www.leatherneck.com/dougkidd/index.html by DOUG KIDD
Dear Ones:Here is some good info and corresponding links for Military Servicemembers and their Families. You can access this and more directly at: http://www.military.com/NL_MR/1,14852,7783,00.html
For user-specific info, sign up at http://www.military.com/ with your specific service details.
God Bless You,
Reverend Barb January 18, 2010
Week of January 18, 2010
EYE EXAMS FOR ACTIVE DUTY, RETIREES & THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
Active duty family members can get a routine eye exam every year, and retirees and their family members using TRICARE Prime can get one every two years. Children in both TRICARE Prime and Standard can receive eye and vision screenings at birth and 6 months of age, along with two eye exams between the ages of 3 and 6. Active duty servicemembers (ADSMs) enrolled in TRICARE Prime must get their eye care from military treatment facilities (MTFs) and may receive eye glasses at MTFs at no cost. Eligible retirees and their families can make an appointment with any TRICARE-authorized optometrist or ophthalmologist for an exam. TRICARE Prime beneficiaries do not need a referral unless they see a provider outside of their region's TRICARE network.
Learn more about TRICARE vision benefits at the http://lyris.dmasa.dma.mil/t/2337247/4799901/8641/0/ TRICARE beneficiary portal.
TRICARE
Military.com surveys have found that most servicemembers and their families are confused by TRICARE. http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/understanding-your-tricare-benefits Get the facts and latest news on TRICARE.
BENEFITS
VA Launches Pilot Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs and Kaiser Permanente have launched a pilot medical data exchange program in San Diego using the Nationwide Health Information Network. This pilot will enable clinicians from VA and Kaiser Permanente to obtain a more comprehensive view of a patient's health using electronic health record information, including information about health issues, medications, and allergies. VA beneficiaries and Kaiser Permanente members in the San Diego area were the first to be offered the opportunity to sign up for the pilot. Ultimately, this program is planned to be made available to all Veterans and servicemembers.
To learn more about your state's benefits, visit the Military.com http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory State Veteran's Benefits Directory.
COMMISSARY YOGURT RECALL
Commissaries Recall Yogurt
Military commissaries have pulled two variations of Stonyfield Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt off the shelves because the products may contain an organism that could cause food-borne illness. The following UPCs of Stonyfield Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt have been removed: (1) Stonyfield Oikos Yogurt, Greek Plain Organic, UPC: 052159530500; and (2) Stonyfield Oikos Yogurt, Greek Vanilla Organic, UPC: 052159530510. People who have purchased either of the withdrawn items are advised not to eat the products. Commissary customers can return any recalled products to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact your local commissary.
POST-DEPLOYMENT STRESS & DEPRESSION
Post-Deployment Podcast
Servicemembers and their families can get help coping with post-deployment stress through a new series of podcasts called "There and Back: Learning About Depression," the initial ten minute podcast in the "There and Back" series, is a tapestry woven of education, encouragement and emotional intimacy. Listen to " http://www.afterdeployment.org/adpodcast/audio/LearnAboutDepression.mp3 There and Back: Learning about Depression," or visit the Podcasts section of the (http://www.dcoe.health.mil/) Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) website for this and future podcasts. To receive future episodes of "There and Back," you can also subscribe free at iTunes.com. : )
To find more deployment news and resources, visit http://www.military.com/deployment The Deployment Center.
HEALTHCARE REFORM & VA HEALTH CARE
Health Care Reform and VA Health Care
As House and Senate Democrats negotiate a final compromise national health care reform bill, military people across the nation -- and their advocates in Washington D.C. -- remain vigilant for side effects that may impact TRICARE or VA Health Care. (http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,209077,00.html) Read the full article.
TRICARE, AGAIN
TRICARE is Safe and Sound
In recent days, a particularly disturbing myth about health insurance reform has resurfaced. Opponents of reform have dredged up the baseless charge that reform somehow will affect or increase the cost of the TRICARE benefits on which America's troops and veterans depend. http://www.military.com/news/article/tricare-is-safe-and-sound-under-health-reform.html Read the full article.
MEDICAL DISABILITY RETIRED PAY ESTIMATOR
Medical Disability Retired Pay Estimator
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) launched their new Medical Disability Retired Pay Estimator, an interactive online tool for medically retiring Wounded Warriors, available at the (http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/woundedwarriorpay.html) DFAS website. The new online tool helps medically retired servicemembers estimate their retired pay, Combat Related Special Compensation and VA disability compensation. Visit the DFAS http://www.dfas.mil/Calculator.htm Retired Disability Income Estimator.
MILITARY PAY CALCULATOR (SO YOU KNOW!)
Find out how much you'd make with a promotion or at your next duty station. Calculate pay by rank, location or duty with the http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/calculator Military Pay Calculator.
COLD WEATH INJURY PREVENTION
Prevent Cold Weather Injuries
Here are some tips to prevent cold weather injuries: (1) keep moving by exercising big muscles (arms, legs) to keep warm; (2) avoid alcohol use; (3) avoid all tobacco products; (4) eat all meals to maintain energy; (5) drink water or warm non-caffeinated/alcoholic fluids to prevent dehydration; (6) limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days; (7) wear proper clothing; (8) protect feet, hands, head, face and ears. For more information about cold weather-related injury prevention, visit the (http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/HIOCWI/) Army's Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine website. For more safety tips, visit the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center website at https://safety.army.mil/ https://safety.army.mil/.
NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM & MILITARY
National Health Reform and the Military
As House and Senate Democrats negotiate a final compromise national health care reform bill, military people across the nation -- and their advocates in Washington D.C. -- remain vigilant for side effects that may impact TRICARE or VA Health Care. http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,209077,00.html %20Read Read the full article.
ESTIMATE YOUR DISABILITY-RETIRED PAY (GOD BLESS YOU!)
Estimate Your Disability-Retired Pay
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) launched their new Medical Disability Retired Pay Estimator, an interactive online tool for medically retiring Wounded Warriors, available at the http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/woundedwarriorpay.html DFAS website. The user input driven tool helps medically retired servicemembers estimate their retired pay, Combat Related Special Compensation and VA disability compensation. Visit the DFAS http://www.dfas.mil/Calculator.htm %20Retired Retired Disability Income Estimator.
TRICARE TOOLKIT FOR WOUNDED, ILL OR INJURED SERVICEMEMBERS.
TRICARE Toolkit Answers Questions
To help servicemembers affected by a behavioral or other health condition, TRICARE officials created the Toolkit for wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers. The toolkit is located on webpage at http://www.tricare.mil/wii www.TRICARE.mil/wii . The toolkit contains information explaining Medicare eligibility for wounded servicemembers and an explanation of how TRICARE and Medicare work together to reduce a servicemember's out-of-pocket costs. There are also news releases with the latest information. For more information about TRICARE's behavioral health care resources, visit http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth TRICARE's Mental Health Resources Center.
SUICIDE RATES INCREASE AMONG VETS (PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE DEAR ONES & THEIR FAMILIES & FRIENDS SUFFERING FROM PTSD)
Suicide Rates Increase Among Vets
Suicide rates for veterans not on active duty in the military have gone up significantly. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in 2007 for every 100,000 veterans 56.77 committed suicide. That number is up from 44.99 just two years earlier. The suicide rate among 18- to 29-year-old male veterans jumped 26% from 2005 to 2007. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki noted recently that of the 30,000 suicides each year in America, about 20% are commited by veterans.
http://www.military.com/news/stories/ptsd-news.htm More information and resources on PTSD.
CAREERS IN HEALTH CARE
Featured Job: Health Care
Working in the health care industry provides a stable and rewarding career. Military.com has thousands of jobs listed right now -- nursing, EMT, dental practitioner, medical imaging, pharmacy, social services, sports medicine and more. http://www.military.com/healthcare?ESRC=mr.nl Click here to get started.
EYE GLASSES FOR RETIREES (SEE ALSO ABOVE)
Eye Glasses for Retirees
All retirees, even TRICARE for Life recipients, may receive one pair of standard issue glasses each year from the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity. Visit the (http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nostra) NOSTRA website and select the "How to Order: Retirees" link for more information. Family members and surviving spouses are not entitled to NOSTRA support. Learn more about TRICARE vision benefits at the http://lyris.dmasa.dma.mil/t/2337247/4799901/8641/0/TRICARE beneficiary portal.
RETIREES GET WRONG STATEMENTS ('GOD SETS ALL THINGS RIGHT!"-Rev. Barb Sexton)
Retirees Get Wrong Pay Statements
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) reported that approximately 18,000 Concurrent Retirement and Disability recipients in the Norfolk, Virginia area received statements containing another retiree's data. There is no indication that anyone other than the intended recipients received privacy data such as Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, or phone numbers. However, page two of the form did include data such as allotment type, the name of the payee and the amount of the allotment. http://www.dfas.mil/news/DFASRelease011002.pdf Read the full press release for more details. Retirees that have any questions regarding their accounts, should contact DFAS at 1-800-321-1080.
GI BILL PROGRAMS FOR YOU
There are big differences between GI Bill programs, find out which program best fits your situation with Military.com's http://www.military.com/gi-bill-calculator/GI Bill Calculator.
BENEFITS FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS (OUR BEST & BRAVEST, ALWAYS!)
Benefits for Wounded Warriors
Men and women serving in the U.S. military who become disabled while on active duty on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs, are receiving "expedited processing" of disability claims from the Social Security Department. Servicemembers can apply for and receive benefits even while receiving military pay. Visit (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors) Social Security's Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors webpage. The website has everything you need to know about Social Security and military service, including a link to apply for disability benefits online.
See more http://www.military.com/wounded-warriors Wounded Warrior news on Military.com.
DoD INTERSHIP (THAT'S DEPT. OF DEFENSE)
Applicants Sought for DoD Internship
The Department of Defense is currently seeking applicants for a two-year, paid Military Health System Internship Program. Applicants generally need a Master's degree or two, full years of progressively high-level graduate education and one year of specialized experience that equips them for the skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Positions are currently available in the Washington, D.C. area in human resources, information technology, management analysis, financial management analysis, and health systems analysis. Applications must be e-mailed by January 29, 2010. For more information, visit the http://www.health.mil/MHSBlog/Article.aspx?ID=745 Military Health System Blog webpage or call the MHS Human Capital Office (571) 296-2960.
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD)
No Need to Feel SAD
As the season changes and the days get shorter in the Winter, some people develop symptoms of depression. This condition is known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, and it usually happens during the winter. Symptoms of winter SAD normally begin in October or November and end in March or April. The symptoms of SAD include: (1) oversleeping, (2) daytime fatigue, (3) carbohydrate craving, and (4) weight gain. TRICARE recently launched the TRICARE Assistance Program, or TRIAP, to help servicemembers and their families get behavioral health assistance for SAD and other conditions. Learn more about (http://www.tricare.mil/TRIAP) TRIAP at the TRICARE website. To find out more about getting help, visit (http://tricare.mil/mentalhealth) TRICARE's Mental Health Resource Center.
TRICARE LINK, AGAIN
Military.com surveys have found that most servicemembers and their families are confused by TRICARE. http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/understanding-your-tricare-benefits Get the facts and latest news on TRICARE.
VIRTUAL BURN TREATMENT (MAY ANGELS ATTEND THEE CONSTANTLY. WE ARE ALL PRAYING FOR YOU TO GET WELL--Rev. Barb Sexton)
Virtual Burn Treatment
National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" recently covered a new aspect of burn treatment being administered at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Some servicemembers and veterans affected by burns are being distracted from their pain through the use of a virtual reality program called SnowWorld. Read more about BAMC's use of SnowWorld (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120638735) at NPR's website. For a look at this virtual treatment in action, http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/111909-Video-Game-Therapy-Helping-Soldiers view this video report from Fox 7 News, Austin, Texas.
REVEREND BARBARA SEXTON-DEAR ONES HEALING MINISTRY http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/
"THE BIBLICAL BIOCHEMIST-WHERE SCIENCE MEETS THE CROSS!' (Please let me know if any of these links are in need of repair. Thanks! from Rev. Barb
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