Weekly newsletter of the Fleet Reserve Association
January 26 2018

In this issue:

Government Shutdown Ends but More Needs to Be Done
TRICARE: Easier Access to Urgent Care
Two HVAC Subcommittees Hold Hearing on Veteran Homelessness 
Last Call for FRA 2018 Survey on Military and Veterans Benefits

Government Shutdown Ends but More Needs to Be Done
The House and Senate passed a fourth Continuing Resolution (CR-H.R.195) to re-open government after a three day shutdown. The CR only provides for 17 days of funding for the federal government. As a result of the three day shutdown, the FRA sponsored programs, 2017 USN Recruiters of the Year (ROY) and the Commandant of the Marine Corps Combined Awards Program events scheduled for this week were cancelled. 

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement after the House passed the CR:

"Ending the current shutdown does not solve the funding crisis for the military. While our troops can be certain of one more paycheck before this temporary spending measure expires, Congress owes them much more than that. We owe them the certainty that they will have all the training, equipment, and resources they need when they go into harm's way. We owe them the certainty that their needs will be considered on their own merits and not held hostage to other political issues. For far too long, Congress has failed to provide certainty of any kind to our military. That is immoral and it has to stop. Congress has an obligation to spend the next three weeks getting a full year of funding for our troops. Our service in Congress must honor our troops service on the front lines. The only way we can do that is to immediately give them the resources they so urgently need." 

FRA agrees with the Chairman's statement. Congress needs to pass a Defense spending bill for the current fiscal year and lift or eliminate the sequestration spending caps on Defense.
 
TRICARE: Easier Access to Urgent Care
Effective January 1, 2018, most TRICARE Prime enrollees no longer need a referral for urgent care visits and point-of-service charges no longer apply for urgent care claims. This change replaces the previous policy, which waived referrals for the first two urgent care visits per year. Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) should continue to visit military hospitals and clinics for care. ADSMs enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote—and not living near a military hospital or clinic—do not need a referral when seeking an urgent care visit.

"We wanted our service members' families and others to have easier access to urgent care," said Ken Canestrini, acting director of the TRICARE Health Plan within the Defense Health Agency. "Beneficiaries can go visit an urgent care center right away anytime they have a need."

TRICARE Select beneficiaries and any other TRICARE plan participants can visit any TRICARE-authorized provider. An authorized provider is any individual, institution, organization or supplier that is state licensed, accredited by national organization or meets medical community standards and is certified to provide TRICARE benefits. There are two types of TRICARE-authorized providers: Network and Non-Network for urgent care.

Urgent Care is care for a non-emergency illness or injury requiring treatment within 24 hours. Examples of urgent care conditions include a sprain, rising temperature or sore throat. An emergency situation is something that threatens life, limb or eyesight.

If beneficiaries are unsure whether to seek urgent care, call the 24/7 Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273) and select option 1. Beneficiaries can speak with a registered nurse who can answer questions and give advice. The nurse can also assist you with finding a provider and scheduling an appointment.

If medical care is needed after hours, while traveling or if your primary care manager is unavailable, urgent care is a great option. Contact your regional contractor for help finding the appropriate urgent care facility or provider. Any TRICARE Overseas Program Prime enrollees requiring urgent care while on temporary duty or on leave status in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, may access urgent care without a referral or an authorization. However, the ADSMs must follow up with their primary care manager in accordance with applicable DoD and Service regulations concerning ADSM care outside military hospitals and clinics.

To learn more about TRICARE changes click here.

Two HVAC Subcommittees Hold Hearing on Veteran Homelessness 
Recently, two House Veterans Affairs Subcommittees held a joint hearing on the problem of veteran homelessness. In 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a goal of eliminating veteran homelessness by 2015. At the present time, that goal has not been achieved. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Labor and the VA have a wide range of programs that prevent homelessness among veterans. These programs include health care, housing solutions, job training and education. Witnesses at the hearing agreed that such programs are highly successful in working toward a "functional zero" and in assuring veterans who overcome homelessness do so permanently.

Last Call for FRA 2018 Survey on Military and Veterans Benefits
Your thoughts and concerns are an important part of the FRA Legislative Team! As part of our mission to fight for the concerns of enlisted personnel on Capitol Hill, FRA is conducting an online survey to determine which benefits are most important to active duty and Reserve personnel, retirees, veterans and their families. The brief survey will be available for a few more days. Members can participate by clicking here. 

FRA will share the results with elected officials on Capitol Hill, key committee staff and leaders within the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs, ensuring these crucial decision-makers understand the enlisted sea service perspective.

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