ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DD214
Due to COA's advocacy, in August of 2021,
Commissioned Corps Headquarters announced that beginning October 1st, 2021, a
conversion from the PHS1867 to DD214 will occur. This affects all officers who are discharged or retire after October 2021. COA will continue to seek
this benefit for officers who have previously retired or separated. In 2023, COA successfully advocated for HHS to provide Congress with a report regarding the feasibility of making the DD214 available for previously retired officers.
Expiring Leave for PHS Officers
In December 2022, as a requirement in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, the HHS Secretary now has the authority to permanently approve USPHS officers to carry over up to 120 days of leave from one fiscal year to the next. The Secretary approved the max 120 day carryover from FY 23 to FY24. Many USPHS officers were faced with losing a significant
amount of earned leave due to the high volume of deployments. COA quickly took action on Capitol Hill which
resulted in language being inserted into the appropriations bill.
Ready Reserve Corps
In June of 2023, COA learned that funding sources for the USPHS Ready Reserve was being terminated. Funding for the next few years for the USPHS Ready Reserve was required per the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), signed into law in Spring 2023, revoked funding from the ARPA that was not yet spent. COA quickly got to work to advocate for additional funding. In July 2023, COA worked with Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) and Senator Ron Wyden (OR) to craft two pieces of legislation that address funding of the Ready Reserve and the USPHS Commissioned Corps as a whole.
Active Duty and Retirement Issues
As a vital member of The Military Coalition, COA advocated for 3% uniformed
services pay raise and defended your earned commissary and exchange benefits.
COA pushed for expansion of benefits available under TRICARE Extended Care
Health Option (ECHO) program, blocked additional TRICARE fee increases (beyond
those already scheduled) in FY21, and advocated for expansion of the
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).
Wreaths Across America
Many officers wanted to volunteer for the annual Wreaths Across America event,
wearing their USPHS uniform. COA advocated on your behalf which resulted in
receiving permission from the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) to
participate in wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well
as at more than 2,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states and abroad.
Biden Administration Transition
After the election of President Joe Biden, COA advocated on your behalf with
his transition team to advocate for an increase in funding for the Commissioned
Corps to maintain readiness for public health emergencies, to fund the Ready
Reserve, to support personnel at CCHQ to maintain personnel readiness, medical
affairs, accession and retirement, assignments, transfers, promotions, and
separations. We asked for a dedicated budget line to replace the Service and
Supply Fund in the range of $50 million. We opposed any budget proposal to
shift Commissioned Corps retirement pay and survivors’ benefits costs from the
current mandatory indefinite structure to a discretionary structure or one that
charges agencies their share of these costs. We advocated for funds to develop
and institute leadership training opportunities for all officers, and asked
that when the time comes, to resume the practice of appointing the U.S. Surgeon
General from the ranks of the USPHS Commissioned Corps, in alignment with 42
U.S. Code 205. You can read the entire report here.
VA Center for Women Veterans Trailblazer Program
Due to COA’s advocacy, USPHS female veterans are now eligible to complete for
annual recognition as a VA Women Veteran Trailblazer. Previously, only
members of the Armed Forces were allowed to be nominated. COA met with the
Acting Center for Women Veterans Director, and in 2022 and beyond, these awards
will be open to both USPHS and NOAA female veterans.
Post-9/11 GI Bill
COA was vital to including PHS officers and their dependents as eligible for
the Post-9/11 GI Bill and transferability of those earned benefits. From 2008
through 2011, COA focused on convincing Congress and the Executive Branch to
include PHS officers in all GI Bill benefits, especially the provision
permitting them to transfer unused college educational benefits to dependents. COA continues to advocate for the USPHS Ready Reserve to be eligible for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
Disney Military Promotional Tickets
Because of COA efforts, Disney chose to include PHS and NOAA Corps officers as
eligible for its Disney Military Promotional Tickets. Click here for the Disney
website with additional information.
Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization
Commission (MCRMC)
In the very first sentence of its covering letter to the
President and the U.S. Congress, the Commission made clear that a modernized
system would include all Uniformed Services. Why is that a big deal? Because
the President, in announcing the Commission, had directed its members to
“consider the differences” between the armed services and the “other” uniformed
services, meaning USPHS and NOAA. To COA, that sounded like an invitation to
jettison both. And that would have been a devastating blow to both services,
exacerbating the parity issue beyond repair. COA worked hard to ensure all
services were at the table for any proposed changes to compensation and
retirement.
Social Security Military Wage Credits
Do PHS officers get this military entitlement? In response to a letter from
COA, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Retirement and Disability
Policy responded promptly and said yes. So, a benefit apparently unknown among
PHS officers is clearly theirs to claim. See the letter here.
Expanded Health Coverage for Autistic Children
From 2011 through 2014, COA fought to include PHS children in legislative
proposals that limited expanded coverage to the autistic children of Armed
Services personnel. We succeeded in doing that, and the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015 told TRICARE to either get it
done or explain to Congress why it couldn’t. TRICARE got it done, and PHS
children with autism now have equal access to evidence-based treatments.
Whistleblower Protections
In response to pleas from COA and outrage over FDA surveillance of agency
employees, Senator Charles Grassley led the successful effort to grant
whistleblower protections to PHS officers. It came in the form of reform
legislation known as the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation
Act.