U.S. Defense Health Agency now responsible for Military Health System

  • Published
  • By Kevan Goff-Parker, Staff Writer

 

72nd Medical Group Commander Col. Jennifer L. Trinkle said that the U.S. Defense Health Agency became officially responsible for the administration and management of healthcare at all military medical treatment facilities on Oct. 1.


“There is a lot of medical reform that is happening,” Trinkle said. “Medical, in of itself, is an expensive enterprise, and it’s a needed enterprise. Right now, the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army are standardizing.


“We’ve found the best way for us to save money is to standardize across the board.”


Trinkle said the DHA is the combat-support agency now leading the military health system’s integrated system of readiness and health in order to deliver what is described as the “Quadruple Aim — increased readiness, better health, better care and lower cost.”


“We, and I mean the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy medical, are about 10 percent of the Department of Defense’s budget, and that’s billions of dollars … a lot of money,” she said.


“In this day and age we have to look at how we are doing business to supply our patients with trusted care (and) good medicine, but also how we can supply a ready force to the combatant commanders.”


The transition was mandated by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to improve access to quality care for beneficiaries while enhancing readiness by redefining the roles of the military medical departments and the DHA, according to the DHA website.


“These changes were passed with the intent to create an integrated, efficient and effective system of readiness and health that better supports the lethality of the force. Each service, however, will remain responsible for operational mission support and readiness.”


Trinkle said the big picture for the DHA when looking at the Air Force is the many major commands it has and the MAJCOMs’ expenses.


“That’s really where you’re going to see some consolidation,” she said. “Each MAJCOM is staffed by a large contingent of people.”


She said the 72nd Medical Group is looking at better ways of doing business and to justify to Congress how taxpayers’ money is spent.


“So, that’s really what this whole thing is about,” she said. “We are trying to find better practices and ways of doing business; including changing our business plan by streamlining and combining processes.


“Will our patients see any change? No. Will there be changes to come? Absolutely.”


She said the 72nd Medical Group is re-working empanelments to right-size them. (Empanelments is the act of assigning individual patients to individual primary care providers and care teams with sensitivity to the patient and family preference). They are also working to find the right amount of patients the doctors see weekly. Patients can already use the option of either a face-to-face visit or possibly a virtual visit (phone call) with their physician.


“We are looking at our weekly schedules and times, and analyzing how to meet the acute needs of our patients,” Trinkle said. “We’re are offering re-enrollment of patients in the Family Practice Clinic to Tricare Network providers to assist in delivering Trusted Care.”


The DHA has begun what it describes as “Phase 1 of the transition, assuming the management and administration of hospitals and clinics at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida; Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina; Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, North Carolina and associated clinics.


“This is in addition to the facilities already under the DHA’s management and administration: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital and their associated clinics.”


For more information on the National Defense Authorization Act, visit https://www.congress.gov/bill/114-congress/senate-bill/2943/text.