Defense Health Care: Operational Difficulties and System Uncertainties Pose Continuing Challenges for TRICARE

Abstract

We are pleased to be here today to discuss the status of the Department of Defenses (DOD) implementation of its managed care program called TRICARE. Following years of demonstration programs that tested alternative health care delivery mechanisms, DOD began completelyrestructuring its system into TRICARE in 1993. TRICARE represents a redesign of DODs $15.5 billion health care system and is being implemented to improve beneficiaries access to health care while maintaining quality and controlling costs in a time of military downsizingand budgetary concerns. Under TRICARE, health care for over 8.2 million eligible beneficiaries s coordinated and managed on a regional basis using military hospitals and clinics, supplemented by contracted civilian services.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 26, 1998
Accession Number
AD1105667

Entities

People

  • Stephen P. Backhus

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Delivery Of Health Care
  • Department Of Defense
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Hospitals
  • Military Medicine
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Physicians
  • Procurement
  • Public Health
  • Therapy

Fields of Study

  • Medicine
  • Political science

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Medical or Health Care Field.