Washington Teleworks, Benefits Changes, Defense Hiring Freeze, and More
The latest in federal pay and benefits news.
A two-day global nuclear security summit starts in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, promising commuting headaches, so the government is encouraging federal employees to telework.
The event, which convenes leaders from 50 countries and four international organizations in downtown Washington on March 31 and April 1, will cause traffic congestion and will affect mass transit. “Federal employees who work in downtown D.C. should expect significant commuting delays and travel disruptions,” the Office of Personnel Management told agencies.
If employees can telework, then agencies should allow workers to do that or use other flexibilities such as alternative work schedules, annual leave, leave without pay or compensatory time off, OPM said.
Click here for more information about the summit, here for information about street closures, and here for details on how the summit affects the Metro rail and bus system.
Also on April 1, new reimbursement rates for autism benefits under TRICARE take effect. Defense proposed cuts of up to 15 percent for 2016 reimbursement rates for Applied Behavior Analysis, a popular therapy for children with disorders on the autism spectrum. ABA can help increase an autistic child’s I.Q., language abilities and coping skills.
“We do not expect these changes to have a negative impact on our beneficiaries’ continued access to ABA services,” said Doug McBroom with the TRICARE policy and benefits office, in a statement.
But others are worried about the impact the rate adjustment could have on the number of ABA providers and access to benefits.
“With the announced cuts, some ABA providers have already announced plans to leave certain service areas and we expect more providers will follow suit upon implementation of the cuts,” said a March 8 letter from Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Jerry Moran, R-Kansas; and Thom Tillis, R-N.C. “Over time, given the disparity between the national average reimbursement rate and TRICARE’s proposed rates, we expect the imbalance between supply and demand to further reduce military family access to these ABA services.”
The Military Health System Communications Office said in a statement that “the new provider rates align ABA with all other TRICARE rates, ensuring the rates are reviewed and appropriately adjusted each year.”
In 2014, TRICARE launched the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration, which runs through 2018, to consolidate the three previous ABA programs into one comprehensive benefits package for all TRICARE beneficiaries.
In other health benefits news, OPM just announced that Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 will be the next open season for the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program. Employees can choose to enroll in FEGLI, or change their current insurance coverage plan. Changes will take effect on or after Oct. 1, 2017. Click here for more information.
Also starting on Sept. 1, a new company will administer the Federal Flexible Spending Account program (FSAFEDS). OPM chose WageWorks, a San Mateo, Calif.-based company that provides consumer-directed benefits to 58,000 employees. WageWorks takes over from current contractor ADP. OPM did not answer questions from Government Executive about how the change would affect employees with FSAs, or administration of the program. WageWorks said employees with existing accounts would be shifted over to the company starting Sept. 1. Others can opt-in during annual Open Season in November. “We look forward to providing eligible federal employees with access to our industry-leading services, innovative technology, and effective communications programs,” said Joe Jackson, CEO of Wageworks Inc., in a statement.
The Defense Department, meanwhile, has implemented a hiring freeze in the office of the secretary of Defense and the component agencies reporting directly to it, Eric Katz reported. According to Katz:
The freeze began March 20 at the office of the secretary of Defense, Defense Agencies and Defense Field Activities, the memo stated. Altogether, hiring has been halted at more than two dozen Defense agencies employing about 100,000 individuals. Civilian positions in individual branches or in the commands of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are not affected by the freeze, which was first reported by Defense News.
The hiring suspension comes as the Pentagon follows through on an initiative to reduce headquarters staff by 25 percent, codified by Congress in the 2016 defense authorization bill.
Other changes are afoot at Defense. The department plans to start moving civilian employees over to a new performance evaluation system called New Beginnings in April. The new system will rate employee performance based on a three tiered system, and workers will have at least three formal reviews annually.