November 14, 2008
GAO Outlines Top 2009 Objectives
The Government Accountability Office, Congress’ investigative agency, recently issued a report on what it sees as the most important priorities for the new administration in 2009. MOAA is pleased that the first three on the list were defense issues:
Provide more timely and accessible care for returning servicemembers
- The Army should explore options for improving its disability evaluation process
- DoD and VA must establish criteria for evaluating their joint pilot disability evaluation system and determine if it should be widely implemented
- VA needs to better manage the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program to ensure timely delivery of benefits
- VA needs to quickly evaluate the validity of its Traumatic Brain Injury screening tool
Rebuild military readiness and transforming capabilities
- DoD needs to develop plans to improve readiness to include measurable goals, validated requirements and resource priorities
- The Army and USMC need to establish equipment reset strategies
- DoD and VA should give priority to fully establish the Joint Interagency Program Office to implement electronic medical records
Improve the Defense Budget
- Fill key leadership positions quickly
- Adopt a risk-based approach to investment decisions and program for the current war instead of relying on emergency funding
- Determine the appropriate mix of contractor, civilian and military personnel which will retain institutional capacity
Important Dates for the 111th Congress
Nov. 16: Orientation for incoming House freshmen
Nov. 17: House and Senate have scheduled a lame-duck session for the week to consider economic stimulus options and elect their respective leadership slates for the 111th Congress.
Jan. 3: The 111th Congress officially begins (but since that date falls on a weekend, new members will be sworn in on Monday, Jan. 6).
Jan. 20: Inauguration Day.
Feb. 2: The president is required by law to submit annual budget proposals to Congress by the first Monday in February. As a matter of practice, a new president normally submits a placeholder plan on that date, and then provides Congress a full budget submission sometime in March.
TRICARE Contractor Reports Extortion Threat
TRICARE pharmacy contractor Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) has received a letter threatening to expose customer personal data unless ESI pays a large sum of money. ESI says the letter contained data on 75 customers.
No DoD beneficiary data were among those listed in the threatening letter. TRICARE is only one of ESI’s customers, and ESI can’t confirm whether data on any DoD patients may have been obtained by whoever sent the letter.
The threat has been turned over to the FBI for investigation, and ESI has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.
ESI is offering free identity restoration services if any customer becomes a victim of identity theft because of this incident.
ESI has established a dedicated website, www.esisupports.com, which members and beneficiaries can use for further information and guidance.
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