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Changes to military health system create efficiencies, improve care

  • Published
  • By Sue Campbell
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  A proposed new governance structure will make the military health system more effective, produce savings and improve beneficiaries' access to care.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter submitted a report to Congress March 2 describing the department's plan to further integrate health operations. The report recommends establishing a Defense Health Agency to absorb the functions of the TRICARE Management Activity and grant increased authority to directors of multiservice medical markets.

The objective of the reforms is to realize savings through the adoption of common clinical and business processes and the consolidation and standardization of various shared services. The plan specifically cites the success of the cross-Service market management model exemplified by the San Antonio Military Health System and advocates that SAMHS be allowed to continue to exist and be improved upon.

"We're excited about this plan as it takes the SAMHS concept to a higher level, establishing greater opportunities to manage and allocate the budget for the market, direct the adoption of common clinical and business functions and direct the movement of workload and workforce between Air Force and Army medical treatment facilities in the San Antonio area," Air Force Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, JBSA-Lackland's 59th Medical Wing commander and SAMHS director, said. "The final outcome will be increased efficiencies as we continue to provide high-quality, patient-centered care."

SAMHS was established in September to oversee the healthcare delivery of 230,000 Department of Defense beneficiaries in the San Antonio metropolitan region. Healthcare services are provided by the San Antonio Military Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center and DoD's largest inpatient hospital; Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, the DoD's largest outpatient ambulatory surgery center; 19 primary care clinics and more than 100 specialty services. The SAMHS military treatment facilities manage a total combined budget of over $839 million and contribute more than $138 million annually in inpatient/outpatient private sector care expenses.

"SAMHS partners two outstanding organizations with proud histories and cultures. However, despite our differences, our objectives are the same: high-quality patient care, readiness, graduate medical education and research," Army Maj. Gen. M. Ted Wong, Brooke Army Medical Center Commanding General and SAMHS deputy director, said. "Our challenge is to figure out the best way to meet these objectives."

A full copy of the DoD report can be viewed at www.health.mil/2012_MHS_Governance_Report.aspx.