Departments of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US

VFW Applauds VA, National Security Budget Requests

Posted at 09:50 AM on Monday, February 8, 2010 by VFW News

WASHINGTON - The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is applauding President Obama for submitting a fiscal year 2011 budget that strengthens defense and national security, and boosts programs for veterans, servicemembers and their families.

Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis., said the president's vision tracks with key VFW legislative goals that advocate for a strong and secure America, and for ensuring that those who serve in uniform are properly cared for by a grateful nation.

White House Seeks $125 Billion for Veterans in 2011

Posted at 07:27 PM on Monday, February 1, 2010 by VFW News

WASHINGTON – To expand health care to a record-number of Veterans, reduce the number of homeless Veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new disability compensation claims, the White House has announced a proposed $125 billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Our budget proposal provides the resources necessary to continue our aggressive pursuit of President Obama's two over-arching goals for Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "First, the requested budget will help transform VA into a 21st century organization.  And second, it will ensure that we approach Veterans' care as a lifetime initiative, from the day they take their oaths until the day they are laid to rest."

The $125 billion budget request, which has to be approved by Congress, includes $60.3 billion for discretionary spending (mostly health care) and $64.7 billion in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation and pensions).

"VA's 2011 budget request covers many areas but focuses on three central issues that are of critical importance to our Veterans – easier access to benefits and services, faster disability claims decisions, and ending the downward spiral that results in Veterans' homelessness," Shinseki said.

Reducing Claims Backlog

The president's budget proposal includes an increase of $460 million and more than 4,000 additional claims processors for Veterans benefits.  This is a 27 percent funding increase over the 2010 level.

The 1,014,000 claims received in 2009 were a 75 percent increase over the 579,000 received in 2000.  Shinseki said the Department expects a 30 percent increase in claims – to 1,319,000 – in 2011 from 2009 levels.

One reason for the increase is VA's expansion of the number of Agent Orange-related illnesses that automatically qualify for disability benefits.  Veterans exposed to the Agent Orange herbicides during the Vietnam War are likely to file additional claims that will have a substantial impact upon the processing system for benefits, the secretary said.

"We project significantly increased claims inventories in the near term while we make fundamental improvements to the way we process disability compensation claims," Shinseki said.

Long-term reduction of the inventory will come from additional manpower, improved business practices, plus an infusion of $145 million in the proposed budget for development of a paperless claims processing system, which plays a significant role in the transformation of VA.

Read more

Start Your Engines: The VFW 200 on June 12, 2010 at Michigan International Speedway

Posted at 12:28 AM on Thursday, January 28, 2010 by VFW News

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- In an effort to recognize and salute veterans and their families around the country, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation will be the title sponsor of its first Camping World Truck Series race, the VFW 200 on June 12 at Michigan International Speedway.

"The VFW 200 and our association with NASCAR aligns well with our mission to help America's service members and their families. This will help bring public attention to their urgent needs," said VFW Commander-In-Chief Thomas J. Tradewell Sr.

"The VFW Foundation has had a wonderful relationship with NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick's KHI racing team. We are excited about our ongoing association with Kevin Harvick and proud to have the opportunity to sponsor the VFW 200. NASCAR, its fans, and the Michigan International Speedway are perfect for such a patriotic event."

With the new VFW relationship, MIS now has secured sponsorship deals for all of its racing events in 2010.

"We're very pleased to have the VFW Foundation sponsor our Camping World Truck Series event," MIS president Roger Curtis said. "The VFW Foundation and its mission to provide help to America's service members touches many of our race fans who are veterans themselves. This relationship will strengthen our commitment to our veterans and what they have sacrificed for our country. We appreciate and recognize their efforts.

"The idea that we have secured sponsorship for all of our races in 2010 in these tough economic times is a positive message for MIS and the sport of NASCAR as a whole. It's great that sponsors are still seeing the benefit of using the speedway as a platform to communicate their message to our race fans, who are the most loyal in motorsports.

Additionally, the VFW Foundation will provide activities and informational venues at the track during the entire weekend to highlight the service and sacrifice of America's U.S. service members and their families. Service members attending the event (many of whom are on leave from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan) will be given VIP status and provided with pit passes and access to NASCAR drivers, grandstand seating and complimentary food.

The venue will allow the VFW Foundation to showcase its "Salute to Military Families" campaign, designed to bring awareness to the unique problems and needs of troops and their families. It will be the second year the VFW Foundation has sponsored the "Salute to Military Families" program. Through its "Unmet Needs" initiative, the VFW Foundation has provided more than $3 million in direct financial assistance to military families for rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, medical expenses and basic food assistance.

Other VFW Foundation programs include "Operation Uplink's Free Call Days" which facilitated approximately 20 million minutes of free long-distance overseas talk-time for troops in 2009; morale boosting "welcome home" and "sendoff" events for military units; and direct, free assistance to veterans obtaining VA entitlements from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

VFW Washington Weekly - January 22, 2010

Posted at 02:24 PM on Friday, January 22, 2010 by VFW News

In This Issue:

1. VFW Presents Legislative Goals

2. House VA Committee Hearings

3. Relief for GI Bill Payments Coming

4. Vets Employment Initiative Launched

 

1. VFW Presents Legislative Goals: The VFW presented its Top 5 legislative goals this week at a House Veterans Affairs Committee roundtable.  The issues we want Congress to highlight this year are the claims backlog, employment and training, oversight of VA health care, and military-to-veteran transition issues, to include education.  Committee members acknowledged that the VA claims backlog is among their top priorities, and they intend to hold oversight hearings on viable fixes to the critical problem.  The VFW's 2010 legislative priority goals can be viewed at http://www.vfw.org/PR/Legislative/2010PriorityGoals%20PROOF.pdf.

Click here to read more Washington Weekly

URGENT: Help Service Members with Family in Haiti

Posted at 05:05 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 by VFW News

VFW Joins in Haiti Humanitarian Effort

Posted at 07:16 PM on Friday, January 15, 2010 by VFW News

Kansas City, MO., Jan. 15, 2010 -The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is assisting in humanitarian efforts in Haiti by providing U.S. service members — with relatives currently located in Haiti — with the funds necessary to purchase airline tickets to the devastated island, so that they may locate, assist or make burial arrangements for relatives affected by the recent earthquake. Funds also may be used to help provide sustenance or other necessities to sustain life.

The veterans' organization donation will be used to assist U.S. service members currently on active duty, in the Reserves or in National Guard units.

VFW National Commander Tommy J. Tradewell Sr., has asked VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary members to come to the aid of victims of the recent natural disaster by individually donating what they can to the VFW National Military Services program (NMS), either online [Donate now online], text [text "VFW" to 90999 - standard text messaging rates apply], or mail directly to VFW National Military Services, 406 W. 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.

Read more

VFW CheckPoint Magazine Jan/Feb 2010

Posted at 01:07 PM on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 by VFW News

VFW CheckPoint Magazine Jan/Feb 2010 -

VFW Washington Weekly - January 8, 2010

Posted at 04:57 PM on Friday, January 8, 2010 by VFW News

In This Issue:

1. VA to Delay Increase in Prescription Copayments

2. TRICARE for Gray Area Reserve Retirees

3. Congress on Recess

 

1. VA to Delay Increase in Prescription Copayments: VA officials this week announced they are delaying an increase in veterans' out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals until June 30.  The scheduled $1 increase-from $8 to $9 per 30-day supply of medicine for nonservice-connected conditions-will be reevaluated so that VA can consider how the increases are calculated.  During this period, VA will also keep $960 as the maximum annual out-of-pocket payment for pharmaceuticals for nonservice-related conditions.  The $960 cap will not apply to veterans in priority groups seven and eight.  The yearly maximum out-of-pocket payment was scheduled to increase to $1,080.  There are no copayments associated with the treatment of conditions related to military service.  The freeze is considered temporary.  Some increases may take affect this summer unless a new way of calculating co-payments is found and implemented.

Continue reading VFW Washington Weekly

60 Minutes Segment on VA Backlog

Posted at 08:14 AM on Monday, January 4, 2010 by VFW News

(Airdate: January 3, 2010)

TRICARE Returns to Zero Copay on OTC Meds

Posted at 03:57 PM on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 by VFW News

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Positive feedback and cost savings means TRICARE's over-the-counter medication demonstration continues without copayments. The demonstration allows TRICARE beneficiaries to substitute over-the-counter versions for selected prescription drugs.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications available through the program include allergy medications cetirizine and loratadine, and heartburn medications (proton-pump inhibitors) Prilosec OTC and its generic form omeprazole.
 
The two-year OTC demonstration did not require a copay for covered OTC medications when it began at TRICARE retail pharmacies in October 2007. When the demonstration was extended in November 2009, it coincided with the start of a new pharmacy contract. A $3 copay was required until systems changes could be made and that work is now complete.
 
"This is a very positive program and we're excited to return to a zero copay," said Rear Adm. Thomas McGinnis, chief of the TRICARE Pharmaceutical Operations Directorate. "This is one way we are working hard to keep costs lower - for our beneficiaries and for the Department of Defense."
 
OTC medications are generally less expensive than their prescription versions, by as much as 400 percent in some cases.
          
To receive covered OTC medications with no out-of-pocket costs, beneficiaries still need a prescription from their health care provider specifically for the OTC drug. After submitting the prescription at any TRICARE retail network pharmacy or the TRICARE mail-order pharmacy, the prescription for the OTC medication is filled at no cost.

For more information about the TRICARE Pharmacy Program, go to http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy.

Previous Page | Home | Next Page