Military Officer - May 2006 - (Page 27)

washingtonscene Hikes on Hold Armed Services committee leaders join associations in resisting TRICARE fee increases this year and call for a review of the Pentagon’s own cost-saving efforts. L E G I S L AT I V E N E W S T H AT A F F E C T S Y O U P entagon plans to impose large health care fee increases on military retirees took a blow March 3 when leaders of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) signed a bipartisan letter to the House Budget Committee complaining about multiple shortfalls in Defense funding for manpower, health care, survivor beneﬁts, family housing, and procurement. Among other things, HASC Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and the committee’s senior Democrat, Rep. Ike Skelton (Mo.), sent a joint letter to budget committee Chairman Rep. Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) saying they don’t support such MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., presents Congress with a list of 16 ways to contain military health costs without raising fees. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT increases and want more money in the Defense budget to make up the shortfall in these and many other areas. “The [Armed Services] committee believes these proposals depend too exclusively on increasing cost shares and believes that no action should be taken in FY 2007 until a full review of additional cost control options is completed,” the letter said. Hunter and Skelton also made it clear they weren’t happy that the Pentagon had already issued guidance to TRICARE contractors to start implementing the fee increases. “Circumventing congressional oversight by quickly implementing fundamental changes to a highly viable medical beneﬁt is not keeping the promise to the sailors, soldiers, airmen, and Marines that serve our country,” they said. “Hear, hear,” says MOAA. Meanwhile, after receiving input from association leaders at a March 14 hearing, Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee leaders said there’s no way Pentagon plans for retiree health fee increases will be implemented as proposed. But they warned that some increases are likely in the future. CEOs of MOAA, the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), the National Military Family Association (NMFA), and the Reserve Ofﬁcers Association (ROA) testifying at the hearing all took issue with at least some aspects of the DoD plan. MOAA and FRA urged the subcommittee to reject any fee increases. MOAA M AY 2 0 0 6 MOAA Makes Members’ Case ■ Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., urged the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee to reject TRICARE fee increases. For a summary of Ryan’s arguments, see the insert “Premiums Already Paid — In Full” after page 42. MILITARY OFFICER 27

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - May 2006

Military Officer - May 2006 Contents From the Editor President's Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Raising Iraq Dogfight Fun Caring For Our Own Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - May 2006

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