Pvt. John Lyskawa Post 7546

VFW Applauds VA, National Security Budget Requests

Posted at 09:50 on Monday, February 8, 2010 by Commander

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 19:27 on Monday, February 1, 2010 by Commander

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

VFW Washington Weekly - January 22, 2010

Posted at 14:24 on Friday, January 22, 2010 by Commander

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

VFW Joins in Haiti Humanitarian Effort

Posted at 19:16 on Friday, January 15, 2010 by Commander

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 13:07 on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 by Commander

VFW CheckPoint Magazine Jan/Feb 2010 -

VFW Washington Weekly - January 8, 2010

Posted at 16:57 on Friday, January 8, 2010 by Commander

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 on Monday, January 4, 2010 by Commander

(Airdate: January 3, 2010)

TRICARE Returns to Zero Copay on OTC Meds

Posted at 15:57 on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 by Commander

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.

Merry Christmas

Posted at 08:16 on Thursday, December 24, 2009 by Commander

VFW Washington Weekly - December 18, 2009

Posted at 10:43 on Monday, December 21, 2009 by Commander

In This Issue:

1. First Session Wrap Up
2. VA Appropriations Update
3. Secure Your Luggage

1. First Session Wrap-Up: As the 111th Congress wraps up its first
session, now is a great time to review our successes and what's ahead in
2010.  Our number one priority goal, Advanced Funding for VA Health
Care, was signed into law in October (PL 111-81).  VA will now know its
medical care funding a year in advance, making it possible to plan ahead
and provide the best care for all veterans.  Several other critical
bills which have now been rolled into larger omnibus packages have
passed the House and Senate and are in conference committee.  These
bills are:

*         S. 1963, The Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services
Act of 2009, includes six VFW-supported bills that would provide
caregiver support for family members taking care of severely injured
veterans, child services for veterans seeking treatment at VA,
improvements for women veterans including mental health services and
studies on access to care.  The bill would also provide programs to
reduce homelessness among veterans, allow catastrophically disabled
veterans to use emergency care outside VA, and expands care in rural
areas.

*         S.728, The Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009,
includes a host of other VFW-supported bills that would improve veteran
insurance programs, update burial plot allowances, increase housing,
automobile and adaptive grant programs, enhance disability compensation
for disabled veterans  having difficulties with prosthetics and those
suffering from TBI, and clarify certain provisions under USERRA.

The VFW Washington Office could not have accomplished these improvements
without your legislative advocacy in your communities and states!  We
look forward to working with you in the New Year as we continue to fight
for America's veterans, servicemembers and their families.  For a list
of bills and our 2010 priority goals, visit the VFW website and click on
the National Legislative Service link at
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=caphill.levelc&cid=3692&tok=1.

Continue reading Washington Weekly

Previous Page | Home | Next Page