Military Officer - November 2006 - (Page 38)

washingtonscene COLA COUNTDOWN ■ The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the CPI rose another 0.2 percent in August, yielding a cumulative 3.6-percent increase. That was a little less than the 3.8-percent CPI growth through August 2005. With energy prices dropping in September, this year’s COLA probably won’t match last year’s 4.1 percent. of a $1,740 annual cap on Medicare payments for outpatient physical, speech-language, and occupational therapy for 2007. MOAA hoped that Congress would ﬁx the formulas that continue to generate these annual payment scares. But apparently Hill leaders ﬁnd it cheaper to drag them out until the last moment every year and then slap-on another one-year Band-Aid. There’s a possibility that they’ll end up just freezing 2007 Medicare/TRICARE payment rates at 2006 rates (which really means 2005 rates, because we already had a freeze last year). And Congress might just renew a waiver on the therapy caps, which would continue to allow payments if a doctor deems the therapy “medically necessary” — which it is in almost all cases. Unfortunately, that would only guarantee a new payment crisis at the end of 2007. Support Programs Being Robbed Family and support programs are costs of going to war, too. F or months, MOAA has been hearing from members about cuts in funding and services at base libraries, dining halls, gymnasiums, child-care facilities, and in other support services as military leaders are forced more and more often to “rob Peter to pay Paul” to meet growing operations costs. It’s hard to pin down exactly how much all the cuts amount to, but one thing is certain: The Army has a $500 million shortfall in base operations and family support accounts. A number of examples of the impact of these shortfalls on servicemembers and families came to light at a late September Capitol Hill press conference called by House Armed Services Committee Democrats. Ranking member Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and Reps. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) and Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) talked about their frustrations and the need for better ﬁnancial oversight and sensitivity in these important areas. “The war in Iraq has placed tremendous stress on the Army for resources — sapping the non-deployed forces in order to support units in combat,” Skelton said. “You can’t ﬁght an extended war without paying for it. Cutting services that support the [troops] and their families is shortsighted and just plain wrong.” Joyce Raezer of the National Military Family Association provided examples of how servicemembers and their families are bearing the brunt of the impact. MOAA’s Cmdr. René Campos, USN-Ret., pointed out that if the trend is not corrected, it will only worsen when the services start executing extensive plans for unit moves, base realignments, and closures. “We have real concerns that servicemembers and families will continue to foot a disproportional share of the [wartime] bill,” Campos stated. MOAA encourages its members and others to keep us informed about reductions in base services and quality of life programs in the military community. TMC Honors Hill Champions Legislators and staffers recognized for health care, SBP efforts. he Military Coalition (TMC), a consortium of 36 military and veterans’ organizations, singled out four legislators and two congressional staffers for special recognition at TMC’s annual awards reception on Capitol Hill Sept. 14. PHOTOS: STEVE BARRETT T 38 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2006

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

From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Financial Guidebook Got (the right) Insurance? A Penny Saved, a Degree Earned The “Y” MOAA Scholarship Recipients Pages of History Information Exchange Member Books MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - November 2006

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