Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services NAUS POSITION ON MEDICAL CARE - Reaffirmed
Medical care remains a major unresolved issue for NAUS members. In the
106th Congress we must initiate and expand the Federal Employees Health
Benefits Program (FEHBP) promptly, expand TRICARE-Senior-Prime, ensure all
military medical beneficiaries have access to prescription drugs and
restore the huge Defense Health Program shortage for fiscal 1999, 2000 and
beyond.
The ultimate goal of NAUS is free medical care and prescription drugs for
all retirees and their families regardless of their age or geographical
location. However, we know that opposition from the Administration, the
Department of Defense (DoD) and especially the budget analysts in the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congressional Budget
Committees require that we move in incremental steps while taking advantage
of every opportunity to make big gains.
The worst part of any incremental process is that it is slow; it is debilitating and causes discouragement among those engaged in fighting for
the ultimate goal to give up and fall out. To prevail patriots and their families cannot become discouraged and apathetic and drop out of the fight.
Winning the ultimate objective will not be easy no matter how right our
cause.
It is clear that DoD has an internal conflict of interest; it has not and
will not push Congress to provide funds adequate for viable and robust
Defense Health Program.
If we give up and withdraw from the legislative and political processes,
the 106th Congress, with its reduced number of members with military
service, will find ways to spend the current "budget surplus" without
thought of those who won for the nation the peace dividend that gave us the
surplus. Working together we can instill within Congress the will to do
the right thing and honor the promise. To reaffirm our position, we will never give in on our ultimate objective of lifetime free health care for retirees.
TRICARE-SENIOR-PRIME DEMONSTRATION DOVER AFB, DE.
The Sierra Military Health group that has the TRICARE contract for Region
has reported recently that less than half of the 1,200 spaces reserved for
the TRICARE-Senior Prime demonstration at Dover have been filled. There is
great concern within the TRICARE Management Agency for the subvention
demonstration since receipt of any reimbursement from Medicare requires all
demonstration sites to reach their assigned level of effort.
Senator Roth (R-DE) fought hard for the DoD/Medicare subvention
demonstration and for Medicare-eligible military medical beneficiaries
residing in Dover to participate TRICARE-Senior-Prime demonstration that
could be in jeopardy if the remaining spaces are not filled.
DOD PRESCRIPTION DRUG REVIEW AND REDESIGN
As reported in earlier updates and in the Journal, the military pharmacy
benefit is undergoing a review and redesign. Last month, as part of the
redesign effort last focus groups were held in the Washington, DC area
involving retirees over and under age 65, active duty military, and family
members of all three groups.
Beginning next week telephone interviews concerning the pharmacy with BRAC
site Medicare eligible beneficiaries will be conducted. The interviewers
would also like to talk to military retirees in remote areas NOT affected
by BRAC.
If you would like to participate in the phone survey, please e-mail us NO
LATER THAN TUES. 8 DEC 98 with you name and phone number. Take advantage
of the opportunity to shape your benefit.
COALTION OF RETIRED MILITARY VETERANS (CORMV)
MEDICAL CARE LAWSUIT
Thursday, 10 December 1998 at 10 AM the CORMV Lawsuit Appeal will be heard
in Courtroom #3, US Court of Appeals, National Courts Building, 717 Madison
Place, NW, Washington, DC.
The hearing will be open and you are invited to attend.
THIS CONCLUDES THE UPDATE
From: "Willie Dougherty" vvoa@texas.net
