National Healthcare Bill Betrays Veterans

[darrels joy]

	National Healthcare Bill Betrays Veterans
	VFW urges ‘no’ vote on H.R. 4872 WASHINGTON, March 21, 2010 — The national commander of the nation’s oldest and largest combat veterans’ organization is furious that Congress is moving ahead with a flawed healthcare bill that does not protect the health programs provided to veterans, servicemembers or their families. “The president and the Democratic leadership are betraying America's veterans,” said Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis., who leads the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries. “And what makes matters worse is the leadership and the president knows the bill is flawed, yet they are pushing for passage today like it’s a do-or-die situation. This nation deserves the best from their elected officials, and the rush to pass legislation of this magnitude is not it.” At issue is H.R. 4872 does not fully protect the healthcare programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military’s Tricare system. Specifically, the bill covers Tricare For Life but not the other Tricare programs that serve millions of beneficiaries; it does not cover children suffering from spina bifida as a result of a parent’s exposure to Agent Orange; and it does not cover dependents, widows and orphans who are served by CHAMPVA, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. “The president was very clear at our VFW national convention last year when he said he was going to protect these programs, as did the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate repeatedly throughout the year. Now we have this flawed package that everyone is trying to rush through that blatantly omits any protections of the healthcare programs our nation provides to millions of veterans, military personnel, military retirees, and their families or survivors. “This is Washington doubletalk at its very worse, and the uproar is going to be huge in America’s military and veterans’ communities,” said Tradewell, who wants Congress to vote against H.R. 4872 today. The issue surfaced publicly Friday when House Armed Service Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) introduced legislation to explicitly protect Tricare and other Defense Department nonappropriated fund health plans from any health reforms currently under consideration by Congress. Yesterday, Reps. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) tried to introduce an amendment to H.R. 4872 to protect the integrity and independence of the VA and Defense Department healthcare systems. Buyer is the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and McKeon is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. “The VFW salutes the congressmen and their supporters,” said Tradewell, “and I hope their messages were heard loudly and clearly throughout Congress. Healthcare is important, but so is protecting the programs that were promised to our nation’s veterans, military and their families,” he said. “Those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan should not have to worry about their dependents’ healthcare programs, but they are today, and so are millions of military retirees, veterans, survivors and children. “Military service is based on the fundamental principle of trust, and once lost, it is virtually impossible to regain,” said Tradewell. “That is why I am urging the House to vote ‘no’ today, then go back and fix the bill with the language proposed by Skelton, Buyer and McKeon, and then come back and vote your conscience. Let’s not rush to pass flawed legislation that could tremendously impact our nation’s true heroes.”

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?did=5415&fa=news.newsDtl

[darrels joy]

.....
So, here is the story. TRICARE and NAF are not certain to be approved under the existing bill about to be signed. Now, why is this? They’ve been working on these bills for in excess of a year, and this is the first we are hearing of it? Well, no, actually, Representative Buyer has been talking about the effects for quite a while, but no one really listened. This is not really to praise Representative Buyer as much as it is to say that no one on the Hill seems to be listening to anyone. Think back on all the important bills that Congress has passed in its days. The Civil Rights Acts, Medicare creation, some of the New Deal Bills. How many of them had one party voting exclusively one way, and the other party splitting its vote and yet the party that voted together lost? I’ve never heard it. Not one Republican broke ranks on this bill, and some Dems, fearful of the vengeance of their constituents voted “No.” What we have here is a failure to communicate.

Now, I would take grave exception to the VFW saying that the Democrats, “Betrayed Veterans”….Actually, I think they knew exactly what they were doing, and fully expect them to make the fixes sometime in the next week or two. So, that being the case, why wasn’t this fixed earlier?

Well, that takes the discussion in a different direction as well. For those who don’t know how Medicare Reimbursements work, if you are on Medicare, you go to a doctor and for each procedure, the Gov’t will pay a certain amount to that Doctor. That figure is notably less than what the doctor would charge other patients. If the doctor is incredibly busy, he will forego all Medicare patients since he can charge more to those with private insurance. The Congress, in an effort to cut down our ballooning budget has been trying to further cut the rates that the Government pays out at, and this has expected results….Less doctors will take Medicare patients.

Now, the cuts are already in as law, but many Members of Congress know that the reimbursement rates are too low, so every year they vote to freeze the drop. And this is part of the “Doctor Fix” that you hear about all the time. But what happened was that President Obama and the Democratic Members of the House are pushing a new mantra of “Fiscal Responsibility” and “Lowering the deficit.” And so, they set an artificial ceiling of 1 Trillion dollars for this bill. One would like to think that this number has some concrete meaning. I mean, why $1 Trillion and not $936 Billion? No reason at all, that was the number they settled on.

So what happens next is that the Congressional Budget Office is brought in to referee the situation. The Majority said that they would like, W, X, Y, and Z in the bill, and the CBO said “Well, that would cost you $1.5 Trillion” or so. So Congress sent it back and said, “Fine, drop X and Z.” Bingo, CBO comes back at $900+ Billion, just below the artificial threshold. Now, once that is passed, Congress will go back and say, “But we need the X and Z done now, or our ___[Veterans etc]___ will have an unfair burden.”

Everyone will vote for it, because no one wants the veterans to be left out in the cold. And Voila! it passes, without Congress ever having to have added it in the initial bill, and thus keeping the initial bill under the magic number.

http://burnpit.legion.org/2010/03/no...ct-you-part-i/

[darrels joy]

....
Insurance companies must allow children to stay on their parent's insurance plans until age 26th.
....

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...46-503544.html

Not currently part of TriCare. Kids are covered up to 23, 24 if their are still in college.

Joy

[Gimpy]

The VFW?---------------These dingbats are nothing more than a political mouthpiece for the RNC talking points.

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VFW Lies for the GOP, Attempts to Kill Health Care

by Richard Smith

Share this on Twitter - VFW Lies for the GOP, Attempts to Kill Health Care

Sun Mar 21, 2010 at 01:45:08 PM PDT


Among all of the Congressional elections in 2006, there were two that were particularly interesting. In Virginia, an incumbent Republican Senator who received a deferment from service in Vietnam was endorsed by the VFW's political action committee over a former Navy Secretary who was awarded the Navy Cross while serving as a Marine Officer in the conflict. Also, in a House race that same PAC endorsed a Republican candidate with no service record over an Iraq Veteran who left two legs on the battlefield.

Richard Smith's diary :: :: Surprising? Shouldn't be. VFW PAC operates as little more than a subsidiary of the Republican Party, as does the leadership of their parent organization.

Today, that organization issued a statement toeing the GOP line on the health care vote. Of course, in order toe to that line, the VFW had to make things up:

"The president and the Democratic leadership are betraying America's veterans," said Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis., who leads the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries.

Here, Thomas Tradewell makes obvious that his aim is not to have a rational discussion about a piece of legislation, but to demonize a particular political party. If Tradewell had legitimate concerns, why would he not also attack Republicans in Congress for offering no constructive alternatives to the health care legislation that would have addressed this issue? Or even offered any course of action in the 10 years they were in the majority?

He didn't chastise Republicans because A) his purpose is to shill for them; and B) his concerns are over fabricated issues that do not exist.

At issue is H.R. 4872 does not fully protect the healthcare programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military's Tricare system. Specifically, the bill covers Tricare For Life but not the other Tricare programs that serve millions of beneficiaries; it does not cover children suffering from spina bifida as a result of a parent's exposure to Agent Orange; and it does not cover dependents, widows and orphans who are served by CHAMPVA, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Here, just as the VFW ignored a double amputee combat Veteran running for Congress, they ignored that same Vet's statement on the health care legislation. That Veteran was Tammy Duckworth, the current Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

"Let me be unambiguous: The healthcare that Veterans receive through the VA system, including dependents of certain veterans enrolled in the CHAMPVA program, will be safe and sound under health reform. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs would continue to maintain sole authority over the system and for enhancing the quality and access for all eligible Veterans.

In addition, TRICARE will continue to be available for all eligible servicemen and women, and their families. Those who are covered by TRICARE would meet the shared responsibility requirement for individuals to have insurance, thereby exempting such members of the uniformed services and dependants from being assessed any sort of penalty. The President has made it clear publicly and to me that he is committed to ensuring that America's servicemen and women have high quality care, and with health reform that commitment remains very much intact."

The VFW's overt partisan hackery drifts further into fantasy land as that statement implores the House to pass a TRICARE fix measure:

"Military service is based on the fundamental principle of trust, and once lost, it is virtually impossible to regain," said Tradewell. "That is why I am urging the House to vote 'no' today, then go back and fix the bill with the language proposed by Skelton, Buyer [note: That's the same Rep. Buyer who voted against advance funding for the VA. -RAS] and McKeon, and then come back and vote your conscience. Let's not rush to pass flawed legislation that could tremendously impact our nation's true heroes."

There's only one problem with the VFW's suggestion here. The House already passed the legislation to which the statement refers. From a joint statement issued by the relevant committee chairs, including Armed Services and Veterans Affairs:

HR 3590, as drafted, does not specifically mention that TRICARE coverage meets the individual responsibility requirement, but such coverage would satisfy the requirements of this bill. To affirm that this is the case, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed HR 4887, the TRICARE Affirmation Act, which provides assurances to the American people that care provided to those in the military and their families as well as military retirees under age 65 and their families, would indeed meet the requirement for coverage.

But none of this is relevant. These are facts, something with which the VFW leadership is not concerned. The leadership is far more concerned with the bidding of their parent organization, the Republican Party.

If the leadership of the VFW was actually concerned with the health care of Veterans, it might do something to address the fact that 2,200 Vets died last year as a result of not having access to health insurance.

But of course, that doesn't support the GOP narrative-- so don't expect the VFW to do anything about it.
Tags: VFW, Tammy Duckworth, Health care, health care reform, VA, veterns affairs, tricare, republicans (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions


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Gimp

[Sgtbob]

What status is Tricare for Life (TFL) under this new health bill for a 77-year old 30+ year retired veteran of two branches of the military????? Lots of disclaimers, but always a qualified answer. I realize that the dust hasn't settled on the bill yet, and that changes will be forthcoming for years, but what is the current status? No politics please, just facts....

Bob

[BLUEHAWK]

Bob

The "simple facts" are:

- that there have been attempts to guarantee the sanctity of Tri-Care and all other veterans matters covered in the legislation

- that Congress knows it will reap a firestorm of hassle if those benefits are so much as threatened in any way

- that there is and will be a difference of opinion among experts as to whether or not anything bad is about to happen for vets

- that the CBO has said straight out there is no guarantee whatsoever one way or another

- that responsible people in and outside of Congress are watching diligently to make sure our benefits are protected

[1CAVCCO15MED]

VETERANS ARE EXEMPT FROM HR 4887 HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
Published by MoonDog on March 23, 2010

Some veterans groups were concerned about the healthcare legislation that was signed into law this morning with regard to how it might effect our nation’s veterans.
In separate press releases from The White House and Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, the new healthcare bill exempts veterans.
The press releases stated that veterans can be assured that this legislation will not affect their health care systems.
The Chairmen of five house committees including Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner and Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton, issued a joint letter reaffirming that the health reform legislation as written would protect those receiving care through all TRICARE and Department of Veterans Affairs programs.
The TRICARE Affirmation Act, made it crystal clear that our veterans – in particular those who depend on TRICARE – will not be harmed by this bill.
While it remains unclear how veterans will provide documentation proving their status, disabled veterans should be prepared to provide a copy of their award letters received from the VA.
To put everything in plain language, veterans can continue receiving medical care through the VA system.
Disabled veterans will not be required to purchase medical insurance nor will they be taxed or fined for not purchasing medical insurance as outlined in HR 4887.








Tagged with: Armed Services, Bob Filner, Department of Veterans Affairs, Disabled Veterans, Eric Shinseki, Health Reform, Healthcare, HR 4887, Ike Shelton, Legislation, Medical Insurance, The White House, TRICARE, VA, Veterans, Veterans Affairs

[darrels joy]

Friends:


I just sent the following message to the entire United States Senate. I am now requesting that you and your family and friends immediately contact your two U.S. Senators and urge their support of the Burr Amendment. For Senate contact information, go to http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/. I thank you in advance.


Thomas J. Tradewell Sr.
Commander-in-Chief, VFW


VFW URGES PASSAGE OF BURR AMENDMENT


WASHINGTON (March 24, 2010) - The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is urging the U.S. Senate to pass an amendment introduced today by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) to specifically recognize all healthcare programs provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs as meeting the minimum essential coverage standards of the new national healthcare law.


"Words are important, and since the original healthcare bill neglected to include all DOD and VA healthcare, it is vitally important that this amendment get passed and inserted into H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010," said VFW National Commander Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis.


"The VFW remains adamant to expeditiously fixing the new law," he said. "All of DOD's programs should have been in the original bill, as well as all of Title 38, not just part of one chapter. This isn't playing politics; this is protecting the hard earned healthcare coverage our veterans, servicemembers and their families deserve.


"The VFW urges you to vote 'yes' for the Burr Amendment."
Lowell J. Mix
VFW Post 9603
San Antonio, TX

[darrels joy]

Dems reject amendment to ban Viagra for sex offenders

Democrats killed an amendment by Republican Sen. Tom Coburn to prevent the newly created insurance exchanges from using federal money to cover Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs for rapists, pedophiles and other sex offenders. The amendment failed 57-42.

"The vast majority of Americans don't want their taxpayer dollars paying for this kind of drug for those kind of people," Coburn said.

Democratic Sen. Max Baucus urged his colleagues to defeat the amendment.

"This is a serious bill. This is a serious debate. The amendment offered by the senator from Oklahoma makes a mockery of the Senate, the debate and the American people. It is not a serious amendment. It is a crass political stunt aimed at making 30-second commercials, not public policy," he said.

Democrats have defeated every amendment offered by Republicans so far, arguing that any change will kill the bill.

http://www.politico.com/livepulse/03...offenders.html

Final tally: 57-42. Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson voted with the GOP. (Johnny Isakson isn’t there tonight, so there are only 40 Republicans.)

[Arrow]

The Democratic majority in the Senate killed the amendment offered by Senator Burr from NC.
A big thank you to the Senator from NC and the Republican minority that did the right thing
and stood their ground for what we were asking for: Legal language that would stand the test of time.

I want to thank Democratic Senator Ike Skelton for his H.R. 4887 and the House of Representatives
on both sides of isle for their full support of H.R. 4887. The Lord sees.

Scout, Joy and Darrell, your active duty children with dependents, chapter 17, title 38 dependents and
chapter 18 dependent children, standing with all of you in this fight. I called my Senators yesterday
and will follow up with a letter to them and will contact my representative in the House.

The offering of Senator Burr’s amendment and the vote on it can be found on the link below:

Presentation of the amendment starts here 3:43:39
Amendment killed here: 4:19
　
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/292696-1