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Improvements to Defense Health Agency

Division A · Title VII: Health Care Provisions · Subtitle B: Health Care Administration

Plain-language summaryAI

The section updates how the Defense Health Agency manages military medical treatment facilities, including expanding its responsibilities to civilian and contractor personnel and clarifying coordination with military commanders on medical care needs. It also defines the role of the Deputy Assistant Director for Financial Operations in overseeing budgeting for various health-related activities and requires regular budget consultations with military departments. Additionally, it defines "health care administration" to include areas like health IT, pharmacy, logistics, and TRICARE planning, and mandates submission of an organizational chart for the Defense Health Agency.

AI-generated from this section’s text — a quick orientation, not a substitute for the full text below. Not legal advice.

Section Text · Sec. 721.
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(a) Administration of military medical treatment facilities

Subsection (b) of section 1073c of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (H), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(B)

by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (J); and

(C)

by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following new subparagraph (I):

(I)

civilian personnel; and

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following new subparagraph:

(C)

to determine, in coordination with the senior military operational commander of each military installation with a military medical treatment facility, the scope of medical care provided at each such facility to meet—

(i)

the military personnel readiness requirements of such commander; and

(ii)

the health care requirements of members of the armed forces and covered beneficiaries, as determined by such commander;

(B)

in subparagraph (D), by striking or the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs ;

(C)

in subparagraph (F), by striking joint manning and inserting uniformed, joint, civilian, and contractor manning ;

(D)

by striking subparagraph (G);

(E)

by redesignating subparagraphs (H) and (I) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and

(F)

in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by inserting civilian and contractor after address .

(b) Assistant Director

Subsection (c)(1)(A) of such section is amended by inserting or an officer of the armed forces before the semicolon.

(c) Deputy Assistant Director for Financial Operations

Subparagraph (B) of subsection (d)(2) of such section is amended to read as follows:

(B)

The Deputy Assistant Director for Financial Operations shall be responsible for the policy, procedures, and direction of budgeting matters and financial management with respect to the following:

(i)

The provision of direct care at military medical treatment facilities.

(ii)

The TRICARE program.

(iii)

Certain medical readiness activities and expeditionary medical capabilities (as determined by the commanders of the combatant commands, in consultation with the Surgeons General of the armed forces and the Joint Staff Surgeon).

(iv)

Education and training programs.

(v)

Research, development, test, and evaluation.

(vi)

Management and headquarters activities.

(vii)

Facilities sustainment.

(viii)

Procurement.

(ix)

Civilian and contractor personnel.

(d) Certain Responsibilities of Director

Subsection (e)(2) of such section is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

by striking Ensuring that and inserting Coordinating with the commanders of the combatant commands to ensure ; and

(B)

by striking the commanders of the combatant commands. and inserting such commanders. ; and

(2)

in subparagraph (C)—

(A)

by striking Ensuring that and inserting Coordinating with the senior military operational commander of each military installation with a military medical treatment facility to ensure ; and

(B)

by striking the senior military operational commanders of the military installations. and inserting such commanders. .

(e) Consultations on the military health system budget

Subsection (h) of such section is amended—

(1)

in the heading, by striking medical research of military departments and inserting certain matters ;

(2)

by striking In establishing and inserting (1) In establishing ; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(2)

On a basis that is not less frequent than semiannually, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall carry out recurring consultations with each military department and the Surgeons General of each armed force regarding the budgetary requirements for each military department, including with respect to each matter specified in subsection (d)(2)(B).

(f) Definition of health care administration

Subsection (k) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4)

The term health care administration means the administration and management of the following:

(A)

Health information technology.

(B)

Pharmacy operations.

(C)

Medical logistics.

(D)

Facility planning.

(E)

The health plan options of the TRICARE program.

(g) Submission of organizational chart

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate an organizational chart of the Defense Health Agency, including an analysis of how the organization of the Defense Health Agency meets the requirements of section 1073c of title 10, United States Code.