Please pass on to other vets.

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following web site for veterans to gain access to their DD-214′s on-line:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files.

Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents.

Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the on-line web site. Because the requester will be asked 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 new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center mail room and processing time.

Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know and their dependents.

By Tom Berger

The average age of the Vietnam Veteran is 64.  As we reach 65, we find ourselves eligible for a host of programs tailored to seniors, programs like Medicare.  While those of us who get our health care at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers or clinics, there is little practical effect on us as we reach this milestone. For the almost 70 percent of Vietnam veterans who do not use the VA for health care services, however, the escalating costs of care is a very real consideration.

The good news for those who use the VA is that the funds Congress had appropriated for VA health care will not take much of a hit this fiscal year.  For those who have not enrolled in the VA health care system and who take a variety of prescription drugs, Medicare average prescription drug premiums will not increase in 2012. New data from the Department of Health and Human Services indicate that 900,000 Medicare beneficiaries who hit the prescription drug “donut hole” have received a 50 percent discount on their prescription drugs. In addition, 17 million Medicare beneficiaries have received free preventive services this year.

Under the Affordable Care Act, people with Original Medicare can receive preventive benefits and a new annual wellness visit at no cost.  And the Affordable Care Act is closing the prescription drug donut hole by providing increasing discounts on covered brand-name drugs. In fact, according to HHS, the dollar amount of out-of-pocket savings on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries has risen to $461 million saved through this past June.

HHS also announced that the cost of the average Medicare prescription drug plan premium in 2012 will be about $30. The average premium in 2011 is $30.76.  The announcement was based on bids submitted by Part D plans for the 2012 plan year.

National and regional premium data on drug costs can be found online at: www.cms.gov/MedicareAdvtgSpecRateStats/RSD/list.asp.

For state-by-state information on the number of Medicare beneficiaries who have seen lower out-of-pocket costs in the donut hole, you can go to www.cms.gov/newmedia/03_partd.asp.

And for state-by-state information on utilization of free preventive services and the annual wellness visit, you can visit http://www.cms.gov/newmedia/02_preventive.asp.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has embarked on a major initiative to reach out to women Veterans in order to solicit their input on ways to enhance the health care services VA provides to women Veterans.

“We are taking a proactive approach to enhancing VA health care for women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We are seeking the input of women Veterans so that VA can continue to provide high quality health care to the growing numbers of women Veterans.”

Representatives at VA’s Health Resource Center (HRC) are placing calls to women Veterans nationwide, asking them to share their experiences with VA and suggest potential enhancements that will further VA’s mission to provide the best care anywhere.

Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. Of the 22.7 million living Veterans, more than 1.8 million are women. They comprise nearly 8 percent of the total Veteran population and 6 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services.

VA estimates by 2020 women Veterans will constitute 10 percent of the Veteran population and 9.5 percent of VA patients. The HRC, which started placing calls on June 1, is contacting women Veterans who have enrolled, but have not begun using VA services.

“Through this contact center, we are placing friendly, conversational calls to women Veterans,” said Patricia Hayes, chief consultant of the VA’s Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. “We want these Veterans and their caregivers to talk candidly about why they are not using VA, whether they are aware of the gender-specific services we offer, and what additional services they would like to see VA offer.”

The HRC representatives making the calls are also informing women Veterans about the services VA offers and quickly connecting them with appropriate departments if they are interested in trying VA health care. Veterans who have complaints about VA are connected to a patient advocate who helps resolve issues.

VA has trained professionals in all aspects of women’s health, including general primary care, osteoporosis management, heart disease, mental health care, menopausal services and obesity-related issues, such as diabetes. Preventive screenings for breast and cervical cancer are also areas in which VA excels. Soon, all VA facilities will offer comprehensive primary care for women from a single provider.

The Women Veterans Health Care program has made significant changes in the last few years to enhance the health care offered to eligible women Veterans. This progress includes:

• Adopting key policies to improve access and enhance services for women Veterans;
• Implementing comprehensive primary care for women Veterans;
• Conducting cutting-edge research on the effects of military service on women’s lives;
• Improving communication and outreach to women Veterans; and
• Providing mental health, homelessness and other services designed to meet the unique needs of women Veterans

The United States entered Vietnam as military advisers to the South Vietnamese government in 1960. The Communist North Vietnamese was seen as a potential step in the Domino Theory which suggested that Communism would spread country by country across regions of the globe. In 1965, then President Lyndon Johnson escalated the war bringing in US ground troops.

This is the second consecutive year that Senator Burr has submitted this resolution.

The bill provides that the Senate recognize the contributions of veterans who served in the Vietnam during both peace and war times. The measure is to attempt to reconcile for the poor reception veterans received upon returning to the US from Vietnam. It encourages United States citizens to ceremoniously observe Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

To paraphrase Senator Burr, US soldiers served bravely and honorably in Vietnam. When they arrived home, the country was in political turmoil. As a result, the veterans never received the recognition they deserve. Setting March 30th aside as a day to Vietnam veterans as our focus, we can demonstrate our gratitude for sacrifices and service that they made on our behalf.

The real significance of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day is to help ensure that the Nation never again denigrate the service of its men and women. Despite the political differences that surround the decision to go to war, service men and women are committed to putting their lives on the line to preserve freedoms of the United States and its citizens where ever the Commander in Chief sees fit. It is this faithful service and personal sacrifice that Senator Burr hopes Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day will help recognize.

Also, the measure is designed to promote awareness of the role communities play in supporting veterans and their families when they return to civilian life. This includes veterans of all foreign wars including Iraq and Afghanistan.

More than 300,000 members of the US Armed Forces were wounded in Vietnam and another 58,000 lost their lives. The US was involved in the Vietnam War for less time than Iraq or Afghanistan but the combined casualties of these two modern wars are considerably lower than Vietnam. Despite that fact, the veterans returning from the Middle East commonly suffer unseen trauma and need greater support.

The legislation put forward by Senator Burr was co-sponsored by Republican Senators John Boozman from Arkansas, Thad Cochran from Mississippi, James Inhofe from Oklahoma, Johnny Isakson from Georgia and Mike Johanns from Nebraska. Currently the House of Representatives is considering the resolution.

H.R. 1, the full-year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, is set to eliminate $75 million for approximately 10,000 new permanent supportive housing vouchers for homeless veterans.

These HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers represent a collaboration between the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to help chronically ill veterans who are not able to obtain and maintain housing without assistance. A vote on this bill is expected by the end of the day.

The vouchers were approved by both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in the 111th Congress, and would bring the HUD-VASH program to the 40,000 voucher level.

The VASH program is one of the most critical elements of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness among veterans by 2015.

VA had included funding for program expansion in its FY 2011 budget, and the Senate Appropriations Committee inserted funding for 10,000 new vouchers in its HUD funding bill. Both actions spurred hope that the number of homeless veterans – estimated at 107,000 – would continue to decline.

Vietnam Veterans of America urges you to contact your senators and representatives NOW and object to any move that would eliminate approved HUD-VASH program funding for new vouchers from this years continuing appropriation act for 2011 and all future budget proposed by the 112 Congress.

We must all do our part to protect these brave soldiers please contact your member NOW and object to any cuts in services for our homeless veterans.

As reported here for the last two years, the Post-9/11 GI Bill — although great in some ways, fell short in others. The good news is Congress finally passed a laundry list of substantive fixes that will help improve the Post-9/11 GI Bill and virtually eliminate the need for new servicemembers to consider paying the onetime $1,200 contribution for the Montgomery GI Bill.

However, like the original Post-9/11 GI Bill, not all the changes are positive. In fact, it will mean a reduction in benefits for some current student vets and leave others without benefits during school breaks. It seems Congress is unable to find a way to pass a GI Bill that doesn’t have unintended consequences and collateral damage.

Both the American Council on Education (ACE) and the National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA) have voiced concerns that some aspects of the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010 will result in a loss or reduction in benefits for some veterans. The House version of the bill had included “hold harmless” language which would protect veterans from losing benefits. Unfortunately the final version did not.

Here is a quick summary of the major fixes and substantive changes included in Senate bill S.3447 -  the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010. Keep in mind that most of the fixes do not take effect until August 1, 2011.

Note that some of the following details are subject to change as this bill progresses from Act to Law to VA Policy.

• Expands current Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility to include National Guard activation for events like national emergencies and AGR service. This is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2009, but benefits will not be paid until Oct. 1, 2011.
• Removes limitations for non-degree granting programs including certification courses, vocational-technical training, and Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training programs similar to the Montgomery GI Bill. Effective Oct. 1, 2011
• Simplifies the tuition payment rates by eliminating the state-by-state “undergraduate level” cap for tuition and fees. The VA will pay all actual tuition and fees for public (state) institutions for all levels of higher education. Effective Aug. 1, 2011. — Also applies to active duty servicemembers and their families, which goes into effect 60 days after enactment.
• Sets an annual tuition and fee cap for all private institutions of $17,500 a year. This translates into $52,500 total for tuition and fees over the life of the benefits (36 months). Effective Aug. 1, 2011
• Limits the monthly housing stipend by prorating the payment to the rate of pursuit (based on number of course hours taken). For example a half-time student will receive 50 percent of the current BAH. All other locality payment rates still apply. Effective Aug. 1, 2011
• Expands eligibility for the monthly housing stipend to all half-time of better “distance learners” at a rate of 50 percent of the national average for BAH (approximately $650) – which will also be prorated to the rate of pursuit (based on the number of course hours taken). Effective 10/1/2011 – not retroactive.
• Limits housing stipend payments during break periods (spring break, summer semester, winter break, etc.) to four weeks a year. Effective Aug. 1, 2011.
• Expands the annual book stipend eligibility to include active duty and their spouses. Effective Oct. 1, 2011
• Enables disabled veterans who are entitled to subsistence under the Voc-Rehab (VR&E) program and Post-9/11 GI Bill to take the P911 Housing Stipend in place of the VR&E subsistence payment. Effective Aug. 1, 2011
• Removes the limit of just one test for licensure or certification and expands coverage to include “National Tests” like SAT, GRE, LSAT, and tests for college credit like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Effective Aug. 1, 2011.
• Grants GI Bill eligible care givers an extension on their 10 year deadline for using benefits. Effective Aug. 1, 2011.
• Enables eligible NOAA and USPHS members to transfer GI Bill benefits like all other eligible members. Effective Aug.1, 2011

Note: Many of the other changes included in the bill are technical fixes to eliminate ambiguity, patch holes and close loop holes in the original Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Most of the changes are positive, however, some leave room for further improvement – some actually may cause financial harm to some veterans. Let’s hope the next Congress is willing to go back and finish the clean up.

Article Source:  Military.com Education

WASHINGTON – As previously announced on January 7, 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) froze prescription copayment increases for six months.  Veterans who generally have higher income and no service-connected disabilities – referred to as Priority Groups 7 and 8 Veterans – will now pay an additional $1 for each 30-day supply of outpatient medications.  Taking effect July 1, the increase to $9 from $8 is the first change in VA’s medication copay since Jan. 1, 2006.

“Because of the harsh economic reality facing many Veterans, we delayed the change,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.  “We’re now ensuring the Veterans most in need of VA care are those least affected.  Yet, even with this increase, VA medication copays are lower than much of the private sector.”

This change does not impact Veterans in Priority Groups 2 through 6 who will continue to pay $8 for each 30-day supply of medications for their non-service connected conditions unless otherwise exempted.  These Veterans will also continue to have their out-of-pocket expenses for VA outpatient medications capped at $960 per calendar year.

Veterans who have an injury or illness connected with their military service resulting in a disability rated 50 percent or greater – who are known as Priority Group 1 Veterans — are exempt from the copay.

VA generally sets its outpatient medication copay rate based upon a regulation that ties the rate to the Medical Consumer Price Index for prescription drugs.

Veterans who have difficulty paying co-payments for outpatient medications should discuss the matter with their local VA enrollment coordinator.  Veterans may also contact VA at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) or visit VA’s health eligibility Web site at www.va.gov/healtheligibility .