Until recently, hospital death rates were closely guarded secrets, discussed in board rooms but beyond the reach of patients whose lives are on the line. Now anyone with access to a computer can directly compare a local hospital with the one across town to see how it stacks up against the biggest medical institutions nationwide.

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Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is launching a national outreach program to help veterans prepare for the big increase in GI Bill education benefits that takes effect next year. This includes an online calculator at www.gibill2008.org that gives veterans an idea of how much money they will receive when the Post-9/11 GI Bill takes full effect on 1 AUG 09, with full tuition for people attending four-year public institutions, plus a monthly living expense and annual book allowance. Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA executive director, says the Web site should help answer basic questions about the new program, which has spawned a fair amount of confusion because the details underwent many changes before the final plan was enacted. A 20% increase in GI Bill benefits that took effect this past 1 AUG was just a small first step under the new plan. Full tuition payments, the living stipend, book allowance and other changes will not take effect until next summer so that the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs have time to plan for the big increases. [Source: AirForceTimes Rick Maze article 20 Aug 08 ++]

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Service members and federal civilian employees who drive their own cars on official business now are being reimbursed 58.5 cents per mile, an 8-cent increase, effective 1 AUG. The General Services Administration announced the increased rate to match the private business rate approved by the IRS that has been in effect since 1 JUL. GSA also increased reimbursement rates for motorcycles, from 30.5 cents to 58.5 cents per mile; and for airplanes, from $1.07 to $1.27 per mile. [Source: NavyTimes Gregg Carlstrom article 21 Aug 08 ++]

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On 21 AUG a U.S. District Court Judge awarded an Air Force couple $7.5 million for a malpractice case against the Andersen Air Force Base family clinic. An Air Force wife visited the Andersen Air Force Base family clinic several years ago, complaining of numbness in her groin. The numbness was an early sign of a serious neurological disorder that base medical personnel failed to properly diagnose and treat, according to Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood. The judge awarded $7.5 million to Deborah Rutledge and her husband, Air Force Master Sgt. Thomas Rutledge, after agreeing that government employees at the clinic “were repeatedly negligent” in providing medical treatment to Deborah Rutledge, who suffers from Cauda Aquina Syndrome. She suffers from permanent neurological injuries, including numbness, dysfunction and paralyzing pain, according to the court. She can’t sit normally or walk for an extended period of time without pain. According to the judge’s ruling, clinic personnel failed to properly treat Deborah Rutledge during several visits to the clinic, in JUL and AUG 04. She wasn’t properly diagnosed until she visited Naval Hospital and was medically evacuated to Hawaii for treatment. Deborah Rutledge never was asked to remove her clothing for some of the examinations at the Andersen clinic, documents state, and one examination was performed by an improperly supervised physician’s assistant, who Rutledge mistakenly believed to be a doctor. Tydingco-Gatewood awarded Deborah Rutledge $6.9 million, including compensation for pain and suffering, and her husband $592,000 for “loss of consortium. [Source: Pacific Daily News Steve Limtiaco article 22mAug 08 ++]

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VA CATEGORY 8 CARE UPDATE 06: Congress is moving to reopen the VA health care system to many more thousands of Priority Group 8 veterans – those who aren’t poor, at least by government standards, and have no service-related ailments. Disabled American Veterans and some partner organizations support such a move but with two caveats, explained DAV representatives.

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The Tricare military health system’s 9.2 million beneficiaries now have an easy way to receive the latest newsletters and stay informed about changes in coverage, pharmacy updates and other news. Their new electronic delivery system is up and running. Tricare officials said subscribing is fast and secure by clicking on the “little red envelope” on Tricare’s Web site, www.tricare.mil. Subscribers can choose alerts by topics or beneficiary category. Delivery is safe and secure. An e-mail address is the only information collected. Subscribers also have a unique page they can manage any time and they can choose to be notified as soon as news or benefit changes are posted or get updates daily, weekly or monthly. The new subscription service also links users to similar alerts available on other Military Health System Web sites, including www.health.mil, which features MHS news and other information. Partnership subscription options with other health-related federal Web sites include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Disabilityinfo.gov. [Source: NGAUS NOTES 22 Aug 08 ++]

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On 12 JUN, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled in favor of three SBP widows who sued the government (Sharp v. The United States) to avoid any deduction of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from their restored SBP annuities. On 11 AUG, Pentagon lawyers appealed that ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. At issue is a 2004 law (PL 108-183) that restored DIC payments to veterans’ surviving spouses who remarry after their 57th birthday. Before the law change, survivors lost DIC regardless of the age at which they remarried. The three widows claim the new law not only restored their lost VA benefit, but also prohibited deduction of DIC from SBP in such cases. When DoD initially rejected that interpretation of the new law, the widows sued. The new Pentagon appeal is one more step in a potentially long legal process that could ultimately end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. But this court case may yet prove to be one more tool in the campaign to end the unfair SBP/DIC offset for all survivors of active or retired members who die of service-caused conditions. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 22 Aug 08 ++]

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will use a locality-based approach in raising ceilings on its no-downpayment home loans from the current $417,000 to as much as $729,000. The increases are effective immediately under legislation recently enacted with President Bush signing the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. That law also improved VA’s Specially Adapted Housing Program. It raises primary grants from $50,000 to $60,000 toward constructing a new home or modifying an existing home to meet adaptive needs of veterans or active duty servicemembers with certain service-connected disabilities. One new feature is a provision in the law that will assist burn victims. It will allow veterans with certain service-connected disabilities resulting from severe burns to receive the adaptive housing grants. The new law also makes future increases in ceilings on the Specially Adapted Housing Program automatic. The increased limits in the general home loan program for all veterans’ home purchases or construction will be based on local housing costs, tied to the similar locality adjustments of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Freddie Mac. VA home loans are available for veterans to purchase or construct single-family homes, and to purchase condominiums or cooperative apartments. There are about 2.3 million existing VA home loans, more than 90% made with no down payment. More information about VA home loans and adaptive grants is available from VA at 877-827-3702 or www.homeloans.va.gov. [Source: Florida Veteran Council Michael Isam article 21 Aug 08 ++]

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The next time your parent complains of feeling “out of sorts” or gives you a vague list of minor problems, don’t dismiss it as normal grumpiness. There’s a good chance your parent could have an infection. When the human body is under stress or exposed to bacteria and viruses, it triggers a healing chain of events that, in most cases, results in the prevention of infection or illness. However, when the amount of bacteria is too great an infection occurs. At that point, the immune system kicks in doubly hard, releasing a flood of chemicals to attack the infection and promote recovery. Diagnosing the elderly with an infection can be difficult. Seniors are less likely to have classic symptoms such as fever, chills, and vomiting. Instead they might have atypical symptoms such as subnormal temperature, confusion, fatigue, and decreased appetite. In many cases, these subtle signs can be attributed to the normal aging process — or ignored until the late stages of the infection. Seniors are more susceptible to infection because multiple chronic illnesses that occur with age put extra stress on the body, and the medications for these conditions can block the immune system. In addition, the immune system naturally weakens as we grow older.

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The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 27 AUG 08 in support of the partial mobilization. The net collective result is 3,789 more reservists mobilized than last reported in the Bulletin for 15 AUG 08. At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 84,721; Navy Reserve, 5,799; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 11,395; Marine Corps Reserve, 8057; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 741. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been mobilized to 106,904 including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are currently mobilized, can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2008//d082608ngr.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release 691-08 13 Aug 08 ++]

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