Retirees left vulnerable to hospital fee hikes
 

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 15, 2010 16:02:34 EST

Every day that Congress fails to pass the 2011 defense policy bill is a day the Defense Department could surprise military retirees with a massive cost increase for inpatient hospitalization.

In 2009, Congress blocked defense officials from imposing a $110-a-day increase in the inpatient hospitalization charges for military retirees. But the moratorium on fee hikes applied only during fiscal year 2010, which ended on Sept. 30.

Since the moratorium expired, the Defense Department has been free to increase the charge, but it has not acted because the pending 2011 defense authorization could again bar the fee increase, according to congressional aides.

Congress needs to specifically block the fee increase because permanent law allows ... Read the rest of the story here.

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Do you think there will be a hospitalization fee increase?

Well, that is a darn shame..

BUMP