Archive for Veteran
Run for the Fallen on August 21-22
Posted by: | CommentsImportant information provided by A. J. Herran, National Chaplain, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Ladies Auxiliary
On the weekend of August 21/22, 2010, “Run for the Fallen” is encouraging anyone, wherever they are, to go out and run/walk one mile for a fallen service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The goal is to again have all 50 states participate. Last year, there were over 5,000 participants in 35 states and four countries, running a combined total of over 31,000 miles. Help us to continue to honor and remember our service members, bringing people and communities together. Together, let us Run for the Fallen.
In Colorado, this event will take place quietly on Saturday morning (21Aug) at 8AM at Rogers Grove – Longmont, CO.
In Oregon, this event will be hosted by the Blue Star mothers and will take place in Portland on 21AUG10.
In Tampa, FL – Tampa Area Marine Parents Assoc., Inc. – 3rd Annual Run for the Fallen Event (5K / 1 mile Run & Walk). This FREE event will be held on Sunday, August 22nd, at E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin. Pre-registration is requested.
In Charleston, IL – Vivian White – Aug. 21st a Run for the Fallen event to honor all Illinois military personnel who have lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan. The run will be held in Charleston, Illinois at the Charleston High School track. It will be an all-day event (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) People can come out to the track anytime during the day and walk/run. They can walk for a particular soldier or we can assign them a soldier.
In Iowa – see www.iowaremembrancerun.org In Elk Horn see the Elk Horn American Legion.
In Missouri – Lake of the Ozarks – Trisha Creach – We will be honoring all of our soldiers and hope to get at least 85 people to walk one mile to pay special tribute to our Missouri men and women killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The event will begin at 8 AM at the Osage Beach City Park on Highway 54.
In Oklahoma – Lawton, Oklahoma – Survivor Outreach Services – We are located outside the gates of Fort Sill and encourage interested parties to run/walk with us at Elmer Thomas Park on 3rd and Ferris in Lawton on Saturday, Aug. 21. Folks can contact either myself, Debra Leffler at 580-442-4282 or Kathy at 580-442-4329.
In Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI – Woods National Cemetery – Judith Singer – www.beingtherereachingout.org – Gold Star Families and supporters will be running again in Wisconsin. Last year, 15 Wisconsin Gold Star Families along with friends and supporters ran over a total of 200 miles.
This is just some of the activities going on that you may wish to be part of in serving our Gold Star Families of the Fallen. As we all know, it takes the loss of a soldier to bring a community together, and break its heart. Please do what you can this weekend to heal these broken hearts.
21% Medicare Cut Is Here
Posted by: | Comments21% Medicare Cut Is Here
Despite far too many months of legislative thrashing, the saga of the 21% cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors is about to take a turn for the worse.
In late May, we reported that the House of Representatives managed to pass a fix as part of the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213).
The good news is that, unlike the month-to-month fixes Congress has adopted recently, the new House-passed plan would prevent any cuts through the end of 2011, and substitute 2% payment increases for 2010 and 2011.
The bad news is that the House’s delay in passing it until just before the Memorial Day recess caused the Senate to delay the start of its consideration until June 8 – a week after the June 1 implementation date for the 21% payment cut.
Medicare officials came to the interim rescue — announcing they would exercise their administrative authority to hold up processing of new claims for the first two weeks of June, in hopes Congress could pass corrective legislation within that time.
But continued haggling over amendments and costs sent that faint hope crashing, as Senate leaders announced the Senate won’t vote until next week – beyond the date Medicare is allowed to hold up claims processing. And even assuming the Senate gets a successful vote, House and Senate leaders still will have to negotiate a new compromise between their different versions of the bill, and that compromise will have to be approved again by both chambers.
Given that scenario, Medicare will have little choice but to implement the 21% payment cut as of June 15 – retroactive for Medicare-covered service since June 1.
While that’s extremely regrettable, it’s not the end of the world. In fact, the same thing happened in January 2006, when Congressional dithering past the deadline caused Medicare to implement payment cuts. After Congress eventually passed a fix several weeks later, Medicare reprocessed the claims and made retroactive payment increases to doctors.
But Congress’ inaction forced doctors to float an interim loan to the government for the payment differential. And the 2006 cut was only about 4% — a far cry from the current 21% cuts, so doctors are going to be very unhappy.
TRICARE beneficiaries under 65 and their doctors can take some consolation, since this is strictly a Medicare problem, at least for now. That’s because TRICARE normally implements payment changes about a month after Medicare does. So as long as Congress fixes the problem within a month, payments should be seamless for TRICARE.
But the payment delays and administrative hassles can only make doctors more reluctant about seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients alike.
Please send your legislators a MOAA-suggested message to get this extremely unsettling situation fixed – immediately.
Restaurant Chains Show Appreciation
Posted by: | CommentsApplebee’s – Meals on Veterans Day 2009
In recognition of your service to our country, ALL VETERANS and active duty military personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar Restaurants this Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov.11, 2009. As you may recall, Applebee’s launched a pilot program last year on Veterans Day offering free entrees to military service personnel and veterans. Because the response was so overwhelmingly positive, Applebee’s is extending the invitation throughout the country this year. We would appreciate your help in spreading the word. Please help us share details across your various communication channels. All U.S. veterans and active duty military with proof of current or former military service will eat free at all Applebee’s nationwide on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform. For additional details, visit: http://www.applebees.com/vetsday“.
Golden Corral – Dinner on “Military Appreciation Monday”
Golden Corral’s 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free dinner meal is a special “thank you tribute” to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join us for Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner. To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization. To locate a Golden Corral near you, visit www.goldencorral.com/locator.