Medicare / TriCare Payments Update - Important!

From the MOAA Legislative Update Email on May 30, 2008.

Medicare/TRICARE Payments Debate
A couple of weeks ago we reported that Medicare administrators told Congress if they want to change the law that’s scheduled to cut payments to Medicare and TRICARE doctors on July 1, they need to do it by June 16 in order to allow Medicare computers to be reprogrammed in time.

If they don’t get updated guidance by that date, Medicare will have to implement the cut on July 1 and undo all the erroneous payments later, if and when Congress changes the law. To MOAA, it’s unacceptable to hold TRICARE- and Medicare-eligibles’ access to care hostage to political considerations.

Congressional leaders need to work out a compromise — and fast — to stop that from happening. You can help by visiting MOAA’s Web site to send a suggested message to urge your legislators to act fast.

DO IT NOW !!!    Stop Medicare/TRICARE Payment Cuts

The specific bills that need to come out of the Senate (S.2785 “The Save Medicare Act of 2008″) and House of Representatives (H.R. 6091 “The Save Medicare Act of 2008″) are both still in committee with little or no apparent progress to date.  For more information you can find both bills at “Save Medicare Act of 2008.”
 

 

 

 

OFN Update for May 29th

OFN  Update for May 29, 2008

Items Added to the Website

The following items have recently been added to The OFNetwork website:

A CRS Report on Increases in TriCare Costs has been added to the Readings Page (see more below).

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Military News

Memorial Day Slideshow.  You might want to take a look at this slideshow before it disappears from the Internet - you may need Kleenex.  Go to:  http://www.scotteccleston.com/mem_day/

Websites of Interest.  The Army’s newest Medal of Honor awardee, SPC Ross A. McGinnis.

Looking for a TriCare Form?  TriWest has a website that permits you to download many TriCare forms you may need.  You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (www.adobe.com) to open the forms.   

“On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs.”  If you’ve not read this article before you may find it interesting.  This link is to the author’s website:  http://www.killology.com/sheep_dog.htm.

TriCare / Medicare Fee Reductions.  Don’t forget to contact your Senators / Congressperson to try to head off  the TriCare / Medicare fee reductions that are supposed to take place on July 1^st.  Along these same lines you might be interested in the report by the Congressional Research Service titled “Increases in TriCare Costs: Background and Options for Congress.”  I’ve posted a copy on the “Readings” page.  (Thanks to Dave Brunner for forwarding this.)

Changes to awards.  An item of trivia:  the word “medal” is being removed from some medals and others are being re-sized.  For more see this Army Times article on medals.

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Personal News

Medicare Reminder.  Are you approaching 65 or are you planning to move to Medicare soon?  Or, are you currently using Medicare and thinking of cashing in some big investment?  If “yes” to any of these scenarios you might want to read the article on the “Medicare Means Test“  and see if you will be hit with higher Medicare premiums.

The 5^th Amendment.  If you’ve got 25 minutes or so, you might want to listen to/watch the video on the 5^th Amendment to the Constitution (the one about not being required to testify against yourself, in case you forgot).  It’s an interesting, educational, and very entertaining, discussion of how to talk to (or not talk to) the police.

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Tech Talk

Getting Rid of an Old Computer?  Before selling or discarding an old computer, or throwing away a disk or CD, you naturally make sure that you’ve copied all of the files you need. You’ve probably also attempted to delete your personal files so that other people aren’t able to access them. However, unless you have taken the proper steps to make sure the hard drive, disk, or CD is erased, people may still be able to resurrect those files.  For more information see this article on wiping your hard disk.

Problems with Adobe Flash Player.  You probably don’t know you have this piece of software loaded on your computer.  However, if you can watch movies or other motion items on the web you most likely do.  There is a problem with older versions that can allow hackers to load malicious software if you watch a video containing this software.  You need to have the most current version installed.  This software does not normally update automatically.  Find out more (in tech-speak language) here .  Or, just go to the Adobe website (www.adobe.com) and download the latest version of Flash.  While you are there you might as well download the latest versions of the Acrobat Reader and Shockwave.

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Other News of (Questionable) Interest

How Gas Prices Work.  To the average person, it probably seems as though there’s little rhyme or reason to how gas prices are determined. In this article, we will look at the forces that impact the price of gas at the pump, and we’ll find out where your gas money actually goes. 

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Political Commentary

(Here’s the deal - I’m putting items here that I think are interesting.  “Fair and Balanced” they are not.)

For a break check out “The Empire Strikes Barack“

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OFN Update for May 26, 2008

Items Added to the Website

The following items have recently been added to The OFNetwork website:

• MOAA Legislative Action Center. A link to this free website (no membership required) is now available. From here you can contact your legislators, see the status of important issues to the military community and interact with the legislative process.
• MSC Reunion Agenda. The most current copy of the 2008 Reunion Agenda has been placed on the 2008_MSC_Reunion page. MG David Rubenstein is now a featured speaker as is LTG (Ret) Ricardo Sanchez.

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Military News

• DFAS Retired Pay Newsletter. The April 2008 issue of the DFAS Retired Pay newsletter is out, if you have not yet seen it. There’s some good news for Ohio residents regarding tax-exempt retirement pay. For a complete listing of all newsletters go to: DFAS_Newsletter_Website .
• COLA News. In the “good news / bad news” segment we all know that we are in a period of inflation (bad news). This affects everyone differently, including those of us who receive federal retirement with increases based on inflation (good news). I’ve extracted the graph for your viewing pleasure. (Source: MOAA Legislative Update email for May 16, 2008.)

• TriCare Fee Update. The HASC completed its draft of the FY09 Defense Authorization Bill this past week. Included in that markup was a bar to any TriCare or pharmacy fee increases for FY09. Remember, this is but one step in the overall process of getting final legislation to the President for signature but since both the House and Senate did so we’re probably ‘good to go’ on this one issue. But, then again, the fat lady has yet to sing! (Source: MOAA Legislative Update email for May 16, 2008.)
• Military Records Requests. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) makes it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents such as their DD-214from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members can use NPRC’s online military personnel records system to request documents. The web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center’s mailroom processing time. Also, because the requester will be asked online to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The application can be accessed at http://vetrecs.archives.gov .
• Destruction of Military Records - not true! (Item dated September 22, 2004) There is a false rumor circulating on the Internet, in e-mails, and among veteran service organizations that Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) at the National Personnel Records Center, operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, will be digitized and then destroyed. This rumor is NOT TRUE. (For more on this rumor see: http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2004/nr04-92.html)

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Personal News

• Latest on Shingles. The Centers for Disease Control has recently updated their recommendations on Shingles. You can find out more at: CDC_Shingles . I personally recommend everyone get a shingles vaccination - it’s covered under TriCare if you get it before age 65.
• Where’s My Stimulus Payment? If you have not received your Economic Stimulus payment yet you can go to this IRS website and check its status: Where’s_My_Money (you will need to enter your SSN on this website).
• Computer Security Alert. With the recent natural disasters there is the possibility of increased “phishing” emails allegedly from charitable organizations. These emails will link you to a website which collects personal information and possibly money but has nothing to do with the actual charities. You should be cautious of any unsolicited charitable emails, even if they appear to be from legitimate charities. If you want to contribute go directly to a known charitable website by entering the address into your browser yourself, do not click on links. If not sure, call the charity. A website with comprehensive charity contact information is the Better_Business_Bureau_Charity_Index. (Source: U.S. Computer Emergency Response Team (USCERT) email 5-19-08)
• Digital TV Transition. Do you need a new antenna for the transition to digital TV? Here are a few tips:

– First, try hooking up a converter box to your current set-up — for most people, this means a basic “rabbit-ear” antenna. You may get all the channels with your existing equipment.  If you still have inadequate reception, you may need to upgrade to a larger antenna or one with a different shape.

– For TV reception on VHF frequencies (channels 2-13) and UHF frequencies (channels 14 and above), a basic indoor antenna should work if the signal is strong. To pull in a weaker signal, you may need a round outdoor antenna that receives signals from all directions. For very weak signals, you may need a V-shaped rooftop antenna. Rotating antennas are equipped with motors to point directly at each broadcast tower.  You do not need an HDTV antenna to receive digital high-definition broadcasts. You also do not need a separate antenna to receive the new subchannels from a station.

– Finding the right antenna can take some experimenting. Visit AntennaWeb.org to get a better idea of what you might need. Prices range from $10 to more than $100, depending on the antenna’s size and sophistication. Installation often adds to the cost.  Evaluate your reception situation early. The transition occurs in February, when rooftops may be icy and winds may be strong.  (Source:  Washingtonpost.com article on 5-20-2008)

• Memorial Day Discounts. Supposedly Home Depot and Lowe’s are giving 10% discounts to veterans over Memorial Day weekend - I have not verified this. 

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Tech Talk

• Windows XP SP3 Update. I mentioned previously that some HP computers had problems when the recent Windows XP Service Pack 3 update was loaded. HP has recently released a ‘patch’ to fix this problem. You can find the patch on the HP website at: HP_SP3_Patch

Again, Windows Service Pack 3 is NOT essential at this time.  The general consensus in the technical literature is that you can wait for a while to install it.  I continue to have problems on the one computer where I’ve loaded it with occasional lockups of Internet Explorer 7 - when then seems to lock up everything else requiring a reboot (or logoff and back on).  (Sources: various)

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