Honoring the nation’s commitment to care for the newest generation of combat veterans and service members from other conflicts and eras, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake announced today President Bush is seeking a budget of $93.7 billion in fiscal year 2009 for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with health care and disability compensation for veterans targeted for most of the spending. 

For more detailed information on what the proposed budget would cover, use the link below:
http://www.amra1973.org/images/news/Highlights%2009%20(2).doc

Q: Why is Association & Society Insurance ( ASI ) requiring individuals to pay their own TRICARE Supplemental Insurance premiums when this has, in the past, sometimes been either fully or partially paid by my employer?

A: The decision to require you to pay your own premium was not made by ASI .  The change is as a result of the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which requires all employers with more than 20 employees to comply.  Employers who employ military retirees can no longer pay TRICARE Supplemental Insurance for their employees as an “employee benefit” because this same benefit was not offered to non-military retiree employees.  AMRA members may keep their TRICARE Supplemental Insurance but they will be responsible for paying their own premiums.  Some employers offer payroll deduction for ASI premiums so please check with your employer.  Premiums can be billed to you quarterly, semi-annually or annually or you can sign up for CHECKOMATIC and premiums will be automatically deducted from your checking account on the first business day of every month.

Q: Why do we have to join AMRA in order to take advantage of the TRICARE Supplemental Insurance coverage?

A: Although the NDAA effective date is quickly approaching, regulations that would govern the way in which the new rules must be administered have not yet been published.  At this point, it appears that it will be months yet before we see the regulations so we are left to play a “guessing game” until the government issues clear instructions.  NDAA appears to allow TRICARE Supplemental Insurance as long as it is purchased by the individual from a commercial insurer or a beneficiary association (AMRA). Because of AMRA’s mass purchasing power, our plan is less expensive and has more benefits than commercial plans.  The plan is available to AMRA members only but you cannot be turned down for coverage, although a pre-existing condition may limit benefits initially.  For AMRA members who are enrolled in the plan at the time of their death, the plan also waives premiums for surviving spouses and dependents for up to four full years unless your spouse remarries, reaches 65, or dependents no longer remain in an eligible status.  The peace of mind of knowing that your family will continue to be covered is, by itself, worth the reasonable premiums you will pay for this supplemental insurance.

Q: Why was this change made and what did AMRA do to fight this in Congress?

A: AMRA began fighting this proposed legislation in May of 2006.  We undertook a “Save My TRICARE Campaign” and worked with lobbyists and members of Congress, trying to convince legislators that moving military retirees from TRICARE to commercial health insurance denied them the inexpensive health care they had been promised. The Department of Defense argued that employers were incentivizing military retirees to use TRICARE (rather than the company’s more expensive health care plan) by paying premiums for TRICARE Supplemental Insurance…a benefit that was not offered to non-military retiree employees.  Although we fought the good fight, we did not prevail.  Now we await the release of NDAA regulations and we will keep you posted on additional, possibly unexpected, developments.  For now, we know that you can choose commercial health insurance or stay on TRICARE…but your employer cannot pay your premiums for TRICARE Supplemental Insurance.

For information about AMRA membership, call National Headquarters at 1-800-424-2969 or email info@amra1973.org. For questions about TRICARE Supplemental Insurance that you already carry or wish to purchase, call ASI Customer Service at 1-800-638-2610, Ext. 255.

Most of us, when we were on duty, never took the time to investigate what was going on in D.C. regarding our rights
and benefits… we were still too busy earning them! We left it to someone else to protect and preserve the vested rights, benefits and privileges of military personnel. Who was that? Military retirees and veterans who took the time to care. If you are not one already, please consider becoming a “subject matter expert” on one aspect of military affairs. You will be a great resource to the military community if you get involved by writing letters and letting your own special voice be heard. I’ve had only positive responses from my elected officials. Indeed, they feel that for every veteran who contacts them on a topic, there are ten more out there who feel the same way. They need to be kept informed and accountable by their electorate-you. By the way, please make sure you’re registered to vote in the next Presidential election, and take time to help others to do so as well. The League of Women Voters has a great webpage to facilitate your right to vote: www.lwv.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

“The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one’s military service,” Senator Inhofe said. “Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform.

“Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not.

“I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens. Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others.”

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced plans for the joint acquisition and use of a new common in-patient electronic health record system. The two departments now have separate systems that require upgrade.

Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said, “I am very excited by the prospect of adopting a common, mutually beneficial solution to our in-patient health documentation needs. This collaboration is a further extension of the highly successful partnership we have established with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and is another example of the commitment our departments have made to work hand in hand to provide continuity of care for our beneficiaries.”

Both VA and DoD have been independently working on the enhancement and improvement of their respective inpatient electronic health record tools. AHLTA, DoD’s electronic health record (EHR) is implemented worldwide and currently supports the documentation and management of outpatient healthcare for nearly 9 million beneficiaries. Management of inpatient care is a future capability planned for AHLTA. The VA is planning to modernize VistA, its electronic health record, including its inpatient module. Common need and the potential benefits led the two departments to discuss the feasibility of jointly implementing a common inpatient electronic health record.

Despite obvious differences in mission, such as DoD’s requirements to support its combat theaters, pediatric and obstetrical patients and VA’s requirements to support domiciliary care, both agencies believe that the similarities in clinical and business processes may make the adoption of a common inpatient EHR a viable option.

Jim Nicholson, secretary of veterans affairs, who announced plans for the joint venture at a meeting of the American Health Information Community, called the agreement “groundbreaking” and said “it has the potential to further transform the way we care for our nation’s veterans and active duty service members.

DoD and VA have made tremendous progress in their ability to share electronic health information as they move toward achieving interoperable electronic health records. Millions of records and data messages are already regularly transferred electronically between the two organizations. The success of their efforts has placed them at the forefront of the national effort to share health information.

Adopting a joint electronic solution for the documentation of in-patient health information will facilitate the seamless transition of active duty service members to veteran status. It will also make the inpatient healthcare data on shared beneficiaries immediately accessible to both DoD and VA healthcare providers. An added benefit of adopting a common tool is the potential for both agencies to realize significant cost savings through a joint development or acquisition effort.

Both agencies have agreed to conduct a study to examine their respective clinical processes and requirements and assess the benefits and the impacts on each department’s timelines and costs prior to a final decision on a joint acquisition strategy for an inpatient EHR.