washingtonscene
flak from MOAA and other military ad- vocacy groups, servicemembers, and the administration. The BAH restriction applies to the spouse of higher rank, eliminating the ben- efit entirely for the other spouse. The pro- posal particularly is detrimental to female servicemembers, 20 percent of whom are in dual-military marriages, compared to less than 4 percent of their male counterparts. This is about more than a couple of junior servicemembers deciding to give up their privacy in order to scrounge up extra savings every month. This is a seri- ous cut to the overall package service- members need to keep pace with their private-sector peers. Administration officials ultimately concluded the proposal negatively would affect recruiting and retention of the all- volunteer force, and MOAA agrees. DoD uses a specific formula — consist- ing of basic pay, an allowance for subsis- tence, federal tax advantages, and BAH — to keep military compensation on pace with private-sector workers. Because troops have little say in where the services assign them, BAH provides a monthly stipend equal to the local average rental cost to help offset their expenses. DoD uses annual surveys of civilian housing costs to determine pay- ment levels near installations. Currently, about 70 percent of the
force lives outside an installation post. DoD likes it that way; troops like it that way. DoD saves money on upkeep of cost- ly installations. The arrangement allows military families to assimilate into their local communities. Changing or reducing housing allow- ances based on marriage or cohabitation significantly undermines the fairness of military pay and puts servicemembers at a competitive disadvantage to their private-sector peers.
Senate Seeks S
Changes Lawmakers call for TRICARE prescription copayment hikes.
enate lawmakers included sever- al changes to TRICARE benefits in their version of the annual defense
bill. Several MOAA-supported health care provisions were included in the bill, along with an unacceptable provision for TRI- CARE prescription fee hikes. The bill would allow TRICARE Prime beneficiaries to use urgent care clinics up to four times a year without the hassle of obtaining a preauthorization, with the intent of curbing emergency room use for non-life-threatening medical situations and providing beneficiaries with more options. Other provisions in the bill include holding DoD accountable for access to care standards, implementing quality metrics and safety standards, and rec- ognizing the unique needs of pediatric TRICARE beneficiaries. Unfortunately, Senate lawmakers also decided to shift a substantial amount of DoD’s health care costs onto military fami- lies and retirees in the form of higher TRI- CARE pharmacy fees. MOAA has worked with Congress over
the past several years to put reasonable fee structures into law. Current law indexes pharmacy fees to cost-of-living increases. Additionally, last year’s mail-order pharmacy mandates were developed as a compromise, in lieu of higher phar- macy copayments for all beneficiaries. Over 95 percent of MOAA members sur- veyed supported the compromise. These changes have saved DoD millions and already have slowed the growth of health care costs. The mail-order pharmacy also has provided savings to beneficiaries.
*on the web: Inim voluptat elit utpating ex etuerci eu feum eum aliquating ese feugait AUGUST 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 31
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