October 14 - Columbus Day

Shipmates Reports to Final Duty Station:

A ceremony for Steve Avens will be held Wed. 9/11/19 at the VFW at 11:00. Guests are requested to remain quietly in the bar section pending the completion of a VFW meeting

Thank you to those who attended the moving and beautiful services performed by the VFW and FRA, yesterday. The services were a fitting farewell to a great man, brother, friend and shipmate. It was also observed that in attendance beside his family and friends, 8 past or present Commanders/ Directors of the service assistance organizations in Subic were in attendance, befitting of AECS Avens service to our country.

American Citizen Emergency Reaction Team (ACERT):

As previously announced, the RAO is assembling a team of member volunteers from the major cities and fair reaching areas of Zambales, Bataan and SBMA to assists the embassy liasions in fulfilling their charge of providing assistance to our citizens when it comes to emergencies and help in embassy matters. Although not fully assembled, yesterday events provided a test of that program. Liasons were engulfed in the Quagmire called Subic Bay Traffic and were unable to respond rapidly an ACERT Team member in the subject city was contacted and was able to respond and provide the information and assistance needed, and the embassy and other affected agencies were quickly notified. We are still accepting volunteers for these positions.

Don't Play With Your Meat, Prepare It Thoroughly:

Philippine authorities have issued a warning regarding preparation of pork, based on an as of yet identified swine disease. Which may pose a risk to humans if the pork is not thoroughly cooked, many pigs have been culled as a result of the disease.

SPECIAL SOCIAL SECURITY OUTREACH

Change to yesterdays newsletter, the VA RO WILL BE JOINING THE SSA OUTREACH on September 19. The VA clinic and VOC REHAB will not be attending. In the event that we receive additional information we will propagate it immediately as always. The VA clinic has decided to join the party on the 19th, they will have a nurse and Social worker on hand. They will be able to receive claims , give shots and assist in scheduling appointments.

United States Embassy Manila, Philippines

Message for U.S. Citizens: Social Security Administration Outreach in Olongapo City on September 19, 2019 and in Angeles City on September 20, 2019

U.S. Embassy representatives from the Social Security Administration (SSA) will conduct outreach visits in Olongapo City on September 19 and in Angeles City on September 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. SSA will provide the following services:

Discuss basic entitlement requirements for the different types of Social Security benefits.

Develop benefit claims. Retirement and Disability applications can be done online at www.ssa.gov and do not require an interview.

Process Social Security number applications.

Resolve post-entitlement cases (e.g., change of address, report of death, Medicare enrollments, direct deposit enrollment, non-receipt of benefits, etc.)

To expedite your visit, please bring both original and photocopies of documents that you need to submit to SSA. The SSA representative will keep the photocopies and return the original documents to you. COPYING SERVICES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THIS OUTREACH.

Please note that only representatives from the Social Security Administration will be present at these two outreach events. SS staff will be unable to answer questions regarding services from American Citizen Services (ACS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or the Department of Homeland Security - Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS-USCIS).

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON A REGULAR EMBASSY OUTREACH AT THIS TIME

AA meetings are held Mon-Friday at RAO 12:00-13:00

HELP WITH "MY PAY" OR "EBENEFITS"

For those who may have trouble logging onto either of these programs, come by and we can assist

VSO REMINDER

Reminder that VSO Verville is available by appt every Wed at the RAO, and beginning 24 Sept, VSO Houston will be available each Thursday by appt or walk-in

PARKING ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY TODAY

Baretto Barangay Capt. Angelito Baloy has advised that today (September 12th) there will be a clearing of National Highway. Read that no parking, or you will be ticketed and or towed, please pass the word. Thanks

LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES

A little while back we mailed the cremated remains of a veteran to his family in the states and although the package was carefully packed and no previous problems, the urn arrived in pieces and the ashes were all over the place. Somewhere along the mailing chain, the box was mishandled severely. When I received news of the calamity, I vowed not to have another family undergo that experience. Below you will see how well we learn. The urn on the left is made of marble and is sturdy if some element of care is used. The right side is the new Urns we will use for ALL future returns of our guys to their loved ones.

GREAT NEWS!
Its official, as of today 16 August 2018, Ace/Baypointe is authorized to accept Tricare patients under the Preferred Provider category. You will have to check with the HMO office to ensure your Dr. is also on the Preferred Provider list. There are currently 31 Dr's who are, but check to be sure or you will have to pay the Dr's fees.

And oh by the way, please resist the urge to repeat the bad news bears (you know the ones who have their names stenciled on the back of their bar stool) who are spreading rumors about ACE BAYPOINTE and Medical City Clark suspending FMP due to non payment. IT DIDNT HAPPEN! Medical city Ortigas did due to non payment by FMP. Come to find out they gave FMP the wrong mailing address to which FMP mailed the payments. All is fixed now and they have withdrawn the suspension.Â

Old saying better to be quiet and be thought a fool, than opening mouth and leave no doubt.

I have taken the opportunity to compile a list of what Drs, and Specialties AT ACE BAYPOINTE, to the best of my knowledge are also certified as preferred providers. The hospital is in the process of adding to this list. As you all are aware this list changes without notice, so before getting treatment it would be to your benefit to check with the hospital HMO office to ensure the Dr you will receive treatment from is in fact still certified as preferred. The HMO can be reached at 047-250-6070 ext 283 or 507.

Name Name	Specialization Specialization	Gender Gender
Ablang, Alberto Mariano, MD	Pediatrics, Critical Care	Male
Ablang, Marietta, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Female
Aguila, Beverly, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Female
Aguila, Beverly, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Female
Aguilar, Rodrigo	Gastronology/Int Med	Male
Alconga, Rudy	Pediatrics	Male
Bernal, Gerald, MD	Internal Medicine, Cardiology	Male
Bongco, Jesusa	Anesthesiology	Female
Bongco, Rosario	Endocrinology	Male
Bustamante, Rodrick	Anesthesiology	Male
Calapatia, David, MD	Family Medicine	Male
Cepeda, Armando, MD	Surgery, General	Male
Cepeda, Monette, MD	Neurology	Female
De Castro, Felicisimo, MD	Ophthalmology	Male
De Castro, Ma. Gloria, MD	Obstetrics & Gynecology	Female
Dela Cruz, Anthony, MD	Internal Medicine, Diabetology; Occupational Health	Male
Dela Paz, Emmanuel, MD	Orthopedics	Male
DeLeon, Roberto	Gen Surgery	Male
Edejer, Karl Erjon, MD	Anesthesiology	Male
Guevara, Luis, MD	Radiology	Male
Hipolito, Charina	Internal Medicine, Pulmonology	Female
Mallari, Lourdes	ENT Ear, Nose,Throat	Female
Mangahas, Rolan	Opthamology	Male
Manuel, Jesse Jewel, MD	Surgery, Orthopedic	Male
Mendoza, Arturo, Jr., MD	Surgery, General (Laparoscopic)	Male
Ocampo, Armida, MD	Internal Medicine, Pulmonology	Female
Pasqual, Jeanette	Orthopedics	Male
Rojo, Margaret, MD	Anesthesiology	Female
Santos, Wilfredo, MD	Surgery, General ; Surgery, Oncology	Male
Soriano, Maria Agnes, MD	Internal Medicine, Diabetology	Female
Tablan, Apolonario Jr	Urology	Male
Velchez, Carlos	Hematology/Int Med	Male
Hipolito, Charina	Internal Medicine, Pulmonology	Female
Villareal, Paolo, MD	Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology	Male

FMP/Tricare

We continue to see vets who are receiving EOB's and checks for treatment at Medical City and Baypointe (ACE). Please be aware you should not cash these checks. They should be given to the hospitals. Should you cash the check a few things can happen, 1st FMP or Tricare may demand repayment, if you don't they can notify the IRS and either a garnishment or 1099 will be received and they get their money in the end possibly including interest. It can also be placed on your credit report. Secondly, you may be refused future treatment at the hospitals as you have an outstanding balance. Worst of all we may lose the hospitals as providers for FMP or Tricare. Sure wouldn't want to be the guy who causes all your fellow vets to lose that, they might be a little pissed when they find out it was you! You know how quickly word spreads around here!

Videos

Just want to draw your attention to some very useful videos being offered for free through va by psycharmor. View their catalog at https://psycharmor.Org/course s/s-a-v-e/.

Urgent Update: Reimbursment Checks:

It appears there is a malfunction with both TRICARE and FMP regarding reimbursement checks. They incorrectly recently have been sending the checks to the veteran vice the provider. Both have been notified this is the incorrect way to handle these checks! If you receive a check for a claim that was filed by the Hospital, please do not cash it. The hospitals participation was negotiated so that the hospital would receive payment. If they do not we will lose their services. The payment must be taken to the hospital and signed over to them to be encashed.

Special thank you to police station 6 Barrio Baretto for notification of recently deceased American Citizen! Their handling of situation was extremely professional, thanks SPO De Leon.