Veterans of Foreign Wars Department South Dakota http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/ en-us Tue, 9 Feb 2010 06:00:15 -0500 Policlicks LLC 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. Find more videos like this on My VFW WebCOM The $60.3 billion discretionary funding request for the Department of Veterans Affairs is 7 percent above 2010 and 20 percent above 2009 funding levels. Key initiatives are to hire 4,000 additional adjudicators to shrink the disability claims backlog; to reduce the homeless veterans' population; to construct new medical facilities in Denver and New Orleans; and to maintain a robust information technology program that will enable a 21st century VA to fully automate its GI Bill benefits system and create a seamless electronic record for military members entering the VA system. Other notable recommendations would enhance women veterans' programs; increase specialized care for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury and other mental health conditions; and expand the national cemetery system into areas where 80,000 veterans reside within 75 miles of a potential VA cemetery. Also included for the first time was a request for $50.6 billion in advanced appropriations for the VA's fiscal 2012 budget. Read more http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/35152/ Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:55:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/35152/ 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 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/35083/ Mon, 1 Feb 2010 07:34:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/35083/ 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 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34998/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:30:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34998/ 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 â€" with relatives currently located in Haiti â€" 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 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34921/ Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:21:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34921/ VFW CheckPoint Magazine Jan/Feb 2010 - Press the "Full Screen" button to see a larger image and/or print the document. If the document above does not appear, you may need to update your Flash Player. Click here to update it. http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34859/ Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:12:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34859/ 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 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34793/ Fri, 8 Jan 2010 04:59:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34793/ (Airdate: January 3, 2010) Watch CBS News Videos Online http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34726/ Mon, 4 Jan 2010 08:18:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34726/ 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. http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34667/ Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:57:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34667/ To all our VFW and Auxiliaries members, veterans and active military wherever you may be, may you have a Merry Christmas and safe and joyous holiday. -The VFW WebCOM Team http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34498/ Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:40:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34498/ The Department of Veterans Affairs is recruiting for the position of Under Secretary for Benefits (USB). Resumes and nominations are currently being accepted for the position. Position: VETERANS AFFAIRS UNDER SECRETARY FOR BENEFITS By Law: The Under Secretary for Benefits shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of demonstrated ability in: · fiscal management, and · the administration of programs within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) or programs of similar content and scope. Visit the Department of Wisconsin for further information about the position. http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34438/ Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:28:00 -0500 http://vfwwebcom.org/southdakota/34438/