Single-payer healthcare system ripples MHS beneficiaries’ demands – mil medical force key to readiness

[Terri, Carrie, “The US Military Health System: Promoting Readiness And Providing Health Care,” Health Affairs vol 38, no. 8: Military Health Systems, August 2019, https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00239, accessed June 19, 2023, GDS-LL]

*MHS – Military Health System

Issues On The Horizon

Change has been a constant for the MHS. Over the past decade, for example, there has been increased demand for resource sharing with the VA.14 While the two agencies have worked collaboratively to provide “seamless” care for patients throughout their histories, they have had varying levels of success. Efforts to share facilities, implement interoperable electronic health records (EHRs), collaborate on training opportunities for providers, and increase information sharing have faced challenges. However, the demand for resource sharing is expected to continue, as the VA has announced plans to move to the same EHR contractor that the MHS uses.28 Congress has also called for increased partnerships among federal agencies to identify opportunities to improve medical readiness—specifically, to explore options for civilian patients to be treated within military treatment facilities.

Throughout its history, the MHS has had to evolve to meet its critical readiness mission.

Throughout its history, the MHS has had to evolve to meet its critical readiness mission. As Congress continues to address how the MHS ensures a ready medical force, any new demand to deploy medical forces for future wars will necessarily require the MHS to shift even more of its care to the purchased care system. This will dramatically affect the nature and volume of care (and thus its costs to the nation), as well as beneficiaries’ experiences with such care.

Finally, as changes are considered for the broader US health care system, there will likely be ripple effects for the MHS. It will be important for the MHS to be mindful of how the potential impact of future policies (for example, additional policy changes for Medicare and Medicaid, new standards for access and quality, or a change to a single-payer system) might shift demand for care among MHS beneficiaries.14,29 Just as the MHS continues to lead in innovation for the treatment of war-related injuries, it will also need to lead as a learning organization in adapting to a rapidly changing policy environment.19,27