This Week In Congress: More Scrutiny For Troubled Vets Records Program
Just days after announcing a halt to the embattled Veterans Affairs electronic health records program, department Secretary Denis McDonough will travel to Capitol Hill to talk about the decision and what comes next for veterans support efforts.
White House Pledges Caregiver Support, But VA Program's Future Unclear
President Joe Biden this week signed a new executive order promising to expand caregiver services for veterans, but some advocates say the move does not clear up uncertainty surrounding Veterans Affairs’ long-term support for those families.
The new $65.1 billion contract for the Tricare West Region is moving forward, following the dismissal of a protest, according to Defense Health Agency officials.
While the President’s Budget details a plan to honor our country’s sacred obligation to care for America’s Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, the proposal to cut a broad range of critical programs by 22% would threaten critical services for Veterans – both at VA and across the federal government. The proposed 22% budget cut to VA would:
Threaten Medical Care for Veterans. The proposal would mean 30 million fewer Veteran outpatient visits, and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration, leaving Veterans unable to get appointments for care including wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services, and substance-use disorder treatment.
Undermine Access to Telehealth. Access to remote care through telehealth is essential for Veterans, particularly in rural areas. By reducing funding for necessary IT infrastructure and support, the proposal would impair VA’s ability to expand video-to-home telehealth services and limit the availability of medical equipment that can be provided to Veterans so they can attend important telehealth appointments from home.
Worsen Wait Times for Benefits. Under the proposal, the Veterans Benefits Administration would eliminate more than 6,000 staff, increasing the disability claims backlog by an estimated 134,000 claims and forcing Veterans and their surviving loved ones to wait longer for the benefits they have earned, including pensions, life insurance, GI Bill educational supports, and employment services.
Prevent Construction on the Health Care Facilities that Veterans need. Veterans deserve to receive care in state-of-the-art facilities, but the median VA hospital was built nearly 60 years ago – compared to just 13 years ago in the private sector. This proposal would cut up to $565 million for major construction projects, including critical clinical upgrades to hospitals and clinics. These cuts would negatively impact Veteran health care across America.
Fail to Honor the Memory of All Veterans. The proposal would require VA’s National Cemetery Administration to eliminate approximately 500 staff, jeopardize NCA’s ability to maintain the final resting place of Veterans to national shrine standards, and delay the opening of 5 new national cemeteries that will serve nearly 1.6 million Veterans and eligible family members.
Beyond the direct impact on Veterans who use VA, these proposed cuts would negatively impact Veterans who access critical services across the federal government. Specifically, these proposed cuts would:
Cut Housing for Veterans. Every Veteran deserves a good, safe home in this country they fought to defend. The proposal would eliminate funding for Housing Choice Vouchers for as many as 50,000 Veterans, putting them at greater risk of homelessness.
Increase Food Insecurity for Veterans. About 1.3 million Veterans rely on SNAP. This proposal would take food assistance away from Veterans who are older by adding burdensome, bureaucratic requirements, and it would limit states’ flexibility to protect especially vulnerable people currently subject to work requirements. That would increase the likelihood that Veterans and their families go hungry.
Deprive Veterans of mental health, substance use, and other health services. This proposal would mean deep cuts to Department of Health and Human Services community mental health centers, mental health and substance-use prevention grants, and other public health programs. Supporting Veterans and their families in the community, especially those not enrolled in VA health care, has been a priority for HHS and these cuts could reduce access to timely care and services.
Eliminate Job Training and Other Supports to Homeless Veterans. The proposal would mean that 4,200 fewer Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness would receive job training, counseling, and job readiness services provided through the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program.
We are incredibly excited to let you know that Registration is now OPEN for The SUMMIT23: AFSA International Convention and Professional Education & Development Conferences. We are anticipating a full house with AFSA members, families, and guests, along with other Active Duty, Retired and Veteran military personnel.
DATES:You have TWO CHOICES when registering for the AFSA-International Conference (AFSA-IC):
AFSA-IC Only: Friday, August 4 to Sunday, August 6. (Arrive Fri., Aug 4, Depart Mon., Aug 7) Cost $275. Includes all AFSA special event meal functions.
AFSA-IC PLUS the PEDS and the Air & Space Force Honors Banquet: Friday, August 4 to Wednesday, August 9. (Arrive Fri., Aug 4, Depart Thurs., Aug 10) Cost: $325 Includes all AFSA special event meal functions, plus the Air & Space Honors Banquet.
REGISTER ONLINE
Important: Your confirmation/receipt will be sent to the email that you use here to register today.
If you own a business or know of a business that supports military families, we have a wide range of sponsorship opportunities during the AFSA-IC & SUMMIT23. Our goal is to help businesses share, recruit and network with their targeted market. To view and share our Sponsorship levels visit:
Do you own a business that supports military families, or know of an organization that does? The SUMMIT Info/EXPO is the perfect place to be! Learn about our exhibit booth opportunities by visiting:https://www.thesummitafsa.org/InfoExpoExhibitors
MAIN WEBSITES
The Master SUMMIT Page has information for ALL planned events including the AFSA International Convention (AFSA-IC), the AFSA-IC Plus PEDS registration, the Enlisted Leaders Conferences (ELCs – by invitation only), the PEDS, and the USF Golf Scramble. The Master SUMMIT page is located at:https://www.hqafsa.org/summit23.html
Enlisted Leadership Conferences (ELCs): As of today, we are planning to host 11 ELCs. ELCs are by invitation only, and they require an ACCESS CODE (provided by your ELC/POC) to register and attend. You may learn more about them here https://www.thesummitafsa.org/EnlistedLeadersConferences
Below are the campaigns that are currently located on our Action Center. Please take no more than 5-10 minutes to scan through each of the campaigns and click on the custom links provided below.
The Military Spouse Hiring Act would encourage companies to employ military spouses, who frequently face disproportionate impediments in the job market, by extending the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include them.
Intends to help military spouses find better work opportunities.
Support the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act!
Authorizes veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation.
Makes qualified disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service eligible for concurrent receipt, subject to specified reductions in retired pay.
Qualify approximately 42,000 military retirees with combat-related injuries to concurrently receive both military retired pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation.
Provide total offset relief to veterans who suffered combat injuries or illnesses who were medically retired with less than twenty years of service.
Allowsthe receipt of both military retired pay 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.
Support the Military Family Nutrition Access Act of 2023!
The Military Family Nutrition Access Act was created to aid military families with active duty members who are facing food insecurity.
By eliminating Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the income calculations used to establish eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the bipartisan bill will combat food insecurity.
Military personnel risk their life to protect our nation; they shouldn't have to worry about providing for their families.
The Not Just a Number Act would oblige the VA to look into how veterans use their benefits in their yearly report on suicide prevention in order to assess the connection between VA benefits and suicide outcomes.
In its fight against veteran suicides, the VA evaluates which VA benefits have the best impact on preventing suicide and requires the Department to submit recommendations for an increase in such benefits.
If you have any questions, please reach out to AFSA's Military and Government Relations team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.
AFSA International Convention and PEDS is LIVE! Register to attend now. Book your Hilton Anatole Resort rooms, play in the USF Golf Scramble, and reserve your Info/EXPO Booth now! Visit: https://www.hqafsa.org/summit23.html
Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?
This edition features Port Mortuary and America’s Missing Heroes, Living with Bipolar Disorder in the Military, Fly-By Wire Defense and AFSA’s American Award Recipient – Don Ward. Read, download, print and share: https://www.hqafsa.org/fallmagazine.html
Greetings AFSA Division and Chapter Leadership,
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)
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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, The Senate Appropriations Committee will hear McDonough's testimony on the fiscal 2024 budget request and related topics on April 26. The House Veterans' Affairs Committee will hold a separate hearing on the endeavor to modernize health records one day early. This effort was entirely stopped on April 21.
After several months of delays and issues with the new system, which is now in use at five VA medical facilities, the decision was made to "reset" the program. Additional deployments that were planned for later this year have been indefinitely postponed.
The $16 billion, 10-year project has previously been questioned by lawmakers on the House committee as to its eventual completion. Even though only a portion of that sum is included in the department's over $325 billion budget request for the upcoming fiscal year, McDonough will probably have to answer a lot of inquiries regarding the program's future expenditures.
In addition,on April 18, Biden stated during a White House ceremony that the new caregiver services order comprised 50 distinct steps by federal agencies intended to assist "childcare workers, nurses, home care workers, and family caregivers."
Injured service personnel and veterans are cared for by an estimated 5.5 million people nationwide, many of whom give up their own occupations to offer round-the-clock medical and emotional support. According to Biden, his executive order will "cut red tape and give veterans who need assistance at home more flexibility to pick their own caregivers."
It also contains instructions for VA to create a pilot program to support caregivers of very ill or injured veterans with psychotherapy via video telemedicine. Officials from the VA stated in a statement that the department has already started making the changes and that the new order would strengthen and improve the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
And lastly, following a protest filed with the Government Accountability Office by the current contractor, Health Net Federal Services, the contract awarded to TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corp. of Phoenix was upheld, DHA officials stated on April 20. According to a GAO official at the time, the objection had been dropped in February as a result of the defense officials pulling the contract back to rectify issues with the procurement.
As a result of the DoD's decision, the contract for that region is currently scheduled to begin in August 2024, barring any potential upcoming legal challenges or objections.
Health Net Federal Services representatives told Military Times in a statement that the business "is following the established process as we consider challenging this decision."
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
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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