Newsbytes April 11, 2025
In this Issue:
FRA Attends Beyond The Pact Act Roundtable
Congress Addresses Claims Backlog
VA Upgrades Contact Centers
New TRICARE Policy Eases PCM Access After a Move
HASC Quality of Life Hearing
FRA Attends Beyond The Pact Act Roundtable
The Fleet Reserve Association legislative team, including NED Phillip Reid and ADLP Theo Lawson attended a roundtable meeting hosted by the bicameral minority leadership of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Ranking Member Mark Takano and Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal. This significant event brought together a coalition of veterans’ advocacy groups to address the pervasive issue of toxic exposures at domestic military installations. The FRA, representing enlisted members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, reinforced its commitment to supporting legislative efforts like the ACES Act (HR 530). This bill, championed by the FRA, aims to institutionalize research into cancer rates among military aviators, moving beyond anecdotal evidence to establish causality and solutions for those affected by occupational and environmental hazards during service.
The roundtable shed light on the harrowing experiences of service members and their families exposed to toxic agents, revealing a legacy of neglect that demands urgent action. Stories like those from George Air Force Base, where families unknowingly consumed contaminated water linked to high miscarriage rates and birth defects, and Red Hill, where jet fuel poisoned 93,000 people, including young children suffering permanent lung damage, painted a grim picture of the human cost. Veterans from the Nevada Test and Training Range spoke of living mere miles from nuclear tests, resulting in widespread tumors and an average death age of 65 among their unit, while their families endured miscarriages and birth defects from altered DNA. These accounts, echoed by firefighters battling cancer from PFAS-laden firefighting foam, highlight the critical need for the ACES Act to systematically address these preventable tragedies and ensure accountability and care for those who served.
Organized by the minority leadership of both chambers’ Veterans’ Affairs Committees, this bicameral effort emphasized the unfinished work following the PACT Act, which, while a landmark achievement, left significant gaps in addressing domestic toxic exposures. The FRA’s presence reinforced the call for expanded presumptive benefits, enhanced notification processes, and robust research funding, as exemplified by the ACES Act’s focus on aviation-related health risks. With participants like the Environmental Working Group and Disabled American Veterans amplifying these concerns, the roundtable was a clear indication of a unified push to protect veterans’ care from budget cuts and to extend support to families impacted by contaminated bases. The FRA remains steadfast in advocating for these measures, ensuring that the sacrifices of service members and their loved ones are met with the care and justice they deserve.
Congress Addresses Claims Backlog
A recent congressional hearing spotlighted the ongoing Veterans Affairs (VA) claims backlog, revealing both progress and persistent challenges in delivering timely disability compensation to veterans. Kenneth Smith, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, reported that the National Work Queue (NWQ) holds 918,000 pending claims, a 6% reduction from last year, with the VA on track to process over 2.5 million claims in fiscal year 2025. However, inefficiencies like over-development—where unnecessary exams or record requests delay decisions—continue to frustrate veterans. Smith highlighted that over-development stems from inadequate training and inconsistent guidance, leading to wasted time and resources, including $1.4 million spent on unneeded exams from April to September 2023, as noted by the VA’s Office of Inspector General.
The hearing emphasized the human cost of delays, particularly for veterans with terminal illnesses who face prolonged waits for critical benefits. Smith explained that missing an unnecessary exam can trigger automatic claim denials, exacerbating financial and emotional strain for veterans and their families. The VA’s Overdevelopment Reduction Task Force, which completed its work in July 2024, made over 50 manual updates to streamline guidance and enhanced the Exam Scheduling Assistant, cutting exam errors by 7% this year. Plans to integrate this tool into the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) by 2026 and deploy AI for real-time error checks aim to further reduce avoidable deferrals, where claims are repeatedly delayed by processor mistakes.
James Schwarz, President of AFGE Local 2823, offered a frontline perspective, advocating for keeping claims within a single regional office to avoid repeated errors across the NWQ. Schwarz argued this would allow processors to learn from mistakes and improve efficiency, criticizing the current system where claims bounce between offices, leading to months or years of delays. He also highlighted training gaps, noting that new employees lack hands-on experience with VA tools and terminology, and urged better PACT Act training to address evolving claim requirements. Smith countered that the VA has revamped training, including interactive modules launched in June 2024 and a quality stand-down in March to focus on exam-ordering protocols.
Technology emerged as a key solution, with Robert Orificey, Portfolio Director for Benefits, Appeals, and Memorial Services, detailing AI-driven pilots to help processors make correct decisions upfront, reducing deferrals. The VA is also developing predictive analytics to prioritize claims by urgency and complexity, ensuring skilled staff handle complex cases. Smith noted a pilot study to notify all processors of over-development errors on a single claim, addressing Schwarz’s concern that only the most recent processor is currently informed. These upgrades, slated for 2026, aim to enhance first-touch efficiency and reduce the backlog, which Smith said grows by 10,000 new claims daily despite high productivity.
The hearing emphasized the need for collaboration to support VA employees and veterans alike. Ranking Member McGarvey criticized recent moves to end collective bargaining agreements, arguing that unions boost morale and training, ultimately benefiting veterans. While progress is evident—over a million claims were completed earlier this year, a record—the backlog’s persistence demands sustained action. The VA’s commitment to training, technology, and workload management offers hope for faster, fairer decisions, but as Schwarz warned, without addressing systemic flaws like inadequate training and morale, veterans will continue to face unacceptable delays.
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) and its Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) have directly encountered the VA claims backlog’s impact, with veterans facing prolonged delays that erode trust in the system. For those with terminal illnesses, these waits exacerbate financial and emotional hardship, underscoring the urgency of prioritizing time-sensitive claims. FRA welcomes efforts like the Overdevelopment Reduction Task Force and technological upgrades to streamline adjudication, advocating for standardized, timely processes. Committed to collaboration, FRA pledges to work with congressional staff and the VA to share insights, aiming for an efficient claims delivery system that honors veterans’ sacrifices.
VA Upgrades Contact Centers
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has rolled out a significant enhancement to its contact centers, moving to a cloud-based system designed to streamline access to critical services. Announced recently, this overhaul promises veterans faster, more reliable support, marking a leap forward in how the VA serves those who’ve served.
The shift to a cloud-based infrastructure is the heart of this upgrade, slashing costs while boosting system reliability. This ensures veteran-facing services—like appointment scheduling, benefits inquiries, and crisis support—remain operational even during peak demand or unforeseen disruptions. The result is a contact center network built for resilience, ready to meet veterans’ needs without delay.
Veterans across the country stand to gain from this transformation. Expect shorter wait times when reaching out for medical appointments or benefits assistance, with inquiries handled more efficiently. For those relying on the Veterans Crisis Line, the cloud system guarantees uninterrupted access to vital support. By prioritizing cost savings alongside performance, the VA is laying the groundwork for sustained improvements, ensuring veterans experience a system that’s both accessible and dependable.
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) applauds the VA for modernizing its contact centers to better serve veterans. However, the association will closely monitor these improvements to ensure they translate into real, tangible results for veterans in our communities. To that end, the Association will conduct a survey in the coming months to assess the effectiveness of these changes and gauge overall veteran satisfaction with the VA’s direction.
New TRICARE Policy Eases PCM Access After a Move
Under previous TRICARE rules, if you moved more than 30 minutes away from your Primary Care Manager (PCM), you had to fill out a drive time waiver to maintain your coverage. Without it, you risked losing access to your preferred PCM.
Thanks to a new policy, that process has been simplified. Now, if you move more than 30 minutes but less than 100 miles from your PCM, TRICARE will automatically apply the drive time waiver—no action required on your part. This change makes it much easier to keep your current PCM.
How It Works
If your TRICARE regional contractor identifies that you've moved more than 30 minutes away from your PCM (based on the information in your file), they will:
- Call you
- Send you a text message
- Mail a letter
- Send an email
All adult household members will be contacted. You’ll then have 90 days from the date of notification to decide how to proceed with your coverage.
What You Need to Do
Your next steps depend on how far you live from your PCM:
If you live more than 30 minutes but less than 100 miles away:
- No action is needed if you want to keep your TRICARE Prime coverage and current PCM.
- You may also choose to switch to a different TRICARE health plan if you prefer.
If you live more than 100 miles away:
You must choose one of the following options within 90 days of being notified:
- Confirm your decision to keep your TRICARE Prime coverage
- Switch to TRICARE Select
- Switch to the US Family Health Plan (USFHP), if available in your area
Choosing TRICARE Select or USFHP allows you to pick a PCM regardless of distance. TRICARE Select also gives you the flexibility to manage your own care and see any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral (in most cases), as outlined in the TRICARE Choices in the United States Handbook.
Important:
If you live more than 100 miles away and do not choose an option within 90 days, you’ll be disenrolled from TRICARE Prime and lose access to your PCM. After that, you may only receive care at military hospitals or clinics if space is available. You’ll have to wait for the next TRICARE Open Season to enroll in a new plan.
Moving Is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE)
Moving qualifies as a QLE, allowing you and your family to change your TRICARE plan outside of Open Season. However, if you don’t act within 90 days, you must wait until the next enrollment period.
Update Your Information in DEERS
Planning a move? Be sure to update your address in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Also, check that your phone number and email address are current to avoid missing important communications.
You can update your information:
- Online: milConnect via Beneficiary Web Enrollment
- By phone: Contact your regional contractor
Regional Contractor Contact Information
- East Region: Humana Military – 800-444-5445
- West Region: TriWest Healthcare Alliance – 888-874-9378
Need Help Choosing a Plan?
You have 90 days from the date of notification to explore your options and choose what works best for your family. Visit the TRICARE Plan Finder tool to help you compare plans and make informed decisions.
HASC Quality of Life Hearing
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies convened a hearing to assess the quality of life for enlisted service members. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer James Honea and Marine Corps Sergeant Major Carlos Ruiz, joined by Army, Air Force, and Space Force counterparts, testified on successes, challenges, and urgent needs facing service members. Although no Coast Guard witness was present, a related Navy Times article from April 8, 2025, highlighted Chief Petty Officer Andrew Cruz’s call for improved health care access, reflecting shared sea service concerns. The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) has engaged all three branches to align with their legislative agendas, advocating for enhanced support.
The Navy has made strides in housing and childcare, as Honea detailed. The Military Housing Privatization Initiative is adding nearly 12,000 beds in Hampton Roads and San Diego, enabling junior sailors to live ashore and improve work-life balance. Child care waitlists hit a 21-year low, thanks to boosted Child Development Center (CDC) funding and fee assistance—$33 million last year—allowing community-based care options. The Marine Corps, per Ruiz, advanced Barracks 2030, repairing 11 barracks in 2024 and targeting 12 more in 2025, impacting over 8,000 Marines. Retention thrives at 98% for first-term and 108% for subsequent-term Marines, bolstered by the Total Fitness program enhancing resilience. Both services collaborate, with Navy-led repairs at Meridian Naval Air Station aiding Marines.
Healthcare access emerged as a critical challenge across the sea services. The Navy Times reported Cruz’s testimony that military treatment facilities often lack appointments, forcing reliance on civilian networks with low Tricare reimbursement rates—sometimes half of Medicare’s—causing providers to drop out, as seen in Jacksonville, Florida. Honea echoed this, noting shortages affect sailor readiness, while Ruiz highlighted Marines waiting 45-60 days for off-base mental health care, exacerbating issues despite encouragement to seek help. Coast Guard families, reliant on Tricare, likely face similar barriers, underscoring a systemic issue raised by all senior enlisted leaders.
Housing and budget woes further complicate quality of life. Only 15% of Navy barracks are in good condition, with 25% unacceptable, worsened by a bed deficit from ships as quarters. Rising construction costs threaten Barracks 2030 timelines, and a hiring freeze stalls Marine barracks managers, diverting troops to maintenance. Continuing resolutions (CRs)—since 2013 for the Navy—create instability, delaying projects like CDCs at Peterson and Patrick, relevant to Coast Guard bases too. Sexual assault remains a scourge, with Honea and Ruiz pushing cultural shifts via leadership training and prevention teams, though trust in reporting lags, with only one in four assaults reported per DoD’s 2023 data.
The FRA’s outreach to the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard reinforces its commitment to their FY26 priorities. Stable funding is vital to address barracks deficits, health care access—where Cruz urged aligning Tricare rates with civilian standards—and family support, including two-year parental leave extensions supported by Honea. These enhancements underpin readiness, as emphasized by all witnesses. With FRA’s advocacy, the sea services aim to secure resources reflecting their sacrifices, ensuring sailors, Marines, and coastguardsmen thrive in defending the nation. This hearing and Cruz’s insights spotlight progress and the urgent work ahead.