Record Pay Increase Likely Coming For Disabled Veterans And Military Retirees In 2023
Military retirees and veterans receiving disability pay from the Department of Veterans Affairs are likely to see record monthly check increases for the second year running thanks to the pace of inflation, according to new estimates.
DoD Misspent More Than $100 Million On Ambulance Rides, Audit Reveals
The Defense Health Agency improperly paid more than $100 million over five years for ambulance rides, which often lacked documentation to prove they were necessary, according to a Defense Department inspector general audit released Thursday.
Military Families' Housing Benefits Lag As Rents Explode
When Kristin Martin found out her husband was being transferred to Naval Base San Diego, securing housing for their family of five quickly took over her life. On-base housing wasn't an option - the waitlist for a four-bedroom home in the neighborhoods they qualified for was 14 to 16 months.
Veterans Who Were Exposed To Toxic Burn Pits Bill Signed By Biden
By: Vanessa Lee I AFSA Legislative Communications & Administrative Assistant
A bill that enhances medical coverage for veterans exposed to pollutants from burning trash on military bases was signed into law by President Biden on Wednesday, putting an end to years of advocacy by soldiers and their families.
Danielle Robinson, the widow of Ohio National Guard Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson, for whom the bill was named, attended Biden's State of the Union Speech and was on hand Wednesday to watch him sign the bill. Her daughter, Brielle, was also at the signing ceremony.
President Joe Biden praised the proposal as one of the most substantial changes to veteran support policies in decades inside a White House event. He continued by saying that it would benefit people who were still struggling with the repercussions of war years after they had left the front lines.
Biden has always questioned if his son Beau's death from brain cancer in 2015 was directly related to his time serving in Iraq as a member of the Delaware National Guard and being exposed to burn pits.
Biden urged Congress to adopt legislation "to ensure veterans harmed by hazardous exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan ultimately get the benefits and comprehensive health care they deserve" during his State of the Union speech in March. This would address the legacy of burn pits.
The legislation focuses on the negative impacts that some veterans have had as a result of sleeping and working close to big fires on military facilities where waste, such as tires, jet fuel, chemicals, and other equipment, was burned, resulting in thick clouds of smoke. According to research, smoke-related chemicals may be to blame for a number of illnesses experienced by veterans, including as cancer, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, bronchitis, and sinusitis.
Conservative lawmakers have recently expressed opposition to the plan, which is projected to add close to $300 billion in new spending over the next ten years. To handle the increased workload, the Department of Veterans Affairs will need to hire hundreds of new employees and open a number of new medical facilities.
For the millions of veterans who were exposed to harmful substances while serving in the military, Biden remarked, "This is the most important law our country has ever passed." "Come hell or high water, I was going to finish this".
After the law was signed, retired Lt. Gen. Mike Linnington, CEO of Wounded Warrior Project, remarked that President Biden has "ensured health care access to help save the lives of countless warriors harmed by hazardous exposure." "Veterans in America are undoubtedly celebrating a beautiful day today."
AFSA has long supported the reconciliation of the Honoring our PACT Act and is very delighted that President Joe Biden signed a bill to assist veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits.
For those who are unfamiliar, this legislation will:
Provide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans
Provide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window.
Streamline VA's review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions
Concede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service
Require medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims
Add hypertension andMonoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure
Establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure
Create a presumption of exposure to radiationfor veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll
Allow for a new tort claimfor veterans and families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune
Expand agent orange exposure toveterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
Improvedata collectionbetween VA and the Department of Defense
Commission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans
Require VA to provide standardized trainingto improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications
Require VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans
Updates the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by requiring the VA to continue providing assistance to a family caregiver for at least six months after the death of a veteran participating in the program.
Requires the VA to establish a process by which veterans who are determined to have the most significant need for caregiver assistance are permanently eligible for such assistance.
Requires the VA to standardize the criteria used across all facilities in its required evaluations of the needs of the veterans and the skills of the family caregiver.
Standardizes criteria used in accepting and evaluating applications for participation in the program across all facilities.
Support the CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act!
This bill provides that a child shall be eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) until the child's 26th birthday, regardless of marital status.
Support the AUTO for Veterans Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92795/respond
Legislation Summary
The Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans "AUTO" Act would reduce the financial burden incurred by virtue of military service by ensuring severely disabled veterans receive a grant from the VA's Automobile Assistance Grant program to purchase a specially equipped vehicle once every ten years - as opposed to only once.
Support the Aid and Attendance Support Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92792/respond
Legislation Summary
The Aid and Attendance Support Act temporarily increases eligible disabled veterans' and surviving spouses' Aid and Attendance (A&A) allowance by 25%.
Support the Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID-19 Act!
The Ensuring Survivor Benefits During COVID-19 Act requires the VA to solicit a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death in situations where a veteran's death certificate identifies COVID-19 as the principal or contributory cause of death, the certificate does not clearly identify any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, and a claim for dependence and indemnity compensation is filed with respect to the veteran.
Ensures Reservists and National Guard members have no-fee healthcare through TRICARE Reserve Select that covers medical and dental coverage.
Fixes the parity gap for Reserve Component retirees receiving early retirement pay due to deployment credits making them eligible for TRICARE upon receipt of retirement pay.
Provides an incentive for small businesses to hire Reserve and National Guard members by ensuring their healthcare costs are covered.
Ensures service members can access physicals needed to be ready for no-notice deployments (which have increased over the past year).
Eliminates the statutory language that excludes Federal Employees Health Benefits Program eligible service members from TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility.
Support the Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92818/respond
Legislation Summary
The Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act would:
Split Impact Aid's $1.1 billion request evenly over five years, across three main categories for funding: Basic Support, Federal Property, and Children with Disabilities.
Increase Basic Support funding by $190 million annually, meeting Impact Aid's 2019 funding requests.
Increase Federal Property funding proportionally to Basic Support (BSP) by allocating an additional $11 million annually.
Increase funding for Children with Disabilities by $9 million annually, funding $2,000 per eligible student.
Advance national K-12 school systems to become more equitable and meet educational needs.
Support military families that are especially impacted by federally tax-exempt land.
Support the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92815/respond
Legislation Summary
Modifies the extension of dependent coverage under TRICARE by allowing a dependent at the age of 26 to be covered without an additional premium.
Authorizes such coverage of dependents without a premium regardless of whether they are eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan.
Support Expanding TRICARE Cranial Remolding Helmet Coverage!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92802/respond
AFSA urges our nation's elected officials to support legislation that would expand the scope of TRICARE's coverage of the DOC Band Post-Op device if your baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Is diagnosed with craniosynostosis or nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly (to include torticollis)
Support the Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92799/respond
Legislation Summary
Allow an employer a work opportunity tax credit for hiring the spouse or domestic partner of a member of the Armed Forces.
Specifically, an employer may receive a tax credit equal to 40% of a new employee's first-year wages if the employer hires a service member's spouse or domestic partner (as recognized under state law or by the Armed Forces).
Create programs for service members to pay for childcare on a pretax basis.
Specifically, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard) must implement flexible spending arrangements that permit members of the Armed Forces to use basic pay and compensation to pay on a pretax basis for dependent childcare.
Support the Retired Pay Restoration Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92798/respond
Legislation Summary
Allowsthe receipt of both military retiredpay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability.
Extends full concurrent receipt eligibility to individuals who were retired or separated after at least 20 years of military service due to a service-connected disability.
Call To Action:Share How TRICARE's coverage of the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty (DOC) Band Post-Op device negatively impact your family's quality of life!
For the past year, our Military and Government Relations Team has been working with AFSA military families on getting legislation introduced that would expand the scope of TRICAR's coverage of the DOC Band Post-Op device if a baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Is diagnosed with craniosynostosis or nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly (to include torticollis)
Despite unsuccessful efforts (via FOIA request) to obtain important data for the purpose of quantifying the need of this issue in the aggregate, our Team is looking to hear from the field to share your story and help have your voice heard by members of Congress.
Issue Background
Helmet therapy is used to gently correct the shape of babies' skulls over time.
Newborn babies' skulls are soft plates with spaces between them. As the baby grows, these plates grow, gradually harden, and knit together.
Unfortunately, there are circumstances under which the soft plates may develop a flat spot or uneven appearance. This condition is called plagiocephaly.
Today, almost one in two babies (47%) is affected by some form of plagiocephaly.
When the baby's skull joins together too early, or in an abnormal way, this is called craniosynostosis. There are several types of craniosynostosis, depending on when the baby's skull joins together.
Today, it is estimated that 1 in every 2,500 babies has craniosynostosis.
Positional skull deformities and/or abnormalities - whether diagnosed as a form of plagiocephaly or craniosynostosis - can have short and long term health effects on a child.
However, despite this, TRICARE only covers the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty (DOC) Band Post-Op device, synonymously referred to as a "molding helmet," if your baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Has had craniosynostoris surgery;
But still has a misshaped skull.
In other words, cranial molding helmet(s) are not covered for the treatment of nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly or for the treatment of craniosynostosis before surgery; despite medical evidence that suggests the presence or absence of congenital or acquired plagiocephaly (to include torticollis) can, at the very least, increase the risk of gross motor development.
In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics school-aged children with moderate to severe plagiocephaly scored lower than controls on cognitive and academic measures.
As a result, military families - who face unique challenges given the sacrifices that come along with serving our country - have been put in the tragic position to either front the hefty cost of the helmet (approximately $2,000), seek alternative forms of treatment that may not be preferred, or forego treatment altogether.
We are pleased to share the AFSA Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay procedures and marketing materials to help share the process with our members, your membership and potential new recruits.
The Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay program creates an opportunity to JOIN AFSA or RENEW a membership by making a $36 once-a-year/every-year auto payment, or a $4-each-month/every- month auto payment. The $36 once-a-year option is set at $36, and the $4-a-month option includes a bank processing fee of $1 each month.
Review the two ways to enroll, the benefits to using the auto-pay option, and the marketing materials to help share the details of this program and ensure its success.
For questions, please contact AFSAHQ Member & Field team at 800-638-0594 x 288.
Please Update Your Contact Information Today!
Dear Air Force Sergeants Association Member,
In order for the AFSA to effectively communicate with our members, it is essential to ensure we have your current and / or valid e-mail address. We are in the process of updating our records and need your help! Please take a moment to ensure that we have your most current mail and email address (no .mil's); and accurate membership listing information.
We've made it easy, as you can update your information in either one of three ways:
Call Member & Field Relations team directly at 800-638-0594 x 288 (Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
Email to: msvcs@hqafsa.org
Visit www.hqafsa.org and select the UPDATE button on the right
We thank you in advance for your support and prompt updates.
In sum, according to current projections, the rate of inflation will likely result in record monthly check increases for veterans and military retirees receiving disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the second year in a row.
The cost-of-living pay adjustment, or COLA, for VA disability pay and military retirement is normally linked to the change in the Social Security rate, which is anticipated to be published in October. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a nonpartisan organization that advocates for seniors, has made an early projection based on data on national inflation that predicts rates will rise by 9.6%. According to a TSCL press statement, the rise would be the biggest that veterans and seniors have seen since 1981, when it increased by 11.2% in reaction to inflation at the time.
In addition, The Office of the Inspector General estimated that, of the $358.1 million that the DHA spent for ambulance rides, at least $118.85 million - or a third - was wrongly paid after evaluating a statistically representative sample of 182 claims from October 2015 to September 2020. When supporting evidence is provided, Tricare, the health insurance program for service members, retirees, and their dependents, will pay for civilian ambulance services. However, it forbids recipients from using ambulances if they are physically capable of using other modes of transportation.
According to the inspector general's investigation, the DHA, which oversees military health benefits like Tricare, neglected to keep an eye on its contractors to make sure that their ambulance claims complied with Tricare's reimbursement guidelines.
And lastly, for many years, housing has been a significant perk for service members, helping to offset their lower pay compared to the private sector. However, service members and housing advocates claim that the Department of Defense has abandoned its promise to assist military families in finding affordable accommodation in the face of record-breaking rent increases.
Many have been forced to settle for subpar housing, endure extraordinarily long commutes, or shell out thousands of dollars they hadn't prepared for. Members of Congress are supporting legislation to force the Department of Defense to reconsider how it manages housing in response to reports of the housing constraints military families experience.
Members of Congress are supporting legislation to force the Department of Defense to reconsider how it manages housing in response to reports of the housing constraints military families experience.
One common criticism is that despite being intended to pay 95% of rental costs for the roughly two-thirds of active-duty soldiers who, like the Martins, must live off base, housing allowances, which differ by rank and are adjusted annually, haven't kept up with rental markets.
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
Stay tuned for our next M&G-B, where we will continue to keep you in the loop on all things pertinent to the coronavirus, veterans, active-duty members, guards and reservists, and military family members. Stay happy, and stay healthy!
