washingtonscene

effort to engage in productive dialog with the military and veteran community,” says MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret). “We recognize in many ways his hands are tied by the arbi- trary cuts of sequestration, but Mr. Hagel strove to work together despite the dif- ficult circumstance.” The next secretary of defense faces

several difficult tasks. The across-the- board cuts of sequestration return in 2016 and threaten to gut the defense budget, while operations continue in Afghani- stan, Iraq, and Syria.

2015 Medicare M

Rates Premiums are not increasing.

onthly premiums for Medi- care Part B (outpatient care) will remain the same for benefi-

ciaries in 2015. The basic Medicare Part B premium is $104.90 a month. Beneficiaries with a 2013 adjusted gross

income (plus tax-exempt interest income) over $85,000 — or over $170,000 if married and filing jointly — will continue to pay higher means-tested premiums. The means-tested rates also will remain flat in 2015. Means-tested rates range from $146.90 to $335.70 per person per month, depending on income. The Part B annual deductible also will stay at $147. This marks the second year in a row

Medicare rates have not increased. Another announcement noted the

Medicare Part A deductible — which beneficiaries pay when admitted to a hospital — will increase $44 in 2015 to $1,260. That deductible covers up to 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hos- pital care. Beneficiaries will pay $315 a day for days 61 through 90 in 2015 (up

40 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2015

from $304 in 2014) and $630 a day for hospital stays beyond 90 days (up from $608 in 2014). The daily coinsurance rate for days 21 through 100 in a skilled-nurs- ing facility will rise from $152 to $157.50.

VA Choice Card

Rolls Out Millions will receive health care access cards.

T

he new VA choice card, an outcome of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act,

will be available to veterans enrolled in VA health care as of Aug. 1, 2014. Veter- ans with active duty service in a theater of combat operations within the previous five years also are eligible. To facilitate a smooth implementation of the new program, the card and a letter ex- plaining eligibility for the program is being mailed to beneficiaries in three phases: 1. Veterans who live 40 miles from any

VA health care facility received cards in early November 2014; 2. Those who have been waiting for their

requested appointments for more than 30 days began receiving cards in late Novem- ber 2014; and 3. The remaining 8 million veterans are scheduled to receive a card in January. Receiving the card does not mean a

veteran automatically is eligible for the program. To determine eligibility, veterans must call (866) 606-8198 or visit www.va .gov/healthbenefits/apps/choice. The VA must give pre-authorization for care. Each episode of care will be authorized for no more than 60 days. The program is designed as a tempo-

rary fix and is authorized for a maximum of three years or $10 billion in health care, whichever occurs first.