VFW WI Legislative Updates

MOAA's LEGISLATIVE UPDATE for Wednesday, December 23, 2009.

Posted at 6:13 AM on Thursday, December 24, 2009 by Legislative in Call for Action!

Stop Medicare Therapy Caps

Without quick Congressional action the Medicare therapy cap
exception will expire at the end of this year.

Current law limits Medicare payments for speech, physical and
occupational therapy to $1,860 a year.  Congress recognized this
won't cover needs of victims of stroke and other disabling
conditions, and approved a waiver of the cap for "medical
necessity."  But the waiver expires Dec. 31, putting therapy
patients at risk for large out-of-pocket costs.

Please send your legislators a MOAA-suggested message urging
them to pass legislation extending the therapy cap exception.

http://echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/6325884:7425849235:m:3:230910909:9671E779D77EFEF4920D00404DFB0E01

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TRICARE Coming for Gray Area Reservists.  

The FY2010 Defense Authorization Act provided "gray area" reserve retirees the
option to purchase individual or family TRICARE coverage.  That
will require some work on the Pentagon's part, but we now have a
tentative timetable for implementation.

One of MOAA's significant legislative victories in the FY2010
Defense Authorization Act was winning premium-based TRICARE
coverage for "gray area" Guard and Reserve retirees who haven't
yet attained age 60.

The new program was authorized to begin on Oct. 1, 2009, but new
TRICARE benefit changes typically take a year or more to
implement because of contracting, system reprogramming and other
requirements.

Last week, TRICARE officials announced that they hope to
expedite launch of what they've tentatively named "TRICARE
Retired Reserve" coverage by late summer or early fall of 2010.

Unlike the existing TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) program - in
which premiums are 72% subsidized by the government - gray area
retirees will be responsible for paying premiums equal to the
full cost of coverage.

We won't know the exact cost of premiums until the program rules
are published in the federal register.

Although considerably more expensive than TRS, the new TRICARE
Retired Reserve benefit will provide gray area retirees and their
families a competitive health care option when compared to the
cost of private insurance, and allow for continuity of coverage
under the TRICARE system.

MOAA will provide further updates when we get firmer information
on the premiums and implementation schedule.

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Happy Holidays

With many of the MOAA staff out of town for the holidays, and
the next two weeks interrupted by holidays, this will be the last
MOAA legislative update until Friday, January 8, 2010.

For those of you who are deployed, along with your spouses,
moms, dads and children who remain on the home front, please know
that we recognize and truly appreciate the gift you are giving to
our country through your selfless service and sacrifice. You are
in our hearts and on our minds.

We wish you and yours the merriest of Christmases, a belated
happy Hanukkah, and all the best in the New Year.

If you're traveling over the next two weeks, please be safe.
We'll need every possible member back with us for the very tough
legislative battles to come in 2010.

MOAA - Military Officers Association of America
201 N. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

URGENT ACTION REQUESTED: SENATE BILL S. 883 - MEDAL OF HONOR COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

Posted at 11:50 AM on Friday, October 9, 2009 by Legislative in Call for Action!

Your action is urgently needed to help pass this important legislation authorizing a commemorative coin to honor our nation's Medal of Honor Recipients.

The letter reproduced below was sent from our National VFW Legislative Office in Washington, DC. Now it's your turn to help by contacting your congressional delegation. Read the letter, then scroll down for a list of senators who need to hear from you in support of this legislation:

October 7, 2009       The Honorable [SENATOR FULL NAME] United States Senate Washington, DC  20510   Dear Senator [LAST NAME]:   On behalf of the 2.2 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and our Auxiliaries, I would like to urge your support for S. 883, the Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act.   This legislation would help raise funds for the Medal of Honor Foundation, which promotes the spirit that embodies the Medal of Honor: courage, sacrifice, service and patriotism. In 1999, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation was created to educate our nation’s youth on the power of heroism, selflessness and how one person can make an extraordinary difference. These commemorative coins would be legal tender and would be minted in 2011 in honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Medal of Honor’s initial authorization by Congress.      The VFW believes this is a worthy cause that recognizes America’s true heroes. The men and women who have been awarded the Medal of Honor have received the highest honor this country can bestow, and this coin would allow more Americans to hear about and learn from their inspiring stories. We ask you to do the right thing and honor our American Heroes by co-sponsoring S. 883 today.                                                                                Sincerely,                                                                             ROBERT E. WALLACE                                                                         EXECUTIVE DRIECTOR

Here's how you can help...

We need you to contact your Senator(s)- if they appear on the following list- and urge them to sponsor and vote for S. 883, The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act . VFW has been instrumental in getting the bill introduced and would like it to see it  passed before the end of this congressional session - time is of essence!!

Below the list, you will find a link to getting their contact information.

Non Cosponsoring Senators of S.883 as of 11/7/09

 

Democrats COJR Michael F. Bennet CTSR Christopher J. Dodd FLSR Bill Nelson IAJR   Tom Harkin INJR   Evan Bayh MDSR Barbara A. Mikulski MISR Debbie A. Stabenow MNJR Al Franken MTJR Jon Tester MTSR Max Baucus NCJR Kay Hagan NDJR Byron L. Dorgan NESR Ben Nelson NJSR   Frank Lautenberg NMJR Tom Udall NVSR Harry Reid NYJR Kirsten Gillibrand ORJR Jeff Merkley RISR   Jack Reed SDSR Tim Johnson VAJR Mark Warner VASR James Webb VTSR Patrick J. Leahy WAJR Maria Cantwell WIJR   Russell D. Feingold WISR Herb Kohl WVJR John D. (Jay) Rockefeller, IV Total 27

Republicans ALJR Jeff Sessions ALSR Richard C. Shelby AZJR Jon Kyl IASR   Charles E. Grassley INSR   Richard G. Lugar KYJR Jim Bunning KYSR Mitch McConnell MEJR Susan Collins MESR Olympia Snowe MOSR Kit Bond NHSR Judd Gregg OKJR Tom Coburn TNJR   Bob Corker TXSR Kay Bailey Hutchison UTJR   Robert F. Bennett UTSR Orrin G. Hatch WYJR John A. Barrasso Total 17     Independent VTJR   Bernie Sanders

  

• You can use the letter (above) to let them know that we expect them to do the right thing and honor our Medal of Honor awardees with a coin.
• Call their district offices or DC offices today.
• You can use the capwiz link for phone numbers or look in your Congressional handbooks as well -
• Here is the CAPWIZ Link to Congressional addresses: http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/
• Once you have made contact and/or gotten a response, please update our Washington Legislative Office by emailing Theresa Morris