NewsBytes February 24, 2023
In this issue:
SecDef Urged to Protect TRICARE Benefits in 2024
SVAC Reviews Nominee for VA Undersecretary of Benefits
Senate Approves Defense Assistant Secretary for Healthcare
FRA and Others Urge SecDef to Protect TRICARE Benefits in FY2024 Budget
The FRA and several other groups will submit a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting that as the Department of Defense (DoD) undertakes the FY2024 budget request, it protects the TRICARE benefit to ensure it provides the low out-of-pocket costs, comprehensive coverage, and access to quality care, service members and retirees have earned. The FY2024 budget is expected to be released on March 9, 2023.
As noted in the Jan. 27, 2023, NewsBytes, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently issued a report recommending various fee increases for TRICARE-For-Life (TFL). The FRA will oppose any new TRICARE fee increases and members are urged to use the FRA Action Center to tell their legislators to oppose these CBO proposals now!
SVAC Reviews Nominee for VA Undersecretary of Benefits
The Senate Veterans Affairs held a hearing to consider President Biden’s nominee for Undersecretary of Benefits at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mr. Joshua Jacobs has served as Acting Undersecretary of Benefits since July of 2022. The Under Secretary for Benefits is the VA’s top official heading the Veterans Benefits Administration, who will oversee the delivery of critical benefits to millions of veterans and beneficiaries and is responsible for tackling the disability claims backlog. (A backlog claim is a claim that has not been adjudicated in 125 days.) Currently, the VA has a disability claims backlog of more than 194,000 claims.
Prior to rejoining the VA, Joshua Jacobs was a senior associate at Booz Allen Hamilton. He previously served as a VA senior advisor for the Office of the Secretary and a special assistant in VA’s Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. He also served nine years in the U.S. Senate, including two years as deputy staff director for the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The position of VA Undersecretary for Benefits requires Senate confirmation.
Senate Approves Defense Assistant Secretary for Healthcare
The Senate approved President Biden’s nominee, Army Major General Lester Martinez-Lopez (Ret.) for the Department of Defense Assistant Secretary for Healthcare. Martínez López was born in Puerto Rico in 1955 and joined the Army in 1978. While serving in the Army he obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1983. He retired from the Army in 2005 and was named the Senior Vice President & Administrator of Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital Harris County Hospital District in Houston, Texas. He later also served as the Chief Medical Officer at the Brandon Regional Hospital, Brandon Florida.
He replaces Acting Assistant Secretary of Health Seileen Mullen. The position supervises all DoD health and force health protection policies, programs, and activities, including TRICARE.
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