We have No Action Items today

Summary of Issues
At Issue 1. we see MOAA PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON HOUSE DEFENSE BILL Where do we stand on the defense bill? Hear our take from MOAA President and CEO, Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret). (Click on MOAA PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON HOUSE DEFENSE BILL here or above to view and listen to the MOAA President’s comments. Turn on your speakers. GF) –There is no Issue 1 below—

At Issue 2. we see MILITARY HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL. House committee proposes major military health care changes. Proposals (mostly) grandfather current beneficiaries from TRICARE fee hikes. (See Issue 2 below for the details. GF)

At Issue 3. we see HOUSE DEFENSE BILL ADDRESSES SURVIVORS, DIVORCES, DRAFT. House bucks administration’s proposals. After a marathon session, the House Armed Services Committee rejected proposals to cap the military pay raise and cut force levels. (See Issue 3 below for the details. GF)

At Issue 4. we see VETERANS BENEFITS. How the changes proposed will affect you. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved a massive bill to shore up accountability in the VA, expand health care access and upgrade benefits. (See Issue 4 below for the details. GF)

Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends –
don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources

ISSUES

Issue 2. MILITARY HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
April 29, 2016

In approving its version of the FY 2017 defense authorization bill this week, the House Armed Services Committee included big changes for the military health care system.

On the TRICARE fee front, the bill would apply a new fee structure similar to that proposed by the Pentagon for future service entrants, beginning in 2018.

However, the bill would grandfather currently serving and retired members and families against the large fee hikes proposed in the Pentagon’s FY 2017 defense budget.

Fee increases in future years would be indexed by COLA – the percentage increase in military retired pay rather than the (higher) health care inflation index proposed by the DoD. This is in line with MOAA’s and The Military Coalition’s recommendation.

The bill proposes no changes for TRICARE For Life or TRICARE Prime. It envisions changing the current TRICARE Standard program to a preferred provider system with flat-dollar copays for most doctor visits.

Retired members and families wishing to stay in this updated version of TRICARE Standard (which would be renamed TRICARE Preferred) would need to enroll annually (no enrollment is required at present). An annual enrollment fee of $100/$200 (single/family) will be required of currently retired members on TRICARE Preferred, but wouldn’t start until 2020 – once DoD demonstrates it has improved its capacity to provide timely access to quality care.

The most dramatic change would involve placing all military treatment facilities (MTFs) under the direction of the Defense Health Agency, effective Oct. 1, 2018, for purposes of unified policy, administration, and budgeting. MOAA has long supported this proposal based on the cost and inefficiency of building military health care programs around three separate systems for each of the services.

The bill also establishes a wide variety of requirements intended to enhance beneficiary access to care. This includes extended hours at MTF’s for primary care, providing urgent care until 11 P.M., and authorizing unlimited access to urgent care without a referral. The proposal also creates metrics for quality of care, wait times, provider-to-beneficiary ratios, and provider productivity.

In addition, the bill would authorize military facilities to sell durable medical equipment (e.g., hearing aids) at cost to family members of retirees.

All in all, MOAA supports the HASC’s balanced approach to reforming the military’s health care delivery system and especially appreciates the Committee’s rejection of the large fee increases proposed in the DoD budget.
Issue 3. HOUSE DEFENSE BILL ADDRESSES SURVIVORS, DIVORCES, DRAFT
April 29, 2016

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) followed the lead of the Personnel Subcommittee and rejected administration proposals to cap the military pay raise and cut force levels.

(Click on Personnel Subcommittee here or above for more detail. GF)

After a marathon session, the committee went on to include several other significant provisions in its version of the FY 2017 defense authorization bill on April 27, including the following:

Survivors: extends the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance by one year until Oct. 1, 2018, and keeps the monthly rate at $310. SSIA was established in 2008 to provide incremental relief to survivors affected by the “widows tax.”

Although MOAA is disappointed at the inability to increase the allowance, we’re relieved it won’t be allowed to expire. A one-year extension automatically creates pressure for further action, and committee leaders have pledged to work toward raising the SSIA and phasing out the offset.

The bill also changes the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) calculation for survivors of reserve personnel who die while serving under Inactive Duty Training (IDT) orders to the same (more favorable) method used for deaths on active duty. This is another MOAA-supported issue.

Former Spouses: changes the rules under the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) by basing the amount of retired pay to be divided with a former spouse on the servicemember’s grade and years of service at the time of divorce; the change would not be retroactive, but would apply to divorces finalized after this change becomes law. MOAA has long supported this measure.

Women and the draft: requires both men and women reaching age 18 to register with the Selective Service. By a 32-to-30 vote, the committee decided the recent opening of all combat roles to women means they should no longer be exempt from draft registration.

Navy: increases Navy force levels by about 1,700 above the DoD budget request. The bill also changes the name of the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

The full House of Representatives is expected to consider the HASC mark in May.
Issue 4. VETERANS BENEFITS
April 29, 2016
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved a large omnibus package Thursday, which addresses a range of MOAA-supported initiatives.
A key health care section of the “The Veterans First Act” provides a plan to extend special Caregiver Act services for the full-time caregivers of catastrophically disabled veterans from the Vietnam era. Currently, benefits apply only to caregivers for Post-9/11 vets. But the benefits would not be triggered until two years after the VA certifies a successful upgrade of information technology systems to support the expanded services.
Caregiver Act services include training for qualifying caregivers, access to CHAMPVA health care, a stipend, and respite care.
The bill establishes an Office of [VA] Accountability and Whistleblower Protection and tightens disciplinary and removal rules for senior VA executives. It also would require the VA and DoD to jointly update guidelines for the management of opioid therapy for chronic pain in wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans.
The Senate Committee took a different approach than its House counterpart on a controversial cut to the housing allowance under the new GI Bill. The House adopted a 50-percent cut to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for future GI Bill benefit transfers to dependent children (current transfers would be grandfathered at the full rate).
The Senate instead aligned the BAH rate for all qualifying GI Bill users with the five-year cumulative five-percent cut to the rates established in the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. GI Bill recipients would continue to get the same housing rate as active duty families at the E-5 with dependents rate.
Other items in the bill that address MOAA-supported goals include:
Strengthening administrative procedures for care for veterans in communities
Authorizing GI Bill eligibility credit for time spent in medical hold status
Creating a pilot program to reduce the appealed claims backlog
Allowing survivors who lost their spouses early in Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts (Sept. 11, 2001 – Dec. 31, 2005) up to five additional years to use their Fry Scholarship GI Bill benefits
Enabling Fry Scholarship users to participate in GI Bill matching by private colleges under the Yellow Ribbon program
Authorizing GI Bill benefits for involuntary Guard – Reserve call ups for “pre-planned and budgeted” operational missions
Enhancing research on the health effects of toxic exposures impacts on descendants
Enabling speedier payment of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for active duty deaths reported by a military service
Honoring as veterans certain career members of the National Guard and Reserve
Panel Chairman Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) noted at the press conference for the bill, “When people look back at what Congress accomplished this year, the Veterans First Act will be at the top of the list.”
The bill must now be reconciled with a House veterans omnibus measure passed last November.

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That’s it for today- Thanks for your help!

We have 1 Action Item today at Issue 2 below

 

 

Summary of Issues

At Issue 1. we see PANEL REJECTS PAY, FORCE CUTS. Process for defense bill gets rolling. House Subcommittee rejects DoD’s proposals on pay raise. (See Issue 1 below for the details. GF)

At Issue 2. we see TIME TO END THE MILITARY “WIDOWS TAX”. Repeal the SBP-DIC Offset. In his April As I See It column, MOAA Director of Government Relations Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF (Ret), says widows need relief from compounded losses. (See Issue 2 below for the details and to send messages to our Legislators. GF)

At Issue 3. we see VETERAN GROUPS TO COMMISSION: FIX, DON’T DISMANTLE VA. VA Commission on Care finalizing its report to Congress. Leading veteran groups meet to share concerns on some health system proposals. (See Issue 3 below for the details. GF)  

Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends –

don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources

 

ISSUES

 

Issue 1. PANEL REJECTS PAY, FORCE CUTS

April 22, 2016

On April 20, the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee approved its version of the FY 2017 defense authorization bill (H.R. 4909).

The Subcommittee’s mark differs significantly from DoD’s FY 2017 defense budget proposal, and provides some early optimism on the 2017 pay raise and commissary issues.

(Click on  DoD’s FY 2017 defense budget proposal,  here or above to see the details. GF)

Here’s how the bill addresses several issues of MOAA interest:

Force Levels: increases force levels above the DoD budget request by 20,000 for the Army; 15,000 for Army National Guard; 10,000 for Army Reserve; 4,000 for the Air Force; and 3,000 for the Marine Corps. Approves the DoD request to reduce Navy forces by 6,300.

Active Duty Pay Raise: rejects the administration’s proposal to cap the 2017 pay raise at 1.6 percent, and instead would provide servicemembers the same 2.1 percent pay raise experienced by the average American (as measured by the Employment Cost Index).

Commissary: allows DoD to implement variable pricing strategies and “house brand” products at commissaries nationwide, but specifies current patron savings and satisfaction must be maintained, benchmarks for those measures must be established, and quarterly reports must be provided to track progress. MOAA appreciates the Subcommittee’s extra efforts to preserve benefit value for patrons while pursuing system efficiencies.

Military Retirement: adopts a DoD proposal for flexibility in paying a continuation bonus between eight and 12 years of service for members under the new blended retirement system (taking effect in 2018), but does not include other DoD proposals to delay the onset of government Thrift Savings Plan matching until five years of service, increase the maximum government match, and extend matching beyond 26 years of service.

Uniform Code of Military Justice: adopts a long list of changes, including establishing new offenses involving use of government computers and credit card fraud, extending the statute of limitations for child abuse, and improving transparency of court records.

Impact Aid: provides $30 million in assistance for local schools serving significant numbers of military children.

The Subcommittee bill did not address military health care or extension of authority to pay a Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) to survivors affected by the military “widows tax.”  Subcommittee Chair Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) said both of those issues would be addressed next week during action on the bill by the full Armed Services Committee.

The full committee is set to take up the defense bill next Wednesday, and action by the Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to begin May 10.

 

 

Issue 2. TIME TO END THE MILITARY “WIDOWS TAX”

By: Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF (Ret) Director, Government Relations

April 22, 2016

No servicemember, active or retired, likes to contemplate their possible death.

But those with families do exactly that to shield their loved ones from the financial consequences of losing the head of household.

The significant majority of retiring members purchase the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to provide their surviving spouse 55 percent of retired pay.

But what if the servicemember dies of a service-caused condition? Shouldn’t the spouse get something extra in that circumstance?

In theory, they do, because the VA provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — currently a little over $15,000 a year — in such cases.

But there’s a catch: If the deceased servicemember had SBP coverage, the law requires DIC to be deducted from it.

That’s right — the SBP the retiree purchased gets cut by up to $15,000. For most enlisted retirees, that wipes out most or all of the survivor’s SBP.

Is the government entirely unfeeling about this? No, they kindly refund a pro-rata share of the member-paid SBP premiums (without interest) for the lost SBP amount.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) have introduced bipartisan legislation to end this so-called SBP-DIC widows tax and authorize payment of both SBP and DIC when military service caused the member’s death.

Nelson, a former Florida insurance commissioner, has said, “It would be illegal for any insurance company to say it wouldn’t pay on a life insurance policy because the policyholder had other coverage.”

That’s not the only irony SBP-DIC widows face. Several years ago, a court ruled dual SBP- and DIC-eligible survivors can receive both benefits — provided they remarry after age 57.

So — incredibly — current law punishes these survivors financially for remarrying before age 55 (they lose both SBP and DIC in that case) and also punishes them financially (by continuing the widows tax) if they don’t remarry after age 57.

Congress long has recognized the unfairness of the widows tax. Several years ago, Congress authorized a Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) as a partial rebate for SBP-DIC widows. The SSIA is $275 a month this year, and will rise to $310 next year, when it will make up for about 25 percent of the widows tax.

The intent, as expressed by previous House Armed Services Committee Chair Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) was to continue raising the SSIA as a means of eventually phasing out the widows tax.

But the authority to pay SSIA ends as of Oct. 1, 2017 — which means Congress has to act this year to keep SBP-DIC widows from losing the current $310 monthly allowance.

MOAA stormed the Hill last week to urge legislators to end the widows tax or, at the very least, extend and continue increasing the SSIA.

The vehicle to do that is the FY2017 defense authorization bill, which the House and Senate will be considering over the next month.

You can help protect these most deserving survivors by sending your legislators a MOAA-suggested message urging inclusion of a provision in the defense bill to end the SBP-DIC widows tax.

 

(Click on MOAA-suggested message here or above, or go to the “Here is the Process” section at the end of this Email to send your messages. GF)

Issue 3. VETERAN GROUPS TO COMMISSION: FIX, DON’T DISMANTLE VA

 

April 22, 2016

 

The Commission on Care is wrapping up its report to Congress on how best to organize the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for the next generation of veterans

.

With roughly two months left for the Commission to write its recommendations, MOAA joined several veteran organizations at a meeting with commissioners on April 18 to discuss the Commission’s work, but more importantly to convey what type of health system veterans want, need, and deserve.

 

The veterans panel offered stories, survey data, and viewpoints on four critical topic areas:

 

The role of the VHA

 

The role of non-VA (community care) health care providers

 

How veterans will need to access care in the future

 

How to strengthen veterans’ health care programs

 

MOAA reiterated many of the points outlined in a letter sent earlier this month disagreeing with some who say the VHA is “broken beyond repair.” MOAA acknowledged that the system is in need of immediate attention and reform, but urged the commissioners to find a way to fix the problems and not simply migrate the system to community-based services. MOAA is concerned such a move would lose the best aspects and most critical functions of the system, such as spinal cord and polytrauma care.

 

The group praised VA Secretary Robert McDonald’s MyVA transformation efforts, asking the commissioners to keep this in mind as they formulate their recommendations.“

 

The integration and coordination of care is critical in any health system,” said MOAA Deputy Director of Government Relations Cdr. René Campos, USN (Ret). “Not just veterans, but American medicine relies on VHA work, and these linkages are important, unlike any health system in the public sector.”

 

Campos reminded commissioners in the aftermath of the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Mo., and Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy in 2005 and 2012, the VA was able to support thousands of displaced veterans to ensure continuity of medical care and benefits because of VA’s electronic health record.

 

Panelists talked about the importance of talking and listening to other veterans, citing a recent Veterans of Foreign Wars survey. The survey also showed quality of care, availability of appointments, travel distance, and cost as the top four reasons for veterans using VA health care.

 

“If you are going to eliminate the functionalities of the VA, you actually are reducing choice, not adding choice,” said Bill Rausch, Executive Director of Got Your Six.

 

Top VA leaders spoke to the commission later in the day, providing a progress report on changes in the health system to date. Many of these changes have had a positive impact on veterans care, such as: a new employee and leadership training program; one-day stand downs to reduce the backlog of urgent care appointments; real-time customer satisfaction feedback; and expansion of clinical hours to see more patients-all with a focus on care that is veteran-centric.

 

MOAA recognizes the tough job ahead for commissioners as they craft their report to the President and Congress. We greatly appreciate the significant amount of time commissioners gave to hearing our concerns and recommendations.

 

Here is the Process:  I recommend that you review all of the steps below and then you might want to copy this process by high lighting all of the steps below.  Then click on “File” at the top of your screen, select “Print“, then click on “Selection” at the next display and then hit “Print“; or print the selected portion as you usually do this kind of task.

 

1. Click here onhttp://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/ or copy and paste it in your browser to put you at the  “Legislative Action Center” screen.
2. Scroll downunder “Current Action Alerts” and below “Congress” click on End the Military “Widows Tax”
3. 3.If applicable, at the next screen scroll down to the TAKE ACTION NOW! lineand enter or confirm your Zip code and /or hit “Go!”
4. 4. Orat that next screen under“COMPOSE MESSAGE” leave the “Message Recipients Delivery Method” as “Email” at your discretion, and then scroll down to “Issue Area” and select an appropriate issue; e.g. ‘Veteran affairs’
5. Scroll down to the  “Editable text” areaand edit/modify the text of the message if desired,
6. Insert “Your Closing” (I show ‘Respectfully), and “Your Name” and fill in the rest of the mandatory {asterisked} SENDER INFORMATION.
7. Fill in the “Guest Type“, “Service“, “Rank“, “Component“, and “Status” if you want that information to show in your message (recommended).  You may be prompted to include a phone numberif you try to send the message without entering your phone number. Don’t be concerned about entering a phone number. I haven’t  received return calls except on rare occasions to thank me for my interest in a particular piece of Legislation, at which time you can comment (pro or con) to the staff member on how the Senator stands on the issue.
8. Check “Remember Me” (recommended) if you don’t want to have to re-enter all of your Sender Information the next time you send a message. You can always change your information or uncheck ‘Remember Me’ anytime in the future.
9. Hit “Send Message”
10. If Printed Letter was selected at Step 4 above, at the screen after hitting “Send Message” leave “Plain Paper Style” and “Word Processor (RTF)” checked unless you have another preference. Then left click on “Print Letter(s)” at the end of the “PRINT LETTER” screen. At the File Download” alert that appears next, click on “Open”. You can then edit and print or save the letter for editing, printing, signing and mailing.

 

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That’s it for today- Thanks for your help!

 

 

 

We have 2 Action Item today at Issue 3 below

 

 

Summary of Issues

At Issue 1. we see COLA CLIMBING . COLA shows signs of growth. The Consumer Price Index remains in the red — but it’s looking better than it did last year. (See Issue 1 below for the details. GF)

At Issue 2. we see MOAA STORMS THE HILL. More than 160 MOAA leaders swarm Capitol Hill. This year, the “Hill-stormers” asked legislators to reject disproportional TRICARE fee hikes and (See Issue 2 below for the details. GF)

At Issue 3. we see REDUCING VETERAN SUICIDES. VA addresses suicide rates. Join the campaign to end this tragedy (See Issue 3 below for the details and send massages to our legislators. GF)

At Issue 4. we see STUDY SHOWS RESILIENT MILITARY FAMILIES. Military families are tough. RAND study indicates deployments result in few long-term adverse effects on families – but could there be more to the story?  (See Issue 4 below for the details. GF)  

  

Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends –

don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources

 

ISSUES

 

Issue 1. COLA CLIMBING

In order for a positive COLA next year, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has to make pretty significant increases.

The March CPI is 232.209, and remains .9 percent below the FY 2014 COLA baseline. Because there was not a positive COLA in FY 2015, the FY 2014 baseline is used.

The CPI for April 2016 is scheduled to be released on May 17, 2016.

Note: Military retiree COLA is calculated based on the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), not the overall CPI. Monthly changes in the index may differ from national figures reported elsewhere.

Related content: Retired Pay vs Active Duty Pay Adjustments

(Click on  Retired Pay vs Active Duty Pay Adjustments here or above to see the details. GF)

 

 

Issue 2. MOAA STORMS THE HILL

April 15, 2016

 

MOAA council and chapter presidents from across the United States, accompanied by members of the national board of directors and headquarters staff, plus members of MOAA’s Currently Serving Advisory Council, Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Council, and Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee stormed Capitol Hill April 13 and visited nearly all 535 senators and representatives in support of key legislative priorities.

 

MOAA stormers used specially prepared color brochures to urge their elected officials to:

 

Reject disproportional TRICARE fee hikes

 

Eliminate the SBP-DIC Offset

 

(Click on the two links above to see the brochures. GF)

 

MOAA is gratified by your responses to the alert sent last Friday asking you to support this effort by emailing your legislators. MOAA members sent nearly 15,000 messages to Capitol Hill, and many legislators and staffers referenced the messages during their meetings with the MOAA stormers

.

The daylong event culminated with a dinner for MOAA Council and Chapter leaders and their spouses, featuring keynote speaker Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. The Congressmen has been a longtime advocate for survivors, and is the sponsor of legislation to repeal the SBP-DIC offset.

 

Wilson praised MOAA’s Storming the Hill activities, including the push to eliminate the SBP-DIC offset. “I’ve been working on this issue since I was elected 15 years ago, and I feel like I’ve been spinning my wheels – until today. The information you gave me was the clearest [I’ve ever received on the matter].”

 

Retired Air Force Gen. Charles Robertson, chairman of MOAA’s board of directors, introduced Rep. Wilson and closed the evening by thanking the stormers who had taken to Capitol Hill earlier that day to engage their congressional representatives.

 

To learn more about this year’s Storming the Hill events, check out: www.moaa.org/storming.

(Click on  www.moaa.org/storming here or above see the details. GF)

Issue 3. REDUCING VETERAN SUICIDES

April 15, 2016

 

This week, the VA announced a national campaign to reduce veteran suicide rates and refocus efforts aimed at further enhancing the department’s suicide prevention program.

 

Veterans Health Administration Under Secretary Dr. David Shulkin led a mental health summit bringing together mental health and suicide prevention professionals with caregivers, veterans and their families, veteran organizations, and members of Congress to help carve a path forward to prevent veteran suicide.

 

“We know that every day, approximately 22 veterans take their lives, and that is too many,” said Shulkin during the summit. “While no one knows the subject of veteran suicide better than VA, we also realize that caring for our veterans is a shared responsibility.

 

”The summit offered nine recommended actions to strengthen VA’s approach to suicide prevention, including:Elevating VA’s Suicide Prevention Program with additional resources;

 

Creating a goal of same-day evaluations and access by the end of 2016 to meet urgent mental health needs;

 

Establishing a new standard of care by using measures of veteran-reported symptoms to tailor mental health treatments to individual needs;

 

Launching a new study, “Coming Home from Afghanistan and Iraq,” to look at the impact of deployment and combat as it relates to suicide, mental health, and well-being;

 

Using predictive modeling to guide early interventions for suicide prevention;

 

Using data on suicide attempts for surveillance to guide preventive strategies;

 

Increasing the availability of naloxone rescue kits throughout VA to prevent deaths from opioid overdoses;

 

Establishing three regional tele-mental health hubs to enhance mental health access;

 

andContinuing to partner with DoD for a seamless transition from military service to civilian life.

 

As a follow-up to the summit, the VA asked MOAA and other military and veteran service organizations to engage in an outreach effort at national and community levels to help increase awareness and commit individuals to help prevent veteran suicide.

 

Improving mental health and suicide prevention programs have been major MOAA legislative goals for well over a decade.

 

In a joint hearing before the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, MOAA emphasized the need for sufficient staffing, resources, and funding to help high-risk active and Reserve servicemembers prior to discharge, and the need for better resources to train and educate mental health providers on the unique cultural needs of veterans and their families.

 

From now through the end of September, which is Suicide Prevention Month, MOAA will be calling on you to share information about the VA’s suicide prevention efforts and available resources.

 

Additionally, please contact your legislators to support MOAA-endorsed legislation to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our veterans and their families:

 

1. 1641, Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Actwould require the VA and DoD to jointly update clinical practice guidelines for the management of opioid therapy for chronic pain, including guidelines for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, psychiatric disorders, or substance abuse or addiction.

 

H.R. 1607, Ruth Moore Act would upgrade disability compensation procedures for veterans with mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma. The bill would also update regulations recognizing the full range of physical and mental disabilities that can result from the trauma.

 

MOAA applauds the VA’s efforts to break the cycle of suicide among our veterans, and we hope you will help us spread the word on available resources.

 

(Click on S. 1641, Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act  and H.R. 1607, Ruth Moore Act respectively here or above to send messages to our legislators. At those links scroll down on the right below Take Action Now and Enter Your Zip Code and then click on GO. At the next link scroll down under Issue Area to select an issue, e.g. Veterans affairs. Then edit the message if desired and fill in your personal information if it is not already shown. Then hit Send Message. GF)

Issue 4. STUDY SHOWS RESILIENT MILITARY FAMILIES

April 15 2016

 

Published by AdminSpouse at 1:47 pm under Military Children,Military Spouses,News,Veterans

RAND released its Deployment Life Study last week, a longitudinal study of military families facing deployment. Nearly 3,000 families were studied from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps over a three year period, with each family being surveyed before, during, and after deployment, in four-month intervals.

Surprisingly, the study showed few long-term adverse effects on military families as a result of deployments, with the major exception of servicemembers who faced some kind of deployment-related physical, psychological, or combat trauma.

The study was largely motivated by the major deployment increases in the middle to late 2000s, but was not commissioned until 2009 and did not begin until 2011.

There are at least some questions whether the study captured a true cross-section of deployment-affected families. For example, the experience level of those surveyed indicates they were relatively seasoned military families. Many families highly impacted by deployment peaks may have left service or otherwise may not have been in the study at all, so those surveyed may represent a more resilient population.

Outcomes of the study may be helpful, however, in determining the focus of future support programs surrounding deployments. This was the first longitudinal study performed that surveyed multiple family members: the servicemember, the parent at home, and teen children between 11-17 (children younger than 11 were surveyed through a parent).

Key findings indicate:

• Integration outcomes vary more for servicemembers than spouses and children.
• Families that are not facing a deployment still face challenges related to military life, particularly around relocation.
• Pre-deployment readiness activities result in better outcomes for post-deployment.
• Families face lower levels of financial stress during deployments.

The study shows that familial reactions to deployment and military service are far more complex than previously understood. Not only should the results of the study be used to direct improvement of existing programs, it shows the need for ongoing collection of this kind of data. These kinds of studies take years to implement, and often, by the time this kind of one-time survey is approved and implemented, key opportunities to access information may be lost.

Read more about the RAND Deployment Life Study.

(Click on RAND Deployment Life Study here or above for the details. GF)

 

 

 

That’s it for today- Thanks for your help!