TVA Today:
Daily news for employees

Thursday, September 18, 2003

TVA Act Included As ‘Document That Shaped America’
The cover article in the Sept. 22 U.S. News includes the Tennessee Valley Authority Act as one of the “100 Documents That Shaped America.” The magazine examines 100 documents that most define America as a nation of ideas and ideals.

TVA was included in the 1901-1950 section, along with the Social Security Act, the United Nations Charter and the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Federal Income Tax.

Through The People’s Vote, U.S. News invites online readers to vote on which documents they think were the most influential in American history. Click here to see the magazine’s contents and find out how to vote. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/030922/home.htm.

IRS Approves Reimbursement of Over-the-Counter Drugs
The Internal Revenue Service issued a ruling earlier this month that allows healthcare flexible-spending accounts to provide reimbursement for over-the-counter drugs – that is, medicine that can be purchased without a physician’s prescription.

Such medications previously have not been reimbursable under the healthcare spending account available to TVA employees.

The IRS issued this ruling because so many medications formerly available only with physician prescriptions have now become available for over-the-counter purchase.

Examples of drugs covered, not covered
Examples of over-the-counter drugs that will be reimbursable include allergy medication, antacids, pain relievers and cold medications used to treat specific medical conditions.

Examples of over-the-counter drugs that will not be reimbursable are dietary supplements used to maintain general health, including vitamins.

Participants urged to save receipts until reimbursement process finalized
“This ruling was unexpected and is so recent that SHPS, TVA’s flexible-spending-account plan administrator, does not have the mechanisms in place to process these reimbursement requests immediately,” says Max Edwards, Employee Benefits. “We are working with SHPS to make this reimbursement available as quickly as possible, and will provide details to employees later.”

Important Note: The documentation requirements for reimbursement are unclear at this point, but spending-account participants who may later want to submit reimbursement requests are encouraged to save their itemized receipts (such as cash-register receipts) to substantiate the date of purchase, the name of the medicine and the purchase price.

Muscle Shoals CFC to Begin Sept. 29
The 2003 Muscle Shoals Area Combined Federal Campaign will start Sept. 29 and continue through Nov. 14. This year’s goal of $207,000 is the largest ever for the campaign. It represents an increase over the goal in last year’s CFC effort in Muscle Shoals.

Ron Williams and Gene Tackett will again co-chair the campaign. Williams is Vice President of Energy Research & Technology Applications and Acting Director of the Public Power Institute, and Tackett is Assistant Business Agent of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and President of the Shoals Area Central Labor Council.

“Federal employees, contractors and retirees in the Shoals area always have generously supported this worthy cause,” says Williams. “CFC-supported organizations provide many valuable services in our community and all across the nation. We’re looking forward to a new year of giving with our federal friends in Muscle Shoals.”

The CFC is held annually to give federal employees, contractors and retirees an opportunity to contribute to charitable, health and human-service organizations. The Muscle Shoals Area CFC covers Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties in North Alabama.

“Our members of the Central Labor Council and TVA employees are involved in many worthwhile community activities,” says Tackett. “And supporting the Combined Federal Campaign with their contributions is just another way they can help their community. We encourage everyone to participate.”

TVA is one of 22 federal agencies whose employees and retirees, along with employees of TVA partners, support the Muscle Shoals Area CFC.

Maintenance Work at Knoxville Live Well Set for Sept. 19-24
Corrective maintenance work on the Knoxville Live Well locker rooms and shower facilities for men and women is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19. The work should be completed by 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24.

All other Knoxville Live Well facilities, including the restrooms, will be open and available for use. Live Well appreciates the patience and cooperation of Live Well users during this period.