Military Health System Reform
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DOD) administers a statutory health entitlement (under Chapter 55 of Title 10) through the Military Health System (MHS). The MHS offers health care benefits and services to approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries composed of servicemembers, military retirees, and family members. Health care services are available through DOD-operated hospitals and clinics known as military treatment facilities (MTFs)or through civilian health care providers participating in TRICARE. Currently, various DOD entities administer the MTFs and the TRICARE program. Those entities include the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and the military services medical departments (i.e., Army Medical Command, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, and Air Force Medical Service). In 2016, the conference report accompanying the NationalDefense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (H.Rept. 114-840) noted that the current organizational structure of the military health systemessentially three separate health systems each managed by three Servicesparalyzes rapid decision-making and stifles innovation in producing a modern health care delivery system that would better serve all beneficiaries. Subsequently, numerous reforms were directed in law. An overview of the contributing factors, reform mandate, and DODs implementation efforts are discussed below.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1169866
Entities
People
- Bryce H. Mendez
Organizations
- Library of Congress