The head of the Defense Health Agency and the services' surgeons general on Wednesday outlined their approaches to realigning the military health system, including changes that will have civilians providing the majority of care to beneficiaries and a slimmed-down uniform staff focusing primarily on operational medicine. Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, director of the Defense Health Agency, said that after assessing the operational medical needs of the military forces, the Defense Department will reduce uniformed medical positions and explore civilian options for providing care for 8 million non-military beneficiaries. Bono said the DHA, which also manages the Tricare program, is weighing options for replacing that care, including hiring civilians, using contract staff, entering into "military-civilian partnerships" or using existing Tricare networks. Read more on Military.com.
Services Turn Focus to Warfighters as DHA Takes Over Military Hospitals
