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New # | Subject Area | Issue Title | Scope | Recommendation
646 | Medical | Active Duty Family Members Prescription Cost Share Inequitability | There is an inequality of prescription cost share benefits for Active Duty (AD) Family Members not enrolled in a Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Prescriptions filled at a MTF are provided at no cost. AD Family Members who are not enrolled at an MTF and utilize retail or mail order pharmacies for their prescriptions are required to make cost share payments. These Family Members incur cost share fees, ($3 generic, $9 brand, $22 non-formulary, per prescription, per Family member), which will quickly add up for Families with multiple prescription requirements (i.e., [NAME], EFMP, Catastrophic events, etc.).  These additional expenses are inequitable and create a financial burden above those who acquire their prescriptions from the MTF. | Eliminate prescription cost shares for Active Duty Family Members not enrolled at a Military Treatment Facility.
647 | Child Care | Availability of 24/7 Child Care with Child, Youth, and School Services Delivery Systems | Many Garrisons’ CYSS do not provide 24/7 child care. These CYSS do not account for non-traditional work schedules or additional responsibilities and duties such as increased training, shift work, extended duty hours and strain caused during deployments. Although CYSS has programs including but not limited to “We’ve Got You Covered” and other multiple delivery systems, these have not been implemented Army Wide and are not available for use by all CYSS patrons. Numerous caregiver arrangements financially burden Families, strain morale, and are not in the “best interest” of the child. Multiple Delivery Systems are needed to account for all age groups during these non-traditional hours. | Require the availability of  24/7 child care for all age groups through Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS) Delivery Systems at all United States Army Garrisons.
648 | Medical/ Command | Behavioral Health Services Shortages | Soldiers, retirees, Family Members, and previously deployed DA Civilians are not able to access timely behavioral health services needed for their treatment and recovery because of the shortage of behavioral health providers. A 16 November 2009 Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG) Information Paper states from June thru October of 2009, the Army lost 72 Psychiatrists and 50 Psychologists and reports an unmet requirement of 923 behavioral health providers for the Active Component alone. The shortage of behavioral health services impacts the health of Soldiers, retirees, Family Members, previously deployed DA Civilians and ultimately contributes to the rising suicide rates, drugs, and alcohol abuse. | Increase the number of readily available behavioral health providers and services for Soldiers, retirees, Family Members, and previously deployed DA Civilians.  Increase the use of alternative methods of delivery; such as tele-medicine.
649 | Employment | Compensatory Time for Department of the Army Civilians | DA Civilians who work irregular or occasional overtime receive compensatory time at a disproportionate rate than overtime pay.  Compensatory time is granted at one hour off for each hour of overtime worked.  Overtime pay is usually paid at one and one-half times the hourly rate.  Receiving one compensatory hour for each overtime hour neither acknowledges nor compensates the employee for the impact of lost evenings or weekends. | Increase compensatory time for DA Civilians to 1.5 hours off for each hour of overtime worked.
650 | Medical/ Command | Exceptional Family Member Program Enrollment Eligibility for Reserve Component Soldiers | Reserve Component (RC) Soldiers are ineligible for enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).  Army Regulation 608-75 dated 22 November 2006, paragraph 1-7a. (2) states mobilized and deployed Soldiers are not eligible for enrollment in EFMP. In order to be eligible for all benefits of the EFMP, you must be enrolled.  Enrollment allows EFMP to expedite the process of identifying and providing support to eligible RC Soldiers and Families. | Authorize RC Soldiers enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).
651 | Medical | Extended Transitional Survivor Spouses' TRICARE Medical Coverage | Transitional Survivor Spouses maintain enrollment in the TRICARE Prime medical health plan at the active duty Family Member status for only three years. At the end of three years, the spouse’s status is changed in DEERS to survivor status at the retiree payment rate.  In FY01, legislation changed the survivor spouse transition period from one to three years. In FY06, Congress extended the eligibility of survivor dependent children coverage to be the greater of three years or until they lose Title 10 eligibility.  The transition period after a death is stressful and challenging for surviving Family Members. The extension of Transitional Survivor Spouses’ TRICARE Prime medical coverage will provide additional time for rebuilding after the death of the active duty service member. | Extend Transitional Survivor Spouses’ TRICARE Prime medical coverage at the active duty Family Member status from three to five years.
652 | Family Support | Family Readiness Group External Fundraising Restrictions | Family Readiness Group (FRG) informal funds can only be obtained through unsolicited donations and fundraising efforts on a military installation or through the Unit membership.  Department of Defense 5500.7-R (Joint Ethics Regulation) (JER), Section 2, 3-210a (6) (Fundraising and Membership Drives) and Army Regulation 608-1 (Army Community Service), [NAME] (FRG Operations) restrict external fundraising.  Without external fundraising capabilities, the majority of the funds raised come from within the FRG membership.  External fundraising will ease the financial burden placed on Soldiers and Family Members. | Authorize Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) to fundraise in public places external to Reserve Centers, National Guard Armories and military installations.
653 | Force Support | Funding Service Dogs for Wounded Warriors | The Department of Defense does not offer a formal program that funds service dogs for Wounded Warriors.  There is significant anecdotal evidence that animal assistance programs help patients of all types recover and heal from wounds, injuries and illnesses, both physical and psychological. Service dogs may assist [NAME] in attaining a higher level of independence and self-reliance which allows them to function more successfully in their community and jobs. | Fund a formal program to provide service dogs for Wounded Warriors.
654 | Entitlements | Monthly Stipend to Ill/Injured Soldiers for Non-Medical Caregivers | The Army does not offer a monthly stipend to injured/ill Soldiers who do not qualify for Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) and are certified by a medical provider to be in need of a non-medical caregiver’s assistance. Although travel and transportation compensation is provided through the [NAME] FY10, there may be additional costs incurred by the non-medical caregiver while caring for the Soldier.  Expenses can include child care and the loss of ability to generate income. In the absence of the monthly stipend for non-medical caregivers, the Soldiers that do not qualify for TSGLI could require hospitalization, nursing home care or residential institutional care. | Provide a monthly stipend to Soldiers that do not qualify for TSGLI and are certified to be in need of assistance from a non-medical caregiver.
655 | Entitlements | Reduced Eligibility Age for Retirement of Reserve Component Soldiers Mobilized in Support of Overseas Contingency Operations | RC Soldiers with OCO eligible active duty service between 11 September 2001 and 28 January 2008 do not receive credit for active service towards reduced retirement age.  RC Soldiers mobilized in support of OCO after 28 January 2008 will have their retirement date reduced by 3 months for each cumulative total of 90 eligible days of active duty, according to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2008, section 647.  RC Soldiers who served between 11 September 2001 and 28 January 2008 have their service unfairly excluded by denying them the same benefits as RC Soldiers who served after 28 January 2008.  RC Soldiers mobilized in support of OCO incur the same sacrifices, and warrant the same credit of service toward reduced retirement eligibility age regardless of when they served. | Credit OCO eligible active duty service prior to 29 January 2008 towards reduced eligibility age for retirement of RC Soldiers.
656 | Employment | Reserve Component Government Employees' and their Family Members' Access to TRICARE Reserve Select | Individuals eligible for health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and their Family members who serve as RC Personnel are excluded from TRS under Public Law 109-364, the 2007 John Warner National Defense Authorization Act.  In contrast, a military retiree who becomes a federal employee can choose to enroll in TRICARE in lieu of one of the FEHB programs; however, [NAME] who become eligible for FEHB by employment or marriage do not have this option.  Providing RC Personnel the option of their health care benefit program would positively impact job satisfaction and allow them to take full advantage of their benefits. | Provide all Government employees and their Family members who serve in the RC with the option of selecting either FEHB Program or TRS.
657 | Entitlements | Reserve Component Inactive Duty for Training Travel and Transportation Allowances | There is no legal authority for travel and transportation allowances for RC Soldiers conducting Inactive Duty for Training (IDT) when the training duty station, drill site or assigned unit location is over 50 miles from home of record.  Soldiers often travel significant distances from home of record to duty locations due to unit relocation, individual assignments and other factors. Traveling these distances imposes safety risks such as accidents caused by sleep deprivation and decreased levels of alertness. Soldiers can incur out-of-pocket expenses that exceed the actual pay received. Providing travel and transportation allowances for RC Soldiers will alleviate financial burdens and mitigate risks associated with traveling to and from the training duty station. | Authorize travel and transportation allowances for RC Soldiers traveling over 50 miles for IDT.
658 | Facilities | Standard Level of Security Measures in Barracks | Security measures in the barracks are not standardized Army-wide. The Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM) has authorized security standards in its Installation Design Standard. Keyless entry and peep holes are requirements in all new construction and major renovations. However, not all existing barracks are being upgraded to the same level of security, and additional measures are needed. Without standard security measures, Soldiers’ welfare and protection of their personal belongings are at risk of being compromised. | Require the installation of visual monitoring systems for surveillance of hallways, common areas and parking lots for barracks Army-wide.  [NAME] keyless entry and peep holes in barracks Army-wide.
659 | Facilities | Standardization of Privatized Housing Application Process | The privatized housing application process is not standardized across installations.  Multiple partners manage privatized housing at CONUS installations and each utilizes their own application process.  The lack of a uniform standard allows for inconsistencies in the application process requirements such as:  applying online, faxing orders upon receipt or submitting in-processing paperwork upon arrival at the gaining installation.  The stress of relocation is intensified by a lack of predictability in the application process. | Standardize the housing application process across privatized installations.
660 | Family Support | Supplemental Mission Funds for Reserve Component Family Readiness Groups | Reserve Component Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) are not authorized Supplemental Mission Funds. Reserve Component FRGs are expected to perform the same functions as Active Component FRGs with less funding. Supplemental Mission Funds will permit the Reserve Component to accept and manage donations from outside sources. Supplemental Mission Funds augment FRG Informal Funds, reducing the stress of additional fundraising.  Supplemental Mission Funds will allow Reserve Component FRGs to further connect Families and focus on their Mission. | Authorize Supplemental Mission Funds for Reserve Component Family Readiness Groups (FRGs).
661 | Medical | TRICARE Allowable Charge Reimbursement of Upgraded/Deluxe Durable Medical Equipment | When the TRICARE beneficiary chooses an upgraded/deluxe DME, the beneficiary must pay full cost out-of-pocket with no reimbursement for the TRICARE allowable charge.  DME providers are limited to accepting the TRICARE allowable charge as payment in full for the medically necessary standard DME.  Purchasing the upgraded/deluxe DME could improve patient compliance, quality of life, comfort, or function.  Reimbursement of the TRICARE allowable charge offsets the increased cost of the upgraded/deluxe DME incurred by the TRICARE beneficiary. | Authorize reimbursement of the TRICARE allowable charge for the standard DME when a patient chooses an upgraded/deluxe DME.