Military Report December 30, 2002 Issue

[thedrifter]

DoD Official Frames Upcoming Budget Strategies
The DoD's wish list for fiscal 2004 is only a couple of months from delivery. A senior defense department official recently previewed the department's strategy for the '04 budget: a focus on readiness and modernization -- investing in newer technologies, while divesting Cold-War era weapons systems.

http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_Budget_123002&ESRC=dod.nl


Military Deploys Digitized Patient Record
A computerized system will eventually provide military physicians with fast, around- the-clock access to patient records anywhere in the world, a DoD health care official noted.

http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_Military_123002&ESRC=dod.nl


myPay To Offer Tax Data Online In January
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service has updated their online myPay service, a secure, online system that helps servicemembers, retirees, annuitants and many Defense Department civilians monitor and control their pay and benefits using the Internet.

http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_myPay_123002&ESRC=dod.nl


Out-of-Pocket Housing Costs Sliced Starting Jan. 1
Jan. 1 will be a special day for service members and their families; that's when they'll start seeing more Basic Allowance for Housing money in their paychecks, according to DoD's director of compensation.

http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_Out_123002&ESRC=dod.nl


Personal Info Taken In Health Care Computer Theft
Thieves made off with computer equipment and files from the Arizona office of a military health care contractor Dec. 14, gaining access to some clients' social security numbers, according to DoD's health care management organization.

http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_Personal_123002&ESRC=dod.nl

Rumsfeld: Overseas Bases Could Be Closed
Overseas installations will be on the table when Defense Department officials discuss base closures in the coming year, according to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_Rumsfeld_123002&ESRC=dod.nl


Some Exempted From Initial Smallpox Vaccination Group
During the first week of smallpox vaccinations for servicemembers, 102 of 276 individuals were screened out for medical conditions said Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant defense secretary for health affairs.

http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/?file=MR_Some_123002&ESRC=dod.nl



Sempers,

Roger

[thedrifter]

Some Veterans to Have Hospital Copayments Reduced


WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Some veterans in high-cost areas who receive treatment in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals will have their inpatient copayments reduced by 80 percent, effective retroactively to October 1.

"This enables VA to cushion the effects of copayments for some veterans in high-cost areas, while still keeping our priorities focused on those with service-connected conditions," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.

The VA Health Care Programs Enhancement Act, signed into law in January 2002, required VA to create a new category of veterans that takes into consideration the high costs of living in many parts of the United States. Under the new system, VA will use two priority groups -- Priority Groups 7 and 8 -- to replace the current Priority 7 group.

The redefined Priority 7 group will consist of veterans who have no service-connected disability rating or who are officially categorized as "noncompensable zero percent service-connected."

Veterans in the new Priority 7 must have incomes that exceed VA's national income threshold ($24,644 in 2003 for a single veteran, $29,576 for a veteran with a single dependent) but are below a geographically based income threshold set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for public housing benefits. Information about the HUD threshold is available at http://www.hud.gov/renting/phprog.cfm .

All other veterans who previously were in Priority Group 7 will be in a new Priority Group 8.

The purpose for this change is to adjust inpatient copayments for higher costs of living areas in different parts of the country. Veterans in the new Priority Group 7 will pay only 20 percent of the current hospital copayments. There is no reduction in copayments for outpatient care or pharmaceuticals.


Sempers,

Roger