“The Army Secretary wants the service to temporarily stop transferring its medical facilities to the Defense Health Agency, and is asking Congress to allow the Army to keep its public health and research arms.”
“In an internal Army memo, obtained by Federal News Network, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy states he is ‘concerned about the lack of performance and planning of both the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Defense Department Health Affairs with respect to the military treatment facilities (MTFs) transition.’”
“McCarthy wants to halt the transition until a detailed budget strategy and plan to transfer functions from the services is delivered…”
“The military services were mandated by Congress in 2017 to transfer their health facilities to DHA over four years. Half of service-run MTFs in the United States are already in DHA hands. However, McCarthy’s Dec. 20, 2019 memo states DHA ‘failed to provide a clear plan forward with respect to policy and budget.’”
“’Like all mergers it’s about pacing,’ McCarthy told reporters Wednesday at a Defense Writers Group event in Washington. ‘You are bringing thousands of people and functions to one organization. Like all mergers and acquisitions there are cultural dynamics, there are synergies you try to achieve and if you do it too fast you’re going to make a mess. This is the healthcare of our soldiers and their families…’”
“McCarthy’s memo also states the service would like to repeal the current law transferring the Army Public Health and Army Medical Research and Materiel Command [MRMC] to DHA…” Read the full article here.
Source: Internal memo shows Army wants to halt MTF transfers to DHA – By Scott Maucione, January 17, 2020. Federal News Network.
