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RAO BULLETIN 1 February 2012

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RAO BULLETIN 1 February 2012 PDF Edition Note: Anyone receiving this who does not want it should click on the automatic “Change address / Leave mailing list” tab at the bottom of this message. THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES == Arlington National Cemetery [34] ------- (Management Challenges) == VA Homeless Vets [28] ----------------------------------- (New Study) == BRAC [23] -------------------------- (Proposed New Round Reaction) == VA Acquisition Academy ------------------- (Warriors to Workforce) == VA Women Vet Programs [15] ------------ (Newborn Medical Care) == VA Medical Marijuana Policy [02] ------ (Vermont Bill Introduced) == Stolen Valor [54] ---------------------------------- (Court Upholds Act) == IRS Tax Deductions ------------------------------- (Allowed for 2011) == Feres Doctrine [04] -------- (Malpractice Immunity Pending Ruling) == VA Claims Backlog [57] ---------------- (Paperless' Claims Solution) == VA Disputed Claims [03] --------------------------- (Leroy MacKlem) == VA Home Loan [39] ------------------------------ (VAHLC Concerns) == Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2012 [07] - (Committee Appointees) == Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2012 [08] ------- (Panel 1st Meeting) == Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2012 [09] ------- (HHS OIG Report) == Mobilized Reserve 24 JAN 2012 ------------------- (12,890 Decrease) == U.S. Military Presence in Philippines ----------------- (Talks Ongoing) == VA Cemeteries [05] --------------------------- (Misplaced Headstones) == Worldwide Caution ------------------------- (Message to U.S. Citizens) == VA Mental Health Care [08] ----------------------- (Wait Times Audit) == Sleep Apnea [05] ------------------------ (VA Approved Nasal Device) == TRICARE Provider List Philippines ------------------- (17 JAN 2012) == Littoral Combat Ship ---------------------------- (U.S.S Independence) == VA Data Breaches [45] ---------------------------------- (Ancestry.com) == Home Affordable Refinance Program -------------------- (Revamped) == DoD PDBR [11] ------------------------ (Phased Info Packet Mailings) == Military Handbooks ------------------------- (Available for Download) == USS Hunley Museum --------------- (Conservation Efforts Continue) == Retirement Planning [05] ------------------- (401(k) Retirement Plans) == Retirement Planning [06] ---------------------------------------- (Myths) == POW/MIA [12] ----------------------------------------- (16-31 Jan 2012) == POW/MIA [13] --------------------------------- (Spring Korea Mission) == Estimated Tax ------------------------------------------------- (Who Pays) 1 == Online Piracy -------------------------------------------------- (H.R.3261) == VA Blue Water Claims [21] ------------------- (Ship’s List Jan 2012) == Sitter City ---------------------------------------------- (On-Line Service) == Space ―A‖ Travel [15] ------------------------------- (Using Facebook) == AHLTA [06] ------------------------------- (System Shutdown 17 JAN) == Tricare Dental Program [05] -------------------- (Dental for Survivors) == TERA [02] ------------------------------------ (Incentive Reinstatement) == Military Vote Sought --------------------------------- (GOP Candidates) == ID Card (CAC) [03] **----------------------------------- (Cyber Attack) == VA Quality-of-Care [02] **---------------- (GAO Review Requested) == DoD Budget 2013 [02] **-------------------- (Cut Exemption Sought) == DoD Budget 2013 [03] ------------------------ (Priorities and Choices) == DoD Budget 2013 [04] ---------------- (Veterans Groups Push Back) == Retiree Pay ----------------------------------- (Federal Civilian Workers) == Vet Tax Holiday --------------------------- (Gov. Rick Perry Proposal) == VA Medical Marijuana Policy [02] ---------- (MAPS Study on Hold) == VA Medical Marijuana Policy [03] ------------- (VT Bill Introduced) == VA Fraud Waste & Abuse [44] --------------------- (15-31 JAN 2012) == War Crime Status? -------------------- (USMC Video Sensationalized) == Bronze Star Medal [ 01] -------------------------- (Contract for 79,000) == LA Vet Property Tax -------------------------- (Homestead Exemption) == PTSD [85] ------------------------------ (Lawsuit Settlement Approved) == PTSD [86] ------------------------------------------ (Violent Crime Link) == VA RTLS [01] ---------------------------------------- (Use Still Planned) == What My Family Should Know --------------- (Suggested Document) == WWII Vets [12] ---------------------------------------------- (Ralph Neal) == Vietnam Vets --------------------------------------------- (Major Wilfork) == Vet License Plates AZ ---------------------- (Eligibility & Availability) == Vet License Plates IL [01] --------------------------------- (Fee Petition) == Veteran Support Org ------------------------------------------- (WWAST) == Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule -------------- (As of 30 Jan 2012) == Saving Money ------------------------------------------------- (Bank Fees) == Notes of Interest --------------------------------------- (15-31 Jan 2012) == Medicare Fraud [84] ----------------------------------- (15-31 Jan 2012) == Medicaid Fraud [56] ----------------------------------- (15-31 Jan 2012) == State Veteran's Benefits ------------------------------------------- (Texas) == Military History -------------------------------------- (The Great Escape) == Military History Anniversaries ------------------ (Feb 1-14 Summary) == Military Trivia [44] ---------------- (WWII American Special Forces) == Tax Burden for Louisiana Retirees ------------------ (As of Feb 2012) == Veteran Legislation Status 28 JAN 2012 ---------- (Where we stand) == Have You Heard? ----------------- (How kids perceive Grandparents) Attachment - Veteran Legislation as of 28 JAN 2012 Attachment - AO Exposed ship List JAN 2012 Attachment - What My Family Should Know Attachment - Texas State Veteran's Benefits Attachment - Military History: Stalag Luft III Tunnels ** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material 2 ********************************* ********************************* Arlington National Cemetery Update 34: Arlington National Cemetery has made significant progress on improving operations and resolving more than 200 cases of missing remains and misidentified grave sites, according to watchdog reports, but officials are still on the defensive over management challenges. "Arlington is transitioning from crisis management to sustained excellence," Lt. Gen. Peter Vangjel, the Army inspector general, told the Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight on 25 JAN. The IG's 2011 report on Arlington Cemetery's performance cited new management for improving workplace morale and effectiveness. The assessment is a stark contrast to a scathing IG report and Senate investigation in 2010 that examined the improper handling of remains by Arlington Cemetery contractors, and an FBI criminal investigation of possible contracting fraud a year later. Problems still remain, however. Despite the implementation of the Army's General Fund Enterprise Business System to improve financial reporting at the cemetery, the Army Audit Agency reported $12 million in funds allocated between 2004 and 2010 were unaccounted for. Kathryn Condon, executive director at Arlington Cemetery, told the committee that all funds were accounted for, but cemetery officials came forward 26 JAN to say that the missing $12 million has been recovered through reconciling contracts with federal agencies. Subcommittee Chairwoman Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said in a statement to the Washington Post that she would "continue to track progress and monitor outside audits, until every grave site is checked and every dollar accounted for." In addition to accounting for finances, Arlington must still finish resolving the information for roughly 50,000 grave sites to ensure they have the sufficient documentation. "I want to state upfront that we still have work to do," Condon told lawmakers. "I accept those challenges." A Gravesite Accountability Task Force was set up by the Army to review and verify every grave site. The task force uses a six-step procedure to correct information when a discrepancy is found. Condon said all remaining cases would be completed by summer. A Government Accountability Office report released 25 JAN noted the cemetery needs to make contract management improvements that include maintaining a complete database on contracts and determining appropriate contractor staffing needs. Condon assured the committee that streamlining contracts was a priority, and as much work as possible would be completed in-house. "We are really truly building the workforce that's required to run Arlington properly," she said. "We feel that the numbers we have now are adequate, as we get time to assess the [technology]. One of our goals is to make sure we have the right number of people to do the job." Arlington Cemetery has focused on technology initiatives to improve management and transparency, including the creation of a single database containing information for every grave site, created with the help of soldiers from the Old Guard. "Aside from their other duties, many showed up at midnight with cellphones, and individuals went and photographed over 250,000 grave sites" to include in the database, Condon said. Families and the general public will be able to search the database and pull up a photo of a grave marker and accompanying information. In the next few months officials also will unveil a smartphone app with GPS and digital information kiosks, currently in alpha testing, to help
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