The Defense Health Agency is set to begin consolidating military healthcare services that previously operate within the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force in an effort to help the Pentagon manage rising costs, Military Times reported Monday.
Patricia Kime writes DHA was formed to centralize the Tricare health program, pharmacy operations, facilities planning, logistics, information technology and facility management functions in six military medical regions.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas Robb, DHA director, told Military Times the new agency could help the Pentagon save $1.4 billion from consolidating pharmacy work.
“Before you ask retirees or anyone to share the burden of rising health costs, you better get your house in order,†Robb said.
DHA aims to generate $2.4 billion in savings through 2019 by integrating military health shared services, Military Times reports.
The agency is also scheduled to start handling medical education, training, research and development, acquisition, budgeting and public health in July, according to the report.
Kime writes the agency is tasked with running medical facilities in areas such as Virginia’s Tidewater region; Washington, D.C.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; San Antonio, Texas; the Puget Sound region in Washington; and Hawaii.
