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News for the benefit of Veterans

15-May-08
R.A.O. Bulletin Update

The Retiree Assistance Office posts notices for Veterans that are not only retired, but veterans in general.
This information is presented to allow Veterans an opportunity to look into what is being done for the benifit of themselves and their brothers and sisters in arms.

This link is to a website known as "Military.com".
This site contains far more information than could be pesented here.

01-May-08
R.A.O. Bulletin Update

01-Jun-08
R.A.O. Bulletin Update

15-Jun-08
R.A.O. Bulletin Update

01-Jul-08
R.A.O. Bulletin Update



	THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES == Gasoline Savings [01] (Slow Down) == Americans at War (Online) == Dates to Remember (Mark Your Calendar) == Tricare User Fee [26] (Conditions for Support) == VA Claim Delay [02] (VDBCMA H.R.5892) == DeCA Dietician Service (Online) == VA Retro Pay Project [11] (End in Sight) == Filipino Vet Inequities [09] (S.1315 Passes Senate) == GI Bill [20] (Republicans Strike Back) == Tricare/CHAMPUS Fraud [07] ($100+ million in PI) == Tricare/CHAMPUS Fraud [08] (HV to Pay $100 million) == Tricare/CHAMPUS Fraud [09] (PI Scamming Continues) == Mobilized Reserve 23 APR 08 (4257 Increase) == VA Fraud [08] (Edmond OK) == VA Suicide Prevention [02] (Cover Up Revealed) == IRS Penalties & Interest (How Accessed) == Rental Car Age Restrictions (Cutoff Age at 70 or 75) == VA Lawsuit (Lack of Care) [05] (18 Suicides Daily) == VA Lawsuit (Lack of Care) [06] (Maris Testimony) == ACM/ICM [03] (Campaign Stars) == VA Flu Shots [02] (Only 44% Effective) == PTSD [19] (RAND Corp Study) == VA Home Loan [10] (2008 Legislative Package) == Military Stolen Valor [04] (How to Report) == SBP Paid Up Provision [05] (Account Review Begins) == VA Homeless Vets [09] (HUD-VASH Effort) == TFL Hospital Coverage] (New Patient Policy) == Asthma [01] (Dust Mites) == VET Hunting Permits (Special Provisions) == VA Blue Water Claims [02] (Manual M21-1 Change) == Windows Vista [04] (Save Windows XP Campaign) == REAP [02] (S.2871 Improvements) == Sole Survivor [02] (The Hubbard Act) == VA Regulations Change [01] (Plain Language Attempt) == VA Independent Living Program [01] (Cap Removal Bill) == Medicare Part D [21] (Premium Increase Bill) == VA Comp Payment Disparity [10] (H.R.5709) == VA Dental Treatment [02] (Eligibility Expansion Bill) == IRS Collection Policy [01] (Collection Agency Use) == Scholarship Application Deadline Season (Online Resource) == Tricare Autism Care (Demonstration Project) == Tricare Selection Considerations (Employer Policies) == Veteran Legislation Status 29 April 08 (Where we stand) GASOLINE SAVINGS UPDATE 01: Scientists and fuel efficiency experts say that for most cars, driving slower pays. Most cars get the best mileage between 45 and 55 mph. As speeds creep higher, fuel efficiency drops. For every mile per hour over 60 mph, fuel economy drops by an average of around 1%. How much you stand to save depends on a lot of factors. With gas at $4 a gallon, a driver with a long commute - 400 miles a week - and a gas-guzzling vehicle getting only 20 mpg would save $18.74 a week by slowing down dramatically from 75 to 55 mph, extrapolating from the government's most recent figures on the subject. Even a more moderate deceleration - from 70 to 60 mph - would save that driver $11.74 a week. In contrast, a commuter who started with a smaller carbon footprint - driving 100 miles a week in a car getting 30 mpg - would stand to save only a few dollars a week by slowing down. The estimates are rough at best. The U.S. Department of Transportation last studied the effect of speed on fuel efficiency in 1997, and its results were based on a fleet of nine vehicles manufactured between 1988 and 1997 - hardly what's on the road today. "Unfortunately this analysis has not been done over, to my knowledge, in the last 10 years," said the Union of Concerned Scientists, senior engineer Jim Kliesch. Still, the results are striking. Slowing from 70 to 60 mph improved average fuel efficiency by 17.2%t. A big slowdown - from 75 to 55 mph - improved fuel efficiency by a whopping 30.6%. The need to conserve gasoline is why, in 1974, in the wake of the Arab oil embargo and ensuing fuel shortage, President Richard Nixon ordered the speed limit nationally to be lowered to 55 mph. The limit was lifted to 65 mph in some areas in the late 1980s, and the 55 mph national speed limit was entirely discarded in 1995. Following is a collection of sites that offer tips for getting the best prices and for conserving gas: Х If youТre planning a trip, say to visit family for Easter, visit AAAТs Fuel Cost Calculator at http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/. It will help you figure the total cost of your trip. Just enter your car make, model and year. Then select your starting city and destination. It also features a map that shows the average fuel prices by region. Х A comprehensive site on gas prices is http://www.fueleconomy.gov. It will help you find the cheapest local gas prices and lists the stations to avoid - the ones with the highest rates. You can also read tips for getting more miles per gallon or link to the AAAТs Daily Fuel Gauge Report which displays the average price by state and metro area. Х GasBuddy http://gasbuddy.com and GasPriceWatch www.gaspricewatch.com are two other sites that will help you locate good prices on gas. You can search by area, so you wonТt waste gas hunting cheap gas. Х If gas prices are too high, you can always share a ride! AlterNetRides http://alternetrides.com will hook you up with fellow commuters. Х Alternative fuel like propane or biodiesel locations can be found by entering your ZIP and the type of fuel you need at http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/FindPane.asp [Source: San Francisco Chronicle Michael Cabanatuan, article 28 Apr 08 ++] AMERICANS at WAR: Now instant access to powerful videos and stories from the award-winning PBS series УAmericans art WarФ can be accessed online at www.americans-at-war.com. The new website, launched by the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) and sponsored by Lockheed Martin, features videos and stories which illuminate the actual combat experience from the perspective of the men and women who fought in America's wars from WWI to Iraq. [Source: Military.com 28 Apr 08 ++] DATES to REMEMBER: Upcoming dates to remember. DonТt forget to add your marriage anniversary and your spouseТs birthday: Х May 11 Mothers Day Х May 17 Armed Forces Day Х May 24 Ц 1 Senate Memorial Day recess (District work period) Х May 26 - 30 House Memorial Day recess(District work period) Х May 26 Memorial Day Х June 14 Flag Day Х June 15 Fathers Day Х June 21 First Day of Summer [Source: Various 28 Apr 08] TRICARE USER FEE UPDATE 26: At a 16 APR subcommittee hearing in which major military associations presented their annual wish lists of improvements in pay, allowances and other benefits, Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said they might be willing to support modest Tricare fee increases, but will not back a Pentagon proposal seeking Tricare fee increases of as much as 400% for some retirees. Nelson and Graham are the chairman and ranking Republican, respectively, on the Senate Armed Services personnel subcommittee. Representatives testifying on behalf of the military associations expressed a willingness to accept fee increases that are no more than the size of the annual military pay raise or the annual cost-of-living adjustment in military retired pay, which gives Nelson and Graham some maneuvering room. Both indicated they will work on providing better health coverage to service members who are discharged from active duty without medical retirement pay. Steve Strobridge of the Military Officers Association of America said capped fee increases were acceptable - as long as they are part of a broader policy that makes clear that co-payments, deductibles and enrollment fees for Tricare users should not be determined simply by health care budget shortfalls. "We realize it is unrealistic to have no increases, ever," said Strobridge, who co-chairs the Military Coalition, a group of more than 30 military-related associations. The Pentagon estimates Tricare fee hikes would save about $1.9 billion in the 2009 defense budget. If the committee adopts lower fee increases or rejects any increases, it would have to make up the funding gap somehow. [Source: Air Force Times Rick Maze article posted 28 Apr 08 ++] VA CLAIM DELAY UPDATE 02: Due to an influx of new claims and the antiquated rules by which the Department of Veterans Affairs must process claims the average processing time has risen from 174 in 2006 to 188 days in 2007. As of APR 08 the number of claims outstanding was 650,000. The Department of Veterans Affairs projects that the number of claims will surpass one million by the end of fiscal year 2008. In an effort to reduce the backlog Congressman John Hall (D-NY-19) on 23 APR introduced HR 5892, the ССVeterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008ТТ. This bill is to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits claims processing system of the VA to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors, and for other purposes. The legislation specifically focuses on: Х Clarifying combat related disabilities; Х Readjusting the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities; Х Changing the VBAТs work credit and management systems; Х Improving employee certification and training; Х Improving quality assurance measurements; Х Expediting fully-developed claims and improving VCAA notice requirements; Х Ensuring partial ratings for qualifying veterans Х Allowing substitution of qualifying survivors; Х Enhancing information technology; and Х Providing surer appellate justice adding matters related to the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to provide surer appellate justice [Source: VDBCMA H.R.5892 23 Apr 08 ++] DECA DIETICIAN SERVICE: The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) has its own dietitian who is available to help the retiree community lose weight, get in shape and maintain good health. Maj. Karen Fauber offers a weekly online column, УThe Dietitian's Voice,Ф and a discussion forum, УAsk the DeCA DietitianФ on the agencyТs Web site at www.commissaries.com. To find the link to the DeCA Dietitian page. click on the УHealthy LivingФ tab in the top navigation bar Visitors to the site will find suggestions for eating healthy, such as a variety of nutrition tips and meal choices. People can also submit questions to Major Fauber, and participate in an online forum to discuss healthy eating and shopping ideas. Major Fauber is a registered and licensed dietitian with more than 16 years of military service, including experience as a certified diabetes educator in Army medical facilities and public health clinics. [Source: AFRS Release No. 04-09-08 dtd 25 Apr 08 ++] VA RETRO PAY PROJECT UPDATE 11: In OCT 06, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) initiated the process of providing retroactive compensation for more than 133,000 disabled recipients of either Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) or Concurrent Retired Disability Payment (CRDP) and VA compensation. Since then, more than 85,000 additional retirees have been identified by the VA as potentially eligible for retroactive payment. As of April 20, DFAS reported that nearly 179,000 accounts have been processed, with approximately 39,000 remaining. Of those, more than 16,000 are new cases. But about 23,000 of the most complicated cases from the originally identified group are still being worked. The joint process gives priority to the original cases, but those remaining require multiple laborious computations. In many cases, these can only be done by hand, because the individuals have had several VA rating changes and have switched back and forth between CRDP and CRSC payments with annual changes in the relative value of the two programs - due to the rating changes or the ramp-up of CRDP payments, or both. DFAS has reported that by 31 MAY, it will complete its review of the initial 133,000 files of disabled retirees The number of contractors hired and trained to work the files has climbed to 233 from 51 since DEC 07. So far, DFAS and the Department of Veterans Affairs have paid a combined $308 million in back payments to disabled military retirees. Both continue to identify new retirees that may be eligible for retroactive compensation and are working to developing automated changes that will expedite that process. On a separate topic, medical retirees with less than 20 years of service will soon be able to have their CRSC applications adjudicated for disabilities incurred as a result of combat or combat related events. DoD expects to release guidance to the military services by the end of this month or in early May. MOAA will keep you informed as soon as the guidance is published. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update & MOAA Leg Up 25 Apr 08 ++] FILIPINO VET INEQUITIES UPDATE 09: On 24 APR, the Senate passed S .1315 the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act (companion bill of H.R.760), which would authorize additional wounded warrior benefits including a new term life insurance program for disabled veterans. contains various measures to help veterans. One of the provisions would provide benefits to Filipino veterans who fought along side U.S. forces in World War II including non-citizens living outside the US in part by barring recent court-directed expansion of VA compensation to certain additional categories of disabled US veteran. Ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) offered an amendment, which was defeated, which would strip out benefits for those Filipino veterans that had not been injured in the line of duty. The House has not yet completed action on its bill, HR 760, which contains even more generous benefits for Filipino veterans of WWII. The Senate bill which contains the below provisions now goes back to the House where further attempts to change or eliminate this part of the bill are expected. For a complete listing of S. 1315 provisions, refer to the Thomas website at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01315: Х Provide retroactive traumatic injury coverage under SGLI for qualifying injuries incurred between October 7, 2001 and December 1, 2005 Х Authorize SGLI coverage for members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) Х Raise the VA home mortgage life insurance rates to $200,000 by 2012 Х Accelerate award of special adaptive housing benefits to certain currently serving servicemembers (including burn victims) likely to be released from active duty due to the extent of their disabilities. Х Increase supplemental burial benefits to $2100 in the case of a service-connected death and $900 for a non-service connected death. Х Allow troops called to active duty for not less than 90 days to cancel or suspend their cell phone contracts without incurring early termination or reactivation fees. Х Increase the maximum amount of supplemental Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance from $20,000 to $30,000. Х Expand eligibility for home improvement and structural alteration assistance to include permanently disabled servicemembers. Х Provide a specially-adapted housing grant to veterans and qualified servicemembers with severe burn injuries. Х Extend authority of the VA to assist individuals living temporarily in residences owned by family members. Х Provide automobile and adaptive equipment assistance to disabled veterans and servicemembers with severe burn injuries. Х Increase to $445 from the current $300 allowance for veteran burial plots. Х Provide a presumption of service-connection for osteoporosis for former POWs with post-traumatic stress disorder. Х Increase cost-of-living for additional dependency and indemnity compensation paid to certain surviving spouses with minor dependent children. Х Expand retroactive traumatic injury protection under SGLI (TSGLI) to include all servicemembers, not just those injured in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update & MOAA Leg Up 25 Apr 08 ++] GI BILL UPDATE 20: A Republican GI Bill plan, the Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention and Readjustment through Education Act, with many features attractive to active-duty service members and their families was unveiled 22 APR. No bill number has been assigned to date. It is their effort to show that itТs not just Democrats who want to improve veteransТ education benefits through their Post-9/11 VeteransТ Educational Assistance Act S.22. The Republican plan includes increases in basic benefits, a new book allowance, broad rights to transfer unused benefits to family members, and the ability to use veteransТ benefits to pay off existing student loans. It also would extend GI Bill benefits to service academy and Reserve OfficersТ Training Corps scholarship graduates, who are currently ineligible for payments, and would allow about 5,000 people who entered active duty between 1977 and 1985 to sign up for the benefits plan from which they were excluded. The package is intended as an alternative to a GI Bill plan introduced last year by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) that has the support of most House and Senate members. It also helps Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ) Republican presidential candidate and ranking minority party member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who has faced increasing pressure from veteransТ groups for not supporting WebbТs bill, S.22 which now has 57 cosponsors. Under the Republican bill active-duty members, monthly GI Bill benefits would rise 1 OCT to $1,500, up from the current $1,101, enough to cover the average cost of a four-year public college including room, board, tuition and fees, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services personnel subcommittee. Another $500 annual payment would help cover the cost of books and supplies. Asked if he thought a living stipend was needed in addition to the basic benefit, Graham said room and board is factored into the cost. УWe donТt have beer money included,Ф he said. That is less than what Webb proposes in his bill S.22, which would provide GI Bill benefits plus a living stipend in amounts varying by state. Webb proposed basic benefits that matched college tuition and fees, up to a maximum payment set by the most expensive four-year public college in a state. The monthly living expense proposed by Webb would match the militaryТs basic allowance for housing for an E-5 with dependents in the area of the school being attended, estimated to be $1,000 a month or more. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), ranking Republican on the Senate VeteransТ Affairs Committee and another co-sponsors of the new bill, said WebbТs plan could take a year or more to implement because of the difficulty in setting a benefits cap for each state, and would create inequities between states. Burr said increases called for by the Republican bill would take effect this year, and veterans would get the same payment no matter where they went to school. Patrick Campbell of Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans said the provisions noted by Burr are not necessarily advantages. Basing payments on average tuitions, Campbell said, Уmeans, by definition, that half of the people are not going to be paid enough to cover the cost of their college education. That is why I still prefer WebbТs bill.Ф The Pentagon has opposed WebbТs bill, arguing that it would encourage people to get out of the military to use the benefits. Defense officials do not want GI Bill benefits to be more than about $1,500 per month. In response to military concerns, the Republican bill promises to phase in additional increases for those who have served 12 or more years on active duty. Monthly benefits would increase by $150 in 2009, $150 in 2010 and $200 in 2011, capping at $2,000. Benefits for reservists also would increase to $1,200 a month for people who have been mobilized since 11 SEP 01, a jump from the current $880. Benefits for other Guard and reserve members would increase to $634 a month, double the current rate. Recognizing that veteransТ benefits are insufficient to pay for every school, the bill includes a provision encouraging colleges and universities to forgive loans accumulated by veterans. Schools can receive $1,000 for forgiving 25% of a veteransТ debt, $2,000 for forgiving 50% of debt and $3,000 for forgiving 100% of debt, Graham said. The proposal allowing transfer of GI Bill benefits to family members would be a retention boost for active, Guard and reserve forces, Graham said. It would allow those who have served six years to transfer 18 months of GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child, and allow 36 months of GI Bill benefits to be shared after 12 years of service. While the Republican bill is more generous than the plan envisioned by the Pentagon earlier this year, when President Bush endorsed the idea of sharing veteransТ educational benefits with family members, Graham said he did not expect administration opposition. Asked about the Pentagon view, Graham said he had spoken with defense officials who УagreedФ to the proposal but quickly amended that to say, УWell, I think they are going to agree.Ф The bill does meet the basic limitations on payments spelled out last week by defense officials in testimony before the House VeteransТ Affairs Committee. The Republican bill has three features not included in WebbТs proposal: Х Service academy graduates and Senior ROTC graduates who are excluded from the current GI Bill plan, unless they earned benefits through prior enlisted service, would get full benefits, including transfer rights, if they serve in uniform for five years beyond their initial obligation. Х About 5,000 active-duty members who entered service between 1977 and 1985, when the only education benefits plan available was the low-paying Veterans Education Assistance Program, or VEAP, would be allowed to enroll in the GI Bill. They would have to pay a $2,700 contribution, more than the $1,200 payment for other service members. They would also be limited to using the benefits only to pay for a bachelorТs degree and would not have the option of transferring benefits to family members. The enrollment option would be available to anyone still on active duty or to those who were on active duty on 11 SEP 01, who have since retired. Х GI Bill benefits could be used by enrolled active-duty members to pay off federal student loans, which is not currently allowed. State or private loans would not be covered. Up to $6,000 per year could be repaid. The payments would reduce a memberТs total GI bill benefits, under rules to be determined, to ensure no one is paid more than other GI Bill users. Republican aides said this feature would be another way to encourage people to remain on active duty. Webb spokeswoman Kimberly Hunter said the Republican bill seems to focus Уon educational benefits for career military officers while ignoring the 75% of service members that choose not to pursue a career in the military.Ф Hunter said. УS.22 is an affirmative readjustment benefit designed to transition post-9/11 veterans into civilian life, which is the same benefit given to the World War II vets. Sen. Webb has consistently said that the military does a fine job at managing its career force, but really fails to take care of their people once they leave the military. The Republican bill follows that same philosophy. As veteransТ unemployment continues to rise and recruitment continues to fall, we need affirmative programs that reward active-duty service, transition veterans into civilian life and target new pools of potential recruits.Ф [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 23 Apr 08 ++] TRICARE/CHAMPUS FRAUD UPDATE 07: The U.S. military's health insurance program has been swindled out of more than $100 million over the past decade in the Philippines, where doctors, hospitals and clinics have conspired with American veterans to submit bogus claims, according to prosecutors and court records. Seventeen people have been convicted so far Ч including at least a dozen U.S. military retirees Ч in a little-noticed investigation that has been handled by federal prosecutors out of Wisconsin because Madison-based WPS Health Insurance holds the contract to process many of the claims. It has not been accused of any wrongdoing. At the center of the case is Tricare, a Pentagon-run program that insures 9.2 million current and former service members and dependents worldwide. The United States closed its military bases in the Philippines in 1992 and withdrew its active-duty forces, but thousands of retirees remained. Some saw an opportunity to pry easy cash from Tricare. Health care providers in the Philippines filed claims for medical services never delivered, inflated claims by as much as 2,000% and shared kickbacks with retirees who played along, court records reviewed by The Associated Press show. "There just seemed to be so many possibilities for abuse of the system, and there were so few controls in terms of monitoring," said former U.S. Attorney Peg Lautenschlager, who oversaw prosecutions in the late 1990s. Pentagon auditors say Tricare moved slowly to uncover and stop the fraud. And a FEB 08 audit warned that the program is still vulnerable to rip-offs because of lax controls and that similar fraud schemes are starting to emerge in Latin America. News of the scope of the fraud comes as the Pentagon seeks to raise fees for Tricare's beneficiaries Ч fourfold, in some cases. The proposed increases have outraged groups representing servicemen and have been blocked by Congress. Tricare paid $210.9 million in overseas claims in 2006, the latest year for which figures were available. At the height of the fraud in 2003, Pentagon officials say, two-thirds of the $61.8 million paid to Philippine providers Ч about $40 million Ч was fraudulent. The fraud in the Philippines was so extensive that the number of claims filed there skyrocketed nearly 2,000% between 1998 and 2003 even as beneficiaries there Ч about 9,000 mostly retired military members and dependents Ч remained constant. "I know this is illegal and wrong to submit fraudulent claims to get money, but I did it for fun," U.S. Navy retiree Romulo Estoesta told investigators. He died in 2002. Austin Camacho, a spokesman for the Pentagon's Tricare Management Activity, which runs the program, said the fraud has been hard to prove because of language barriers, a lack of cooperation from providers and limited law enforcement resources. But he said the agency added numerous controls and is making every effort to stop fraud. In one big case, prosecutors say Health Visions Corp. Ч which owns hospitals and clinics in the Philippines Ч bilked the program out of nearly $100 million from 1998 to 2004. Its former president, Thomas Lutz, has pleaded guilty to his role in a kickback scheme and could get five years in prison. He could be sentenced in Madison as early as 2 4APR. The company has also reached a plea agreement, but it is sealed. Prosecutors say Health Visions executives instructed billers to inflate every claim by at least 233% and falsify diagnoses. Lutz refused to comment when reached by telephone in Columbia, Mo., where he is living with relatives. The company's lawyer had no comment. Pentagon officials received fraud allegations against the company in 2000 but waited until late 2005 to move to cut off payments, according to an internal audit report. The company reaped tens of millions of dollars in payments in the meantime. In a 2005 memo, William Winkenwerder, then assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, complained that his requests to send additional investigators to the Philippines were ignored. The fraud went well beyond Health Visions. A Pentagon official warned in 2004 that the Philippine schemes were costing U.S. taxpayers $40 million a year. In all, those convicted have been ordered to pay back only about $1.8 million. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz said of the 37 people indicted, about 20 remain free, in part because requests to extradite suspects from the Philippines have rarely succeeded. Claro de Castro, chief of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation's Interpol division, insisted Philippine authorities have cooperated with the U.S. Nevertheless, federal agents have resorted to trying to capture defendants when they step on U.S. soil. Dr. Diogenes Dionisio, who ran a clinic near Manila, was arrested earlier this year after he arrived in Guam for a vacation. He has pleaded not guilty to submitting $2 million in fraudulent claims. His lawyer, Charles Giesen, said his client was never notified he was facing indictment. "He was getting off the plane with his golf clubs and they put him in handcuffs," Giesen said. "It was a complete surprise and somewhat baffling." [Source: Associated Press Ryan J. Foley article 23 Apr 08 +] TRICARE/CHAMPUS FRAUD UPDATE 08: A federal judge ordered a Philippines company to pay back $100 million (euro63 million) it swindled from the US military's health insurance program. Health Visions (HV) Corp., which pleaded guilty to mail fraud, was ordered to liquidate all assets within 10 months and give the proceeds to the US government. Federal prosecutors say the company bilked the military's Tricare program out of $99.9 million (euro63.35 million) between 1998 and 2004. The company routinely inflated claims by more than 230%, operated a phony insurance program and billed for medical services never delivered, court records showed, and the Pentagon moved slowly to uncover the scheme. Assistant US Attorney Peter Jarosz described Health Visions as the biggest violator yet in a long-running investigation into Tricare fraud in the Philippines. "This is basically a death sentence for the company. It will no longer exist and that will protect the Tricare program since it was the biggest violator," he said after the hearing. "We got what we needed out of this prosecution." The US closed its military bases in the Philippines in 1992 and withdrew its active-duty forces, but thousands of retirees remained. Formed in 1997, Health Visions owned and operated hospitals and clinics in the Philippines and billed Tricare on behalf of other health care providers. On top of the $99.9 million (euro63.35 million) in restitution, US District Judge Barbara Crabb ordered the company to forfeit an additional $910,000 (euro577,000) and pay a $500,000 (euro317,000) fine. Health Visions will be required to sell off land, office buildings and hospitals in the Philippines and an airplane and houses in the US under Crabb's order. The company has run into problems selling hospitals because of ownership disputes, and Jarosz said it was uncertain whether the U.S. government would ever recover the full amount. The company's lawyer, Christopher Kelly, declined to comment. He told Crabb he had nothing to add beyond a plea agreement, which was unsealed on 24 APR. Health Visions and its former president, Thomas Lutz, were hit with a 75-count indictment in 2005. Lutz, a US citizen who turned 41 on 24 APR, has pleaded guilty to his role in a kickback scheme and could face up to five years in prison when he is sentenced. A date for that hearing will be scheduled shortly now that the company has been sentenced, Jarosz said. No word has been released yet on what action will be taken against the hundreds of military vets/dependents who knowingly aided and abetted this fraud. All were required to sign Tricare claim forms verifying treatment and all received EOBТs identifying what had been billed to Tricare by HV. The case has been an embarrassment to the Pentagon, where different branches have blamed one another for allowing the company's fraud to slip through the cracks. The fraud was so extensive that claims from the Philippines increased by 2,000% between 1998 and 2003 even as the number of Tricare beneficiaries remained the same. Payments to the country went up from less than $3 million (euro1.9 million) to more than $60 million (euro38.05 million) during that time. The Office of Inspector General has criticized Tricare's managers for waiting years to cut off payments to Health Visions after suspecting the company of fraud. William Winkenwerder, former assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said that the inspector general's office was partly to blame because it refused his requests to send additional investigators to the country. He said he worked hard to stop the problems after they came to his attention in 2003. Asked how the company was able to defraud the program of $100 million (euro63.42 million), Winkenwerder said: "There were some very deceptive practices that were occurring. The fact that this was a faraway location did add to the challenge of uncovering problems. And they didn't get away with it ultimately, which is the good news." The investigation has been handled by prosecutors in Wisconsin because WPS Health Insurance, a Madison company, is the subcontractor that handles most overseas claims. About three dozen others have been indicted to date, mostly US military veterans and Philippine doctors. [Source: AP Ryan J. Foley article 24 Apr 08 ++] TRICARE/CHAMPUS FRAUD UPDATE 9: The clinic where Dr. Alberto Marzan allegedly played his role in a $100 million swindle of the U.S. military's health insurance program sits abandoned, along with the adjacent family home. But a legacy remains, with a U.S. Navy retiree saying scams are still rife even after a federal judge ordered a Philippines company to pay back the money it skimmed. Marzan, one of the longest-wanted fugitives in the probe, recruited dozens of military retirees to falsely claim they and their relatives were confined at his clinic and received expensive medical services, U.S. prosecutors say. He made fraudulent claims of $1.5 million to the program and was paid more than $1 million, prosecutors add. In return, he typically paid kickbacks to the retirees. A U.S. federal grand jury returned a 35-count indictment against Marzan in 1999, but he has apparently remained free in the Philippines after vanishing from Moncada RP. Neighbors, village leaders, police and former co-workers in the Moncada town hall, where he used to sit as councilor, say the doctor's family slipped out of town more than three years ago and remains underground. Claro de Castro, head of the National Bureau of Investigation's Interpol division, said his office has arrest warrants for a doctor and a beneficiary. But he refused to identify them or say if the wanted doctor was Marzan because agents are still working on the case. Jerry Minor, a Navy retiree and administrator of Lifeline Medical Center - a Tricare-accredited clinic in western Olongapo city near the former U.S.-run Subic Naval Base - said many accredited doctors and clinics in the city continue to overprice their services. Retirees are usually lured into the scheme because the clinics do not charge them the required 25% share of the cost, instead sending the whole bill to Tricare, Minor said. One clinic blacklisted by Tricare for fraudulent claims simply changed its name and is back in business, he told The Associated Press in an interview 25 APR. Minor said a retiree's wife who was convinced by a clinic four years ago to sign a stack of blank claim forms - one is filled out every time a beneficiary goes to a clinic - was shocked to find out last December that several women were collecting on claims using her details. "It was like signing a blank check," he added. He said he tried to find out for himself about the overpricing by going to a doctor, who told him he would be charged 850 pesos ($20) for a 15-minute consultation. The price was higher than the 500 peso ($12) fee per consultation under Tricare regulations. Minor said when he brought up his share of the cost, the doctor told him, "Don't worry about it, you pay nothing. Tricare does." He said he has reported the anomalies to Tricare officials but the scams continue. Vicky Gross, a retiree's widow who used to work for Health Visions, said many doctors and clinics don't charge beneficiaries their share of costs but she did not know what they were charging to Tricare. Austin Camacho, a spokesman for the Pentagon's Tricare Management Activity, said the program has implemented new controls to combat fraud in the Philippines in recent years. Among other things, the program looks for patterns of aberrant practices and reviews claims that appear excessive. In 2001-07, the program refused to pay $288 million in fraudulent or excessive claims from the country, he said. Still, he said it is hard to catch all fraud overseas and Tricare does not exclude providers "without sufficient evidence. This can be difficult in an environment where law enforcement resources are limited, providers are not always cooperative and are not subject to the U.S. government's subpoena power," he said. Rufino Bayao Jr., a Navy retiree who served a 1.5-year U.S. prison term and three years of probation for taking part in the scam with Marzan, advises retirees not to fall for the bait. "If they are caught, they will also suffer," he told AP in his home in northern Tayug town. "It's not worth it." Aside from the prison term, Buyao is having more than a third of his $800 monthly pension deducted to pay for $132,390 in restitution that a U.S. court ordered him to pay. He says he got only 200,000 pesos ($4,760) from Marzan for signing false claims, with much of the money going for drinking binges. [Source: Military.com AP article 28 apr 08 ++] MOBILIZED RESERVE 23 APR 08: The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 23APR 08 in support of the partial mobilization. The net collective result is 4,257 more reservists mobilized than last reported in the Bulletin for 26 MAR 08. 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 active duty in support of the partial mobilization of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 79,049; Navy Reserve, 5,211; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 9,554; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,496; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 347. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been mobilized to 102,657, 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/Apr2008/d20080423ngr.pdf . [Source: DoD News Release 196-08 12 Mar 08 ++] VA FRAUD UPDATE 08: A federal grand jury has indicted an Edmond OK man on making false claims about injuries and awards while serving in the Vietnam War. James Hull 66, faces three counts of using false documents and one count of falsely receiving a military medal. Charges arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Division. Hull is accused of signing and submitting fraudulent forms in MAR 05 and MAR 06 to the Veterans Administration to support his claims for disabilities that happened as a result of combat in Vietnam. According to court documents, Hull also submitted fraudulent citations for a Silver Star and Meritorious Service Medal he claimed he received as a result of his military service in Vietnam between 1964 and 1965. An investigation revealed that Hull was assigned to military units in the Republic of turkey, Fort Walters, Texas, and San Francisco during the times he claimed to be in Vietnam, according to court documents. [Source: NewsOK.com article 22 Apr 08 ++] VA SUICIDE PREVENTION UPDATE 02: On 22 APR Sens. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii and Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Dr. Ira Katz, the VAТs mental health director, withheld crucial information on the true suicide risk among veterans and called for his resignation saying he tried to cover up the rising number of veteran suicides. УDr. KatzТs irresponsible actions have been a disservice to our veterans, and it is time for him to go,Ф said Murray, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. УThe No. 1 priority of the VA should be caring for our veterans, not covering up the truth.Ф Akaka, the committeeТs chairman, said in a letter to the VA that KatzТs Уpersonal conduct and professional judgmentФ had been called into question by his response to veteran suicides. A number of Democratic senators said they were appalled at e-mails showing Katz and other VA officials apparently trying to conceal the number of suicides by veterans. An e-mail message from Katz disclosed this week as part of a lawsuit that went to trial in San Francisco starts with УShh!Ф and claims 12,000 veterans a year attempt suicide while under department treatment. УIs this something we should (carefully) address ourselves in some sort of release before someone stumbles on it?Ф the e-mail asks. Another e-mail said an average of 18 war veterans kill themselves each day Ч and five of them are under VA care when they commit suicide. A VA spokesman declined to comment. УIt is completely outrageous that the federal agency charged with helping veterans would instead cover up the hard truth Ч that more and more Americans coming home after bravely fighting for their country are suffering from mental illnesses and, in the most tragic circumstances, committing suicide,Ф said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. УAnyone at the VA who is involved in this cover-up should be removed immediately.Ф Harkin, Murray and Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., introduced legislation 22 APR calling on VA to track how many veterans commit suicide each year. Currently, VA facilities record the number of suicides and attempted suicides in VA facilities but do not record how many veterans overall take their own lives. The agency, however, is reluctant to disclose specific numbers, veterans advocates complain. The new bill would require VA to report to Congress within 180 days the number of veterans who have died by suicide since 1 JAN 97, and continue reports annually. HarkinТs office said statistics provided earlier this year by VA showed that 790 veterans under VA care attempted suicide in 2007. That figure is contradicted by the e-mail revealed this week. Two veterans groups last year filed the class-action lawsuit against a sprawling VA system that handled a record 838,000 claims last year. A government lawyer urged a judge Monday to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the agency runs a Уworld-classФ medical care system. [Source: Air Force Times AP Matthew Daly article posted 23 Apr 08 ++] IRS PENALTIES & INTEREST: For American expatriates used to the tax filing deadline in mid-June, the 15th of April tax paying deadline can easily be overlooked. So down the road when those 2007 taxes are finally paid with the tax return, Expats can be surprised to receive an IRS interest assessment for late payment. So if the 2007 tax return has not yet been prepared, the best strategy - after 15 April and before 15 June - is to estimate and pay any taxes owed. When IRS receives your tax return, they first check the return for mathematical accuracy. If taxes are owed, they bill the taxpayer and charge interest from 15 April on the federal short-term rate plus three percent. Interest is compounded daily. A penalty for late payment of one-half of one percent of the tax owed for each month may also be assessed until the full 25% maximum penalty is applied for non-payment. For reasonable cause, penalties can be abated, but not interest. Assessed taxpayers can send an explanation together with the bill to the IRS service center in Austin for consideration. However IRS will not act to abate until the taxes owed are first paid. To assure payment is properly made, a check or money order should be payable to UNITED STATES TREASURY. Also on the check, remember to enter the tax year, form number and your telephone number. Form 1040-V should accompany payment. The expatriate mailing address is: Internal Revenue Service Centre, PO Box 660335, Dallas, TX 75266-0335. [Source: The Tax Baron Report MAR/APR08 ++] RENTAL CAR AGE RESTRICTIONS: More seniors are traveling than ever before, and the travel industry has responded by offering a wide range of senior travel discounts and incentives (http://seniorliving.about.com/od/travelsmart/ss/traveldiscount.htm ), but there are still a few places in the travel world where age works against you. One example is the car rental counter in some European, African and South Pacific countries, where a little known regulation has stranded more than one unsuspecting senior traveler, leaving them without transportation because they are Уtoo oldФ to drive the rental car they have reserved. How can this happen? Easy. Insurance companies mandate the maximum age for car rental, and they usually set the cutoff age at 70 or 75. If an older customer has an accident, the company's insurance carrier will increase rates across the board, unless the company agrees to refuse service to any customer above a certain age. Different rental car companies have different insurance carriers, however, so the only way to know whether you will be allowed to drive away in the car you have reserved before leaving on your trip is to ask specifically about age restrictions for rental cars, and how they apply in the area where you will be traveling. The rules about renting cars after a certain age havenТt become more rigid, but with more seniors traveling the frequency of problems has increased. Most people know there is a minimum age for rental cars, but few people realize that there is also an upper age limit. Dealing exclusively with major rental car companies like Hertz or Avis wonТt necessarily help you avoid the problem. While some of the major companies donТt impose age maximums for rental cars at their corporate sites, many have franchise operations in various locations that restrict rental cars by age to meet insurance requirements. Despite the age limits some insurance companies impose on rental car companies and their customers, however, there are steps you can take to improve your chances of finding a rental car regardless of your age. Х Shop Around. If one company where youТre traveling has an upper age limit for rental cars, another company in the same city may not. Х Get Insurance. In some areas, older drivers are allowed to rent cars if they can provide their own insurance policy that will cover them and the rental car while they are traveling in that location. Х Drive Farther. Sometimes, it pays to get a rental car near your destination, because the regulations are more flexible, and drive it into the area where you really want to go. Х DonТt Count on the Web. Companies donТt always post rental car age restrictions on their Web sites in a place that is easy to find. If youТre 70 or older, call the rental car company directly and ask about their policy in the area where you want to travel. If you get a clerk who doesnТt know or seems uncertain about the policy, ask to speak to a supervisor and keep going up the ladder until you find someone who can verify that you can rent a car at your destination Some related driving issues seniors should be aware of are their stateТs DMV regulations regarding driver license revocation. In California: Х DMV cannot take your driving license away because of age. However, once you turn 70 you must renew your license in person rather than by mail. Х Medical doctors (for example, physicians, surgeons and psychiatrists) are required by law to report to a local health office patients who have been diagnosed with certain conditions which (in their opinion) will impact on your ability to drive. Doctors are protected against civil and criminal liability for these confidential reports. Х A spouse or family member (blood relatives within three degrees) can report you to the local DMV Driver Safety Office. If the reporting family member reasonably and in good faith believes that you cannot safely operate a motor vehicle, the reporter is protected from civil and criminal liability. [Source: About.com: Senior Living & www.help4srs.org Apr 08 ++] VA LAWSUIT (LACK OF CARE) UPDATE 05: THE lawsuit, filed in JUL 07 by two nonprofit groups representing military veterans, accuses the agency of inadequately addressing a Уrising tideФ of mental health problems, especially post-traumatic stre
		THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES == VA Burial Benefit [04] (Private Cemetery Headstone) == Dave & Buster Data Breach (Cash Register Terminals) == VA Gulf War Advisory Board (Established) == Tricare Reimbursement Rates [02] (Overseas) == Tricare/CHAMPUS Fraud [10] (Greenbelt MD $247K) == VA Suicide Prevention [03] (May Exceed Combat Deaths) == Medicare Reimbursement Rates [09] (Time Running Out) == New 2008 Postage Rates [01] (Retiree FPO Users) == Women Veterans' Scholarship (Apply to RNA) == Military Stolen Valor [06] (LA & Sacramento) == Merchant Marine WWII Compensation [02] (VA Opposed) == Agent Orange Lawsuits [12] (Haas vs. Peake Reversed) == VA Fraud [09] (Lubbock TX/Roanoke VA) == GI Bill [21] (S.22 Concerns) == Tricare Preventive Health Program (TFL Excluded) == Vet Support from States (Sample List) == PTSD Purple Heart (Needs to be Looked At) == Oklahoma Vet Homes (Locations & Eligibility) == Long Term Care w/Medicare (Coverage) == Economic Stimulus Package [06] (File after 15 APR) == Debit Card Data Breach (Bank Card Skimming) == VA Emergency Care [01] (Require vice Authorize) == Michigan Vet Cemetery (Ground Breaking OCT 08) == Credit Card Charges [02] (Reform Legislation) == NDAA 2009 [01] (S.2787 SASC Mark Up) == VA Lawsuit (Lack of Care) [07] (Judge Doubts Authority) == AAFES Community Malls (Six Planned) == VA Veteran Population Estimate (As of 30 SEP 07) == VA Home Loan [11] (H.R.4884) == Malware (PC Hazard) == NPRC Online Records Request [01] (DD-214) == Foreclosure Impact on Renters (Little Recourse) == Car Rental Tips (How to Save Money) == Caries (Tooth Decay) (Ramifications) == Veteran Legislation Status 13 May 08 (Where we Stand) VA BURIAL BENEFIT UPDATE 04: The VA has changed the regulation concerning the provision of a VA headstone or marker for a grave already marked in a private cemetery. As a result of passage of the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007, the VA can now provide a headstone or marker for those graves already marked in a private cemetery for those Veterans who died after 1 NOV 90. The claimant must pay the cost of the installation of the Government headstone or marker in a private cemetery. Details of the new regulation can be read at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-10635.htm . [Source: VFW VSO Richard Springer 13 May 08 ++] DAVE & BUSTER DATA BREACH: Foreign hackers have compromised cash register terminals at 11 Dave & Buster's restaurants around the United States. The scheme resulted in losses of some $600,000. The hackers were arrested in various locations, including Turkey and Germany. They sold the stolen data to others who used it to make fraudulent purchases or resold it to make such purchases. In announcing the arrests, U.S. Attorney Benton J. Campbell said, УHackers who reach into our country from abroad will find no refuge from the reach of U.S. criminal justice.Ф According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the people arrested gained unauthorized access to cash register terminals, though details on how were not specified. They allegedly installed Уpacket sniffer" programs at each restaurant to capture communications on the Dave & Buster's link. The packet sniffer was configured to capture "track two" data as it moved from each restaurant's point-of-sale server to computer systems at the company's corporate headquarters. Track two data includes a customer's credit card account number and expiration date, but not cardholder names or other personally identifiable information. [Source: SC Magazine Chuck Miller article May 08 ++] VA GULF WAR ADVISORY BOARD: Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during 1990Ц1991 will have their own special advocates before Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake, thanks to a new advisory committee Peake established to respond to issues unique to them. The 14-member, independent panel will advise the Secretary and the Department of Veterans Affairs on the full range of health care and benefits needs of those who served in the conflict. УGulf War veterans made an invaluable contribution to national security and peace in a volatile region,Ф Peake said. УThis new panel will ensure that VA benefits and programs adapt to the needs of these veterans, just as our services have adapted for veterans of other conflicts.Ф Serving on the committee are Gulf War and other veterans, veterans service organizationsТ representatives, medical experts, and the survivors of Gulf War veterans. Members were selected to provide a variety of perspectives, experiences and expertise. The committee will be chaired by Charles Cragin, a retired Navy captain, who has had several senior level positions within the federal government, including Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and Chairman of VAТs Board of Veterans Appeals. In January 2002, the Department created an advisory committee to assist VAТs secretary on research into the medical problems of Gulf War veterans. That older committee will retain responsibility for research involving veterans of the 1990-1991 conflict in the Middle East .This committeeТs first meeting will be held in mid-June in Washington, D.C. It is expected to complete its work within 18 months. Committee meetings will be open to the public. [Source: VA News Release 13 May 08 ++] TRICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES UPDATE 02: Every year, the federal government tweaks the elaborate system that determines the amount doctors get paid for care and procedures, known as Уreimbursement ratesФ. Those changes, in turn, translate into changes in cost shares, or co-pays, for Tricare beneficiaries. Payment for inpatient hospital stays in specified locations outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, are made utilizing the lesser of (a) billed charges or (b) the prospectively determined per diems adjusted by a country specific index (CSI). The per diem rates are developed into reimbursement groupings by utilizing diagnosis codes as contained in the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, and Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). The per diem rates are the maximum allowable amounts that Tricare shall reimburse and the amount on which patient cost-shares are calculated. The National U.S. per diem rate is multiplied by a unique CSI factor which adjusts the National U.S. per diems for the applicable country. The country specific hospital per diem, for those specified locations outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia is the product of the National U.S. per diem and the CSI. This payment system applies to all hospitals providing hospital inpatient services and professional provider reimbursements in the Philippines, Panama, and other overseas areas as designated by the Government. The CSI is a factor obtained from the World BankТs International Comparison Program. The index factor is based on a large array of goods and services or market basket within the specific country which is then standardized and weighted to a U.S. standard and currency. The use of the CSI enables a conversion and therefore creates parity between the U.S. and the specific country in the purchasing of the same amount and type of medical services. Tricare is utilizing a two year phase in approach for the implementation of the World BankТs International Comparison Program CSI. Per change 77 dated 7 APR 08 to the Tricare Reimbursement Manuel for the Philippines and Panama, the first year of the CSI phase in has been set at 0.52 and 0.70 through 28 FEB 08. The second year of the CSI phase in has been set at 0.229 for the Philippines and 0.60 for Panama effective 1 MAR 09. However, their is a requirement that all providers that submit bills to Tricare and are effected by the changes must be given at least 100 days notice so it is likely that the changes will not take effect until AUG 08 and AUG 09 respectively. The change equates to a 27.1point index reduction (52%) for the Philippines and a 10 point index reduction (15%) for Panama assuming nothing is done to reverse these reductions. For additional info refer to http://manuals.tricare.osd.mil. [Source: Tricare Reimbursement Manual 6010.55-M w/Change 77 Chap 1 Sect 34 & 35dtd 7 Apr 08 ++] TRICARE/CHAMPUS FRAUD UPDATE 10: United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced 9 MAY that Melvin Shandler, age 61, of Chevy Chase MD, pleaded guilty today to committing health care fraud arising out of reimbursement he sought for medical services not rendered. According to the plea agreement, Shandler was a licensed clinical social worker with a private counseling practice in Chevy Chase. He was also formerly employed as a consultant at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he practiced social work. From JUN 03 to MAY 07, he submitted claims to Tricare for counseling services he provided to Tricare members. During a review of claims, Tricare auditors detected he billed 250% more services than the second highest billing provider in the Tricare North Region in 2006. At their peak, his billings averaged up to 24 counseling sessions per day, and he billed for services on Labor Day, Independence Day and Christmas Day. Further investigation revealed that ShandlerТs claims were disproportionately high, either because he requested compensation for services that were never performed, or inflated the amount of time he spent with patients. In the case of one family, he submitted claims for 202 services during a one year period from 2006 to 2007 that he never performed. As a result of his over billing he received $247,000 to which he was not entitled. Shandler faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus has scheduled sentencing for 28 JUL 08. As part of his plea agreement, he has agreed to pay $247,000 in restitution at least five days before his sentencing. He has also signed a civil settlement agreement which obligates him to pay the government $444,600, less the deduction for the amount paid in criminal restitution. [Source: DOJ News Release 9 May 08 ++] VA SUICIDE PREVENTION UPDATE 03: Suicides by veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could well top the combat deaths in the two conflicts, according to the top official of National Institute of Mental Health. On 5 MAY, Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, told reporters at an annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in Washington that it was possible that "suicides and psychiatric mortality...could trump combat deaths." Insel said he based this assessment in part on figures from a recent Rand Corp. study as well as suicide rates for patients who have substance abuse problems and other complications of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of combat. Insel's comments were put in context on 6 MAY during a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing, when Dr. James Peake, secretary of VA, said that the number of suicide attempts by all veterans under treatment by the department could exceed an earlier official estimate of 1,000 a month. The Defense Department estimates that slightly more than 4,500 troops have been killed in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. The RAND study determined that up to 300,000 returning U.S. troops from those wars suffer from PTSD. The same study concluded that 320,000 troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI), with only half of those veterans seeking treatment. During the hearing, Peake told lawmakers that the number of suicide attempts could be more than 1,000 a month because of "underreporting" within the VA. Dr. Ira Katz, deputy chief patient care services officer for mental health at the Veterans Health Administration, testified that his earlier estimate of 1,000 suicide attempts per was based on only three months of data from the department's mental health co-coordinators. Laurie Tranter, a VA spokeswoman, told Government Executive that the data Katz based his earlier estimate on was derived from a suicide tracking system and suicide prevention program. She said both are at various stages of deployment throughout the Veterans Health Administration. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee accused Peake of "criminal negligence" in trying to cover up the number of suicide attempts by veterans. He said the VA's actions fit a pattern of trying to cover up or deny serious medical problems suffered by veterans from the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Peake said that all veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq receive a mental health screening by a general practitioner. Filner said he wants VA and Defense to provide a mandatory, one-hour mental health check-up conducted by a psychiatrist for all combat veterans. Secretary Peake told the Committee that no single agency has accurate statistics on veteran suicides, but he is implementing ways to improve data collection and reduce suicide rates, including hiring suicide coordinators in VA facilities, establishing a suicide prevention call center, and pushing outreach and prevention efforts for veterans and their families. Peake assured the committee that his agency would be more forthcoming with information in the future and would work toward more transparency in the VA system. A Government Accountability Office offered additional recommendations, including: Х Ensuring timelier referral to care. Х Developing a comprehensive substance abuse program. Х Enhancing access to mental health care. Х Coordinating efforts between VA and non-VA health care providers. Х Fostering increased communication with veterans and their families [Source: GOV.EXEC.com BoB Brewin article 6 May 08 ++] MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES UPDATE 09: Everyone in Congress wants to stop a 10.6% cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors scheduled to take place on July 1. Medicare administrators don't want the cut to happen either, but they're worried about how to administer the program if Congress waits until the end of June -- or worse yet, until sometime in July or later -- to change the law. In early MAY Medicare officials told Congress that the law needs to be changed by 16 JUN in order to allow Medicare computers to be reprogrammed by 1 JUL. If they don't get updated guidance by that date, Medicare will have to implement the cut on 1 JUL and undo all the erroneous payments later if and when Congress changes the law. The same thing happened a couple of years ago, when Congress had to make a retroactive payment fix. But it's a nightmare for Medicare (and TRICARE) administrators, and even more so for the doctors who have to suffer the income and book-keeping consequences. Veteran organizations worry that such frustration may cause some doctors to stop seeing elderly and military beneficiaries. The American Medical Association released a survey of nearly 9,000 doctors showing that if the payment cut went into effect: Х 60% of doctors would limit the number of new Medicare patients they accept; Х More than two-thirds would defer the purchase of needed information technology in 2008; Х 50% would reduce their staff; and Х 14% would stop treating patients entirely. Congressional leaders would love nothing better than to meet the 16 JUN deadline, but they're struggling to find ways to pay for the $15-$18 billion cost of the fix that a majority of legislators are willing to accept. Like it or not, that's turned into a political football, with Republicans and Democrats preferring different options. And many on the Hill seem in no mood to compromise in this election year. MOAA said, it's unacceptable to hold TRICARE and Medicare-eligibles' access to care hostage to these kinds of political considerations. Congressional leaders need to work out a compromise -- and fast -- to stop that from happening. Veterans can help by visiting the MOAA or USDR websites http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=10534466 & http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=11354701&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] to send a suggested message to urge their legislators to act fast. [Source: MOAA Legislative Update 11 May 08 ++] NEW 2008 POSTAGE RATES UPDATE 01: Effective 12 MAY the new postage rates go into effect. If in doubt on how much postage to use refer to the below or to the USPS Postage Calculator at http://postcalc.usps.gov/default.aspx: 1. First Class Mail: Not Over Oz Large envelopes 1 $0.42 $0.83 2 0.59 1.00 3 0.76 1.17 3.5 0.93 1.34 4 1.34 1.34 5 1.51 1.51 6 1.68 1.68 7 1.85 1.85 8 2.02 2.02 9 2.19 2.19 10 2.36 2.36 11 2.53 2.53 12 2.70 2.70 13 2.87 2.87 Over 13 oz use Priority mail rate of $4.60 up to 1 pound or $4.60 for a Priority flat rate envelop regardless of weight. FPO regulations limit outgoing/incoming mail to one pound for retiree mail . No packages other than checkbook, personal cassettes, personal VCR/DVDs, or medicine shipped by TMOP. 2. Post Card: $0.27 3. Certified Mail: In addition to regular postage add $2.70. If return receipt is desired add another $2.20 for mailed return or $1.00 for electronic. 4. Registered Mail: Not authorized for RAO services. [Source: Various May 08] WOMEN VETERANS' SCHOLARSHIP: Royal Neighbors of America (RNA) is announcing their Heroes at Home Women Veterans' Scholarship Program. Their goal is to help our female veterans give back to their communities by reaching their education goals, making them stronger women and stronger community leaders as a result. Awards will be presented at the Student VeteranТs Conference in Washington, DC on 13 JUN 08 for 2009 school year funding. The minimum award amount is $2,500. Multiple awards will be made. Eligibility Criteria is: Х Female Veteran Х Open to enlisted, officers and those who have completed their service Х Money can be used to pay for living expenses, as well as tuition, books and school fees Х You do NOT need to be a member of Royal Neighbors of America to be eligible Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated leadership, participation in community activities, goals and aspirations, and unusual personal or family circumstances. Financial need will also be considered. Applicants are responsible for gathering and submitting all necessary information. Applications are evaluated on the information supplied; therefore, it is important to answer all questions as completely as possible. All information that is submitted will be kept in strict confidence and will only be read by the Foundation Scholarship Review Committee and Executive Director of the Student Veterans Association. All personal records and tax information will be shredded and destroyed immediately after the judging is final. Interested students must submit the application by 1 JUN 08. Applications can be downloaded at http://www.royalneighbors.org/About-RNA/RNA-Foundation.aspx. RNA is accepting applications via mail to 230 16th St, Rock Island IL 61201 Tel: (800) 627-4762 or email contact@royalneighbors.org. [Source: www.royalneighbors.org/ May 08 ++] MILITARY STOLEN VALOR UPDATE 06: A man who lied during a public meeting about being awarded the nationТs highest military honor pleaded guilty 5 APR to violating the Stolen Valor Act of 2005. Xavier Alvarez, 50, of Pomona, said he served as a Marine and won the Medal of Honor when he was introduced as a newly elected member of a Claremont water board in JUL 07. УIТm a retired Marine of 25 years. I retired in the year 2001. Back in 1987, I was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. I got wounded many times by the same guy. IТm still around,Ф Alvarez said during the meeting, according to a recording of it. His attorney, Deputy Federal Public Defender Brianna Fuller, argued that his free speech was protected by the First Amendment. Government prosecutors argued that the First Amendment does not protect deliberate falsehoods. His plea with the U.S. AttorneyТs Office gives Alvarez the right to appeal the plea based on his right to free speech. Alvarez faces up to one year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine when he is sentenced 21 JUL. An Oroville CA man has pleaded guilty to falsely representing himself as a decorated military hero from the Vietnam War. Michael Allan Fraser, 62, claimed in an interview with the Oroville Mercury-Register last year that he was awarded two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars for combat in Vietnam. He also traveled to Vietnam with war veterans on a mission to Уbury the ghosts of the past.Ф But a Colorado man who helped write the Stolen Valor Act, which was signed into law by President Bush in 2006, noticed problems with FraserТs daring tale of valor. He looked up FraserТs record and found that he had served in the military as a veterinarianТs assistant in the Philippines. U.S. Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan sentenced Fraser this week to 100 hours of community service helping veterans and issued a $500 fine. A Navy Reserve public affairs officer is facing a general court-martial next week for allegedly forging an award citation and pretending to be a lieutenant when he was one rank lower at the time, the Navy said. Lt. Paul J. Pelletier, 42, is charged with five counts of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including failure to obey an order or regulation, making false official statements and going absent without leave. His court-martial is set to begin 13 MAY. According to the charge sheet, Pelletier put himself in for a Joint Service Achievement Medal at some point between 20 JUN and 20 JUL 06 while serving with Multi-National Force in Baghdad. He served at Camp Victory in Iraq for nine months in 2006. The award justification Уoutlined achievements he had not accomplished,Ф the sheet said. Around the same time, he wore the rank of lieutenant when he was actually a lieutenant junior grade, the sheet said. He continued to wear the unauthorized rank, the charge sheet stated, even though he had been ordered by a captain to stop. [Source: AP articles posted 6 & 9 May 08 ++] MERCHANT MARINE WWII COMPENSATION UPDATE 02: On 7 MAY, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee met to receive testimony on 28 separate veteransТ bills. One area of testimony of great interest to many veterans was enactment of the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act (S.961/H.R.23). The VA does not support S. 961 as they believe it would create a "service pension for a particular class of individual based on no eligibility requirement other than a valid certificate of qualifying service from the Secretary of Transportation or Secretary of Defense. Further, this bill would authorize the payment of a greater benefit to a Merchant Mariner...than a veteran currently receives for a service connected disability rated as 60% disabled. The second panel of veterans service organizations, for the most part did not object to S. 961, except for the costs involved and that it might take money from other programs. The final panel of former Merchant Mariners H. Gerald Starnes and Charles Dana Gibson was enlightening in expanding on some of the experiences and exploits of the men who transported all the necessary supplies to fight WW II on two fronts. The most surprising testimony was from Mr. Gibson, who as an historical writer had done extensive research on the Merchant Marine and Army Transport Service during the war. He dispelled one of the myths that the Merchant Marine had gone on strike during the war. In fact they had signed an agreement to not strike while hostilities continued and they didn't. To read the complete testimonies of all the participants refer to http://www.senate.gov/~veterans/public/index.cfm?pageid=12&release_id=11685 [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 9 May 08 ++] AGENT ORANGE LAWSUITS UPDATE 12: On 8 MAY the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit unfortunately reversed the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Haas v. Peake. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims had previously found that Vietnam War blue water veterans who had served on ships off the coast of Vietnam but had never set foot within the land borders of Vietnam were entitled to a presumption of service connection disability if they suffer from one of the listed diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure. Also, they had ruled that the VAТs regulatory interpretation that the veteran needed to have Уset foot within the land borders of VietnamФ was unduly restrictive. The higher Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed and ruled: УWe hold that the agencyТs requirement that a claimant have been present within the land borders of Vietnam at some point in the course of his duty constitutes a permissible interpretation of the statute and its implementing regulation, and we therefore reverse the judgment of the Veterans Court.Ф This was a 2-1 decision with a thoughtful dissent by Judge Fogel so the Claimant may attempt to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court which Commandeer Haas has said he will do. You can find the full 57 page decision in the list of decisions at http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/dailylog.html Most likely VA will now move quickly to resolve (decide) claims that have been placed on hold awaiting this decision. These claims will almost certainly be denied unless they can show that their ship operated within the inland waterways of Vietnam or entered port in Vietnam. While ships logs do not routinely show crewmembers leaving their ship, they will show whether the ship entered an inland waterway (e.g. the Saigon River) or put into port. VA will generally concede the issue if service records show a veteran was attached to a ship during the period that the ship put into port in Vietnam. The negative decision in the Haas case does not relieve VA from the responsibility of making a legally correct decision that discusses all pertinent evidence and the reasons and bases for the decision. The VA in their written decision should specifically address the evidence of service in or visitation to Vietnam. They must discuss ships ' movements either shown by ships' history or logs. If the veteran has admitted never setting foot in Vietnam, VA must also discuss whether evidence shows that the ship operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam. The Haas decision does not apply if a claimant has alleged exposure to herbicides on a direct basis, such as loading drums of defoliant on board helicopters or decontaminating aircraft or helicopters, VA must discuss such allegations and resolve them. Claimants who are denied have several legal moves available to them. They can ask the Court of Appeals to review the case using all the judges on the Court. While the Court may decide to conduct an en banc review it doe not have to. Failing that, they could appeal to the Supreme Court. During any given year the Supreme Court takes up only about 1 in 20 cases to decide. Success at the Supreme Court is a long shot. [Source: TREA Washington Update & NVS Update 9 May 08 ++] VA FRAUD UPDATE 09: The U.S. Attorney's Office said 7 MAY that Lubbock TX man has been sentenced to five years in prison for cashing his dead mother's Veterans Administration checks for nearly two year after she died in 2004. Lyndell Simmons, 46, pleaded guilty in January to a charge of theft of government money or property. Besides prison time, Simmons must pay $21,529 in restitution to the Department of Veterans Affairs, prosecutors said in a release. Louise Simmons was a beneficiary of VA dependency and indemnity compensation benefits. An investigation started in MAR 07 after a complaint alleged that Louise Simmons had not returned a marital status questionnaire. Investigators discovered she had died on 10 NOV 04. The younger Simmons forged her signature on about 22 checks made out to his mother and cashed them from DEC 04 to MAR 07, prosecutors said. A jury in Virginia found Army veteran Randall Moneymaker "guilty of fabricating his service record and lying about his achievements and combat injuries to scam more than $18,000 in disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs." Craig Jacobsen, the assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said Moneymaker used 'different levels of deceit' against not only combat veterans but service members who are wounded in the line of duty. In the six-month period ending 31 MAR, the VA Inspector General's Office investigations resulted in nine indictments against people who tried to scam the system for medical and/or monetary benefits, said James O'Neill, assistant inspector general for investigations. The report at www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/army_moneymaker_051008w details the case against Moneymaker, who faces up to 35 years in federal prison. [Source: Houston Chronicle AP & Army Times article 6 & 9 May 08 ++] GI BILL UPDATE 21: The Department of Veterans Affairs seemed to be standing in front of a fast-moving train 7 MAY when a top official said VA would need two years of preparation to come up with a payment system for a proposed overhaul of GI Bill education benefits. The warning flags were waved by Keith Pedigo, VAТs associate deputy undersecretary for policy and program management, who said meeting an 1 AUG 09, effective date for the benefits increases, under what lawmakers are calling the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights (S.22), would be extremely difficult. Because the proposal calls for the maximum benefit to be different in each state, payments would have to be manually, rather than automatically, processed, Pedigo said. УVA does not now have a payment system or the appropriate number of trained personnel to administer the program,Ф Pedigo said, predicting it would take two years to develop a payment system to provide the new benefits. Those benefits include paying the full cost of tuition and fees for the most expensive four-year public college or university in each state, plus a monthly living expense, an annual payment for books and other expenses, as well as up to $1,200 for tutorial assistance. Pedigo, testifying before the Senate VeteransТ Affairs Committee, also warned about the potential for large overpayments because the bill calls for lump-sum tuition payments directly to a school at the start of a quarter or semester, without specifying what would happen if a student drops out. Pedigo also warned of fundamental unfairness in a proposed housing allowance that would be based on where a school is located, rather than where a student lives, which could encourage veterans to enroll in online learning programs offered by schools in high-cost areas. His warnings come as the House and Senate are poised to attach S.22 to a wartime supplemental funding bill in an effort to overcome questions about how to pay for the benefits and the administrative costs. Attaching S.22 to the wartime funding bill also would put pressure on the Bush administration to sign onto a generous overhaul of veterans benefits in order to secure funding to continue military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congressional leaders derive an additional benefit from attaching the GI Bill increases to the supplemental Ч it would attract more votes for the measure at a time when many lawmakers are reluctant to continue funding Iraq operations. The Pentagon, VA and the White HouseТs Office of Management and Budget oppose S.22, either as a separate bill or combined with the supplemental. But Bush administration opposition Ч and VAТs warning about implementation problems Ч do not seem to counter the growing push from veteransТ groups to pass what Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), S.22Тs chief sponsor, calls a move to Уgive first-class futures to the people who serve.Ф The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the nonpartisan analytical arm of Congress, said in a report 8 MAY that enactment of S.22 could lead to a 16% drop in re-enlistments. The Defense Department could counter that drop only by increasing re-enlistment bonuses. Fully offsetting the draw of a better veteransТ education program would require a $25,000 re-enlistment bonus for every first-term service member, something that would cost the Pentagon about $6.7 billion over five years. However, that cost would be offset by lower recruiting costs, the report predicts. It estimates there would be a 16 percent boost in recruits, which would allow a cut in enlistment bonuses and in other recruiting expenses that would result in $5.6 billion in savings over five years. The combination of better recruiting but weaker re-enlistments would leave the military with a $1.1 billion cost over five years to maintain the current force, the report said. Overall, CBOТs cost estimate is slightly lower than the estimated price tag issued by the Bush administration. Congressional budget analysts predict S.22 would have an overall cost of $680 million in the first full year and $51.8 billion over 10 years. VA officials told the Senate VeteransТ Affairs Committee on Wednesday that the proposal would cost $64.9 billion over 10 years. Currently, 75% of Army, 70% of Marine, 50% of Navy and 49% of Air Force enlistees who complete their first enlistment term get out of the military, The House of Representatives could pass a war supplemental soon that includes WebbТs GI Bill proposal, and the Senate plans to take up the bill when they do. In the Senate, Republicans are expected to offer their alternative bill, the Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention and Readjustment through Education Act (S.2983), that pays a little less to veterans and includes a Pentagon-requested provision that would allow career service members to transfer all or part of their benefits to family members, but they do not appear to have the votes to block S.22, which has 57 Senate co-sponsors, including 10 Republicans. VeteransТ groups, who have been pushing for years for an overhaul of the current Montgomery GI Bill, have picked WebbТs bill as their favorite. Carl Blake, national legislative director for Paralyzed Veterans of America, told the Senate committee that S.22 is better because it Уaccomplishes our goal of returning the GI Bill to the level established following World War II.Ф Blake also objected to Pentagon criticism that better GI Bill benefits, designed to encourage people to go to college, are bad for the nation. [Source: AirForceTimes Rick Maze articles posted 8 & 9 May 08 ++] TRICARE PREVENTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM: Budgetary rules forced a House subcommittee to take the unprecedented step of creating a new Tricare preventive health care program that does not apply to 1.5 million Medicare-eligible retirees and their families in the Tricare for Life (TFL) program. Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), chairwoman of the House Armed Services military personnel panel, said the plan, approved 7 APR as part of the 2009 defense authorization bill, is aimed at cutting the militaryТs long-term health care costs by providing preventive care. The personnel portion of the defense policy bill, approved by voice vote and with no debate, includes: Х A 3.9 percent military pay raise. Х Increases in Army and Marine Corps active-duty personnel and in Army National Guard and Army Reserve support personnel on full-time active duty. Х A tuition assistance program for military spouses. Х Permission for a Pentagon-proposed experiment under which active-duty members could take a break of up to three years in their military career. Davis said her subcommittee rejected a Pentagon request for a $1.2 billion increase in Tricare health and pharmacy fees but wants to look for other ways to hold down costs, which is why expanding preventive care is attractive. She called the initiative УpreferableФ to the PentagonТs proposed increase in Tricare fees. The preventive care plan would waive co-payments for certain treatments such as vaccinations, smoking cessation help, and breast and colorectal cancer screening. It would apply to Tricare Standard, Tricare Select and Tricare Reserve beneficiaries Ч but, because of budgetary procedures, not TFL. Aides named two areas in which TFL beneficiaries would be treated differently than other Tricare users: shingle vaccinations and MRIs for mammograms. Younger retirees would receive these services for free, but TFL users would have to pay, either directly or by buying supplemental Medicare insurance, aides said. Rep. John McHugh of New York, the subcommitteeТ s ranking Republican, said this would be the first instance of differences in what is covered under Tricare, and also promised to work to try to find funding to offset that action. There are two kinds of spending in the defense budget: discretionary, which applies to personnel, operating and acquisitions costs and construction programs; and mandatory, also known as direct spending, for programs such as retired pay, GI Bill benefits for reservists, and some health care expenses, including TFL. Davis said only congressional leaders can resolve the funding problem because direct spending involves programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and federal civilian retired pay that fall outside the jurisdiction of the armed services committee. Congressional leaders could agree to an offset by cutting other direct spending or could find another way to fund preventive care, subcommittee aides said. Steve Strobridge, government relations director for the Military Officers Association of America, said he understands the dilemma facing the subcommittee and agrees that what they did Уis certainly preferable to not doing anything.Ф УWe have been very supportive of preventive care programs,Ф he said. УIt only makes common sense that if you come up with programs like smoking cessation that it is going to save money in the long run.Ф [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article Posted 7 May 08 ++] VET SUPPORT FROM STATES: May is National Military Appreciation MonthЧa time to honor, appreciate, and remember military personnel and their families for their service to our country. It recognizes those on active duty, the National Guard and Reserves, retirees, veterans and all their families and survivors. Although the listing below is not all inclusive of state benefits available to veterans , it does indicate how many states show appreciation to the military in unique ways: Х Alabama. Operation Grateful Heart is a program to ensure all military personnel and their families receive appropriate recognition, tangible support, and neighborly care. It is focused on assisting those who are called upon to serve in the fight against terrorism and the defense of freedom, while they are serving on active duty and upon their return to communities in Alabama. http://www.governor.state.al.us/ogh/ Х Alaska. Spouses and dependent children of a military member who is deceased or a POW/MIA may qualify for free tuition for the pursuit of an undergraduate degree at any state-supported educational institution within the state. http://www.ak-prepared.com/vetaffairs/state_benefits.htm#Free%20Tuition Х Arizona. Military retirement payments and/or survivor benefits up to $2,500 per year are exempt from state taxes. http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/EN/Benefits/FactSheets/Regional/AZ/ Х Arkansas. Veterans may camp for half price in Arkansas State Parks. Х California. Education benefits are offered to dependents of qualified veterans by waiving mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/california-state-veterans-benefits Х Colorado. Museum of Science and Nature gives free Museum admission to all active and retired military and their spouses, parents, siblings and children (18 and under). Х Connecticut. Tuition waivers for veterans cover 100% of tuition for General Fund courses at all public colleges and universities and 50% for Extension Fund and summer courses at Connecticut State Universities. http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/EN/Benefits/FactSheets/Regional/CT/ Х Delaware. Military members, while stationed in the state, may obtain fishing, hunting, or trapping licenses at the resident rate, regardless of residency status. http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/EN/Benefits/FactSheets/Regional/DE/ Х Florida. Several counties have established Active Military Combat Duty Grant Programs. The grant programs, which include property tax grants and direct grants, are designed to assist service members who are fighting in the Global Wa


THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES == Veterans Benefits Expirations ------------------ (Did you Know?) == MN Disabled Property Tax Exclusion -------- (Up to $300,000) == Veteran's Pensions -------------------------------- (Did you know?) == Long Term Care w/Medicaid --------------------------- (Coverage) == CRSC [38] ------------------------------------------ (Phishing Scam) == Army Combat Action Badge [01] ----- (Retroactive Award Bill) == Mobilized Reserve 28 MAY 08 ----------------- (2927 Decrease) == VA Claim Backlog [15] -------------- (GAO Faults VA Training) == SSA Trust Fund ------------------------------- (In Trouble) == Medicare Trust Fund ----------------------------------- (In Trouble) == Award Modifications ----------------------------- (TIOH Changes) == CRSC under Disability Retirement ---------- (How to Compute) == Legislation of Interest [10] -------- (Houses Passes 10 Vet Bills) == Veterans Tax Relief ----------------------------- (H.R.6081Passes) == GI Bill [23] ------------------------ (Passes Senate 75-22) == VA Commercial Ins Coverage ------------ (National Agreement) == Medicare Drug Use Safety Program -------- (Sentinel Initiative) == VA Emergency Care [02] ------------- (S.2142/H.R.3819 Status) == VA Benefit Rolls ---------------------------------------- (Sep 2007) == SBP SSDI --------------------------------- (Additional $50 Oct 08) == VA Clinic Openings [09] ------------------------------ (H.R 5856) == Iowa Veteran Grant Program --------------- ($500 per Semester) == Tricare Medicaid Coverage ------------- (Tricare Primary Payer) == SSA COLA 2009 ------------------------------- (CPI-W vs. CPI-E) == Economic Stimulus Package [06] --------------- (Filing w/ITINs) == VA Suicide Prevention [04] --------------- (Oversight Authority) == COLA 2009 --------------------------------------------- (3.5% YTD) == Eagle Hammock RV Park ----------------- (MWR Vacation Site) == NDAA 2009 [02] ----------------------- (House passes H.R.5658) == NDAA 2009 [03] ------------- (Anticipated Senate Amendments) == GI Bill [22] ------------------------------ (H.R.2642 Passes House) == VA PTSD Evaluation Criteria ------- (General Rating Formula) == VA PTSD Claim Support ------------------------- (Valor awards) == PTSD Purple Heart [01] ------------------------ (MOPH Opposes) == PTSD [20] ----------------------------------- (VA Diagnosis Policy) == Pennsylvania Vet Bonus [01] ---------- (Applications Available) == Veteran Legislation Status 29 May 08 ------- (Where we Stand) VETERANS BENEFITS EXPIRATIONS: Many of your earned benefits have an expiration date. Below are several of the more important ones to remember. Make sure you know take advantage of your benefits before they expire. - Tuition Assistance: $4,500 a year that expires as soon as you transition from Active Duty. - Montgomery GI Bill for Active-Duty (MGIB): 10 years from date of last discharge or release from active duty. - Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP): 10 years from date of last discharge or release from active duty. - Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR): 14 years from the date of eligibility for the program, or until released from the Selected Reserve or National Guard. Some extensions are available if activated. - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VocRehab): Generally, 12 years after separation from service or within 12 years of being awarded service-connected VA disability compensation. - Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI): Coverage ends 120 days after separation or can be extended up to 1 year for totally disabled veterans. - Combat Vet VA Health Care: 5 years after discharge for non-service connected care. - Combat Vet VA Dental Care: 180 days after discharge for non-service connected care. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 30 May 08 ++] MN DISABLED PROPERTY TAX EXCLUSION: A new program enacted in 2008 will provide honorably discharged disabled Minnesota veterans with some, if not all, of their property taxes forgiven beginning in 2009. Qualifying veterans must have the proper paperwork filed with their county assessor's office. Veterans should start the process early in order to file the necessary official military discharge papers and documents verifying disability status before the 1 JUL 08 deadline. Veterans with 70% disability or higher will have $150,000 excluded from the annual market value of their homestead property. Those with a 100% disability rating will receive$300,000 exclusion. A property must be the homestead of a qualified veteran in order to receive this value exclusion. To qualify, a veteran must have been honorably discharged from the United States armed forces as indicated by United States Government Form DD214 or other official military discharge papers, and must be certified by the United States Veterans Administration as having a service-connected disability. In the case of agricultural homesteads, only the house, garage, and immediately surrounding one acre of land will qualify for the exclusion. If a property qualifies for this market value exclusion, the property does not receive the residential homestead market value credit provided under Minnesota Statute 273.1384, subdivision 1. Applications are available in your county assessorТs office or online at. Х CR-DVHE70 http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/property/forms/cr_dvhe70.pdf Х CR-DVHE100 http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/property/forms/pe12.pdf. Applications must be made by July 1 to qualify for the exclusion on the current yearТs market value for taxes. Mail or take completed application and required attachments to your county assessor. For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs website www.mdva.state.mn.us or telephone Minnesota's Veterans Linkage Line at 1(888)546-5838. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 30 May 08 ++] VETERAN'S PENSIONS: If you are a wartime veteran with a limited income and you are no longer able to work, you may qualify for a Veterans Disability Pension or the Veterans Pension for Veterans 65 or older. Many veterans of wartime service are completely unaware of the fact that if they are 65 or older and on a limited income they may qualify for a VA Pension without being disabled. An estimated 2 million impoverished veterans and their widows are not receiving the VA pension they deserve because they do not know about it. The VA has had limited success in getting the information to them. You may be eligible if you were discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND you served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time. With the advent of the Gulf War on 2 AUG 90 (and still not ended by Congress to this day), veterans can now serve after 2 AUG 90 during a period of war time. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for pension or any other benefit provided they meet the exclusions of 38 CFR 3.12(d). which require you are permanently and totally disabled, or are age 65 or older, AND your countable family income is below a yearly limit set by law. Family Annual Income Limits effective 1 DEC 07 cannot exceed the following: * Veteran with no dependents $11,181 * Veteran with a spouse or a child $14,643 * Veteran married to a veteran $14,643 * Veterans with additional children: add $1,909 to the limit for EACH child * Housebound veteran with no dependents $13,664 * Housebound veteran with one dependent $17,126 * Veteran who needs aid and attendance and you have no dependents $18,654 * Veteran who needs aid and attendance and you have one dependent $22,113 Some income is not counted toward the yearly limit (for example, welfare benefits, some wages earned by dependent children, and Supplemental Security Income). It's also important to note that your medical related expenses are considered when determining your yearly family income. VA pays you the difference between your countable family income and the yearly income limit which describes your situation. This difference is generally paid in 12 equal monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar. You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation Or Pension. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates) and current medical evidence (doctor & hospital reports). You can also apply on line through the VONAPP website http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. For More Information Call 1(800) 827-1000. [Source: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htmMay 08++] LONG TERM CARE w/MEDICAID: If you qualify for Medicaid, a federal and state program that covers medical care for people with low incomes and very little assets, it will pay for nursing home care and other long-term care (LTC) costs that Medicare does not cover. Medicaid may also pay for some LTC services provided at home. Medicaid is the countryТs largest public payer of long-term care services. Most people with long-term care needs spend down their assets until they are eligible for Medicaid coverage. The Medicaid program varies a great deal from state to state, as well as within each state. This is because within broad national guidelines set by the federal government through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), each state can: Х Establish its own eligibility standards; Х Determine the type, amount, duration and scope of services; Х Set the rate of payment for services; and Х Administer its own program. Each state has its own method of determining eligibility depending on your age, family size, medical condition and financial situation. Generally, to be eligible for Medicaid, your monthly income must be less than $867 in 2008* ($1,020 for couples). You also must have little or no assets (savings and investments). If you have high medical expenses, you may still qualify for Medicaid if your income is more than $867 in 2008* ($1,020 for couples). Income levels are based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which goes up every year in February or March. For a list by state of Medicaid descriptions and plans refer to http://64.82.65.67/medicaid/states.html For a list of Medicaid benefits by state refer to http://www.kff.org/medicaid/benefits/state_main.jsp. [Source: Medicare Rights Center www.medicareinteractive.org May 08 ++] CRSC UPDATE 38: A phishing scam has been sent to families of fallen Soldiers. As part of the scam, the proponents request personal information, such as SSN, DOB, addresses, etc., and are instructed to come to either visit the Army Human Resources Command Offices in Alexandria, VA, or email the information to an overseas Yahoo account. Like most scams, the grammar is poor, it is not on official letterhead, nor does it come from a valid Army e-mail account. CRSC will never ask for personally identifiable information to be sent over e-mail due to security concerns. CRSC will never promise payment or award of any kind. CRSC is not eligible for SBP. An example of phishing letter follows: Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE Supplemental Guidance for Benefit Pay off Section 644, P.L.108-375, Administration Letter (BAL) #98-109, US Army Survivor Benefit Plan). 21 May 2008 Attn: Dear Mr. Mark, We believe you are the next of kin of a deceased officer who died in service in that you bear the same name and last known geographical area of same person. We wish to duly compensate the family by paying the deceased officers benefits and financial entitlements to them. So many deceased officers have the same problem of difficulty in locating their kin but we are doing the best we can. We have gone as far as Asia, Central and southern Africa, Europe, Australia and the Americas in search for next of kin of deceased officers. So the benefits entitled to you amounts to $12,859,555.23 and you can receive it in one week. Our search attorney Mr. Louis Manches undertaking Group B16 search (AMERICA ,EUROPE & AFRICA SEARCH GROUP) found & located you. We need you to come to our office at: U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Army Physical Disability Agency (CRSC), 200 Stovall Street Alexandria , VA 22332-0470 With photocopies of the following documents. (As the originals will not be returnable.) 1. Letter of Introduction or ID of next of kin (In which case you) 2. Sworn affidavit of next of kin. 3. You are also required to complete the forms below. A. FORM DD 2860, CLAIM FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION (CRSC) B. FORM DD 2656-7, VERIFICATION FOR SURVIVOR ANNUITY You can download these forms from our US Army Human Resources Command website using the URL (FOR DD FORM 2860) (web links deleted) Or Defense Technical Information website using this URL (FOR DD FORM 2656-7) (web links deleted) To make it simpler for you, if you cant come to our offices yourself to submit these documents due to ill health or whatever you can appeal to your search attorney to file these documents on your behalf. The search attornies are legal practitioners contracted by the United States Army to help locate next of kins who are in various countries of the world. Your name fell among Group 16 Search which complises of beneficiaries from EUROPE,AMERICA & ASIA. The search attorney responsible for this areas is Barrister Louis Manches. It is the search attorney who shortlisted your name for payment. You are therefore advised to contact him if you have difficulty in completing the forms as well as providing the necessary documents. We understand the problems you could face in getting these documents owing to the fact that it has taken a long time when the officer died. You can write your search attorney for clarifications through the following email (e-mail address deleted by S1NET) If you also have problems filling all these forms , just fill out and return by email the short version attached below. Your search attorney will fill the rest of the forms on your behalf but of course you will contact him and negotiate this service with your search attorney. We expect to hear from you soon. H.S. Park Defense Finance and Accounting Service, US Army Human Resources. [Source: USDR Action Alert 29 May 08 ++] ARMY COMBAT ACTION BADGE UPDATE 01: In 2005, the Department of the Army authorized the creation of the Combat Action Badge to recognize U.S. soldiers who engage the enemy in battle. This badge applies to men and women in our armed forces who might not qualify for awards such as the Combat Infantry or Combat Medical Badge, which are limited to those individuals serving with infantry or medical units. There is no doubt that the Combat Action Badge is a great idea; in Iraq and Afghanistan we are seeing soldiers from every military occupational specialty distinguish themselves in battle. However, the Army's current policy limits eligibility to only those individuals who meet its criteria after 18 SEP 01. While the Combat Action Badge recognizes those who have served their country bravely in the 21st century, it overlooks the thousands of veterans who made similar sacrifices in previous wars. To rectify this injustice Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL-05) introduced H.R.2267 on 10 MAY 07 to retroactively award the Army Combat Action Badge to those members of the U.S. Army who were engaged by the enemy from 7 DEC 41 to the present day. The bill was then referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. This bill currently has only 27 cosponsors and will die in committee unless veterans take action to move it to the house floor. Those who would like to see the award of this badge to those who meet its criteria prior to 18 SEP 01 are encouraged to contact their legislators and request they support this bill. [Source: The American Legion Online Update 29 May 08 ++] MOBILIZED RESERVE 28 MAY 08: The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 23APR 08 in support of the partial mobilization. The net collective result is 2,927 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the Bulletin for 23 APR 08. 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 active duty in support of the partial mobilization of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 77,007; Navy Reserve, 4,543; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 8,135; Marine Corps Reserve, 9,704; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 341. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been mobilized to 99,730, 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://preview.defenselink.mil/news/May2008/d20080528ngr.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release 456-08 28 May 08 ++] VA CLAIM BACKLOG UPDATE 15: In fiscal 2007, VA employed 4,900 staff to handle disability compensation claims, a 40% increase between fiscal 2000 and 2006. Still, in 2007, VA had a backlog of 392,000 claims with an average waiting time of more than four months. This year, VA plans to add 3,100 new claims-processing employees. Although the Veterans Affairs Department has added thousands of staff to help process disability claims, a new study finds those new employees face no consequences if they donТt attend mandatory training. And because the caseload is so heavy, instructors arenТt always available to provide on-the-job training for new employees. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report released 26 MAY that the VBA Уis taking steps to strategically plan its training, but does not adequately evaluate its training and may be falling short in some areas of training design and implementationФ. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on VeteransТ Affairs, asked GAO to find out what training is provided and whether it is uniform; how well it is implemented and evaluated; and how it compares with performance management practices in the private sector. The questions came after veterans testified that the disability compensation system is Byzantine in complexity, and that it takes months Ч sometimes years Ч to make it through the process. From SEP 07 to MAY 08, GAO looked at four VBA regional offices, in Atlanta; Baltimore; Milwaukee; and Portland OR. VA officials said it takes at least two years to properly train disability claims employees, and they must complete 80 hours of training a year. New employees have three weeks of intense classroom training before they begin several months of on-the-job training at their home offices. But Уbecause the agency has no policy outlining consequences for individual staff who do not complete their 80 hours of training per year, individual staff are not held accountable for meeting their annual training requirement,Ф the GAO found. УAnd, at present, VBA central office lacks the ability to track training completed by individual staff members.Ф In 2007, VBA conducted 67 centralized training sessions for 1,458 new claims processors, compared with 27 sessions for 678 new employees in 2006.nVBAТs online training tool, the Training and Performance Support System, was found to be out of date, too theoretical, and lacking in real-life examples. Employees at one office did not know what the system was. GAO also found that more experienced staff members felt training was not helpful because it was redundant or was not specific to the work they do, and some said the training is adapted directly from training for new employees. They also said they did not have time to spend 80 hours a year in training because their caseloads are too heavy. УA number of staff from one regional office noted that instructors were unable to spend time teaching because of their heavy workloads and because instructorsТ training preparation hours do not count toward the 80-hour training requirement,Ф the GAO said. УStaff at another regional office told us that, due to workload pressures, staff may rush through training and may not get as much out of it as they should.Ф GAO found VBAТs performance management conforms to accepted practices in the private sector, except that almost all employees fell into two standards: УoutstandingФ or Уfully successful.Ф GAO auditors said that does not provide constructive feedback to employees, and is not a good way for managers to evaluate staffs. GAO recommended that VBA collect feedback on training from regional offices to see if 80 hours is the right amount for all staff, to see if training is relevant and to see if the online training tool needs to be improved. The report also recommended that VBA hold individual staff members accountable if they do not receive their annual training, and that the performance rating system be adjusted. VA said such changes are already in the works. Officials also are working on an automated system to track which employees have attended training and how much they received. VA Secretary James Peake wrote in response to the report. УVA will closely monitor and evaluate the success of our efforts to enhance claims processor performance.Ф Peake said that VA has an Уactive program for training evaluation driven by the administrationТs prioritiesФ; that the 80-hour requirement is evaluated annually; that VA officials will evaluate the training through its regional offices; that supervisors will evaluate training at the individual level; and that they have already evaluated the on-line learning tool and have made recommendations for improvement. VA also plans to establish training specific to certain jobs, and to provide standardized training progress reports. [Source: Air Force Times Kelly Kennedy article Posted 28 MAY 0-8 ++] SSA TRUST FUND: There actually is a Social Security Trust Fund Ч of sorts. It lays nestled in the bottom drawer of an unremarkable filing cabinet in a government office building in West Virginia. ItТs kept in a pair of loose-leaf notebooks holding plastic page covers, and each page resents a bond worth billions, according to a 2005 story from The Associated Press (AP). Today, the total УassetsФ in the Social Security Trust Fund are worth more than $2.2 trillion. The paper is Уsymbolic,Ф a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Public Debt says. According to AP, in 1994 Congress anticipated the current debate about Social SecurityТs solvency and whether the Trust Funds held anything more than I.O.U.s. Congress passed legislation requiring the Treasury to create a physical document Уrather than an accounting entry.Ф Andy Jacobs, the former Indiana Congressman responsible for the law, said he wanted to rebut the Уdisingenuous assertionsФ that there was no trust fund, even though there was, in fact, no vault stuffed with cash to pay benefits. In 2008 it was projected that the Social Security Trust Fund cash surplus excluding interest will be $79 billion reflecting a growing downward trend as baby boomers enter the programs. This does not take into consideration cost associated with CongressТs recent attempts to add illegal immigrants to the program. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) neither the Medicare Trust Fund nor the Social Security Retirement and Disability Trust Funds operate like a УTrust FundФ as the average person would understand it. Instead of setting the money aside and protecting it in a special account, both the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds exist only on paper as an accounting mechanism. Government accounting is hiding serious financing problems, making the trust funds appear to have more cash coming in than they actually do. The majority of Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Social Security costs are presently financed by the payroll taxes that workers pay and taxes that seniors pay on a portion of their Social Security benefits. When one of the trust funds receives more from these sources than it needs to pay benefits, the U.S. Treasury issues a government bond to the Trust fund and borrows the cash from the surplus to pay for other government expenses. The bonds earn interest, but are very different from the bonds sold to the public that can be redeemed for cash. The bonds placed in the trust funds are non-marketable, representing only an УI.O.U.Ф from the Treasury. A big problem is that in recent years the so-called УinterestФ earned by the bonds in the government trust funds has become a growing source of funding for both programs, at least on the governmentТs books. But the interest funding, like the trust funds, exists only on paper and does not represent any real cash resources to pay benefits. GAO says for the trust funds to be paid, the Treasury will need to provide cash from general revenues in exchange for those trust fund securities and interest I.O.U. bonds. Such use of general revenue for Social Security would represent a major policy shift in how the government pays for expenditures. In the past Congress for the most part has rejected general revenue financing for Social Security. The GAO says payments to the trust funds in the future, should only come through Уincreased revenue, increased borrowing, and reduced spending (benefit cuts) or some combination.Ф The current state of denial is leading to a day of reckoning that could have serious long-term financial repercussions for both todayТs and tomorrowТs retirees. The Social Security Trustees further estimate that the program costs will begin to exceed cash revenues in 2017, or about nine years from now. According to the former U.S. Comptroller General, David Walker, the new president and Congress will have about 5 years to make changes, before we run out of cash revenues to pay full Social Security benefits. The Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is in trouble today. The Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box ActФ (H.R. 4338) that was recently introduced in the House by Representative Timothy Walberg (MI) and (S. 302) in the Senate by Senator David Vitter (LA) would establish new procedures to safeguard extra Social Security and Medicare taxes. Congress would be prevented from dipping into the Trust Fund surpluses to pay for other wasteful or pet projects. Instead the extra Social Security taxes would be Уlocked awayФ to pay future Social Security benefits [Source: TSCL, The Budget And Economic Outlook, CBO, Jan 08,. Social Security & Medicare Trustees Reports 23 Apr 07, and Social Security Reform GAO-07-213 Mar 07 ++] MEDICARE TRUST FUND: When a government trust fund no longer has enough cash revenues to pay benefits in full, the Treasury must provide cash from general revenues to pay the interest and redeem the bonds held by the trust fund. But, first, lawmakers must agree on where the money will come from to do that. They can increase taxes, increase borrowing, curt benefits, or cut spending such as COLAs. Historically, seniors have paid their share in higher out-of-pocket costs. The Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) Trust Fund last ran low on cash in the late 1990Тs. By 1997 Congress passed the most massive cuts to Medicare in the history of the program Ч $116 billion ($153 billion in todayТs dollars) over five years. In addition to cutting payments to hospitals, a provision of the 1997 law moved certain costs that were originally paid under Part A to Part B. While most seniors do not pay a premium for Part A, they do pay a hefty one for Part B. Thus the transfer of costs was one of several factors contributing to the astronomical growth in Medicare Part B premiums, which grew from $43.80 in 1998, to $96.40 in 2008 (120%). Now the Medicare Part A Trust Fund is in trouble all over again. Earlier this year, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund ended 2007 with a $17 billion surplus, and would end 2008 with a $16 billion surplus. But if the government only counts the real cash revenues (excluding government bonds on interest earned), according to the 2008 Medicare and Social Security Trustees reports the Part A Trust Fund ended 2007 about $500 million in the red, and is projected to end 2008 with a $10 billion deficit. President Bush has proposed $178 billion in cuts over the next five years, which, if passed, would exceed the cuts in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. The Senior CitizenТs League (TSCL) is highly concerned and recently submitted a statement to a hearing on The PresidentТs Fiscal Year 2009 Budget to the House Ways and Means Committee supporting the passage of УThe Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act,Ф in addition to recommending that the government do a better job of reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. Because the new President and Congress will surely be tasked with fixing MedicareТs financing, TSCL also urges seniors to carefully examine the records of candidates, and make sure your voter registration is up-to-date to be ready for the upcoming elections. [Source: Social Security and Medicare Advisor, Vol. 13, No. 5 dtd 27 May 08 ++] AWARD MODIFICATIONS: The Department of Defense announced today that The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) will remove the word "medal" from four campaign and service medals in order to align their designs with heraldic protocols. The word "medal" will be removed from the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal. In addition, TIOH will resize eight campaign and service medals that were initially designed one-eighth of an inch larger in diameter than required by specification. The larger medals will be gradually replaced over the next several years as current stock levels are depleted. These medals will not be made obsolete and will remain authorized decorations. In addition, the applicable miniature medals will also be re-sized from eleven-sixteenths of an inch diameter to five-eighths of an inch. The medals being resized are the: Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Historically, campaign and service medal pendants are 1 1/4 inches in diameter; the only exceptions are the two victory medals commemorating the end of World War I and World War II; these medals were designed at 1 13/32 inches in diameter in order to enhance their heraldic stature given the magnitude of the two world wars. Questions may be directed to Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000. [Source: DoD News Release 444-08 dtd 23 May 08 ++] CRSC UNDER DISABILITY RETIREMENT: For disabled Chapter 61 retirees who retired under a disability retirement law who are eligible for CRSC entitlement, an offset is calculated before CRSC entitlement is calculated. To determine the amount of offset subtract your DoD monthly retirement pay calculated based on years of service prior to retirement from the VA disability retirement monthly payment for the CSRS percentage assigned. Retirement computations vary according to each individual's retirement date, retirement age, and years in service. The figures in the following example are only to explain the calculation method. Х Disability Retirement Monthly Payment = $2000.00 Х Monthly Retirement Pay calculated based on years of service = $1500 Х Difference between two retirement methods (i.e. Offset) = $500 Example CRSC entitlement amounts for approved Combat Related combined disability percentages less the $500.00 example offset amount using CRSC entitlements at the Vet only rates would be: 10% $ 117.00- $500.00 = $0.00 CRSC entitlement due 20% $ 230.00- $500.00 = $0.00 CRSC entitlement due 30% $ 356.00- $500.00 = $0.00 CRSC entitlement due 40% $ 512.00- $500.00 = $12.00 CRSC entitlement due 50% $ 721.00- $500.00 = $228.00 CRSC entitlement due 60% $ 117.00- $500.00 = $421.00 CRSC entitlement due 70% $1161.00- $500.00 = $661.00 CRSC entitlement due 80% $1349.00- $500.00 = $849.00 CRSC entitlement due 90% $1517.00- $500.00 = $1017.00 CRSC entitlement due 100% $2527.00- $500.00 = $1500.00 CRSC entitlement due * * (Note: Any entitlement due cannot exceed the retired pay amount computed based on years of service) [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 23 May 08 ++] LEGISLATION of INTEREST UPDATE 10: As Memorial Day approached, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the following 10 bipartisan measures on 21 MAY to improve benefits and services for veterans. Х H.R.2790, as amended, which passed by voice vote, will establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Х H.R.3681, as amended, the Veterans' Benefits Awareness Act of 2007, which passed by voice vote, will authorize VA to purchase advertising in national media to promote awareness of veterans' benefits. Х H.R.3889, as amended, which passed by voice vote, will require a longitudinal study of VA vocational rehabilitation programs. Х H.R. 5554, as amended, the Justin Bailey Veterans' Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008, which passed by a voice vote, will expand and improve VA health care services for substance use disorders. Х H.R. 5664, as amended, which passed by voice vote, will direct VA to update, at least once every six years, plans and specifications for its specially adapted housing program. Х H.R. 5729, as amended, the Spina Bifida Health Care Program Expansion Act, which passed by voice vote, will direct VA to provide comprehensive health care to certain Vietnam veterans' children born with spina bifida. Х H.R. 6048, which passed by a voice vote, will amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents deployed in support of a contingency operation. Additionally the House unanimously approved the following three bipartisan measures to improve benefits and services for veterans. Х H.R. 3819, the Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2007, which passed the House by a vote of 412-0, will require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse veterans receiving emergency treatment in non-VA facilities for such treatment until transfer to a VA facility is possible. Х H.R. 5826, The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008, which passed the House by a vote of 417-0, will increase effective December 1, 2008, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. Х H.R. 5856, the VA Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008, which passed the House by a vote of 416-0, will authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases for VA in fiscal year 2009, and will authorize approximately $2.2 billion over the next five years to improve access to healthcare for our nation's veterans. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 23 May 08 ++] VETERANS TAX RELIEF: The House and Senate passed H.R.6081, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act of 2008 which will provide more than $1.2 billion dollars in tax rel