Fix the Drastic Medicare/TRICARE Cut
Issue: Unless Congress acts soon, Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors will be cut 21 percent as of June 1, 2010. Doctors and beneficiaries shouldn't have to endure monthly threats of such draconian cuts that can only undermine doctors' willingness to see Medicare and TRICARE patients.
Military Families United is lobbying Congress on this issue. Please click here to urge your legislators to find a long-term fix for this terrible problem.
Military Families United is lobbying Congress on this issue. Please click here to urge your legislator to find a long-term fix for this terrible problem.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have become the signature wounds of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the invisible wounds inflicted by PTSD are not always apparent when our service members return home. They can take weeks, months or even years to manifest; and unlike most physical wounds, PTSD can also affect the psychological health and well-being of the servicemember’s family.
With the continued rise in PTSD cases among our returning troops, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) are both facing shortages of mental health professionals meaning our service members and their families may not be getting the care they urgently need.
Pending Legislation Addressing PTSD
- HR-2698
Introduced by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
- HR-2699
Introduced by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
|
|
Issue: H.R. 2698 would help mitigate this problem by providing educational scholarships to mental health professionals who agree to work in Vets Centers for a time designated by the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs. Further, the bill would aid service members discharged or released from active duty seeking referral for mental health services from providers outside the DOD or VA system. Finally, the bill would make available grants to non-profit organizations that provide emotional support services to the survivors of deceased service members which may help mitigate some of the emotional damage caused by the loss of their spouse, mother or father.
Issue: H.R. 2699 would provide access to readjustment counseling to returning Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans regardless of the their assigned duty station. This bill would also provide grants to non-profit organizations that provide emotional counseling to the family members of service members including those serving in the Reserve Components. Finally, H.R. 2699 would implement a three year pilot program at three Army bases to increase awareness of PTSD and study the effects of certain mitigation techniques.
Our service members and veterans deserve the very best medical treatments we can provide. To that end, Military Families United fully supports the consideration and passage of H.R. 2698 and H.R. 2699. We must never forget the sacrifices the brave men and women of our Armed Forces make every day in the service of our nation and for the cause of Freedom.
If you agree that our service members and veterans deserve the very best medical treatments we can provide, please click here to urge your legislator to support these bills.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Pending Legislation Addressing TBI
- HR-4568
Introduced by Rep. Pete Sessions
|
|
Issue: H.R. 4568 would open the door for service members and veterans suffering with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to seek alternative treatments without the fear of having to pay out-of-pocket costs. By allowing our service members to seek treatments from private sector medical providers, our country is not only helping to fulfill its pledge to take care of its military, but also affording our service members and veterans greater opportunities to recover and return to active duty service or rejoin their families and communities as fully functioning individuals. H.R. 4568 represents a big step forward in the treatment of TBI and other serious wounds our service members and veterans have suffered in combat while in service to our nation.
Our service members and veterans deserve the very best medical treatments available. To that end, Military Families United fully supports the consideration and passage of H.R. 4568. We must never forget the sacrifices the brave men and women of our Armed Forces make every day in the service of our nation and for the cause of Freedom.
If you agree that our service members and veterans with TBI should be able to seek alternative treatments without the fear of having to pay out-of-pocket costs, please click here to urge your legislator to support this bill.
