The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to reopen enrollment in its health care system by July to about 265,000 veterans whose incomes exceed current eligibility limits and who have been denied VA health services since 2003.

A $375-million provision was included in the fiscal 2009 VA spending bill to allow the department to bring into the system more so-called Priority 8 veterans, those who typically earn more than $30,000 a year. The financing aims to expand the enrollment of Priority 8 veterans by 10 percent. Priority 8 refers to a subcategory of veterans receiving care. Priority 1 includes those with the greatest need for care and Priority 8 those with the least need.

In 1996, Congress established a priority-based enrollment system for VA and a uniform package of medical benefits for all enrollees. The legislation opened enrollment in the VA’s health care system to all eligible veterans and required that each year the VA secretary assess veterans’ demand for services and determine whether the necessary resources are available to provide timely, quality care to all enrollees.

New Priority 8 veterans were blocked from enrolling for VA benefits on Jan. 18, 2003, if their income exceeded approximately $30,000 annually. Priority 8 veterans who were already enrolled in the system were allowed to remain.

VA originally suspended enrollment for Priority 8 veterans because it said it was unable to provide all enrolled veterans with timely access to its health care due to a tremendous growth in the number of veterans then seeking enrollment.

Now, VA says it can reopen enrollment for a portion of these veterans — those whose income exceeds the eligibility threshold by no more than 10 percent — without compromising the department’s ability to provide high-quality health-care services to all enrolled veterans who are eligible for care.

VA’s computer systems are being modified to accommodate the changes, and the department is preparing to notify interested parties about the changes.

Health-care overhaul could cost vets more

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office shows that some military retirees and veterans could face higher out-of-pocket costs if the Obama administration and Congress take bold moves to reform the nation’s health system and to make federal health programs more efficient.

Among 115 options presented, though not endorsed, in the CBO report, several focus on raising TRICARE out-of-pocket costs for retirees and, one of them, for families. Others would tighten access to VA hospitals and clinics or raise VA health fees for veterans with no service-connected conditions. Another suggests the VA health system remove millions of current vets who have no service-related injuries or ailments.

Many options deal with adjustments to Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance rules and the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan for federal civilian employees. Although most suggestions are aimed at cutting costs, some would actually enhance benefits. The 226-page report can be read at the Congressional Budget Office’s Web site at www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf.

Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame to induct 5

Five inductees into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame will be honored at a dinner and ceremony open to the public at the Varnum Armory, in East Greenwich, on Jan. 24. The inductees are Eugene Bielecki, of Smithfield, Kenneth Brown, of Pawtucket, and, posthumously, Joseph B. Perkins (1921-1986), Albert R. Tavani (1913-1985) and Edward Yatsko (1924-2000).

Bielecki, 81, a founding member and past president of the Rhode Island Pilots Association, has logged more than 30,000 flight hours, including more than 15,000 hours as an instructor.

Brown, who has been an aviator for more than 60 of his 83 years, joined the Navy in early 1943 shortly after graduation from Tolman High School and saw action in the Mediterranean, European, China-Burma-India and Pacific theaters in World War II.

Perkins overcame childhood polio, attended Mount St. Charles Academy, in Woonsocket played hockey and left Fordham University to enlist in the Army Air Forces three months before Pearl Harbor. He earned his wings in Bangor, Maine, before shipping overseas to fly B-17 bombers with the 15th Air Force in the European Theater.

Tavani, a longtime Warwick resident, graduated from Providence College and Boston College Law School. He was a Navy pilot. He headed Rhode Island’s airport system for three decades and is credited with bringing the system from its infancy in the 1940s to the full-service network that now exists.

Yatsko, a New Jersey native who settled in Warwick after World War II, retired from the Rhode Island Army National Guard at age 62, in 1986. He was believed to be the last World War II combat aviator on active duty flight status and the oldest combat pilot on flying orders.

Frank Lennon, the Hall of Fame’s founder and a driving force behind the Saratoga Museum effort, encourages everyone to attend the event.

“Each year’s induction, and the publicity it receives, generates more recommendations from the public,” Lennon said. “Many people have written or called to let us know about the role a family member, neighbor or friend may have played in our state’s rich aviation history. In fact, four of the five inductees this year were nominated by friends or relatives.” Tickets are $45 — $80 per couple — and can be obtained by writing to the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 845, North Kingstown, RI 02852, or by e-mailing Tony Vellucci at tvellucci@saratogamuseum.org. For more information, call (401) 398-1000.

•House advisory panel

The Rhode Island House Veterans Affairs Permanent Advisory Council will meet at 10 this morning in State House hearing room 135.

•Disabled American Veterans

Lawson-Raiola Chapter 15 Post will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Bisbano Building North at the Rhode Island Veterans Home, Metacom Avenue in Bristol.

•American Legion

Post 18 and Auxiliary units will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Gilbert Burton VFW Post 4487, 52 Underwood Lane, Middletown. Also, volunteers are needed to assemble and mail packages for the military; call (401) 847-9974 for more information.

•Korean War Veterans

Northern R.I. Chapter 3 will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Chepachet senior center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Glocester. Sgt. Norbert Schecker, a Korea and Iraq War veteran, will speak.

•Coast Guard Auxiliary

Flotilla 78 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in the Aspray Boathouse, Pawtuxet Village, Warwick. Volunteers willing to assist the Coast Guard as part of the Department of Homeland Security are welcome. Boat ownership or experience is not required. For more information visit the group’s Web site, www.cgaux0708.org, or call (401) 884-5638.

•Seabee Veterans of America

Island X-1 Davisville will meet at the Seabee Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown, on Saturday at 9 a.m.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars

State Commander Stephen Stewart will conduct a council of administration meeting on Saturday at 9 a.m. in the Gilbert Burton Post, 52 Underwood Lane, Middletown.

Send meeting notices and veterans’ news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans Journal Column at The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.