|
|
 |
Every Little Bit Counts
Roll up your sleeve and get your orange juice ready—the nation’s blood banks are asking for immediate blood donations to boost their low supplies.
In what typically is a time of year when blood supplies run low, the inventory this year quickly is reaching critical levels because of extreme weather conditions in the West and a decline in sponsor-scheduled blood drives. As a result, stocks of certain blood types are nearing depletion, and in some areas of the country, elective surgeries have been postponed or canceled altogether.
“We are joining the blood-banking community to emphasize the significance of the need to donate blood,” says Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson. “The nation is facing critical shortages in communities across the country. If blood supplies do not immediately increase, patients, accident victims, and those whose lives depend on regular transfusions are at risk for not getting the blood they need. Every eligible individual should give blood, if not for themselves, for their friends, their loved ones, or their neighbors.”
To donate, contact any of the following organizations for a collection site near you:
Vet Illness Information
Gulf War disease, Agent Orange, mustard gas, and abuse sustained by
POWs—these are some of the military-related topics covered on the Institute of Medicine’s
(IOM’s) new Web site,
http://veterans.iom.edu.
But Will
There Be Any
Barbecue?
Mark your calendar now for MOAA’s 2004 Convention, to be held Oct. 13–17 in Nashville, Tenn. Join fellow members for what promises to be MOAA’s finest convention ever—a mix of fun, food, music, camaraderie, and a host of informational sessions. Home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville is a city rich in history, commerce, entertainment, and, yes, barbecue.
MOAA has reserved a block of rooms for its members at the downtown Renaissance Nashville Hotel. MOAA members can make their room reservations online at www.renaissancehotels.com or call the hotel directly at (800) 327-6618.
Indulge yourself next fall with an exceptional trip that will provide you with a wonderful time, camaraderie, and lasting memories. We look forward to seeing you in Nashville in October 2004.
The site has separate sections for health care issues affecting the past four major military conflicts— World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. Each section offers information about current projects, reports, and chemical and biological agents suspected of causing health problems for veterans. There also is a section with information about deployment health.
Visitors to the site also can search for information by project, report, or chemical agent. The section on agents, for example, contains information on Agent Orange, depleted uranium, insecticides, lewisite, sarin, solvents, and vaccines.
“iom’s new Web site is one more tool available to veterans, health care practitioners, and others interested in the well-being of our veterans,” says Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J.
Principi.
New Benefits for Filipino Veterans
Thanks to two bills recently signed into law by President George W. Bush, the
VA now is able to offer more services to the 9,000 Filipino veterans living as citizens in the United States.
Previously, both Commonwealth Army veterans and New Philippine Scouts only were eligible for treatment of service-connected disabilities in
VA medical facilities. Now neither group is required to first qualify for
VA service-connected compensation as a condition of health care. In addition, the new law treats both groups equally, expanding eligibility for certain health care benefits to New Philippine Scouts. Previously, only Commonwealth Army veterans were eligible for treatment of non-service-connected disabilities.
“We are pleased that Congress moved favorably ... to help meet the medical and financial benefit needs of deserving Filipino veterans residing in the United States—veterans who fought beside our troops in World War II,” says Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J.
Principi.
Affected Filipino veterans not currently using VA health care may apply for enrollment in the
VA medical plan by completing Form 10-10ez online at www.va.gov/1010ez.htm or by calling (877) 222-8387 and requesting a form be mailed to them.
Inside Special Ops
Looking for more fuel for your DVD player? Look no further. National Geographic has released a new
DVD, “Inside Special Forces,” which looks inside U.S. military operations to show viewers the inner workings of these elite fighting units.
Following the soldiers from their stateside training posts to the war-torn battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq, this
DVDoffers an exclusive look at today’s specialized warriors as well as an overview of the history of these highly trained military units.
For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com. To order a
DVD, call (800) 627-5162.
HEALTH BEAT
Express Scripts to Keep TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy
The GAO recently upheld the award of the TRICARE Retail Pharmacy contract to Express Scripts Inc. of Maryland Heights, Mo. The pharmacy contract is part of DoD’s overall strategy to establish a retail pharmacy program that will deliver world-class service through a single manager of the retail pharmacy benefit.
DoD representatives say the single contract will better serve TRICARE beneficiaries, be simpler for the government to administer, make the program more accountable, and reduce government costs.
The contract also will integrate with other health care contracts to create a single uniform pharmacy benefit for beneficiaries in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new program will be fully portable, allowing beneficiaries access to network pharmacies while they are traveling outside of their TRICARE regions. Beneficiaries also may obtain prescription medications from local military treatment facilities or the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy.
The transition to the new retail pharmacy contract began Oct. 1, 2003, and will continue until June 1, 2004. Express Scripts Inc. will keep beneficiaries informed of network coverage and procedures for filling prescriptions at their neighborhood pharmacies. DoD representatives will monitor the new retail network carefully to ensure patient safety and provide continuity of quality pharmacy services.
If you have questions or need more information about TRICARE contracts, visit the TRICARE Web site,
www.tricare.osd.mil, or the Express Scripts Web site,
www.express-scripts.com. Visitors to the Express Scripts Web site can download forms to fill new prescriptions, order refills, check their orders’ status, and read drug and health information.
|
