Max Answers!

Well, sort of.  I sent our senior senator an email complaining about the fact that Tricare costs are only going up for the uniformed members, but the unionized civilian DoD workers were being exempted from the cost increases because they support Obama.
Here is Max's answer:

Dear Steve:

Thank you for contacting me about the 2013 budget and military health care.  I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

The brave members of our military have served our nation courageously.  They have done everything we have asked of them and more.  An estimated 9.3 million Americans rely on TRICARE for their health care needs.  Active service members, military retirees, and their families deserve the best health care available, and I will continue to fight for our troops as they have fought for us.

I have long fought to increase military pay, and I have opposed cuts to military retirement and health benefits.  I opposed budget proposals in 2007, 2008, and 2009 that would have hiked TRICARE enrollment fees and co-pays.  I also supported provisions in each of these proposals to give our troops a pay raise.  I was proud to accept the "Award of Merit" from the Military Coalition for fighting to preserve quality health care and benefits for service members and veterans.  The Military Coalition represents 35 different military and veterans organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Air Force Association.

I have also supported legislation each year since 2003 to either reverse cuts in TRICARE physician reimbursement or to increase payments to doctors.  TRICARE physician payments are governed by a complex formula called the sustainable growth rate (SGR).  According to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the declining participation of providers due to low reimbursements is one of the most serious health care problems facing Medicare-eligible and military beneficiaries.  During my work in the Senate this year, I reached across the aisle to reverse a scheduled 27.4 percent reduction in TRICARE reimbursements to doctors.  This reduction would have severely threatened access to health care for Montana's military families.  While SGR initially produced positive updates for TRICARE beneficiaries, Congress has had to step in and act to reverse cuts caused by the SGR formula.

The U.S. military has the best, most professional, and most patriotic service members and veterans in the world, and Montana boasts one of the strongest commitments to military service in the nation.  I will continue to support and recognize our troops and veterans.  I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for their service.

Thanks again for getting in touch.  Please contact me in the future with any additional comments or concerns.  Also, please visit my website at http://baucus.senate.gov for more information on current issues and to find out what I'm doing both here in Washington and at home to help Montana.

    Sincerely,
      

 

Notice how he fails to address the purpose of my complaint, but instead spits out pablum that he expects me to embrace.  I am so sick and tired of all these damned phonies.  They need to be replaced.  All of them.