National Military Family Association Newsletter, 15 November 2005 

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Subject: National Military Family Association Newsletter, 15 November 2005

 

November 15, 2005

To view the complete November 15, 2005 Government and You E-News click
here.

Please feel free to forward this news to others who might be interested and encourage them sign up to receive the Government and You E-News at the NMFA website http://www.nmfa.org/enews_signup. Questions regarding the content in this newsletter should be sent to: families@nmfa.org.

Thank you for your interest in military families.
Topics in this Week’s News Include:

1. Senate Passes NDAA: The Senate completed work today on the $491 billion FY 2006 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passing it unanimously, 98-0. NMFA is still reviewing the long list of amendments passed by the Senate during floor debate. For more information click here.

2. BRAC Recommendations Take Effect: The Base Realignment and Closure Commission's (BRAC) recommendations for reshaping the Defense Department's infrastructure and force structure officially took effect on November 9 after Congress allowed them to pass into law at the mandated November 8 deadline. For more information click here.

3. Track Your Mail to Military Post Offices: Military families now have a convenient way to track the status of Express Mail sent to loved ones stationed around the world. Through a new tracking service Express Mail can now be tracked to any Military Post Office worldwide except combat zones. The holiday deadline for shipping packages via Express Mail Military Service (EMMS) is December 19. For more information click here.

4. More Medications Moved to DoD’s Third Formulary Tier: On November 8, Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., Director of TRICARE Management Activity and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, approved additional medications to be placed either on the first or second co-payment tier (formulary) or the third co-payment tier (known as nonformulary drugs). For more information click here.

5. What Are You Doing to Improve Military Families’ Access to Health Care Appointments? Do you go to a military treatment facility (MTF) for your health care? Have you noticed that you’re having more difficulties in obtaining an appointment? For more information click here.

6. What Do Military Beneficiaries Need to Know About the New Medicare Part D Pharmacy Program? TRICARE and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have teamed-up to provide Medicare Part D educational and enrollment information to TRICARE beneficiaries eligible for Medicare's new prescription drug coverage. Enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug coverage plan begins today, November 15, and continues through May 15, 2006. For more information click here.

7. DS3 Now “Wounded Warrior Program:” The Army recently announced that it is changing the name of the Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3)—a program that assists severely wounded Soldiers—to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2). For more information click here.

8. No Across-the-Board Review of PTSD Cases: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced November 12, 2005, that it will not review the files of 72,000 veterans currently receiving disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder. Secretary James Nicholson stated, “Not all combat wounds are caused by bullets and shrapnel and that the VA has a commitment to ensure veterans with PTSD receive compassionate, world-class health care and appropriate disability compensation determinations.” Read more about the VA announcement at: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=1042.

9. Pennsylvania Begins Military Family Relief Fund: On November 9, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell into law House Bill 1179, sponsored by Rep. Ronald E. Miller (R-York), which establishes the state’s "Military Family Relief Assistance Program." For more information click here.

10. Two Ways to Support Servicemembers and Families Over the Holidays: As the holidays approach, many of us begin thinking about fellow Americans deployed far from home and their families. While all efforts to support troops serving overseas are greatly appreciated, some are admittedly safer and more effective than others. For more information click here.

11. What Event/Program Made a Difference for Military Families in 2005? Amid the concerns about the availability of support services to help military families deal with the challenges of military life, we also know there are many shining examples of ways the Department of Defense, installations, and communities support military families. In the January 2006 NMFA newsletter, we will highlight the year’s success stories in our list of the 2005 Top 10 Most Important Family Support Events. If you know of a great new program in your area tell us! If your community benefited from a new policy or law tell us! If the actions of an individual positively affected family support in your area, now is your chance to tell us! To submit your story, go to: www.nmfa.org/surveys.

Remember NMFA when Making Your Combined Federal Campaign Contribution: #2113! Thank you for your support!
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