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MILITARY CARE
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., claimed credit Tuesday for the Pentagon's last-minute delay of a decision to change the reimbursement rates for the military's health care program, TRICARE.
The Pentagon had planned this month to start using Medicare reimbursement rates, which are 25 percent less than TRICARE's payment rates to hospitals. Under TRICARE, service members and their families can use military or civilian medical facilities. Last week the Pentagon announced the extension of the public comment period through March 9, before it implements new reimbursement rules May 1.
Webb encouraged civilian hospitals to weigh in to "help ensure that any changes ... are reasonably implemented to minimize possible disruptions in care."
Virginia has the nation's third largest TRICARE population in the country, with more than 750,000 military families enrolled in the program.
In 2002, Congress directed the Pentagon to use Medicare rates "to the extent practicable." But Webb, in letters to the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in November and this month, warned the plan could result in civilian hospitals disrupting services to active duty personnel, their families, and retirees.
BROADBAND BOUCHER
Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, celebrated Friday the inclusion of rural priorities, like expanded broadband lines, in the compromise economic stimulus plan.
The plan includes $7.2 billion to expand high speed Internet access to rural and poor urban communities.
"Expanding Internet services in rural areas where they are not found today will pave the way for companies offering technology based jobs while also providing local entrepreneurs the opportunity to build new Internet-based businesses," Boucher said.
SICK PAY
Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th, and Frank Wolf, R-10th, introduced a bill Tuesday to make the sick leave benefit equal among all types of federal employees.
Currently, any employees who joined the civil service before 1986 can convert unused sick leave at retirement into an increase in their annual annuity. Employees hired after that date cannot, thus creating a 'use it or lose it.'
The Federal Employee Retirement System Sick Leave Equity Act (H.R. 958) would change that.
"We need to be incentivizing the accrual of sick leave, not encouraging employees to call in sick in the weeks leading up to retirement," Moran said. The government estimates the current policy ends up costing taxpayers $68 million per year.
"This bipartisan legislation will correct a longstanding inequity between the two federal retirement programs," Wolf said. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, also co-sponsored the bill.
GREEN SCOTT
Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd, will host a town hall meeting Tuesday about so-called green jobs and clean energy in Richmond.
Scott will be joined at the panel discussion by business, academic and environmental professionals from the Richmond area.
The Town Hall will take place on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Adult Career Development Center, 119 West Leigh Street in Richmond. For more information, contact Scott's Richmond district office at (804) 644-4845.
--Neil H. Simon
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., claimed credit Tuesday for the Pentagon's last-minute delay of a decision to change the reimbursement rates for the military's health care program, TRICARE.
The Pentagon had planned this month to start using Medicare reimbursement rates, which are 25 percent less than TRICARE's payment rates to hospitals. Under TRICARE, service members and their families can use military or civilian medical facilities. Last week the Pentagon announced the extension of the public comment period through March 9, before it implements new reimbursement rules May 1.
Webb encouraged civilian hospitals to weigh in to "help ensure that any changes ... are reasonably implemented to minimize possible disruptions in care."
Virginia has the nation's third largest TRICARE population in the country, with more than 750,000 military families enrolled in the program.
In 2002, Congress directed the Pentagon to use Medicare rates "to the extent practicable." But Webb, in letters to the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in November and this month, warned the plan could result in civilian hospitals disrupting services to active duty personnel, their families, and retirees.
BROADBAND BOUCHER
Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, celebrated Friday the inclusion of rural priorities, like expanded broadband lines, in the compromise economic stimulus plan.
The plan includes $7.2 billion to expand high speed Internet access to rural and poor urban communities.
"Expanding Internet services in rural areas where they are not found today will pave the way for companies offering technology based jobs while also providing local entrepreneurs the opportunity to build new Internet-based businesses," Boucher said.
SICK PAY
Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th, and Frank Wolf, R-10th, introduced a bill Tuesday to make the sick leave benefit equal among all types of federal employees.
Currently, any employees who joined the civil service before 1986 can convert unused sick leave at retirement into an increase in their annual annuity. Employees hired after that date cannot, thus creating a 'use it or lose it.'
The Federal Employee Retirement System Sick Leave Equity Act (H.R. 958) would change that.
"We need to be incentivizing the accrual of sick leave, not encouraging employees to call in sick in the weeks leading up to retirement," Moran said. The government estimates the current policy ends up costing taxpayers $68 million per year.
"This bipartisan legislation will correct a longstanding inequity between the two federal retirement programs," Wolf said. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, also co-sponsored the bill.
GREEN SCOTT
Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd, will host a town hall meeting Tuesday about so-called green jobs and clean energy in Richmond.
Scott will be joined at the panel discussion by business, academic and environmental professionals from the Richmond area.
The Town Hall will take place on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Adult Career Development Center, 119 West Leigh Street in Richmond. For more information, contact Scott's Richmond district office at (804) 644-4845.
--Neil H. Simon