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Retired Activities Office Bulletins

The following bulletins are furnished to ANA as important information to retirees by LT EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) who is the Retired Activities Director in Baguio, P.I. and are used with his permission.  If you have questions about the articles, please direct them to the cited reference in the bulletin and NOT to ANA or LT Tichacek.

15 April 2005
CRDP Update 33  (100% disability w/ IU)
GI Bill of Rights  (21st Century Upgrade proposed)
Veterans' Preference Update 01  (Revised application form)
Medicare Update 02  (Premium rise of 10% projected)
BRAC 2005 Update 06  (Rumsfeld lowers estimate)
VA Budget 2005 Update 01  (Additional funds shot down in Senate)
VA Claim Processing Goals  (Increased to 125 days)
ID Cards for Age 75+  (Expiration date eliminated)
Identity Theft Update 06  (Pishing)
VA Mustard Agent Outreach  (Looking for exposed vets)
Tricare Sitrep 01  (Physician/facility availability diminishing)
Veteran Disability Claim Help  (VSOs vary in training and oversight)
Vet Cemetery Pennsylvania  (Opening mid-2005)
Tricare Behavioral Health Care  (Access easy and convenient)
DIC Facts 2004  (How program is working)
VA My Health eVet Web Site  (Site improvements to assist Vets)

CRDP Update 33:  The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense has responded to a letter sent by TREA National President LeRoy Riddle requesting status and DoD's policy on the 100% Disability compensation IU issue. The response signed by the Director of Compensation noted the new law was explicit in establishing eligibility for the acceleration of benefits as those compensated by the VA for a disability rated as 100%. However, those who are paid under the Individual Unemployability (IU) provisions are compensated at the 100% rate for a disability rated less than%. Thus, they would appear to have been excluded from this acceleration of benefits. Furthermore, there was no explicit statutory language or expression of clear legislative intent to cover these individuals. Nonetheless, since the VA pays these retirees at the same level as those who are actually rated 100% disabled, DoD has been pursuing within the Administration whether or not those with an IU rating might qualify. Most recently, the General Counsel of the Department of Defense was asked to carefully review this provision of law. The review is underway at this time and should those with an IU rating be found to qualify, they will be paid retroactively to 1 JAN 05.
     On April 14th, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced Senate Amendment 361 to the Defense Emergency Appropriations Act (HR 1268) which expresses the intent of Congress that those who are receiving 100% Disability from the VA by virtue of being Unemployable, should be treated the same as those who are rated at 100% by the VA. The text of the Amendment read, "It is the sense of the Senate that any veteran with a service-connected disability rated as total by virtue of having been deemed unemployable who otherwise qualifies for treatment as a qualified retiree for purposes of section 1414 of title 10, United States Code, should be entitled to treatment as qualified retiree receiving veterans disability compensation for a disability rated as 100% for purposes of the final clause of subsection (a)(1) of such section, as amended by section 642 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375; 118 Stat. 1957), and thus entitled to payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation under such section 1414 commencing as of January 1, 2005." The Amendment was agreed to by the Senate by voice vote. Those concerned should note that this is non-binding, non-legislative language aimed at prodding DoD to make a positive decision on this issue, using authority in current law. If that doesn't happen promptly, Reid staffers indicated that the senator intends to seek legislative action in the Defense Authorization Act next month. [Source: Office of The Under Secretary of Defense Personnel and Readiness ltd dtd 22 MAR & NAUS Leg Up 15 Apr 05]

GI Bill of Rights:  Democrats have announced a new proposal to update and improve the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) invited all members to join in to assure that current military members are given equivalent opportunities and benefits that WWII veterans received from the original GI Bill. Some of the improvements would include:

  * Improve veterans health care to include mental health
  * Block increase in prescription drug co-payments and enrollment fees.
  * End Disabled Veterans Tax. (Concurrent Receipt)
  * Reduce disability claim waiting times.
  * End Military Families Tax. (SBP/DIC Offset)
  * Increase Survivor Benefits for families with minor children.
  * $1000 bonus for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  * Improve military pay for senior enlisted and warrant officers.
  * Modernize and enhance the GI Bill Education and Job Training Programs.
  * Expand TRICARE for National Guard and Reservists.

There are many other points, but if these listed here were included in any legislation, veterans, and survivors would have a good start in improving and rebuilding their lives. Legislation had not been introduced for the new "GI Bill of Rights" but, separate bills already address a number of the initiatives including SBP-DIC (S.185, H.R. 808) and TRICARE for all of the Guard and Reserve (S.337, S.32, H.R. 558).
[Source: NAUS & MOAA Leg Up 15 Apr 05]

Veterans' Preference Update 01:  On 29 MAR 05 the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced plans to revise the application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference. OPM Acting Director Dan G. Blair said the agency is striving to improve and standardize preferences and make them available to more veterans. The agency is overhauling Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference Standard Form 15 and putting it on the OPM Web site, where applications can be submitted. The online form is used by individual agencies and OPM officials to decide on veterans' preference claims. Veterans Preference, which became law in 1944, awards veterans special consideration in hiring, promotion and reduction in force proceedings. Veterans who apply for federal jobs are automatically given an advantage over equally qualified nonveterans. A federal manager is not permitted to hire a nonveteran over an equally qualified veteran without sufficiently explaining the decision to OPM. In 1998, President Clinton signed a law allowing managers who do not follow the veterans' preference regulations to be fired. According to an OPM release, the application form has been revised to be consistent with the policy of the Veterans Affairs Department - specifically allowing official letters issued in 1991 or later as proof of a permanent disability. Previously, applicants were required to provide disability letters dated within 12 months of the time the veteran was claiming preference. OPM also said it has eliminated outdated references - to nonexistent forms or manuals - from the application. In addition, the agency announced that it is initiating the second phase of its Veterans' Invitational Program which features seminars by OPM recruiters and hiring specialists, discussions on the fine points of veterans' preference and workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, and online job searching. Representatives from the agency are scheduled to visit military bases in North Carolina, Washington D.C., Virginia and Texas. Form SF15 can be downloaded at  http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf  Detailed information on Federal Veterans Preference is available at  http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp  [Source:  http://GOVEXEC.com  David McGlinchey article 31 MAR 05]

Medicare Update 02:  Statements made by agency officials on 31 MAR 05 indicate Medicare plans to charge seniors 14% more for premiums next year and pay doctors about 4% less. The adjustments are meant to cope with unexpected increases in Medicare's spending on physician visits and outpatient care. Medicare chief actuary Richard Foster noted that outlays grew by 15% in 2004, not the 12% that had been projected. Medicare's payments to doctors are figured annually and based on four factors: medical inflation, enrollee growth, payment changes created by new laws or regulations, and projected annual growth in the gross domestic product. The March 05 Medicare Trustees report projected physician payment cuts totaling 26% from 2006 through 2011. A 2003 survey by the American Society of Family Physicians found that more than one in five family doctors no longer accepted new Medicare patients. According to Medicare administrator Mark McClellan the 15% increase in cost of doctor visits and outpatient care in 2004 was driven mainly by: longer and more intensive doctor consultations; increases in minor medical procedures; more use of complex imaging tests like MRI scans and more laboratory tests and testing. McClellan said both adjustments are preliminary and could worsen as more detailed spending data becomes available. Congress could intervene to modify the payments to doctors and is likely to be asked to do so. The 2004 Medicare Modernization Act eliminated a 4.3% cut and replaced it with modest increases of 1.5% in 2004 and 2005. Medicare's Part B monthly beneficiary premiums for doctor visits and outpatient care will rise from $78.20 to $89.20 per month under the revised plan. The proposed increase comes on the heels of a 17% premium hike that was effective in 2005. In response to the announced proposals AARP commented that double-digit increases in Medicare premiums are eroding much of the annual 2 to 3% increase in Social Security payments for seniors. [Source: Miami Herald Tony Pugh article 1 APR 05]

BRAC 2005 Update 06:  Previous reports estimated that the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission would need to eliminate approximately 25% of existing base infrastructure, but Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has issued a statement saying that the amount of surplus space may be less than previously predicted. Rumsfeld now believes the cuts will be "less than the lower end" of the previously announced 20% to 25% range because so many forces are being reassigned from overseas bases. Anthony Principi, former Secretary of the VA, has been confirmed to chair the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission, and President Bush has nominated eight others to determine how best to eliminate surplus facilities. This will be the fifth round of base closures since 1988 and is expected to save $7 billion annually once the process is complete. [Source: FRA News-Bytes 31 MAR 05]

VA Budget 2005 Update 01:  Senate Republicans on 12 APR successfully struck down a Democrat-backed proposal to add $2 billion to the fiscal 2005 supplemental spending bill to manage a predicted surge in veterans' health care. The amendment, offered by Patty Murray of Washington and cosponsored by 14 other Democrats, failed on a 46-54 floor vote. The amendment would have allotted $610 million to specifically address the needs of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and $525 million to expand mental health care for veterans. The extra money was needed to ease problems in the health care system managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including long lines and deteriorating facilities. In a letter to senators in support of Murray's amendment, the American Federation of Government Employees said 11 APR that several VA facilities are "short-staffed, denying veterans medical care, unable to hire hospital staff and cannot replace broken or antiquated equipment because of 2005 budget shortfalls and inadequate funds to meet demand for care. The union represents some 600,000 federal employees, including 150,000 workers at the VA. But Republicans blasted the proposal as unnecessary, citing a 5 APR letter from VA Secretary Jim Nicholson that said the VA had all the money it needed to get through 30 SEP 05. The Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Hutchison asserted that VA has enough money but needs to better manage it and Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss objected to Murray's amendment, raising two separate points of order against it which were upheld by he floor vote. [Source: CQ Today article 13 APR 05]

VA Claim Processing Goals:  One of VA's critical measures on performance is the time necessary to decide an initial claim for disability benefits. At one time in the mid-1990s, it had a long-term goal to process claims in 60 days. It later increased that to 74 days, and then to 90 days. Average processing time instead ballooned to 223 days by 2002 before coming down slightly. Last spring, the VA told Congress it was "on track" to reach a processing time of 100 days by the end of 2004. It did not reach that target. Today, the actual time stands at 165 days. The agency recently changed its long-term goal again to 125 days. VA said the increased goal is due to changes in the law and the nature of claims currently being received. [Source: Knight Ridder Newspapers article by Chris Adams/Alison Young 3 MAR 05]

ID Cards for Age 75+:  Military retirees already receive ID cards with no expiration dates; but, renewing ID cards upon expiration has been a continuing requirement for family members. Congress passed legislation with the FY 2005 Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to authorize the Services to issue ID cards without an established expiration date to those dependents and survivors of military retirees who are 75 years of age. Those to which this applies should note, however, that although the law is in place, the capability to issue the indefinite card to the eligible population is being worked into the next software release which is not expected until summer 2005. Until the capability to issue the indefinite cards is brought on line, these individuals must continue to renew their ID cards upon expiration by visiting an issuing facility or by the mail-in renewal process if they qualify to use it. In the past, many Medicare-eligible family members simply let their ID cards expire if they were not near an installation to use the shopping privileges. But since enactment of TRICARE for Life and TRICARE Senior Pharmacy coverage several years ago, older family members who have Medicare A & B now have a medical benefit and must have a current ID card to use the benefits. Older retirees should check with their local ID card issuing facility or look for an update in the Air Force Retiree News Service concerning the status of the issuance capability for the over 75 ID card population. [Source: Air Force Retiree News 12 JAN 05]

Identity Theft Update 06:  "Phishing" is an Internet e-mail scam that tricks individuals into revealing personal information, including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and passwords. Recently, our in boxes have been filled with notices from alleged financial institutions. They request recipients with urgent messages directing them to web sites where there are asked to enter their account number. They want to verify information so that you, as one of their customers, will not be ripped off by some crook who has been trying to access your account. The letters look so legitimate and read so well one might be tempted to do what they ask. That is, if one wasn't aware of such scams and if one happened to have an account with that bank. An FBI official was quoted recently that a phisher might send out 100,000 e-mail messages and only get 25 or fewer bites, but that's enough to make money. Multiply the 100,000 by 10 times, which is not uncommon for a single scammer, and it adds up to a considerable number of bites. If you really think it sounds okay, and you really do want to nibble on the bait, check with the financial institution's web site. Do not go to the site as it is listed in the E-mail message because, if it is a scam, it will have an address that looks legitimate, but will have an embedded address directing the flow of the search. Go to one of the search engines such as Google or Yahoo and type in the financial institution in question. That financial institution will normally be aware of these scams and have warning messages with a lot of good and legitimate suggestions about how not to get ripped off. [Source: Air Force Retiree News 17 MAR 05]

VA Mustard Agent Outreach:  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on 17 MAR 05 a national outreach campaign to locate veterans who were exposed to mustard gas or the chemical weapon Lewisite during their service. Most of these veterans participated in the Department of Defense (DoD) chemical testing programs during World War II. The tests were designed to evaluate clothing, ointments and equipment that would protect American troops from mustard agent attacks. They were exposed to mustard agents, which includes sulfur mustard and nitrogen mustard, and Lewisite, which is a blister-producing chemical that contains organic arsenic. As part of those tests some participants were exposed to a drop of a chemical-warfare agent on an arm, while others had full-body exposure in test chambers, sometimes with limited protective clothing. Approximately 4,500 service members were exposed to these agents. VA launched an awareness campaign in 1993 about benefits for veterans exposed to chemical warfare materials. VA is mailing information to the veterans and survivors within the first group of participants identified by DoD. This new effort includes direct mailings to veterans newly identified by DoD. The information covers VA medical and financial benefits, data about the effects of exposure to chemical warfare agents, and telephone numbers for VA and DoD offices involved in the outreach campaign. VA is continuing to seek addresses for additional veterans and survivors. VA invites veterans to file disability compensation claims for any condition related to service, including exposure to mustard agents and Lewisite. Veterans or their survivors with questions about these benefits should contact VA at (800) 749-8387 or visit VA's benefits Web site at  http://www.vba.va.gov  
[Source: VA News Release 17 MAR 5]

Tricare Sitrep 01:  Faced with a booming number of patients and a potential shortage of participating doctors, the government's military health plan is facing a critical juncture. At issue is DoD's decade-old managed care-style program TRICARE. The program is being stretched thin due to a growing number of uniformed service members and reservists being called to serve. At the same time, military members are staying in service longer, leading to a larger retiree population. Those greater numbers may find too few participating physicians. TRICARE picks up where the military health system's 500 military hospitals, medical centers and clinics leave off, caring for more than 9 million members of the military community. Growth trends were compounded in OCT 04 when legislation was passed to permanently extend TRICARE eligibility to National Guard and members of military reserves and their families. Under the new policy, benefits can now start up to 90 days before a member's activation date and remain in effect 180 days following deactivation. Reservists who commit to additional service requirements after active duty can also purchase TRICARE standard coverage for themselves and their families. Those booming numbers, combined with base realignments and closures that have taken place over the past 15 years, mean that TRICARE is short of facilities in some regions of the country. Some beneficiaries find it tough to find physician services because the program's provider networks are overburdened or inadequate. In areas like Alaska, Idaho, and parts of Missouri and Minnesota, program officials have asked physician organizations and state governors to encourage physicians to participate. However, some physicians say they don't participate because of their previous and negative experiences with the program's low reimbursement and administrative hassles. TRICARE first ran into problems in the 1990s, when a Congressional mandate required the then CHAMPUS to operate like private-sector HMOs. The program was transformed into an 11-region network managed by individual contractors. For physicians, the restructuring meant a frustrating mix of managed care hassles, stringent federal regulations and, in some cases, poor reimbursement rates and slow payment. Because of access and payment problems plus each region being contracted separately it was difficult to administer and to attract physicians. In 1997, payment delays of 120 days were not uncommon. In addition, confusion reigned regarding who was covered by TRICARE and how the program's three options operated for referrals, authorizations and benefits. This led many physicians to mistakenly think they could see TRICARE beneficiaries only by being part of formal networks. As a result, many were reluctant to enter into contracts. TRICARE eventually resolved payment delays and other issues by weeding out poor-performing contractors, improving its computer systems, and streamlining and speeding up some aspects of the referral and authorization processes. It also installed dedicated ombudsmen in its regional offices to address provider and beneficiary problems and impose more stringent claims payment schedules. But TRICARE's reputation had suffered a blow.
     Today, TRICARE has emerged from a massive overhaul that whittled 11 regions down to three with greater flexibility in provider arrangements. The program has also carved out contracts for pharmacy and local support services to reduce administrative bulk. TRICARE officials are asking physicians to give it another chance or to try it anew. TRICARE officials say the program's claims processing and payment times now rival those of the best commercial plans. They also say that referrals and authorizations have been similarly streamlined. Recent reports indicate that 90% of the more than two million claims TRICARE receives each week are paid within 15 days, while 99% are paid within 30 days, in part because most claims are now processed electronically. Referrals also have been streamlined. TRICARE now requires that 85% of referrals and 90% of authorizations be processed within two days. Today, TRICARE has approximately 53,000 contracted network primary care providers plus thousands of other TRICARE-authorized providers who participate. Physicians can see beneficiaries on a case-by-case basis if they meet Medicare participation standards. Few physicians take issue with the TRICARE for Life program, but when it comes to the basic TRICARE program, critics claim that payment rates may be as much as 40% below Medicare's due to the fee schedule regulated by law. They also say that referrals and authorizations can be unwieldy, affecting continuity of care. Referrals frequently "bounces back" with instructions to direct the patient to go to the nearest military treatment facility. TRICARE officials are trying to encourage physicians to come back and try the program pointing to the reduction in payment times and system's recent major overhaul which make it a more physician-friendly program.
[Source: American College of Physicians MAR 05 Observer Bonnie Darves article.]

Veteran Disability Claim Help:  A well-trained veteran's service officer (VSO) is crucial for many veterans applying for benefits from the VA. State, County or Local Veterans Affairs Offices contact information for assistance is available at  http://www.va.gov/partners/stateoffice/index.htm  If desired, an agent recognized by VA or a licensed lawyer who is either in private practice or a legal aid attorney can represent you. Agents and attorneys can charge you only for services that you get from them after the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) gives you their final decision about your application. That means you can use an attorney during any stage of your application for benefits. However, the agent or attorney cannot charge you for services unless you are trying to resolve a dispute with VA after BVA has made a decision about your claim. If you want to use a representative to help you with your application, contact the closest VA office at 1-800-827-1000. Many veterans group national service organizations are certified by the VA to provide assistance upon request. In a few states (such as Michigan) veterans groups are paid - rather than state employees - to help veterans navigate the complex benefits application process at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The 14 national service organizations that file the most disability claims are listed below. Contact information for their VSO in your area is available at the phone numbers or web sites indicated. According to a Knight Ridder survey these VA-accredited VSOs vary in training and oversight. The below includes the survey results in the following five categories:

     (1) Number of VA-accredited VSO's in parent organization.
     (2) Accreditation training required.
     (3) Accreditation test required.
     (4) Continuing education required.
     (5) Later testing required.

American Ex-Prisoners of War (817) 649-2979  http://www.axpow.org
     (1) 531
     (2) No minimum requirement; provides 8-10 hours voluntary training annually.
     (3) No  (4) No  (5) No

American Legion (317) 630-1200  http://www.legion.org
     (1) 1341
     (2) Standards vary by local branch; offers 48 hours of optional training at national schools.
     (3) No
     (4) One VSO per state must attend national training twice yearly.
     (5) No

AMVETS (301) 459-9600  http://www.amvets.org
     (1) 456
     (2) 40 hrs one-on-one training for new VSOs.
     (3)Yes
     (4) Yes - 26 hours annually.
     (5) No

Blinded Veterans Association (202) 371-8880  http://www.bva.org
     (1) 198
     (2) Yes - 70 to 80 hours.
     (3) Yes
     (4) Yes - 70 to 80 hours annually.
     (5) No

Catholic War Veterans USA (703) 549-3622  http://www.cwv.org
     (1) 107
     (2) No minimum requirement.
     (3) A few local branches may test.
     (4) No  (5) No

Disabled American Veterans (859) 441-7300  http://www.dav.org
     (1) 941
     (2) National VSOs: 16 months OJT training; computer-based training course qualifies for 10 college credit hours. State VSOs: Training varies.
     (3) Yes  (4) Yes  (5) Yes

Fleet Reserve Association (800) 372-1924  http://www.fra.org
     (1) 407
     (2) Varies; VSOs receive training through other veterans groups.
     (3) No   (4) No   (5) No

Jewish War Veterans of the USA (202) 265-6280  http://www.jwv.org
     (1) 222
     (2) 32 hrs through the VA.
     (3) Yes   (4) Yes
     (5) No

Marine Corps League (703) 207-9588  http://www.mcleague.org
     (1) 352
     (2),  (3),  (4), &  (5) No response

Military Order of the Purple Heart (703) 642-5360  http://www.purpleheart.org
     (1) 617
     (2) 64 hrs
     (3) Yes   (4) Yes
     (5) No

Non-Commissioned Officers Assn. (703) 549-0311  http://www.ncoausa.org
     (1) 367
     (2) Training varies; most VSOs employed by state or county agencies.
     (3) No
     (4) Varies; VSOs working directly with group must have11 hrs annually.
     (5) No

Paralyzed Veterans of America (800) 424-8200  http://www.pva.org
     (1) 129
     (2) 16 months OJT
     (3) No
     (4) Yes - 32 to 36 hours annually.
     (5) No

Veterans of Foreign Wars (816) 756-3390  http://www.vfw.org
     (1) 719
     (2) 72 hrs of training during first year of accreditation.
     (3) No
     (4) Yes
     (5) No - Required tests at training conferences used to gauge overall training needs.

Vietnam Veterans of America (800) 882-1316  http://www.vva.org
     (1) 555
     (2) Requires 40 hrs training for new VSOs, varies for others.
     (3) yes
     (4) One advanced course every two years.
     (5) No

[Source:  http://www.realcities.com/multimedia/nationalchannel/news/KRT_Packages/archive/vets/vets_expertise.pdf  MAR 05 ++]

Vet Cemetery Pennsylvania:  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has named the national cemetery being constructed near Pittsburgh the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. The 292-acre site is approximately 35 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. When the cemetery opens in mid-2005, it will provide burial options to approximately 329,000 veterans and their families living within 75 miles of the site. The cemetery's 80-acre initial construction phase will contain 15,000 gravesites, plus a 3,000-unit columbarium and 1,000 sites for in-ground cremated remains. The new cemetery will also include an administration and maintenance complex, two committal service shelters, a public information center with electronic gravesite locator and public restrooms, a cemetery entrance area, a flag assembly area, a memorial walkway and donations area, and infrastructure elements including roadways, landscaping, utilities and irrigation. Burials are expected to start in mid-2005 in a small section during construction. The cemetery staff will work initially from a temporary office and committal service shelter until the construction project is completed. At present the only open national cemetery in Pennsylvania is Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, located approximately 215 miles east of Pittsburgh in Annville. VA plans to open another national cemetery in 2008 in the Philadelphia area. Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Other burial benefits for eligible veterans include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker - even if they are not buried in a national cemetery. Information on the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies is available by calling the VA Memorial Service Network in Philadelphia at (215) 381-3787. [Source: VA News Release 4 FEB 05]

Tricare Behavioral Health Care:  Tricare beneficiaries who need assistance with depression, stress-related illness, chemical dependency, alcohol abuse problems or other related issues are reminded that Tricare offers a wide range of mental health care services. Tricare officials report that access to those services, also known as behavioral health care, is easy and convenient. Beneficiaries who require emergency mental health services should immediately seek assistance at the nearest emergency room. In other than emergency cases, Tricare beneficiaries are encouraged to first endeavor to obtain care from their military treatment facility (MTF), but if not available, to seek care from a Tricare-authorized behavioral health provider. All non-active duty beneficiaries may seek outpatient mental health services without referral or authorization for the first eight visits during a fiscal year in order to receive Tricare coverage. When Tricare Prime beneficiaries go beyond eight outpatient visits in any given fiscal year, they must seek authorization for continuation of mental health care services from their regional contractor. Certain outpatient services always require pre-authorization including: psychoanalysis; psychological and neuropsychological testing; electroconvulsive therapy; therapy sessions in excess of one hour. A physician referral is required prior to the initial evaluation, and oversight must continue through the course of the therapy in order for Tricare to cover: licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) care; and licensed professional counselor (LPC) care. All beneficiaries using Tricare are responsible for contacting their regional contractor for a listing of additional preauthorization requirements. Marriage counseling is not a Tricare-covered benefit. Beneficiaries should seek assistance from installation or community social work services.
     Inpatient mental health requirements for non-active duty beneficiaries differ based on the Tricare coverage option. Beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Prime/ Prime Remote require a primary care manager referral for all non-emergency inpatient mental health services. Prime beneficiaries must also ensure that inpatient mental health service in the Tricare civilian network is preauthorized (prior to admission) and seek continued stay authorization, when appropriate. Inpatient preauthorization is also required for Standard beneficiaries. The preauthorization and continued stay authorization requirements also apply to Residential Treatment Center care, partial hospitalization program care, and alcoholism detoxification and rehabilitation. All beneficiaries should contact Tricare regional contractors regarding potential length-of-stay limits. Tricare Standard beneficiaries living in an MTF catchment area must obtain a non-availability statement from their local MTF before being admitted as an inpatient for mental health services. Tricare for Life beneficiaries and others covered by Medicare do not require Tricare preadmission and continued stay authorizations when Medicare is the first payer and has authorized the care. Prior to exhausting their Medicare inpatient mental health benefits, Tricare for Life beneficiaries must contact their Tricare contractor to obtain a continued stay authorization. To be safe, beneficiaries should check with their regional contractor in advance of seeking non-emergency mental health care to ensure that authorization is not required. Regional contractor contacts are available at  http://www.tricare.osd.mil  [Source: Air Force Retiree News 8 FEB 05]

DIC Facts 2004:  Following is germane regarding VA Disability Indemnity Compensation:

  * Disability compensation for veterans is not subject to federal or state income tax. About 80 percent of veterans receive their VA benefits by direct deposit, which VA recommends for security reasons.

  * Veterans are rated at increments of 10 percent reflecting degree of disability. As federal regulations summarize the underlying principle, "The percentage ratings represent as far as can practicably be determined the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from such diseases and injuries and their residual conditions."

  * The largest category of veterans on the compensation scale is at 10 percent disability ($108 per month), with 783,000 veterans at this rate at the beginning of fiscal year 2005 among the total 2.6 million veterans receiving disability compensation.

  * The criteria for rating the severity of various disabilities are available online at 
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/38cfr4_03.html  As medical knowledge, laws and procedures change, VA regularly publishes proposed changes to these criteria in the Federal Register for public comment before a final regulation is adopted.

  * Where a veteran has more than one disability, the percentages are not simply added together to produce a new rating. Instead, a formula described in federal regulations calculates the overall rating.

  * A veteran may be rated at zero percent, meaning there is evidence of the service-connected condition, but it does not impair the veteran. An example is a minor scar. This zero percent rating, though not compensable, can be beneficial, since it may raise the veteran's priority in other VA programs such as health care eligibility. In addition, it may be reviewed for a higher rating if the condition worsens.

  * A veteran may have a number of disabilities individually evaluated as 0% which produce 10% combined disability and entitle the veteran to disability compensation. At the beginning of fiscal year 2005, there were more than 15,000 veterans in the category of "compensable zero" ratings.

  * In addition to the 2.6 million veterans on the compensation rolls, past studies have shown approximately 1.2 million veterans have overall (noncompensable) ratings of 0 percent, but because they do not receive payments from VA, the exact number is not known.

  * There were 771,000 new and reopened claims requiring a disability rating received from veterans in fiscal year 2004, an average of more than 64,000 claims filed per month.

  * Among veterans on the rolls, the largest category of service-connected disabilities is musculoskeletal problems, accounting for about 40% of all disabilities. This includes such problems as impairment of the knee and arthritis due to trauma. Data on the number and type of disabilities are published annually at http://www.vba.va.gov/reports.htm 

[Source: VFW Post 03822 Panama City msg 23 DEC 04]

VA My Health eVet Web Site:  The Veterans Administration launched the My Health eVet web site on Veterans Day 2003. Since then improvements to the site have been incorporated. My Health eVet gives veterans easy access to their health information while protecting their privacy. A feature on the site allows veterans to record their personal information and medical data - including emergency contacts, health care providers and insurance, prescriptions, tests and allergies - in a private, secure Internet environment. Eventually, veterans will be able to receive their medical records from VA online. The web site's new features significantly expand the information veterans can record and share with medical professionals, family members and others of their choice. One recent feature is a "Learn About" tab, which leads veterans to a variety of topics in health education. My Health eVet establishes a veteran-clinician partnership that should result in better-informed decision making and move veterans toward more proactive management of their health care. The idea is to make it as easy as possible for veterans to take good care of themselves. The site is located on the Internet at  http://www.myhealth.va.gov  [Source: Air Force Retiree News Release No. 12-04-04]

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