earnings that appear under a number could subject from 50% to = as much as 85% of a victim's Social Security to tax if those earnings make inc= ome appear to be over $25,000 or more (single) or if over $32,000 (joint). Your first indication that there's= any problem could be a notice from the IRS that you owe taxes.
- Lett=
ers
saying victim's are no longer, or is not, eligible for "Extra Help&quo=
t;
to cover prescription drug costs.
"Extra Help" pays all or most of the monthly drug plan
premiums and deductibles, much of the co-insurance, and provides coverage
during the "doughnut hole" coverage gap for low-income seniors.
- Notifications that victim's are no longer, or is not eligible for "Medicare Savings Programs".&nbs= p; These programs cover the Medicare Part B premium deductible and co-insurance for certain low-income seniors. If added earnings make monthly inc= ome appear higher than $871 (single) or $1,l61 (joint) an individual could be mistakenly dropped from one of these programs, or told they are not eligibl= e.
- Noti= fications that a victim must pay higher "income related" Medicare Part B premiums. It's not uncommon f= or more than one illegal immigrant to work under the same Social Security number. In one particularly egregious case cited by the Government Accountability Office, a single empl= oyer used one Social Security number for 2,580 W2's filed in a single tax year.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Should the earnings make an indivi= dual's income appear to be over $80,000 (single) or $160,000 (couple) they could be mistakenly notified that they would have to pay substantially higher Medica= re Part B premiums.
- Noti= fications that a victim is no longer eligible, or is not eligible, for other low-inco= me programs. Earnings could also= make your mother's income appear too high to qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, low-income housing subsidies, assistance to pay cooling and heating bills, = in addition to state, local and private programs from which individuals may receive benefits.
- Redu= ction of VA widow pension benefit. By = law VA must take in consideration all income, regardless of source, of a widow and offset the pension dollar for dollar until the other income exceeds the pension.
= If you think someone is using you're a number for work purposes, con= tact Social Security. You or your relative can ask to check the associated Social Security Statement that lis= ts earnings posted to SSN records. If an error is found on a statement, contact Social Security right away. Social Security's website, however, is not very encouraging about fixing problems. The publication, Id= entity Theft and Your Social Security Number (Publication No. 05-10064) states, &q= uot;If you have done all you can to fix the problem and someone still is using your number, we may assign you a new number.&nb= sp; We cannot guarantee that a new number will solve your problem." Call Social Se= curity toll free at 1(800) 772-1213 or visit online at www.ssa.gov. Should you continue to have proble= ms, contact your Congressional Representative or one of your Senators and ask f= or help. Each office has aides w= ho handle constituent problems of this nature.
= Legislation has been introduced that addresses this issue. . Sue Wilkins Myrick (R-NC-9) on 3= MAR 07 Rep introduced the Social Security Number Fraudulent Use Notification Ac= t of 2007. If signed into law the = Act would require the Social Security Commissioner to notify individuals of improper use of their social security account numbers by amending the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)). Section 205(c)(2) to include a new subparagraph that reads, "In any case in which the Commissioner of Soc= ial Security determines that--
- (i) = the Social Security account number in the wage records provided to the Social Security Administration by an employer with respect to any employee does not match relevant records otherwise maintained by the Social Security Administration, or
- (ii)=
the
Social Security account number issued to an individual has otherwise been u=
sed
by any other person in a fraudulent or otherwise illegal manner, the
Commissioner shall promptly provide the individual (if any) to whom such So=
cial
Security account number was issued with written notification of the
Commissioner's determination.".
At present this bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways
and Means. With only six cosp=
onsors
to date it will likely never reach the floor of the House for a vote unless
enough concerned citizens contact their Congressional representative and ask
for their support. [Source:
MILITARY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION: If you are a servicemember separat= ing from active duty you may qualify for unemployment compensation if you are u= nable to find a new job. The Unemployment Compensation for Ex-service members (UC= X) program provides benefits for eligible ex-military personnel. The program is administered by the States as agents of the Federal government. You are eligible if:
- You = were on active duty with a branch of the U.S. military, you may be entitled to bene= fits based on that service.
- You= must have been separated under honorable conditions.
- The= re is no payroll deduction from your wages for unemployment insurance protection. Benefits are paid for by the various branches of the military.
Receiving separation pay may also influence your re= ceipt of unemployment compensation. Retirees will almost certainly receive a less= er amount [or no amount] since the weekly amount of retirement pay is usually "offset" against the amount of unemployment compensation. Your state employment office handl= es unemployment compensation. Benefits vary from state to state. Because of th= is, only the office where you apply will be able to tell you the amount and duration of your entitlement. The nearest state employment office is listed= in your local telephone directory. To receive unemployment compensation, you m= ust apply. The best time to do that is when you visit the Local Veterans Employ= ment Representative (LVER) at the state employment services office for assistanc= e in finding a new job. To apply for unemployment compensation, you must bring y= our Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214), your So= cial Security Card and your civilian and military job history or resume.
= Arkansas recently became the fifteenth state to provide eligibility = for unemployment compensation for a military spouse who must terminate employme= nt due to a military-required location of his or her family. The new law will = take effect on 1 OCT 07. The states of South Carolina, New Jersey, and Connectic= ut are currently considering similar legislation. [Source: Military.com May 07= ++]
VA SUCCESS QUESTIONED: Citing VA’s own independent = study, a widely-circulated article on 10 MAY by McClatchy Newspaper's writer Chris Adams reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs has habitually exaggerated the record of its medical system, inflating its achievements in ways that make it appear more successful than it is. The critical report no= ted that while the VA's health system has gotten very good marks for a transformation it's undertaken over the past decade, the department also ha= s a habit of overselling its progress in ways that assure Congress and others t= hat the agency has enough resources to care for the nation's soldiers. Although VA = has boosted preventive care in a growing network of outpatient clinics and rece= ived glowing news coverage for the transformation, other data contradict the agency's statements on key issues of access, satisfaction and quality of care..... The article says that while experts inside and outside the VA poi= nt to studies showing the agency does a good job. McClatchy also found top VA officials buffing up those respectable results in ways that the evidence doesn't support. Among several discrepancies cited between VA assertions and substantiating evidence is Secretary Nicholson's statement to Congress in February describing VA's 'exceptional performance' in getting veterans in to see doctors. However, evidence from the VA itself indicates the record migh= t be inflated.
On 14 May =
the
Miami Herald, among others, reported Secretary Nicholson's response to the
McClatchy article. Nicholson writes, "Re the May 10 story VA gets mixed
record on aftercare: The historic transformation of the Department of Veter=
ans
Affairs' healthcare system has been lauded by the healthcare industry,
professional journals, members of Congress, the media, foreign governments =
and
veterans themselves.... The story makes a valid case that we need to be more
careful with our numbers and public statements, but it does not challenge t=
he
basic truth about VA that our healthcare is a constant and shining emblem of
how to reform a system for excellence. The McClatchy (5/10, Adams) article
cited in the Secretary's letter charged that VA has "habitually
exaggerated its record" and "inflat[ed] its achievements."
VETERAN LEGISLATION STATUS 30 MAY 07: Congress is on recess for the Memo= rial Day Holiday. The House will reconvene at 1400 on 5 June and the Senate will reconvene at 1430 on 4 June. During the recess, a variety of committees hold field hearings on law enforcement information sharing, rural veterans’ issues, Chinese lumb= er, and sustainable water programs. for a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community that have been introduced in the 110th Congress refer to the Bulletin attachment.= Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for= a floor vote to become law. A g= ood indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed o= nto the bill. A cosponsor is a member of Congress who has joined one or more members in his/her chamber (i.e. House or Senate) to sponsor a bill or amendment. The first member to sign onto a bill is considered the sponsor.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Members subsequently signing on are called cosponsors. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House = or Senate. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill, determ= ine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. The key to increasing cosponsor= ship is letting our representatives know of veterans feelings on issues. At the end of some listed bills is= a web link that can be used to do that. Otherwise, you can locate on http://thoma= s.loc.gov who your representative is and his/her phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making.
Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy W= arden & IRS VITA Baguio City RP
PSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517
Tel: (760) 839-9003 when in U.S. & Cell: 0915-361-3503 when in Philippines.
Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net (Primary) & raoemo@mozcom.com (Alternate)
Web: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.ht= ml
AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/= DD890/AD37 member
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