This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran, we will take a look at last week's surprise announcement by the Pentagon that they will raise copays for retired military personnel covered under TRICARE by 20 percent.

Last week, the National Association for Uniformed Services sent a letter to the Department of Defense expressing their concern over the abrupt changes. The Military Coalition, of which AMVETS is a member, followed suit with its own letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Congress has blocked TRICARE fee increases for the last three years, prompting the veterans' community to ask how this change could have come about. Check back with American Veteran throughout the week for updates.

Next, we will continue to monitor VA's implementation of the Uniformed Mental Health Services Handbook, which was to be implemented no later than Sept. 30, prior to the start of FY2010. VA and Congress have yet to provide official word as to whether or not VA is compliant.

AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin called implementation of the handbook a "critical step" in ensuring veterans have the tools to combat the invisible wounds of war. American Veteran Online will keep you posted on VA's compliance with the handbook and the overall Mental Health Strategic Plan.

American Veteran will also continue to follow Post-9/11 G.I. Bill implementation and the continued work of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs, which plan to address dozens of pieces of veterans legislation in the coming weeks. Check back regularly for updates.

Finally, the publication date for American Veteran magazine has been pushed back for a couple of weeks due to an unforeseen issue with supplemental materials. We will keep you up to date as the latest issue goes to print. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who submitted content for this fall's Keeping Posted section. Be on the look-out for your post or department in the next issue.