Benefits
Several hundred feds got a year or more of paid administrative leave
The federal government paid an estimated $31 million over a three-year period to 263 employees who charged between one and three years of paid administrative leave, according a new Government Accountability Office report.
Benefits
Phone scam targets older Tricare beneficiaries
Tricare warned beneficiaries to be on alert for a nationwide telephone scam in which fraudsters target those on Medicare.
Benefits
VA touts growth of telehealth program
Department of Veterans Affairs said that its national telehealth programs served more than 690,000 vets during fiscal 2014 via more than 2 million online visits.
Benefits
VA processed record number of claims in fiscal 2014
The Department of Veterans Affairs said it processed more than 1.3 million disability compensation and pension claims in fiscal 2014—the highest number in the department's history.
Benefits
Average FEHB premium to rise 3.2 percent in 2015
The Office of Personnel Management announced that the overall average premium increase for health insurance benefits provided through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program in 2015 will be 3.2 percent.
Benefits
Tricare stops mailing paper notices of benefits changes
Tricare is warning beneficiaries to make sure they have an online milConnect account to receive information about changes to their coverage now that the Defense Department has stopped mailing paper letters on changes to coverage and eligibility status.
Benefits
VA announces more grants to help homeless vets
The Department of veterans Affairs announced it would award $207 million in Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program grant awards to aid about 70,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.
Benefits
Some in Tricare Prime exempted from annual enrollment fee hikes
The Defense Department announced it will exempt two classes of beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Prime from paying future increases to annual enrollment fees.
Benefits
Research group to coordinate VA health care assessment
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has awarded the Mitre Corp. the contract to serve as program integrator for an independent assessment of VA health care processes. The nonprofit organization operates a range of federally funded research and development centers.
Benefits
VA says standard disability claim forms will speed up process
The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will introduce new uniform disability claim forms that will standardize the process for veterans to file claims and initiate appeals.
Benefits
Bill would align Tricare contraceptive benefits with ACA
House lawmakers last week introduced legislation that would align Tricare health coverage with the Affordable Care Act to allow women who receive health care through the armed services have access to contraception and counseling services with no health insurance co-pay.
Benefits
Committee advances 'wounded warrior leave' bill
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform unanimously approved a bill that would provide new federal employees who are also disabled veterans with 104 hours of “wounded warrior leave” during their first year in the federal workforce.
Benefits
House OKs veterans' disability COLA
House lawmakers approved a bill that will boost veterans' disability compensation by the same percentage as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.
Benefits
VA takes first steps for 'veteran choice' program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) said it will host an "Industry Day" at its Denver Acquisition and Logistics Center to gather input on how best to provide administrative support for the process of issuing the "Veteran Choice Cards" that vets will use to seek non-VA healthcare.
Benefits
FSAFEDS to allow carryover of funds
The Office of Personnel Management announced key changes to rules for FSAFEDS health care flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
Benefits
VA launches pilot program for rural communities
The Department of Veterans Affairs named five governmental and nonprofit organizations to participate in a new pilot program aimed at helping vets transition from military service to civilian life in rural or underserved communities.
Benefits
Lawmaker questions legality of new FEHB regulation
A Senate Republican wants to know if a new rule that would provide health insurance coverage for temporary federal employees violates existing law that requires employees to serve one year of full-time employment.
Benefits
NTEU urges swift implementation of FEHB expansion
The National Treasury Employees Union called on the Office of Personnel Management to expedite implementation of new rules that will open up federal health insurance to certain temporary, seasonal and intermittent employees.
Benefits
VA IG: No conclusive evidence that VHA delays caused deaths
A report from the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs said that although an IG review of patients at VA's Phoenix Health Care System revealed poor-quality care and delays in obtaining care, investigators were unable to conclude that those factors caused patient deaths.
Benefits