Newsbytes July 19, 2024
In this issue:
VA Budget Shortfall
Limit Attorney’s Fees for Camp Lejeune Cases
Two Years of Dial 988 then Press 1, Vets Crisis Line
No Copays for Vets First 3 Outpatient Mental Healthcare Visits
Scammers Targeting TFL Beneficiaries
VA Budget Shortfall
The chief financial officers from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) informed the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) that they anticipate a $2.88 billion shortfall for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2024 related to compensation and pension and readjustment benefit payments, and an $11.97 billion shortfall in FY 2025 primarily related to increased hiring and pharmaceutical costs.
This represents by far the largest budget shortfall the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has experienced.
The HVAC Chairman, Rep. Mike Bost (Ill.), dispatched a lengthy letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough that noted, “Year after year, Congress, by way of the American taxpayers, makes record-breaking investments in VA to ensure veterans can get the care and benefits they are eligible for. But a $15 billion shortfall is no accident. It is the result of horrendous, top-to-bottom mismanagement. I question how VA could have failed to budget for increased healthcare and benefits costs resulting from the PACT Act that we all knew were coming, and I have major doubts about some of the Department’s excuses. The VA budget is serious business that has a real impact on veterans’ lives. I expect a full accounting of this mess from the Secretary and his plan to get VA’s bookkeeping in order. Veterans and taxpayers deserve better, and my committee will do our job and not rest until we get to the bottom of how these shortfalls occurred and who is responsible.”
FRA staff will meet with VA officials next week to discuss the VA’s budget shortfall.
Limit Attorney’s Fees for Camp Lejeune Cases
The FRA is supporting the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2024 (H.R. 8545) to limit attorney’s fees and make technical corrections to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021. The FRA-supported Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 (CLJA) was added to the comprehensive veterans’ toxic exposure bill (PACT Act) and enacted into law in August 2022. This provision was intended to provide a fair and timely path for compensation for damages for the service members, veterans, and family members who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.
The FRA is supporting the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2024 (H.R. 8545) to limit attorney’s fees and make technical corrections to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021. The FRA-supported Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 was added to the comprehensive veterans’ toxic exposure bill (PACT Act) and enacted into law in August 2022. This provision was intended to provide a fair and timely path for compensation for damages for service members, veterans, and family members who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. Attorneys’ fees were not addressed in the original legislation. This bill limits attorney's fees to 20% for cases settled before trial and 25% for cases that go to trial. This will ensure access to qualified counsel as well as adequate recovery for victims.
Also, those affected by the toxic water have been stripped of their right to a jury trial despite Congress’ intent for victims to have a right to trial by jury. The bill also addresses the current backlog of cases. The original CLJA (2021) required these cases to go to one court, the Eastern District of North Carolina, to ensure consistency in decision-making, but the resulting caseload has threatened the ability of the victims to obtain timely resolutions of their cases. This legislation adds another eight district courts as trial venues. All these courts are subject to the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to maintain consistent decisions.
Members can weigh in on this issue at: https://www.votervoice.net/FRA/Campaigns/116949/Respond
Two Years of Dial 988 then Press 1, Vets Crisis Line
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a progress report on the two-year anniversary start of Dial 988, Veterans Press 1, Veterans Crisis Line. The program has had a 22.7% increase in calls, with more than two million calls, texts, and chats answered in the last two years. VA claims it is easier than ever for veterans and their loved ones to access lifesaving support via the VA Veterans Crisis Line. In these past two years, VCL has answered more than 1,638,138 calls, representing a 22.7% increase in calls per day since the launch. This means that more veterans than ever are getting the support they need from caring, qualified responders during times of crisis. Dial 988 then Press 1 provides an easy-to-remember number to quickly connect veterans, service members, and their loved ones to the Veterans Crisis Line’s lifesaving services. Since the launch of the shortened number, VCL has maintained an average speed to answer of 9.17 seconds. In addition to the increase in calls answered, VCL has also received a 76.7% increase in texts and a 27.5% increase in chats per day over the same two years. “Our Veterans Crisis Line has been providing Veteran-centered support for nearly two decades, and two years ago we made it even easier for Veterans in crisis and their loved ones to reach out for help by launching Dial 988 then Press 1,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “One Veteran lost to suicide is one too many. We’re supporting more Veterans than ever through the 988 initiative and will not rest in our continued efforts to spread the word that this resource is available and saves lives.” Since launching in July 2022, more than ten million total calls, texts, and chats to 988 have been answered, including 1,179,129 calls answered by VCL via Dial 988 then Press 1.
Veterans in crisis, or anyone concerned about one, can contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. A caller does not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
No Copays for Veterans' First Three Outpatient Mental Healthcare Visits Each Year
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that veterans no longer need to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health care and substance use disorder visits of each calendar year through 2027. This benefit expands veterans’ access to mental health services and lowers their out-of-pocket costs. This copayment exemption benefit dates back to June 27, 2023, and – by law – will end on December 29, 2027. To be eligible for this exemption, the outpatient visit must be with a qualified mental health professional at VA or provided through VA’s network of community care providers. VA will automatically refund veterans for any copays paid to VA on or after June 27, 2023, for these appointments, with no further action required by those veterans.
To maximize access to world-class mental health care, VA has been aggressively hiring mental health professionals nationwide. Over the last 3 fiscal years, VHA hired more than 9,000 mental health positions, including psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, licensed professional mental health counselors, peer support specialists, mental health nurses, and mental health physician assistants – including 2,000 hires during fiscal year 2024. For more information on mental health care at VA, visit the mental health website.
Scammers Targeting TRICARE For Life Beneficiaries
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and TRICARE For Life (TFL) contractor want to warn beneficiaries of a text message phishing scam (also called “smishing”). Some beneficiaries reported getting a text message from 888-763-0248 claiming to be WPS-TFL. The message states their healthcare is going to expire due to nonpayment and to call the toll-free number. DHA wants to remind all beneficiaries to:
- Not open links from unknown numbers or unsolicited, unexpected texts. WPS TFL doesn’t send text messages or collect money.
- Never give PHI/PII to an unknown number or person.
- Not reply to unsolicited text messages.
Beneficiaries should report fraud or scams to their TRICARE contractor or DHA OIG.
TRICARE For Life (Wisconsin Physicians Service):
- Phone: 1-866-773-0404
- Email: reportit@wpsic.com
East Region - Humana Military:
West Region - Health Net Federal Services:
Overseas Region - International SOS:
DHA Office of the Inspector General:
DHA further warns that TFL beneficiaries seem to be the target population, but scammers may target all TRICARE beneficiaries.