Call Letter Sounds Familiar Themes
OPM has issued its annual “call letter” telling FEHB carriers what changes it is seeking in the program in the …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersPrescription Drugs Remain a Focus
On prescription drugs, OPM noted that carriers in general now have programs to control costs such as requirements for additional …More
Coordination with Medicare also Stressed
OPM also wants carriers to expand their coordination of FEHB with Medicare Part B (physician services and related costs), for …More
Expert’s View: What’s Up on the Hill
Numerous bills are pending in Congress that would either benefit or harm federal employees and retirees, but proposing a bill …More
TSP Funds May Change, but Likely Not Soon
The TSP is considering several changes to its lifecycle L funds, which create a mix of the underlying stock, bond …More
Per Diem Rates Holding Steady
GSA has announced that a mid-fiscal year review of federal per diem rates resulted in only one change from the …More
FEHB Guidance Upcoming
OPM is expected to issue late next week its annual “call letter,” in which it outlines the coverage features it …More
FEHB Ideas in Budget Stalled Previously
The Obama administration recent budget contained several proposals on the FEHB program that would require approval of Congress. However, no …More
Variable Premiums Idea Leaves Many Questions
Yet another proposal would allow carriers to charge higher premiums for enrollees who use tobacco or who do not participate …More
Expert’s View: FEHB Self Plus One Revisited
Having to wait more than another year to get self plus one coverage operating in the FEHB leaves time to …More
Security ClearanceReforms Planned
The White House has announced numerous planned reforms in the way the government grants and renews security clearances, which are …More
Reforms Also Pending in Congress
The security clearance policy in some ways mirrors ideas already proposed in Congress. For example, several Democratic senators recently introduced …More
TSP, Whistleblower Bills Advance
Several bills have advanced through the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, including one (HR-4197) that would extend by three …More
MSPB Gauges Impact of Furlough Appeals
MSPB’s recent budgetary request for fiscal 2015 shows the impact of furlough appeals filed after budgetary sequestration in 2013 that …More
Overtime Change Could Have Little Impact
The Obama administration’s effort to make more workers eligible for overtime pay likely will affect relatively few people in the …More
Sequester Impact on Workforce Tallied
GAO has reported that during budgetary sequestration last year finding that 20 of 22 departments and large independent agencies it …More
Budget’s Personnel Provisions Detailed
The Obama administration has issued additional details of its budget plans unveiled last week, projecting that the federal workforce would …More
Congress Could Split on Next Budget Moves
With the White House budget plan now formally on the table, it’s uncertain how Congress will proceed. Under budget rules, …More
Pay Raise Could Fly Under Radar Again
The House budget outline could provide an early indication of the outcome of the 2015 federal employee raise, for which …More
Boosting Raise Would Be Tall Order
Sweetening the 1 percent recommended raise would be a tall order although not impossible, especially since the increase again is …More
Expert’s View: Will a Buyout Offer Turn Your Head?
The whole purpose of buyouts is to avoid involuntary separations resulting from RIFs, reorganizations, and transfers-of-function, writes benefits expert Reg …More
FSA Grace Period Reminder
Federal employees who had flexible spending accounts last year and who did not spend down all the money in those …More
Cost, Value of Executive Training Called Uncertain
GAO recently examined training programs for senior federal executives, finding that information is incomplete regarding how much agencies spend on …More
Budget Contains Few Surprises
The administration’s budget proposal unveiled yesterday contains relatively few surprises for federal employees, since administration officials had announced many of …More
Chained CPI Not in Budget but Is on Table
Unlike past Obama administration budgets, the document does not call for switching to the “chained” consumer price index to annually …More
FEHB, FECA Proposals Repeated
The budget also repeats several prior proposals related to FEHB, including: using a centralized system for purchasing prescription drugs in …More
Emphasis on Training Planned
The budget also seeks better coordination among agencies of training programs, sharing of best training practices, and increasing leadership development …More
Expert’s View: Is a Deferred Annuity the Way to Go?
If you have five or more years of creditable civilian service, and don’t take a refund of your retirement contributions …More
OPM Issues Guidance on Restored Annual Leave
OPM has issued updated guidance on situations in which agencies may restore “use or lose” annual leave to federal employees …More
TSP Warms Up in February
After a generally down January, TSP funds turned in positive returns in February, led by the international stock I fund, …More
