Military Officer - January 2008 - (Page 39) washingtonscene identification, and treatment of PTSD and traumatic brain injury, including counseling for family members. Sustain TRICARE benefits Maintain and improve benefit consistency, with the following objectives: ■ Oppose undue health cost shifting from the government to military beneficiaries. Defense leaders likely again will propose significant cost increases (enrollment fees, deductibles, copayments, etcetera) for retired beneficiaries, in an effort to follow civilian health care trends. MOAA strongly believes military health coverage is an essential offset to the unique conditions of a career in uniformed service; that military beneficiaries pay very large, up-front premiums for their lifetime coverage through decades of service and sacrifice; and that the country has a higher obligation to them than corporate employers demonstrate for their employees. To that end, the percentage increase in military beneficiaries’ health fees in any year should not exceed the percentage increase in their military compensation. ■ Reverse projected cuts in Medicare and TRICARE payments to providers. Medicare and TRICARE (whose payment levels are tied to Medicare’s by law) already pay one-quarter to one-third less than most commercial insurance, and further payment cuts will only deter more providers from accepting military beneficiaries. ■ Increase access to civilian providers by reducing administrative deterrents to participation and ensure DoD conducts surveys to determine localities with access problems, takes action to attract more providers to participate in Standard, and assists beneficiaries who need help finding TRICARE-participating providers. ■ Eliminate pre-authorization and referral hassles and other inconveniences for beneficiaries and providers. ■ Restore TRICARE as a true secondpayer to other health insurance, as TRIPHOTO: STEVE BARRETT Protecting MOAA’s interests on Capitol Hill are, from left, Cass Vreeland; Col. Phil Odom, USAF-Ret.; Joy Dunlap; Col. Bob Norton, USA-Ret.; MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.; Director of Government Relations Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret.; Cmdr. John Class, USN-Ret.; Cmdr. René Campos, USN-Ret.; Col. Mike Hayden, USAF-Ret.; and Bret Shea. CARE For Life is to Medicare. Currently, if a beneficiary has other civilian coverage that pays more than TRICARE would have alone, then TRICARE pays nothing. ■ Reinstate TRICARE benefits for remarried widows if their second marriage ends. The Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2002 restored similar VA benefits for survivors of veterans who died of service-connected causes. Military survivors deserve no less. ■ Codify requirements to continue Prime benefits in localities affected by base realignment and closure actions. Many beneficiaries retire near military bases to have access to military health care and other services. Base closures run significant risks of disrupting TRICARE Prime care they depend on to meet their health care needs. ■ Support a coordinated, long-term plan that ensures the full range of mental health services are provided to servicemembers, their families, and their caregivers. Seek increased funding to ensure a joint DoD and VA effort is implemented now. JANUARY 2008 MILITARY OFFICER 39
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