President

Meeting: 15 April 2005 (Friday) at the Mid-America Cancer Center, 2055 S. Fremont, Springfield, MO. We will meet upstairs on the second floor. Both the entrance and the meeting room are wheel chair accessible. Parking will be on the east side, in front of the building. Please try to attend and bring a friend. We have booked the room stating 50 will attend.

Social Hour: 1830 hrs. A cash bar will be provided.

Dinner: 1900 hrs. Dinner Menu: Cordon Bleau, Popcorn shrimp, twice baked potato casserole, buttered carrots, spiced apples; tossed salad; dinner rolls; beverage and sugar and non-sugar desserts (assorted pies, puddings and cakes).

Cost and Reservations: $8.50 per person. Please make your reservations by TELEPHONE (417.286.4816 or 573.329.8537), or by Email: meyerh@battelle.org

President’s Message: The March meeting brought both old and new faces to our meeting. As usual, the menu was excellent and well received by the 50 plus members and wives. Charlie Denison, the State Representative for the 135^th District was scheduled to be our guest speaker this month. Charlie will be unable to attend the meeting, so the program at this point is TBD. We are still expecting Ralph Manley to speak at our May meeting.

Did You Know? For more than a year, the Defense Department has been developing procedures to implement new prescription rules, including the establishment of a "non-formulary" category of drugs for which beneficiaries would pay a $22 copay. Currently TRICARE drug copays are $3 for generics and $9 for brand-name drugs.

DoD panels have identified the first two drugs for which the higher copayment will be charged: Nexium (a medication for ulcers and other stomach problems) and Teveten (for high blood pressure).

“Non-formulary” drugs would be available at the regular $9 copay only under special circumstances.

The program won't be final until the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs makes a final decision on recommendations from the Beneficiary Advisory Panel and a separate Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of health professionals.

The timing of the change and rules for applying the new copay structure will not be made public until that time, so the contractor (Express Scripts, Inc) can't answer any questions about the program yet. After the Secretary acts, beneficiaries will be able to get more information on these issues from Express Scripts customer service at 1-866-363-8779 or http://moaaonline.org/ct/Udq-i551emLV/TRRX.

In the meantime, you can learn more about the changes waiting in the wings by checking: http://moaaonline.org/ct/Epq-i551emLK/Pharmacy/ or http://moaaonline.org/ct/U1q-i551emLZ/BAP. The Express Scripts customer service line is open for all other inquires at 1-866-363-8779.

Chapter Officers for 2005:

President

MAJ (Ret) James C. Echols, USAF

1964 E. Vincent

Springfield, MO 65804

(417) 882-4724

E-mail jcechols1@mchsi.com

Vice President

CDR (Ret) Dave Reed, USN

7272 N. FR 191

Fair Grove, MO 65648

(417) 833-2795

E-mail jdreedx2@cland.net

Secretary/Treasurer

COL (Ret) Henry Meyer, USA

PO Box 1140

Lebanon, MO 65536

(417) 286-4816

E-mail meyerh@battelle.org

Asst Secretary/Treasurer

VACANT

You may submit your dues for 2005 by sending a check to our PO Box or by bringing it to the next meeting.

Regular Membership: $15.00

Ladies Auxiliary: $5.00 (Voluntary Donation)