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Departments - News Notes

The 20th annual Military Golf Classic is coming soon.

Dust off your clubs and practice your putting — the 20th Annual National Retired Military Golf Classic will be held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., May 27–31. The tournament will be played on five courses at Myrtle Beach National and Wildwing golf clubs.

Although this is the largest retired military event in the world (if you count spectators), only 872 men and 132 women will be accepted for this event. More than $125,000 in prizes and cash will be awarded.

Golfers who are on the tournament's mailing list already have received applications; other golfers can find them at most military golf courses across the country. As of Feb. 1, acceptance has been on a first-come, first-serve basis. A waiting list will be established once the tournament is full. For more information or to get an application, write to National Retired Military Golf Classic, P.O. Box 3608, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578.

MOAA's New Name Means Same Great Service

The association officially changed its name to Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Jan. 1, 2003. Many members have asked how the name change affects them when using MOAA's member services. The same services will be available, and there will be no visible change in how the services operate. Some examples of such services are:

MBNA financial services. Continue using your current TROA credit card until the card's expiration date. Prior to that date, each cardholder will receive a new card with the MOAA logo. If you wish to receive an MOAA card earlier, please call MBNA at (800) 421-2110.

Money market and certificates of deposit account and certificate numbers will not change.

Insurance products. The name change doesn't affect any policy provisions. Current participants will receive a certificate rider reflecting the association's new name. This rider should be filed with the original certificate of insurance. Participants soon will begin to see MOAA insurance plans referenced on future documents.

If you are covered through one of the MEDIPLUS® tricare supplements, your TROA MEDIPLUS ID card is still valid. Your certificate number and the address to file claims remain the same. If you have questions, call MOAA's insurance administrator at (800) 247-2192, or e-mail moaa@marshpm.com.

Travel services. TROA Vacations is now MOAA Vacations. Its Web site address is www.moaavacations.com.

Avis and Alamo car rental agencies will use the new MOAA logo on their promotional material. Discount numbers haven't changed, and you still may use TROA rental car discount coupons until the expiration date printed on the card.

Hotel discount numbers remain the same.

SPECS eyeware discounts. 2003 specs membership cards remain valid.

HEALTH BEAT
Hot news for you on medical care benefits

New Mail-Order Program

On March 1, more than 400,000 military pharmacy mail-order customers will be switched from the National Mail Order Pharmacy to a new TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) program, according to the TRICARE Management Activity. The new contract saves taxpayers' dollars because it calls for purchasing drug products at federal prices, which are estimated to be at least 24 percent below average commercial wholesale prices.

Express Scripts Inc. will provide services under the new program. Beneficiaries who have refills remaining on prescriptions March 1 will be transferred to Express Scripts so they can continue ordering medications on time. (Exceptions include narcotics or other controlled substances and compounded prescriptions that are physically prepared by the pharmacy.)

The usual delivery time for medication is five to seven days. Patients should ask providers to write prescriptions for up to a 90-day supply with three refills to ensure they don't run out of medicine before they can reorder. Beneficiaries can request a refill once 75 percent of their medication has been used.

Patients can fill prescriptions three ways: through military treatment facilities, the retail pharmacy network, or the mail-order program. Most of the 400,000 beneficiaries who use the mail-order program do so for chronic-medication or maintenance-medication needs.

Under TMOP, copayments for 90-day supplies for most medications are $9 for branded products and $3 for generics. Active duty members do not pay copayments. Those eligible to use the current mail-order program or the retail benefit are eligible to use the new TMOP program. New customers must register for the program.

For more information, including a complete section on the copayment structure, visit the TRICARE or Express Scripts Web sites via MOAA's links page, www.moaa.org/magazine/links.asp.

Planning the Perfect Reunion

Every day is Veterans Day in Branson, Mo., which makes it the perfect place to host an educational conference for military reunion planners.

The conference, scheduled April 22-25, will include an overview of the year-round veterans' events in Branson, seminars on reunion planning tactics, and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with various Branson property representatives in a marketplace setting. The conference isn't all work and no play, however; attendees will have plenty of free time to experience Branson's live shows and attractions.

"The conference is designed to educate military reunion planners on how simple, convenient, and enjoyable it is to bring a group of veterans to Branson," says Bill Groninger, executive director of the Branson Veterans Task Force. "Our community honors armed services veterans 365 days a year."

The conference is open to military reunion planners from all branches of service. The registration fee includes three nights' lodging, meals, shows, seminars, and local transportation. For information or to request a registration packet, call (866) 484-0031, or e-mail info@bransonveterans.com.