On Wednesday the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel met to discuss the future of military health care. Chairwoman Susan Davis (D-CA) expressed concern that TRICARE fee increases would cause beneficiaries to forego necessary treatment, worsening underlying conditions or making them untreatable.
Davis said, "Now is not the time to exacerbate existing long-term problems or create new ones with programs that provide only short-term relief." She was equally concerned with DoD's actions that have cut funding and staffing at the military treatment facilities (MTFs).
Ranking Member John McHugh (R-NY) said he was disappointed with DoD's budget request that included these fee hikes. He voiced his intention to oppose them. McHugh stated, "I must say that I am surprised that the
task force not only recommended similar fee increases but added an enrollment fee of $120 for TRICARE For Life beneficiaries."
He went on to say that he was particularly concerned, especially during a time of war, that the place to start fixing the cost problems is not on the backs of the beneficiaries. Dr. S. Ward Casscells, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, agreed that the goal should not be focused on beneficiaries leaving the TRICARE system because of fee hikes. He also felt it was important to maintain a healthy patient volume in the MTFs to ensure a high level of provider competence. When asked how he would build the military health system if he could start fresh, Dr. Casscells said that a new DoD healthcare group will focus specifically on that question.
