moe1942
03-14-2006, 07:55
Release No. 3-02-06
March 13, 2006
Key elected officials oppose Tricare fee increases
Key Congressional members have gone on record as opposing the proposed Department of Defense plans to impose large health fee increases to the under 65 years of age Tricare beneficiaries.
According to an announcement by the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA), House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and the Committee's senior Democrat, Ike Skelton (D-Mo), recently sent a joint letter to Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-IA) saying they don't support such increases and want more money in the defense budget to make up the shortfall in this and many other areas.
"The [Armed Services] committee believes that these proposals depend too exclusively on increasing cost shares and believes that no action should be taken in Fiscal Year 2007 until a full review of additional cost control options is completed," the letter said. Hunter and Skelton also made it clear they're not happy that the Pentagon has already issued guidance to Tricare contractors to start implementing the fee increases. "Circumventing Congressional oversight by quickly implementing fundamental changes to a highly viable medical benefit is not keeping the promise to the sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines that serve our country," they said.
The Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee will hold a hearing on this topic on March 29. Defense and service leaders and military associations are scheduled to testify. The Senate Personnel Subcommittee has scheduled a similar hearing for March 14.
In a related area, according to an announcement by the National Association of the Uniformed Services (NAUS), Representatives Walter B. Jones (R-NC) and Chet Edward (D-TX) will introduce a bill that will restrict the current laws that permit the secretary of defense broad discretion to increase health care deductibles, co-payments and enrollment fees for military beneficiaries. The bill will specify that only Congress will have the authority to increase Tricare fees.
Members of the military retiree community can stay current on legislative issues by visiting the web sites of military related organizations of their choice. Among them are MOAA at (www.moaa.org); NAUS (www.naus.org); The Retired Enlisted Association (www.trea.org); and the Air Force Association (www.afa.org).
March 13, 2006
Key elected officials oppose Tricare fee increases
Key Congressional members have gone on record as opposing the proposed Department of Defense plans to impose large health fee increases to the under 65 years of age Tricare beneficiaries.
According to an announcement by the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA), House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and the Committee's senior Democrat, Ike Skelton (D-Mo), recently sent a joint letter to Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-IA) saying they don't support such increases and want more money in the defense budget to make up the shortfall in this and many other areas.
"The [Armed Services] committee believes that these proposals depend too exclusively on increasing cost shares and believes that no action should be taken in Fiscal Year 2007 until a full review of additional cost control options is completed," the letter said. Hunter and Skelton also made it clear they're not happy that the Pentagon has already issued guidance to Tricare contractors to start implementing the fee increases. "Circumventing Congressional oversight by quickly implementing fundamental changes to a highly viable medical benefit is not keeping the promise to the sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines that serve our country," they said.
The Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee will hold a hearing on this topic on March 29. Defense and service leaders and military associations are scheduled to testify. The Senate Personnel Subcommittee has scheduled a similar hearing for March 14.
In a related area, according to an announcement by the National Association of the Uniformed Services (NAUS), Representatives Walter B. Jones (R-NC) and Chet Edward (D-TX) will introduce a bill that will restrict the current laws that permit the secretary of defense broad discretion to increase health care deductibles, co-payments and enrollment fees for military beneficiaries. The bill will specify that only Congress will have the authority to increase Tricare fees.
Members of the military retiree community can stay current on legislative issues by visiting the web sites of military related organizations of their choice. Among them are MOAA at (www.moaa.org); NAUS (www.naus.org); The Retired Enlisted Association (www.trea.org); and the Air Force Association (www.afa.org).