“The Department of Defense announced plans to restructure 50 military hospitals and clinics to better support wartime readiness of military personnel and to improve clinical training for medical forces who deploy in support of combat operations around the world.”
“‘Military readiness includes making sure MTFs are operated to ensure service members are medically ready to train and deploy,’ said Tom McCaffery, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. ‘It also means MTFs are effectively utilized as platforms that enable our military medical personnel to acquire and maintain the clinical skills and experience that prepares them for deployment in support of combat operations around the world.’”
“The restructuring effort focused on strengthening on the prime responsibility of military medical facilities for training medical personnel and ‘for keeping combat forces healthy and ready to deploy according to readiness and mission requirements – all while ensuring the MHS provides our beneficiaries with access to quality health care,’ McCaffery added.”
“These plans were described and explained in a report sent to Congress earlier today, titled ‘Restructuring and Realignment of Military Medical Treatment Facilities.’ This report was required by law under Section 703(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, which directed the DoD to analyze its hospital and clinic footprint and submit a plan to Congressional defense committees.”
“Of the 343 facilities in the United States initially screened for this report, 77 were selected for additional assessment, with 21 identified for no changes.”
“Of the 50 facilities ultimately designated for restructuring, 37 outpatient clinics now open to all beneficiaries will eventually see primarily only active-duty personnel. Active-duty family members, retirees and their families who currently receive care at those facilities will transition over time to TRICARE’s civilian provider network. The report states that seven of these clinics may continue to enroll active duty family members on a space-available basis…” Read the full article here.
Source: DoD to restructure 50 hospitals, clinics to improve readiness – February 19, 2020. Military Health System.
