'Ten Of Thousands' More Veterans Will Be Eligible For VA Health Care Starting Oct 1.
Thousands more veterans will be eligible for Veterans Affairs health care beginning Saturday under a law passed Aug. 10 that expanded benefits for former service members sickened by environmental exposures.
Veterans Affairs physicians will begin screening all department patients for military-related toxic exposures starting in November, the latest step in efforts to understand the scope and severity of injuries caused by burn pit smoke and other battlefield toxins.
Air Force Leaders Urge More Focus On Mental Health As Suicides Rise
Senior Air Force officials pledged to improve airmen's access to mental health care and urged commanders to play a more active role in supporting their troops, suggesting that suicides are again on the rise.
The Air Force added another guide, titled The Joint Team, or the "Purple Book," to its arsenal of foundational documents dedicated to developing Total Force Airmen.
The "Purple Book" educates Airmen on how airpower fits into the Joint Force construct and identifies the joint doctrine, values, capabilities, and warfighting concepts that capture how the Air Force effectively partners with other services to protect America's interests across the globe.
"Today, we find ourselves in an era of strategic competition against adversaries who seek to outpace and eventually overtake us," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. "Every Airman must know what is at stake and understand the critical importance of synchronizing our capabilities with our joint partners to amplify our collective strength and power."
The new book provides a baseline for understanding the value each service contributes to the Joint Force and outlines the essential framework to work with other branches to compete, deter, and win the high-end fight.
The new "Purple Book" explains all service members are part of a Profession of Arms. This holds them to a strong set of Joint Core Values and supports a foundational strategy to defeat any threat, anytime and anywhere.
Additionally, it clarifies the fundamental questions all Airmen must answer: "How do I fit into the Joint Force;" and "How can I ensure I hone and deliver my unique capabilities to assure its success?" This guide helps Airmen internalize what it means to fight jointly, understand the missions of the joint force, appreciate the joint organizations that are leading the fight, comprehend how to integrate into a joint warfighting environment, and identify how the Air Force fits into the joint construct.
"Airmen of tomorrow will be required to collaborate and communicate with our joint teammates to win in future complex and contested environments," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. "We owe our Airmen a solid foundation on jointness much earlier in their careers."
Developing and updating these guides was part of the 28 Enlisted Force Development Action Plan objectives focused on developing the future enlisted force.
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, tens of thousands of veterans can enroll in VA health care as of October 1 according to VA authorities. Post-9/11 veterans who fulfill specific requirements and had not previously registered are the largest group eligible. The law stipulates that they will have a year to enroll. Veterans must have served on active duty in a combat zone after the 1991 Persian Gulf War, have fought an enemy force after November 11, 1998, or have been dismissed or released from active service between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013, in order to be eligible.
Veterans of the Gulf War and the Vietnam War may also be entitled to enroll in specific circumstances. Veterans of the Vietnam War will be eligible for care if they served in any of the following:
Vietnam from Jan. 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975
Thailand at a U.S. or Royal Thai base from Jan. 9, 1962, to June 30, 1976
Laos from Dec. 1, 1965, to Sept. 30, 1969
Guam or American Samoa -- or their territorial waters -- from Jan. 9, 1962, to July 31, 1980
Johnston Atoll, or a ship that called there, from Jan. 1, 1972, to Sept. 30, 1977
And starting on October 1, any veterans who served after the Persian Gulf War and received an expeditionary medal, a campaign-specific medal, or another combat theater honor, or a veteran who engaged in combat against an enemy force on or after November 11, 1998, will also be qualified.
In addition, 15 VA medical center pilot locations have begun using the new screening tool for military-related hazardous exposures beginning in November for a few weeks now. This is required by legislation passed by Congress this summer. Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the VA's undersecretary for health, told reporters on Wednesday that of the more than 13,000 veterans who have already undergone the test, roughly 37% have indicated that they have "concerns" regarding potential chemical exposure problems from their time in the military.
In recent months, the problem of military hazardous exposure-in particular, lethal smoke from burn pits-has received significant national attention. The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act, a comprehensive initiative to strengthen the research, care, and benefits around those injuries, was completed by Congress in August and signed into law by President Joe Biden. According to previous Department of Defense studies, approximately 3.5 million soldiers from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan may have been exposed to fire pit smoke at levels high enough to harm their health.
In order to properly inform doctors about common injuries and give researchers a clearer picture of the impact on the veteran population, VA officials said they must better screen all department patients.
Just before Veterans Day, the screening tool will be made available to all VA medical facilities and the over 9 million veterans who are now receiving care from the VA. Patients will be compelled to undergo the test at least once every five years to search for any early warning indications of developing medical conditions or persisting respiratory troubles.
And lastly, in a Sept. 22 Facebook Q&A, Secretary Frank Kendall, the service's top civilian, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, its senior enlisted leader, urged airmen and Space Force guards to look for broader support networks. Unknown numbers of pilots and guardians are thought to have committed suicide in the previous 12 months. According to spokesman Laurel Falls on Wednesday, the Department of the Air Force no longer shares its yearly suicide statistics upon request. These numbers are presented in the Pentagon's yearly final report as well as its quarterly updates on suicide.
However, Kendall noted that the sum for this year has surpassed that of the fiscal 2021.
And that's the way it is for Thursday, September 29, 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!
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