HEALTH CARE ISSUES

• Bar increases in TRICARE pharmacy copays or retiree fees for FY2009
  
• Replaced 10.6% scheduled cut in Medicare/TRICARE payments to doctors with 1.1% hike
  
• Waive TRICARE copays/deductibles for certain preventive services
  
• Raise TRICARE payment cap for active duty children with special needs to $36,000/year
  
• New disabilities deemed service-caused unless "clear & unmistakable" evidence otherwise
  
• Require DoD to recalculate (and presumably reduce) TRICARE Reserve Select premiums
  
• Authorize transitional TRICARE coverage for separatees who enter selected reserve
  
• Enhance bonuses/special pays to attract/retain more health care professionals
  
• Require TRICARE to cover smoking cessation programs for members under 65
  
• Authorize DoD to waive reserve dental copays if needed to ensure readiness
  
• Defeated proposal to charge VA enrollment fee/increase Rx copay for certain veterans
  
• VA counseling services extended to family members of wounded warriors
  

• New GI Bill: full state college tuition for post 9/11 service, plus housing/book stipends
  
• Allow transfer of GI Bill to spouses/child(ren) if served 6 years and commit to 4 more
  
• 3.9% basic pay raise, effective Jan. 1, 2009 (.5% above budget proposal)
  
• Increase Army and Marine Corps end strength by 7,000 and 5,000, respectively
  
• Authorize limited sabbatical program for members to pursue personal/professional goals
  
• Permanently ban charging hospitalized troops for meals
  
• Raise maximum daily temporary lodging expense allowance to $290 (previously $180)
  
• Pay two family separation allowances if both member spouses with dependents deployed
  
• Bar bonus recoupment/pay full bonus if member dies/separated/retired for combat injuries
  
• Increase service academy enrollment up to 4,400/yr per academy
  
• Extend income replacement for reservists with extended and frequent mobilizations
  
• Tax credit for small businesses paying salary differential for activated reservists
  
• Increased household goods weight allowances for senior NCOs
  
• Increased housing allowances for grade E-8 to cover expense of single family home
  

• Expand new special survivor indemnity allowance to include survivors of active duty
  
• Authorize disabled retirees 5 years (vs. 3) to file amended tax return based on a VA claim
  
• Ended premium payments for retirees who are at least 70 and paid into SBP for 30 years
  
• Allow survivors to contribute military death gratuity to-tax favored accounts
  
• Add funds to hire 2,000 new claims adjudicators to reduce VA disability claims backlog
  
• Extend DoD/VA Wounded Warrior Senior Oversight Committee through end of 2009
  

• Authorize 500 lbs PCS weight allowance for military spouse's professional items
  
• Authorize career assistance programs for spouses (i.e. licensing, credentialing, education)
  
• Authorize $55M in impact aid for schools with military children or affected by BRAC
  
• Authorize 10 days of paternity leave for new military fathers, in addition to normal leave
  
• Require Defense and Education Depts to ease school transitions for military children
  
• Reimburse families for movement of two household pets as a result of evacuation