Military Officer - December 2007 - (Page 38) washingtonscene 2008 Defense Authorization Bill Provisions Health Care Issues Issue TRICARE fee increases Senate (H.R. 1585) Bar Prime, Standard, or pharmacy fee increases before Sept. 30, 2008. Establish principle that military pay large in-kind premiums of arduous service. Apply required federal discounts to drugs in retail system as well as to military pharmacies and the mail-order system. Implement pilot for predeployment cognitive tests. Implement all recommendations of the Mental Health Care Task Force. No similar provision. House (H.R. 1585) Similar prohibition of FY 2008 fee increases, but no language on principles. MOAA Position Strongly support Senate provision. Guiding principles are key to ensuring proper perspective on cash versus in-kind premium payments. Support Senate provision. Beneficiaries shouldn’t be held hostage to drug company decisions. TRICARE pharmacy Authorize DoD to exclude drugs from the pharmacy benefit if drug companies don’t offer a sufficient discount. Require computer-based cognitive assessment for members of the armed forces pre- and postdeployment. Bar any further conversions. No similar provision. Mental health care improvements Support both provisions. Civilianization of military medical positions Transition health care for wounded warriors Support House provision. Authorize at least 3 years of active duty-level care for disability retirees. Allow combat vets 5 years (versus 2 years) of VA health care. DoD/VA to implement standard transition policy, require electronic DD-214, and establish DoD/VA electronic health record. Allow emergency care and counseling for caregivers of seriously injured. Require surveys of civilian provider participation in TRICARE, by locality. DECEMBER 2007 Support Senate provision. Provisions are essential to prevent coverage gaps for combat vets. Seamless transition Require written transition plan for each servicemember, with single DoD/VA separation physical and electronic health record. Study needs of families and survey family satisfaction. Support both provisions. Family support programs for returning wounded Surveys on health care access Support both provisions. No similiar provision. Support Senate provision. Surveys are essential to determine problem localities. 38 MILITARY OFFICER
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.