NewsBytes January 20, 2023
In this issue:
Vets in Suicidal Crisis can go to any Health Care Facility for Free
New TRICARE Contracts
Poll Shows Approval of Military is Down
Service Member Identity Theft Increasing
Vets in Suicidal Crisis can go to any VA or non-VA Health Care Facility for Free
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun allowing any veteran experiencing a suicidal crisis to receive emergency care at no cost from any VA or non-VA health care facility. Enrollment in the VA system is not required. “Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency health care they deserve — no matter where they need it, when they need it, or whether they’re enrolled in VA care,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “This expansion of care will save Veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing more important than that.” This benefit includes inpatient or crisis care for up to 30 days, and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Veterans also have the option to Dial 988 then Press 1 to connect with the 24/7 crisis assistance hotline. the original number for the Veterans Crisis 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, remains available, and individuals can make contact via chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net, or by texting 838255.
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New TRICARE Contracts
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced the granting of its TRICARE managed care support contracts (T-5) to Humana Government Business (East Region) and TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corporation (West Region). The contracts will go into effect in 2024, at which point the following six states will move from the East Region to the West Region: Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.
The FRA and several other organizations signed a joint letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committees to ask for significant Congressional oversight of the DHA implementing the new contract to ensure minimum transitional disruptions such as delayed claims processing. In addition, FRA wants Congressional oversight to ensure the new contract maintains a robust provider network.
Poll Shows Approval of Military is Down
A recent poll from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation indicates that approval for the U.S. military has declined in recent years. Only four years ago, 70 percent indicated they had a great deal of trust and confidence in the military. This year only 48 percent now express a “great deal” of trust and confidence in the military. That is a drop of more than 20 points. No other public institution including Congress, the Supreme Court, the presidency or the media has seen as sharp a decline in public trust.
The majority of Americans believe that senior leaders at the Department of Defense are overly focused on politics rather than war fighting. Half of poll respondents said so-called “woke” practices undermine military effectiveness, while 46 percent said their lower opinion of military reflected fears that too many far right or extremist individuals are in uniform. The military’s perception changes may be impacting recruitment. Only 13 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds said they were “highly willing” to enlist, with 25 percent saying “somewhat willing” to enlist.
CFPB Report: Service Member Identity Theft Increasing
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a report identifying an increase in reported incidents of identity theft by servicemembers. The report, titled “Servicemember reports about identity theft are increasing,” cited to data from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) that showed nearly 50,000 cases of identity theft involving military consumers in 2021. According to a 2020 FTC report, active duty servicemembers were 76% more likely than their civilian counterparts to report that identity theft occurred on an existing account and 22 percent more likely than their civilian counterparts to report that their stolen information was used to open a new account.
The CFPB report mentions some specific attributes of the service member population that make them attractive targets to identity thieves, including steady income and frequent relocation that may increase the risk of exposure of their personal information through housing searches, spousal employment searches and other application processes. It also details the unique and heightened repercussions of identity theft on servicemembers, who are subject to continuous evaluation of their credit history and ability to meet their financial obligations to maintain their security clearance. As the report states, “[i]f identity theft results in fraudulent credit accounts and past-due bills showing up on a servicemember’s credit report, it can swiftly derail the service member’s career, undermining military readiness and national security.”
According to the CFPB, military consumer complaints about identity theft increased nearly fivefold in the past 8 years, from just over 200 annually in 2014 to more than 1,000 in 2022. Like other consumers, many servicemembers only learn that they have been victims of identity theft after it occurs, when they see a debt, they do not recognize on their credit report or receive collection calls. The report concludes that financial institutions and creditors must be the first line of defense against identity theft.
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