Veterans Journal
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Pentagon panel endorses higher TRICARE fees, copayments
01:00 AM EDT on Monday, June 11, 2007
The Pentagon-appointed Task Force on the Future of Military Health has endorsed higher TRICARE fees, deductibles and copayments for under-65 retirees and their families in an interim report sent to Congress on May 31. It also backs other key features of the so-called TRICARE reform package first proposed last year by the Department of Defense.
These include raising beneficiary copayments on prescriptions filled in the TRICARE retail pharmacy network; indexing TRICARE fees and deductibles so that automatic annual adjustments keep them in step with rising health care costs, and establishing tiers for the new TRICARE fee structure based on rank at retirement so that retirees with bigger annuities pay more for their health-care coverage.
To learn more, read the full article by Tom Philpott in his syndicated weekly military news column at www.military.com/features/0,15240,136837,00.html.
A study of 1,653 veterans who underwent prostate cancer surgery at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in five cities between 1990 and 2006 — including 199 who had been exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War years — indicates that those who had been exposed to the chemical defoliant had a 48-percent higher risk of recurrence following surgery than their unexposed peers.
Further, the study found, those veterans who suffered a relapse experienced a more aggressive form of prostate cancer the second time around.
Agent Orange, sprayed by U.S. forces on the dense Vietnam jungles during the war, contains the carcinogen dioxin.
The study was financed by the Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Prostate cancer is the second-most-common cancer, following skin cancer, in men in the United States, and a man has a one-in-six chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during his life, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Obese men diagnosed with the disease are 20 percent more likely to die from it than men of healthy weight.
For more information on the cancer study, visit www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070520091858.htm
For Agent Orange news and information, visit the Military.com Benefits Channel at http://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/agent-orange.
To celebrate Flag Day, on Thursday, the national veterans service and disability-rights organization, United Spinal Association, is offering a free pamphlet titled “How to Display Our Flag.”
The pamphlet explains the proper etiquette for presenting the American flag and contains a list of days when the flag is traditionally showcased, such as Flag Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and others. This informative pamphlet also provides instruction on how the flag should be displayed in parades and other public events.
Single copies of “How to Display Our Flag” can be downloaded at no charge by visiting www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/displaying_our_flag.pdf. Bulk copies may be ordered by calling United Spinal’s free publications request line at (800) 444-0120.
United Spinal serves veterans every day through its VetsFirst program, a network of expert national service officers providing assistance and free representation in claims for benefits and services before the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as before other agencies and the federal courts.
The 28th annual Armed Services Night will be held on Thursday at Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium, where the Pawtucket Red Sox will host the Richmond Braves. A pregame ceremony is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Armed Services Night honors all veterans and military, past and present. Music will be provided by the 88th Army Band both before and during the ceremonies, along with a demonstration by the Guards of Thunder and a parade of colors by veterans groups and the military. Tickets are specially priced at $3.50, providing a good opportunity for everyone to honor veterans and current military personnel.
Tickets are available from the Rhode Island National Guard and most veterans organizations throughout the state or call the Pawsox at (401) 724-7300. Also, tickets will be sold on Thursday night at Gate A.
Veterans Advisory Council
The Veterans Advisory Council to the state House Veterans Affairs Committee meets at 10 this morning in Room 135 at the State House.
8th Air Force Historical
Society
The Rhode Island chapter meets at 11 a.m. today at Bickford’s, Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick.
DAV
Chapter 15 Lawson-Raiola Post will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Bisbano Building North, Rhode Island Veterans Home, Metacom Avenue, Bristol. Chapter 10 Romeo Post meets tomorrow at 7 p.m., at 7 Legion Way, Cranston. Mount Pleasant Chapter 21 will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in Legion Post 10011, 354 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence.
American Legion
Post 18 will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. at 3064 E. Main Rd., Portsmouth. Foster Post 101 will hold a reorganization meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m., in North Foster Baptist Church, 81 East Killingly Rd., and new members are welcome; call William Fortier at (401) 647-5855. On Thursday, West Warwick Post 2 will conduct a Flag Day observance at 7 p.m., at Two Legion Way. Post 39 will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at 1958 Kingstown Rd., Peace Dale.
VFW
Washington County Post 916, 155 High St., Wakefield, will meet tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Post 9742 will hold a blood drive Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Barrington Senior Center, 281 County Rd., Barrington.
AMVETS
The Rhode Island Department executive committee will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in classroom B of the Department of Administration building, One Capitol Hill, Providence.
Korean vets
West Bay Chapter 2 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in VFW Post 449, 197 Providence St., West Warwick. Northern R.I. Chapter 3 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Chepachet Senior Center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Chepachet.
Coast Guard Auxiliary
Flotilla 78 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., at the Aspray Boat House, Pawtuxet Village, Warwick. Volunteers willing to assist the Coast Guard are welcome, and boat ownership and experience are not required. Visit online www.cgaux0708.org or call (401) 884-5638.
Reserve Officers
The Rhode Island Department’s executive committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Harwood Army Reserve Center, 385 Niagara St., Providence.
Seabees
Island X-1 Davisville will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Seabee Park and Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown. Doors open at 8 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts.
WAVES
Ocean State Unit 118 will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Department of Administration building, One Capitol Hill, Providence.
George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.
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