TREA WASHINGTON UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 6, 2009

This was a big week in Washington. On Tuesday there were several elections around the country that are now being analyzed like mad to see what it means for pending legislation and the 2010 mid-term elections.

Senate Majority Leader announced that the Senate would not be ready to vote on their health care reform bill until early next year. While Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi set a vote on the House’s 1990 page health care bill for tomorrow (Saturday November7th)

Final preparations are being made for next week’s National Commemoration of Veterans Day. On Wednesday TREA’s National President Charlie Flowers will be on the stage at Arlington National Cemetery‘s Memorial Amphitheater with other national VSO leaders while the President honors our Nation’s veterans.

And then, last night, we all heard the terrible word from Ft. Hood. As I am writing this 13 are dead and 29 wounded.

1. GAO Sustains Upholds 2 TRICARE Contract Protests

2. Democratic House Leadership Holds Meeting With VSO Representatives

3. VA Hosts “Veterans History Countdown" On Its Home Page

4. New T-Pharm Went Live On November 4

5. House Of Representatives Pass Several Bills To Help Veterans

6. VA Holds Veterans Homelessness Summit

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1. GAO Sustains Upholds 2 TRICARE Contract Protests - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) upheld the contract protests of Humana and HealthNet concerning the granting of the T3 civilian TRICARE Managed Care Contract. Earlier this year DoD awarded the North Region TRICARE contract to Aetna and the South Region contract to United Health. The previous contractors, HealthNet and Humana, challenged the awards and the GAO’s decisions were just handed down. Other than the results of the protest, nothing of the decisions is known. What the basis of the reversals, or the recommended corrections, were not made public. While it is possible for the contracts to be awarded to the unsuccessful bidders that is considered very unlikely. The contracts could be rebid, or GAO may have suggested procedural corrections. This is a very interesting event but it should have no immediate effects on the care beneficiaries are receiving. While the protests were being considered the old contractors were continuing to administer the contract and that will not change. When the decisions are unsealed and made public we will be able to tell you more.

2. Democratic House Leadership Holds Meeting With VSO Representatives - On Wednesday Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and 21 members of the House of Representative’s Majority Leadership held a meeting with representatives from approximately 20 VSO’s, including both TREA’s Washington Executive Director Deirdre Parke Holleman and Legislative Director Larry Madison. The House leadership wanted to emphasis that this year the VA health care funding was dramatically increased once again. Since January 2007 through the FY2010 Appropriations it has increased by $23 billion. They also wanted to celebrate that we have finally gotten to pass advanced funding for VA health care. (This was a long time goal that will make it easier for the VA to provide reliable first rate medical care.) VSO representatives also brought up our terrible disappointment that Medical Retirees with less than 20 years of service were not included in the Concurrent Retiree and Disability Program, that there was no movement to end the SBP/DIC offset or to include Guard and Reserve who have been activated since 9/11 to be included in the early retiree program. Of course, numerous additional concerns were discussed including unemployment for Vets, Veteran Owned Small Businesses and importantly our members worries about proposed cuts in Medicare benefits and funding.

3. VA Hosts “Veterans History Countdown” on its Home Page- Running through November 11, the VA’s Homepage www.va.gov is hosting a “Veterans History Countdown” “The special home page feature links to the digital archive of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project and offers a video oral history of a Veteran from each state and some U.S. territories. Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA’s Web feature introduces new personal histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran’s history from each state will be available simply by clicking on the U.S. map in the display. The VA Web display urges Americans to “Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!” The display links to the library’s Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets -- which provides a guide for volunteers to follow in recording and submitting Veterans’ oral histories and access the project’s extensive digital archive. VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program and offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its facilities and special events. These first-hand accounts are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov or the toll-free message line at 888-371-5848.”

4. New T-Pharm Went Live on November 4 - On Wednesday the new TRICARE Pharmacy Contract stood up. There is now one contract that covers both Civilian Retail Pharmacies and the TRICARE Mail-Order program. Express Scripts (ESI) is once again the contractor. (It was the contractor of both previous separate contracts.) There are not many changes from the last contracts and no changes on what drugs are covered. Happily there will now be a single call center phone number for the pharmacy program: 1-877-363-1303. This should make accessing information much easier. There will be some changes in the civilian retail network. (If you have a problem please call our Washington Office). Also, if you are one of the approximately 2,140 TRICARE beneficiaries who receive what is called Specialty Pharmaceuticals you should have already been contacted about possible changes in your pharmacy network. Specialty Pharmaceuticals, (which are all mailed to the beneficiary not picked up at a retail store) are drugs for hemophilia, drugs that have limited distribution by federal law and other exotic medications. Again, it you are having and problems in having these specialty drugs mailed to you please call ESI or TREA’s Washington office.

5. House of Representatives Pass Several Bills to Help Veterans - Looking toward Veterans Day, the House of Representatives passed several bills yesterday that would help veterans throughout the country. They are:

H.R. 1168, as amended, the Veterans’ Retraining Act of 2009, would provide a housing stipend to unemployed veterans enrolled in a Department of Labor job training program. The bill also would provide financial assistance to help newly-trained veterans relocate to geographic locations with a high demand for their acquired skills. H.R. 1168 passed the house by a vote of 356-0.

S 475 – to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, passed by voice vote;

H. Res. 773 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the United States Submarine Force, passed by voice vote;

H. Res. 828 – To recognize October 24, 2009, the 20^th chartered flight of World War II veterans through Louisiana HonorAir, as “Louisiana HonorAir Day,” and to honor the invaluable service and dedication of the World War II veterans to our Nation, passed by voice vote;

H. Res. 461 – Honoring Sentinels of Freedom and commending the dedication, commitment, and extraordinary work of the organization, passed by voice vote;

H.R. 174 – to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the southern Colorado region, passed by voice vote;

H. Res. 89 – Supporting and encouraging greater support for Veterans Day each year, passed by voice vote;

H. Res. 291 – - recognizing the crucial role of assistance dogs in helping wounded veterans live more independent lives, passed 351 to 0; and,

S. 509– to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington, passed 352-0.

6. VA Holds Veterans Homelessness Summit- In Washington this week the VA held a 2 day summit on Veteran Homelessness. VA Secretary Erik K. Shinseki released his 5 year plan to end homelessness among veterans. It is estimated that there are 131,000 homeless vets living on the streets on the United States (down from approximately 200,000 in 2003) The Secretary has been making speeches around the country all year stating that this is one of his top goals. "To do this well, we'll have to attack the entire downward spiral that ends in homelessness. We must do it all," he said. Below please find the VA’s Press Release outline the Department’s plan.

Secretary Shinseki Details Plan to End Homelessness for Veterans

Five-Year Plan Unveiled at Homeless Summit

WASHINGTON – Today, at the “VA National Summit Ending Homelessness Among Veterans” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki unveiled the department’s comprehensive plan to end homelessness among Veterans by marshalling the resources of government, business and the private sector.

“President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years,” said Shinseki. “Those who have served this nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope.”

Shinseki’s comprehensive plan to end homelessness includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated Veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income Veterans and their families and a national referral center to link Veterans to local service providers. Additionally, the plan calls for expanded efforts for education, jobs, health care and housing.

“Our plan enlarges the scope of VA’s efforts to combat homelessness,” said Shinseki. “In the past, VA focused largely on getting homeless Veterans off the streets. Our five-year plan aims also at preventing them from ever ending up homeless.”

Other features of the plan outlined by Shinseki include:

·  The new Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a powerful option for qualified Veterans to pursue a fully funded degree program at a state college or university. It is a major component of the fight against Veteran homelessness.

·  VA is collaborating with the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration to certify Veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses for listing on the Federal Supply Register, which enhances their visibility and competitiveness – creating jobs for Veterans.

·  VA will spend $3.2 billion next year to prevent and reduce homelessness among Veterans. That includes $2.7 billion on medical services and more than $500 million on specific homeless programs.

·  VA aggressively diagnoses and treats the unseen wounds of war that often lead to homelessness – severe isolation, dysfunctional behaviors, depression and substance abuse. Last week, VA and the Defense Department cosponsored a national summit on mental health that will help both agencies better coordinate mental health efforts.

·  VA partners with more than 600 community organizations to provide transitional housing to 20,000 Veterans. It also works with 240 public housing authorities to provide permanent housing to homeless Veterans and their families under a partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The VA/HUD partnership will provide permanent housing to more than 20,000 Veterans and their families.

Over the duration of the conference it is expected that over 1,200 homeless service providers from federal and state agencies, the business community, and faith-based and community providers will attend and participate in the summit.

“This is not a summit on homelessness among Veterans,” added Shinseki “It’s a summit on ending homelessness among Veterans.” 

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