washingtonscene
percent as of April 2015. That dramatically will undermine military health care access, and it can’t be allowed to happen.
Safeguard wounded warriors and their families/caregivers Providing care for wounded warriors and their families and caregivers remains a high priority. MOAA will continue to press to improve the system to provide seamless care and services. A recent RAND Corp. study of caregiv- ers found more than 1 out of 6 of our na- tion’s 5.5 million caregivers are caring for post-9/11 veterans. Nearly 40 percent of these caregivers are under the age of 30 and will remain in the role of caregiver for decades to come. We must do more to sup- port these caregivers who are providing an estimated $3 billion a year in services to our wounded, ill, and injured servicemem- bers and veterans. Improvements to re- spite care, employment accommodations, and health care are a priority. More must be done to ensure medi- cal and benefit systems are providing for wounded warriors of all services and com- ponents continuity of care and coverage, including reasonable assistance, training, mental health and family-marital counsel- ing, and compensation for their dependent and nondependent caregivers. DoD and the VA have made progress to-
ward increasing the number of behavioral health care providers, but timely access to qualified, appropriate mental health inter- vention and treatment remains difficult in many DoD and VA health care facilities. The shortage of mental health care provid- ers results in increased referrals to civilian providers, many of whom have little knowl- edge or understanding of military culture and the unique needs of military families. Specialized training and military cultural awareness programs should be expanded for community providers to improve effi-
44 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2015
ciency when working with servicemembers and veterans and their families. The health and well-being of the all-
volunteer force has never been more criti- cal than it is today. DoD and the VA must have viable and effective systems of care and support that address all warrior physi- cal, mental, and emotional issues, including managing pain, substance use, and complex trauma conditions. Senior commanders must continue to strengthen efforts to es- tablish a command climate that eliminates stigma associated with seeking mental health care. Establishing a culture that en- courages individuals to seek help as an act of strength rather than as a sign of weakness is central to transforming the willingness of servicemembers to seek treatment.
Sustain TRICARE/TFL Maintain and improve benefit consistency for all beneficiary groups, with the following objectives: Oppose any enrollment fee for TRICARE For Life (TFL). Congress indicated when TFL was enacted that servicemembers’ decades of service and sacrifice, in addition to Medicare Part B enrollment, constitutes their proper premium. Oppose initiatives to dramatically limit coverage by Medicare supplement policies, including TFL. Ensure timely access to the full range of mental health services for servicemembers and their families and caregivers. Seek increased oversight and funding to ensure an improved joint DoD and VA effort. Promote beneficiary-friendly initiatives to reduce long-term military health care costs, such as expanded, positive incentives for all beneficiaries, including Medicare-eligibles, to pursue healthy lifestyles and follow prescribed regimens for chronic conditions. Increase access to civilian providers by reducing administrative deterrents
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