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
White House announces actions to improve vets' mental health care
President Obama announced 19 executive actions that direct the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to improve mental health care for veterans, service members and their families.
Benefits
Homelessness among vets drops sharply
Veterans' homelessness has dropped by one-third since 2010, according to a new national estimate.
Benefits
2015 Retiree COLA estimate declines slightly
The latest calculations show the 2015 cost-of-living adjustment for federal, military and Social Security retirees drifting slightly downward.
Benefits
VHA to use new method to fine-tune rural access to care
The Veterans Health Administration will move to what it says is a more accurate method for defining what constitutes urban, rural or highly rural areas.
Benefits
VA seeks wants to improve health toolkit
The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking help from the medical industry in bettering its current online health “toolkit."
Benefits
Gay rights group sues VA
LGBT rights group Lambda Legal and a partner law firm have filed suit against the Department of Veterans Affairs on behalf of the American Military Partner Association.
Benefits
Exercise helps with the balancing act
New findings suggest that exercise can help people feel better about managing their work and home life simultaneously.
Benefits
Union leader: Higher raise still possible
After years of wage freezes followed by this year’s 1 percent pay raise—and with a White House proposal for only an equal boost next year—federal unions continue to press for a greater bump in pay.
Benefits
Federal per diem rates same in FY 2015
Per diem rates for federal employees will not change for federal employees in FY 2015.
Benefits
VA program helps vets get jumbo mortgage loans
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers programs that permits banks to lower loan requirements for home-buying vets—but many vets do not know that those programs often cover so-called “jumbo” home loans, too.
Benefits
VA increases veteran referrals to private-sector care
The new head of the Department of Veterans Affairs told assembled members of a leading veterans service organization that VA has referred more than 838,000 veterans to private-sector sector care over the past two months.
Benefits
VA bill signed into law
Legislation designed to bring much needed reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs and to increase veterans' access to care was signed into law by President Obama in an Aug. 7 ceremony at Fort Belvoir, Va.
Benefits