NewsBytes December 13, 2019
In this issue:
NDAA Has SBP/DIC Offset Being Phased Out
DHA Monitoring TRICARE Processing Error
Electronic Health Records Moves Forward
Beneficiaries Need to be Aware of Diabetes Symptoms
The FY2020 NDAA Contains SBP/DIC Offset to Be Phased Out in 3 Years
The House approved (377-48) the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA-S.1790), which includes a three-year phase out of the SBP/DIC offset for military widows/widowers. The FRA has long sought the elimination of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset for widows and widowers of service members. This offset, also known as the Widow’s Tax, and impacts approximately 65,000 widows and widowers of our Armed Forces. The FRA has advocated that these widows and widowers should receive both SBP and DIC benefits without the current dollar-for-dollar offset. In addition, the 3,488-page bill includes:
• Delaying drastic cuts to the Defense Health Agency staff until a review ensures that reductions will not negatively impact military health care;
• No TRICARE fee or pharmacy co-pay increases in 2020. The previously approved (in 2017) TRICARE fee and pharmacy co-pay increases will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020;
• Authorizes Secretary of Defense to pay medical malpractice claims against military personnel for injury or death caused by a DoD health care provider. This provision does not repeal the Feres Doctrine, that was contained in the House-passed version;
• Doubling up to $1,000, the reimbursement for professional relicensing costs of reassigned service members’ spouses;
• Increasing active duty pay by 3.1 percent (largest increase in 10 years);
• Authorizing Reserve Component serving on 12304b orders (augmenting pre-planned combat operations) will now have this service applied toward their active duty time, which will lower the age that they can start to receive retirement pay;
• Requiring the service branches to establish a tenant Bill of Rights that creates minimum acceptable livability standards for privatized military housing, and bans the use of non-disclosure agreements in housing disputes; and
• Adding money to underfunded construction projects that include military housing and on-base childcare facilities.
The final bill (Conference Committee report) has passed the House and it is awaiting a Senate vote that will occur next week. President Trump has indicated he will sign it into law. When this occurs, it will be the 59th annual Defense Authorization bill to be enacted.
DHA Monitoring Payment Processing Error in TRICARE East Region
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Humana Military are working closely together to quickly assist approximately 75,000 TRICARE beneficiaries who are affected by a payment processing error that occurred December 5. Health care coverage remains uninterrupted for those affected.
“While this is an unfortunate error, I am confident this will be resolved quickly,” said Army Lt. Gen. Ron Place, director of the Defense Health Agency. “I am personally in touch with the president of Humana Military, and his team has taken immediate steps to correct this error.”
Humana Military is the TRICARE regional contractor that supports the TRICARE East Region. Under the new regional contracts, the East Region is a merger of the North and South Regions and includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa (Rock Island area), Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri (St. Louis area), New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (excluding El Paso area), Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. According to Humana Military, the processing error generated inaccurate charges that were as much as 100 times larger than the accurate bill. The cause of the processing error is still under investigation. Humana Military is working with banks to reverse these charges and will cover any overdraft or other related fees.
Beneficiaries with questions should contact Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445. Humana Military is extending their customer service hours throughout the weekend between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET to assist TRICARE beneficiaries who received erroneous charges.
Electronic Health Record Implementation Moves Forward
The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization held an oversight hearing on the progress the VA is making implementing Electronic Health Records (EHR). The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is scheduled to “go-live” March 28, 2020 in Washington State. This will be the first phase of the 10-year HER implementation timeline. Subcommittee Chair Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.) expressed concern that the system is not fully tested and not enough staff training has been conducted. She asked the VA for an honest assessment. Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.) encouraged the VA to take a few more weeks if needed.
The Deputy Secretary of VA, James Byrne and his team testified that everything will be ready to go-live March 28th. Deputy Secretary Byrne mentioned five milestones that are vital to the success of the implementation of the EHR throughout the next 10 years.
1. Twenty Task Orders (TO) that allows the VA the flexibility to moderate work and modify implementation and deployment plans efficiently
2. Organizational structure and strategic alignment with DoD
3. Implementation planning and strategy
4. Change management and workflow councils – the VA has established 18 EHR Councils to support the development of national standardized clinical and business workflows for the VA’s new EHR solution.
5. Infrastructure in place for both structural facilities and electronic capabilities
Deputy Secretary Byrne is “very confident” that the VA is on schedule to have the implementation done on time. He has confidence in the team as well as having proper oversight and a matrix in place. If a later implementation date is requested, that decision will be made by VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and Deputy Secretary Byrne.
DHA Wants Beneficiaries to Be Aware of Diabetes Symptoms
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) wants beneficiaries to learn how to reduce the risks of diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where your body does not properly process food for use as energy. Your body turns most of the food you eat into glucose, or sugar, to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into our cells. When a person has diabetes, the body cannot make enough insulin, or does not effectively use the insulin it does make. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. The CDC estimates that approximately 29 million people are living with diabetes in the United States. As a result of better treatments, people with diabetes are now living longer and enjoying a better quality of life. Research studies have found that moderate weight loss and exercise can actually prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in adults who are considered to be at high-risk for developing diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that by 2040, more than 640 million people may be living with diabetes.
People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for diagnosis. Some common symptoms of diabetes include:
• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
Unfortunately, some people may have no symptoms at all. For a complete list of symptoms and information on the types of diabetes, visit the CDC’s Basics About Diabetes web page.
TRICARE covers diabetic supplies through the pharmacy and medical benefits. Your doctor can do screenings, answer your questions, explain what a diagnosis means and provide details about the best treatment. Visit the TRICARE website to learn more about coverage.
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