In This Issue:

Legislative Update

President's Page

Special points of interest:

COL Martinez Speaks to Chapter

Colonel Gilbert Martinez, USAF (Ret) and his wife Regina joined with us from Albuquerque during our last general membership meeting. COL Martinez is currently serving as the 1st Vice President of the NM Council of Chapters of our association. He is also the President-elect of the council.

COL Martinez was also our guest speaker for the evening. He reviewed for us the mission of TROA and the chapters and provided many examples of the positive effect the TROA organization has had in legislative matters concerning the military (active, reserve and retired). His review of the triumphs of last year were sprinkled with humorous stories and anecdotes.

Among the most important accomplishment support by TROA, and passed by Congress and signed into law is the TRICARE for Life legislation. COL Martinez informed us that the grass-roots level support from TROA members and members of other veterans organizations had been crucial to the getting the legislation through Congress. He thanks all the members for their efforts and support and asked that we continue to rally to the causes supported by TROA.

He also discussed the initiative within the state to get another National Cemetery for the state in Albuquerque. The National Cemetery at Santa Fe is almost full and northern New Mexico will need a new one in the not too distant future. He explained that the process was long and involved and that it will need the support of our senators and representative to come to fruition.

Immediately after COL Martinez's presentation, Chapter President LTC Al Garcia presented COL and Mrs. Martinez with a sand painting as a token of our appreciation for meeting with us and providing us with such useful and insightfully information.

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Legislative Update

By Larry Brewer

t was not an April Fool’s joke. The TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Program (TSRx) began Sunday, April 1st. This long-awaited and well-earned program restores military mail-order and retail pharmacy benefits for 1.4 million uniformed services beneficiaries 65 years of age and over.

Remember, Medicare-eligibles who will attain age 65 on or after April 1 must enroll in Medicare Part B to be eligible for the new DoD pharmacy benefits. Those already age 65 or older on April 1 don't need to have Part B for the TRICARE Senior Pharmacy benefit, but they'll need to be enrolled in Part B if they want to be eligible for the broader TRICARE For Life health coverage that will be open to Medicare-eligibles as of October 1. AND, here is more legislative news !!

Issue 1: House Approves FY2002 Budget Resolution. The resolution passed by the House on Wednesday would provide $3.9 billion to pay FY2002 costs for TRICARE For Life.

Issue 2: TROA Urges Supplemental Health Funding for FY2001. TROA's Dr. Sue Schwartz told the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Wednesday that an additional $1.4 billion is needed to meet health benefit obligations to military beneficiaries for the current fiscal year.

Issue 3: 48-Hour Countdown to TSRx. TRICARE Senior Pharmacy (TSRx) eligibility begins Sunday, April 1, for qualifying Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries. If you've got questions, see below for answers.

House Approves FY2002 Budget Resolution

By a 222-205 vote, the House approved its version of the FY2002 Budget Resolution on March 28. A key issue for the military community is that the Resolution included $3.9 billion to cover the first-year cost of TRICARE For Life (TFL).

Here are some sources where you can get answers to your questions about the new TRICARE Senior Pharmacy benefit:

1. The DoD pharmacy call center at 1-877-DOD-MEDS or 1-877-363-6337. The call center is now operational and is open weekdays (Monday through Friday) from 7 AM to 11 PM and Sat. 9 AM to 5 PM (Eastern Standard Time). The call center also will be open this Sunday, April 1st from 11 AM to 8 PM (EST) in anticipation of the Sunday kick-off of the new benefits. If you are at a pharmacy and experiencing problems with TSRx, you can call this toll-free number for on-the-spot assistance.

2. TSRx Fact Sheet (with answers to frequently asked questions) on TROA's Web site: http://www.TROA.org/Legislative/HealthCare/TSRxFactSheet.asp

3. DoD TRICARE Senior Pharmacy pamphlet: http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/downloads/Senior.pdf

4. A list of civilian pharmacies approved by TRICARE - otherwise known as "retail network pharmacies" for each TRICARE region: http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/retail_network.htm

5. For information on the National Mail Order Pharmacy (NMOP), or to download NMOP registration forms, visit www.merckmedco.com or call Merck-Medco member services, toll free, at 1-800-903-4680.

6. More TSRx information from DoD: http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/newsenior.htm

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Calendar

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Summer Picnic to be Planned

The Board of Directors will be meeting April 10th to begin planning for the summer picnic. The Board needs your ideas and suggestions for a location, time, date, activities, and the like. Contact your Board members and make your desires known.

Traditionally, it has been one of the best times for the membership and the Board would like to continue the tradition. The Board looks forward to your suggestions and assistance in coming up with a Summer Picnic to remember.

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President’s Page

By Al Garcia

For all of us retired military members over the age of sixty five, on April Fool's day we became eligible to participate in the TRICARE Senior Pharmacy (TSR) program. This means that we get financial assistance to purchase our medications through the Department of Defense pharmacy participants. The pharmacy Heidi and I use is MERCK-MEDCO RX SERVICES, Summit, NJ. The telephone # is 1-800-903-4680. This organization provides information to anyone calling regarding the program. You can get information through other sources available in the Internet.

Spring is here and the earth is dressing up to its annual splendor. This is my favorite time of the year. The tremendous winter natural gas heating expense is coming down; the days are warm and I enjoy working in my yard; planting seeds and watching these sprout then helping them mature brings great joy to my heart. I know the majority of you enjoy the same pleasures. These are great days to be alive.

We have some folks in our Chapter that have been struggling with physical ailments. Please make time in your busy schedules to give them a call and cheer them up. A visit, a phone call, or a get well card, has curative effects when one is sick.

Your Retired Officers magazine again provides cards addressed to our US Congressmen. These are provided for your action. You may write a letter on your own, which probably has more meaning, but if you don't feel like doing that—mail the card. I believe it helps express how you feel about the subject matter.