Federal Daily - March 24, 2008

NARFE Expresses Reservations Over OPM Carrier Letter

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) said on March 20 that it “has concerns” about proposals contained in the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) 2008 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) Carrier Letter that would create separate health plans for Medicare-eligible federal annuitants. “While OPM says that enrollees in the Medicare pilot ‘sub-option’ would pay the same premiums set for their counterpart FEHBP plans, we are troubled that a plan specifically created for Medicare-eligible federal annuitants could open the door for separately rated retiree plans in the future with substantially higher premiums than other FEHBP plans,” said NARFE President Margaret Baptiste. She also expressed fears that the cost of the Medicare pilot sub-option’s “pass-through accounts” could produce cuts in benefits or higher deductibles, co-payments and coinsurance for federal retirees and survivors. NARFE also objected to the fact that payments from the pass-through accounts would be used to encourage federal annuitants to join private Medicare options like Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. To see more, go to: www.narfe.org/departments/pr/guest/current.cfm.

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IRS Reminder: Combat Pay Applies Toward Stimulus Payment Eligibility

Military personnel serving in combat zones can include their nontaxable combat pay on their 2007 or 2008 income tax returns if it helps their eligibility for the 2008 economic stimulus payments, the IRS noted on March 20.  The agency said that to receive the stimulus payment this year, combat zone personnel or their spouses must file a 2007 income tax return by Oct. 15. After that date, they can claim the payment on next year’s return. Servicemembers who normally would not file a tax return because their 2007 income is not taxable can file a simple Form 1040A if they want to receive the stimulus payment, IRS said. To see more, go to:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=180334,00.html

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VA to Open 14 New Clinics

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to open 14 additional new outpatient clinics this year, VA Secretary James Peake announced March 20. The new clinics, slated to activate in 2008, will open in Arkansas, Kentucky (three clinics), Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee (six clinics) and Washington. In addition to 50 previously approved facilities slated to begin providing services in 2008, the announcement brings the number of new clinics for the year to 64. “Community-based medicine is better medicine,” said Dr. Michael Kussman, VA Under Secretary for Health.” It makes preventive care easier for patients, helps doctors have closer relationships with their patients and permits easier follow-up for patients with chronic health problems.” To see more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1471.

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Citizen Satisfaction with E-Government Sites Slips

Citizen satisfaction with federal Web sites declined for a third consecutive quarter, according to the first-quarter report of the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index. The group said its aggregate score for the quarter dropped to 72.4 on a 100-point scale, the lowest in three years. “Customer satisfaction is declining overall, and the government isn’t doing any better,” said Prof. Claes Fornell, head of ACSI at the University of Michigan. “Citizen satisfaction with e-government is now slipping like everything else.” One possible factor cited by the report is that some government Web sites may be holding off on putting resources into improving citizens’ online experience until know they will be able to finish those efforts under a new administration. To see more, go to: www.foreseeresults.com.

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