Lessons for Healthcare Reform from the Military Health System
Presenter Biography
Amy Jones is a MD/MPH student interested in health policy, equity, and healthcare reform. A former student co-chair for the Oregon Medical Association, she now serves as a member of the Legislative and Gender Equity Committees. Amy was a member of the leadership team for the Med22 Structural Competency Program and now serves on the program's advisory committee.
Program/Major
MD/MPH Epidemiology
Student Level
MD/MPH
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-7-2020 5:10 PM
End Date
4-7-2020 5:15 PM
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33747
Subjects
Military Health System (MHS), Healthcare system reform, Insurance, Cost, Equity, Universal coverage
Abstract
The military health system (MHS) covers all three military branches (Air Force, Army, Navy), and is separate from the VA health system. Beneficiaries of the system include active duty personnel and their families, retirees and their families, and reservists and their families. This population receives coverage through Tricare and relies on care from Military Treatment Facilities and civilian providers. In 2013 the MHS began major system reform and was ultimately able to increase efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining equity through universal coverage. The following lessons learned can be applied to multiple segments of the U.S. Healthcare system: need for an external change agent, need for a system “integrator,” purposeful restructuring of existing infrastructure, elimination of administrative redundancy, improved interoperability of electronic health records, and simplified patient options and payment plans to streamline care.
Lessons for Healthcare Reform from the Military Health System
The military health system (MHS) covers all three military branches (Air Force, Army, Navy), and is separate from the VA health system. Beneficiaries of the system include active duty personnel and their families, retirees and their families, and reservists and their families. This population receives coverage through Tricare and relies on care from Military Treatment Facilities and civilian providers. In 2013 the MHS began major system reform and was ultimately able to increase efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining equity through universal coverage. The following lessons learned can be applied to multiple segments of the U.S. Healthcare system: need for an external change agent, need for a system “integrator,” purposeful restructuring of existing infrastructure, elimination of administrative redundancy, improved interoperability of electronic health records, and simplified patient options and payment plans to streamline care.
