GATES: NO TRICARE HIKE IN 2011 BUDGET REQUEST

By Donna Miles/American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2010 - Tricare recipients will see no increase in their premiums next year, if Congress approves that provision of the fiscal 2011 defense budget request, as expected.

However, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters yesterday he wants to work with Congress to find ways to help control escalating military health-care costs that are consuming an ever-increasing chunk of the budget.

Noting the skyrocketing costs of the military health-care system – from $19 billion in 2001 to $50.7 billion in the fiscal 2011 budget request — Gates questioned during yesterday’s Pentagon briefing how sustainable the program can remain without cost controls or higher premiums. continue reading

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TRICARE INPATIENT COSTS INCREASE FOR FISCAL 2010

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFRNS) — Every year the costs for Tricare-covered inpatient services are reviewed and are subject to change.

For the coming fiscal 2010, which runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2010, there is an increase for some out-of-pocket costs paid by Tricare Standard beneficiaries at civilian hospitals for inpatient care and inpatient behavioral health services.

The daily cost share for retirees, their families and other eligible beneficiaries using Tricare Standard for inpatient admissions at civilian hospitals has increased from $535 to $645 per day or 25 percent of the total charge, whichever is less. Additionally, these beneficiaries pay 25 percent of the Tricare-allowable charge for separately billed professional services.

The out-of-pocket costs for retirees, their families and other eligible beneficiaries for inpatient behavioral health services at low-volume civilian hospitals has increased from $193 to $197 per day or 25 percent of the billed charge, whichever is less.

For additional information about copayments and cost-shares for Tricare-covered services, visit the Tricare Web site at www.tricare.mil/costs.

Courtesy of TRICARE

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FIRST IN DOD, PRESCRIPTION ATM EASES PATIENTS’ WAIT TIME

Monday, July 06, 2009 The 61st Medical Group recently introduced a prescription dispensing machine during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Los Angeles Air Force Base exchange, June 13. The ScriptCenter Express Prescription Refill and Pickup Center is the first of its kind in Los Angeles County, the Air Force, and the Department of Defense.

Officials attending included Col. Anita Latin, 61st Air Base Wing commander; Col. Brian Deckert, 61st Medical Group commander; and leaders from neighboring communities. Chief executive officer from the Asteres Corp., provider of the ScriptCenter machine, Mark Debruin, was also present during the ceremony.

Located in the lobby of the base exchange building, the machine in a remote location is also a first in the nation. continue reading

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MARINES SERVING ON OR BEFORE 1987 SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION February 27, 2009

In the early 1980’s, two solvents, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), both unregulated at the time, were found in two water systems serving the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point areas.

Certain drinking water wells were identified as the source of the chemicals and were taken out of service in 1984 and 1985.

If you lived or worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in 1987 or before, then please register with the Marine Corps by visiting https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/clwater/ or by calling the Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water Call Center at 877-261-9782, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. continue reading

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MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES 2010

One-third of primary care physicians say that they will reduce or eliminate care for Medicare patients if the federal government moves ahead with plans to cut reimbursements. Many physicians responding to a recent survey reported that the payments they receive from public health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are insufficient and are impeding their ability to treat the growing number of people who are enrolled in them. A further reduction in Medicare’s physician reimbursement, slated to take place 1 JAN 10, will be untenable, respondents maintained. The likely impact of planned Medicare fee cuts was among the findings in a nationwide survey sponsored by the Physicians’ Foundation, a nonprofit organization that gives grants “to advance the work of practicing physicians and to improve the quality of health care for all Americans.” Its members are medical societies and physicians. The survey, which was conducted in the first half of 2008, was sent to about 320,000 family physicians, general internists, pediatricians, and obstetrician/gynecologists in “active practice” listed in the AMA Physician Masterfile. About 11,950 physicians responded. continue reading

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SENATOR LIEBERMAN RESPONDS TO RUMORS

TRICARE USER FEE Update 33: Following is a letter sent by Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman to a member of FRA Branch 20 in Groton CT in response to his query on the rumored Tricare For Life budget cuts. It is self explanatory and should be widely disseminated in the military community:

February 19, 2009

Dear Mr. Serabian:

Thank you for contacting me regarding rumored cuts in benefit programs for military retirees, including TRICARE for Life. Currently, a wealth of false and misleading information is being distributed on this matter; and I welcome the opportunity to explain the source of the confusion.

I am aware of several chain emails, online discussion boards, blogs, and even articles in well-intentioned veterans’ publications that imply that President Obama and Congress plan on eliminating TRICARE for Life. The insinuations put forth by these sources are false. continue reading

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TASK FORCE URGES LARGE INCREASES IN BOTH UNDER 65 AND TFL

The DEC 07 report of the Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care got a lot of attention by urging large increases in fees for military retirees under 65 and an enrollment fee for Tricare For Life, among many other proposals. For the last year, those recommendations have been under review by a special committee appointed by the Secretary of Defense. Now that committee has issued its “recommendations on the recommendations.” The good news is that the Pentagon panel didn’t propose fee hikes as severe as those urged by the Task Force, and it didn’t support the proposal for a TFL enrollment fee. The bad news is that it still recommended significant fee hikes for retirees under 65, and proposed means-testing those fees based on total family income. Here are some selected specifics: continue reading

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ASSESSING THE QRMC HEALTH CARE PLAN By Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret. 11-09-2008

The new report of the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) proposes a number of changes in military pay and benefits. Under the law, DoD must conduct a QRMC every four years.

MOAA has addressed concerns in the past regarding the QRMC¹s proposed changes in the military retirement system (see the Aug. 12, 2008, As I See It, “Purposes and Pitfalls of Retirement Reform”).

Now let¹s take a look at the QRMC health care recommendations. continue reading

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