High Quality health care is a critical aspect of caring for soldiers and their families and is imperative for sustaining “Boots On The Ground”. Significant strides have been made in health care support for Soldiers, retirees and family members by the Administration and Congress and their continuing support is vital to adequately resource quality health care.

Authorization and funding of health and dental care is necessary for the readiness of all Reserve Component (RC) Soldiers. The increased use of the RC in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and other worldwide requirements has highlighted this need.

TRICARE costs and accessibility for all beneficiaries of the military health care system are important issues to Soldiers, retirees and family members and reimbursable rates to civilian medical providers must be sufficient to insure their availability. The pursuit of best practices and performance efficiencies in the military health care system should remain a high priority. High quality health care at home and on the battlefield continues to be one of the Army’s top priorities.

Taking care of severely wounded/combat disabled Soldiers, surviving spouses and their families with a system of advocacy and follow up is essential. The transition from military services to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services must be seamless. The Army has developed a U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) to aid in this transition; however, continued funding is essential to meet the needs of our Soldiers.

The operational tempo of the GWOT is increasing the mental health needs of our Soldiers, family members, as well as surviving spouses and their children. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may not surface for years and the VA must be authorized and funded to provide services beyond the current 24-month limitation to those members no longer in the Army regardless of when the PTSD is diagnosed.

Providing high quality accessible and affordable health care to our Soldiers, retirees and their family members is critical for maintaining the readiness of our Army and a much deserved benefit for the sacrifices they have made to protect and defend our Nation. Any erosion of health care benefits is unacceptable. Our men and women in uniform and the families who support them deserve nothing less.

WE THEREFORE RESOLVE to urge the Administration and Congress to:

• Support and fund medical research to benefit Soldiers
  
  
• Continue to fund the Air Ambulance (HH-60L) Program
  
  
• Support and fund the fielding of the Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MV) Program, an integral part of the Future Combat Systems (FCS)
  
  
• Support and fund the Medical Reengineering Initiative
  
  
• Continue to fund high quality health care to ensure continued access for all beneficiaries and to preclude the burden of user fees
  
  
• Continue to support and fund pharmacy programs for all beneficiaries
  
  
• Revise existing legislation to give RC Soldiers and their families health benefits under a single affordable cost share basis in TRICARE
  
  
• Revise legislation to provide all RC Soldiers coverage under the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) with TDP funding all dental costs for Soldiers in units notified for deployment required to ensure they are deployable
  
  
• Enact legislation to give RC Soldiers injured in the line of duty or performing Inactive Duty Training (IDT), and their families, entitlements and health care benefits equal to those of Active Component Soldiers and their families
  
  
• Enact legislation to provide Veteran status for RC Soldiers after six years of continuous RC service
  
  
• Provide a subsidy for the Retiree Dental Plan similar to the plan for active duty family members
  
  
• Continue to fund support for the mental health needs of Soldiers, their families, and surviving spouses and children
  
  
• Continue to fund the Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) program
  
  
• Provide funding for increases in reimbursable rates to TRICARE and MEDICARE providers to encourage increased provider participation
  
  
• Enact legislation to provide continuous VA care beyond the current 24 month limitation for Soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder regardless of the date of diagnosis
  
  
• Reduce TRICARE threshold for mileage reimbursement to 60 miles (one way)
  
  
• Fully fund VA Health Care
  
  
• Bar any TRICARE Prime or Standard fee increases