washingtonscene
Protect wounded warriors and their caregivers Continue to press for a system that ensures seamless care for wounded warriors and their families and caregivers. Current law authorizes three years of active-duty level TRICARE coverage for all members medi- cally retired for service-caused conditions but only if that care is not “reasonably avail- able” in the VA. To ensure no loss of care and continuity, this care should be manda- tory — not subject to potentially conflicting definitions of “reasonably available.” More must be done to ensure medical and benefit systems are providing conti- nuity of care and coverage for wounded warriors of all services and components, including reasonable assistance, training, mental health and family-marital counsel- ing, and compensation for their dependent and nondependent caregivers. Priority must be given to building a
comprehensive DoD/VA plan for destig- matization, identification, and treatment of combat-stress-related conditions and traumatic brain injury (TBI), including expanded and confidential access to coun- seling for warriors and their families and more sensitive accommodation of TBI/ PTSD causation in administrative and dis- ciplinary cases among combat veterans. Military suicide rates have been on the rise since 2005. DoD and the VA must have viable and effective systems of care and sup- port that address all servicemembers’ physi- cal, mental, and emotional issues, including managing pain, substance use, and complex trauma conditions. Establishing a culture that encourages individuals to seek help as an act of strength rather than as a sign of weakness is central to transforming military and veteran systems of care and benefits. Establishing and sustaining a perma- nent, senior-level joint oversight office, staffed with full-time personnel from both departments, is essential to ensure
42 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2012
implementation and sustainment of DoD/ VA coordination to assure continuity and consistency of care and benefits, identifi- cation and cross-implementation of best practices, and effective exchange of health care and personnel records data.
Sustain TRICARE/TFL Maintain and improve benefit consis- tency for all beneficiary groups, with the following objectives: • Oppose any enrollment fee for TRI- CARE For Life (TFL). Congress expressly indicated when TFL was enacted that servicemembers’ decades of service and sacrifice, in addition to Part B enrollment, constituted their proper premium. • Oppose initiatives to dramatically limit coverage by Medicare supplement poli- cies, including TFL, such as the deficit commission’s proposal to impose a $500 deductible and limit coverage to 50 per- cent of the next $5,000. • Ensure timely access to the full range of mental health care services for service- members and their families and caregivers. Seek increased oversight and funding to ensure an improved joint DoD/VA effort. • Promote beneficiary-friendly initia- tives to reduce long-term military health care costs, such as expanded, positive incentives for all beneficiaries, including Medicare-eligibles, to pursue healthy life- styles and follow prescribed regimens for chronic conditions. • Increase access to civilian providers by reducing administrative deterrents to participation, attracting more providers to participate in TRICARE Standard, and ensuring assistance for Standard benefi- ciaries who need help finding TRICARE- participating providers. • Eliminate preauthorization and referral hassles and other administrative inconve- niences to promote doctor participation in TRICARE and improve beneficiary access.
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