Military Officer - January 2006 - (Page 33)

washingtonscene ■ oppose health care cost-shifting from the government to military beneﬁciaries. Recent rhetoric from defense leaders indicates an intent to propose signiﬁcant cost increases (in terms of higher enrollment fees, deductibles, and copayments) on uniformed services beneﬁciaries in an effort to follow civilian health care trends. MOAA believes strongly that military health coverage is an essential offset to the unique conditions of a military career and that the country has a higher obligation to active duty, Guard, Reserve, and retired military members than corporate employers demonstrate for their employees. The government should spend as much time considering the extraordinary costs it has imposed on career members and families as it does counting every last nickel spent on their health care. ■ increase health care access by reducing deterrents to provider participation, identify areas with TRICARE Standard access problems, work actively to attract more providers to participate in Standard, and assist beneﬁciaries who need help ﬁnding a TRICARE-participating provider. ■ remain vigilant in protecting against reductions in Medicare/TRICARE reimbursement rates, so that beneﬁciaries’ providers are not deterred from accepting Medicare and TRICARE coverage. ■ eliminate preauthorization and referral hassles and other inconveniences for TRICARE beneﬁciaries and providers. ■ eliminate the 115 percent billing limit when TRICARE Standard (CHAMPUS) is second payer to other health insurance. Currently, the 115 percent limit is often less than other insurers pay, so TRICARE pays nothing. Just as TFL is a true “secondpayer” to Medicare, TRICARE should be a true second-payer to other insurance. ■ reinstate TRICARE beneﬁts for remarried widows when the second marriage ends. Recent legislation reinstated VA health beneﬁts for survivors of veterans who died of service-connected causes whose subse- quent remarriages end. Military survivors deserve the same consideration. ■ codify requirements to continue Prime beneﬁts in localities affected by base reduction and closure actions. Many beneﬁciaries select retirement homes in close proximity to military bases, to have access to military health care and other services. Base closures run signiﬁcant risks of disrupting TRICARE Prime care that retirees depend on to meet their health care needs. ■ provide a government subsidy for the TRICARE Retiree Dental Plan. ■ extend the TRICARE Extended Care Health Option program (for severely disabled family members of active duty personnel) eligibility to three years for enrolled family members after the death of a servicemember, to allow time for the family to transition to other support services. ■ seek increased funding for mental health and family counseling for deployed families. ■ work to see that Prime access standards are met and specialty care authorizations and referrals maintain a beneﬁciary-ﬁrst orientation pending development of an effective electronic program. Military Apples, Civilian Oranges ■ Shifting health costs to beneficiaries ignores that the government has a higher obligation to military people than civilian employers have to their employees. Unique health and retirement benefits are an essential offset to unique, arduous service conditions. Guard/Reserve health care MOAA supports providing permanent coverage for all drilling Guard and Reserve members who continue in the Selected Reserve and is hopeful Congress will approve the Senate-proposed plan in the ﬁnal FY 2006 defense bill. MOAA also will seek authority to give Guard and Reserve members the alternative of having the government pay a share of any employer-provided health coverage during periods of mobilization. This is essential to minimize disruption of existing employer-provided family health coverage during the member’s activation. Pharmacy benefits MOAA will encourage DoD and Congress to develop and maintain a comprehensive uniform pharmacy beneﬁt for all beneﬁciaries, with a robust formulary that preserves JANUARY 2006 MILITARY OFFICER 33

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Contents Features Departments From the Editor Chairman's Page Board of Directors Nominations Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Member Books Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: On the Edge Storm Stories Our Brilliant, Bloody Future eXtreme Seniors Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - January 2006

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