The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on May 16 advanced legislation that would entitle federal employees in same-sex domestic partnerships to the same benefits now available to married federal employees.
A Senate bill that aims to provide health care and other benefits to domestic partners of federal employees is set for markup Wednesday.
The House Armed Services Committee rejected the administration’s call to include new and increased Tricare fees in the defense authorization bill the panel passed this week, but the bill does bump up some pharmacy co-pays.
The head of Office of Personnel Management said that the Justice Department remains the main arbiter of how to interpret a recent court decision that gained health care benefits for the same-sex partner of a federal employee.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking at less conventional ways to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
A key member of the Senate has drafted an “auto-escalation” bill that would automatically increase Thrift Savings Plan contributions for certain new federal employees.
The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will expand its mental health services by hiring marriage and family therapists and licensed professional mental health counselors as part of its recently announced nationwide hiring effort.
High-deductible health plans are among the many health care choices available to federal employees, but they are far less used than in the private sector.
The General Services Administration has increased the calendar year 2012 federal mileage reimbursement rates.
The Internal Revenue Service has put together YouTube videos that taxpayers can use to help them deal with a variety of common tax issues as the April 17 tax-filing deadline approaches.