washingtonscene TRICARE beneficiaries are unaffected

by the decision. At the urging of MOAA and other military and veterans’ organi- zations, Congress passed the TRICARE Affirmation Act in April 2010, providing a statutory regulation saying TRICARE satisfies the minimum essential cover- age requirements of the ACA. Congress passed subsequent legislation a month later to exempt VA and CHAMPVA beneficiaries from the coverage require- ments. These plans also are excluded from so-called “Cadillac taxes” on high- value plans. Importantly, the ACA will not affect TRICARE or the VA’s health administra- tion, eligibility, or cost to beneficiaries. MOAA’s focus remains on safeguard- ing military and VA beneficiaries’ health care benefits, protecting against taxation of those benefits, improving access to providers, and ensuring long-term sus- tainability of Medicare and TRICARE. Our mission is to make sure government leaders in both the executive and legisla- tive branches understand the important distinction between social insurance pro- grams like Medicare and Social Security and earned compensation for a career of military service and sacrifice. MOAA will continue to track the ACA and ensure military and VA beneficiaries are not negatively affected.

New Agent E

Orange Benefits Thousands of Air Force veterans are affected.

arlier this year, a report by the Na- tional Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine concluded crews operat-

ing on C-123 aircraft during the Vietnam War were exposed to Agent Orange.

34 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2015 In congressional testimony provided in

May, MOAA recommended that Congress and the VA act on the report. The report found evidence that those

who served aboard or worked on the C-123 aircraft associated with Opera- tion Ranch Hand (ORH) were exposed to the herbicide both during and after the Vietnam War, when many of the air- craft remained in service for aeromedical transportation and other missions. The VA published an interim final rule

June 18 to allow veterans to apply for dis- ability compensation and VA care for any of 14 presumptive medical conditions due to exposure to Agent Orange. The ruling applies to active Air Force and Air Force Reserve veterans assigned to specific C-123 units from 1969-86 who have developed an Agent Orange condition. In a press release, the VA said, “Air

Force and Air Force Reserve flight, medical, and ground maintenance crew members who served on the contami- nated ORH C-123s are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during their service, thus making it easier for them to establish entitlement for some VA benefits if they develop an Agent Orange- related presumptive condition. In addi- tion, for affected Air Force Reserve crew members, VA will presume that their Agent Orange-related condition had its onset during their Reserve training. This change ensures that these reservists are eligible for VA disability compensation and medical care for any Agent Orange- related presumptive condition and that their surviving dependents are eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compen- sation and burial benefits.” MOAA recommends any Air Force vet-

eran who served in a C-123 squadron during or after the Vietnam War contact a veterans service organization that represents and as- sists veterans in the VA claims process.