File:Defense Health Program (House Armed Services Committee 2007) (IA 07555C3STATEMENTHASCMPSGMilHealthCareFinal).pdf

Statement of Vice Admiral Donald C. Arthur, Surgeon General of the Navy Before the Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the House Armed Services Committee.

"Navy Medicine remains steadfast in its commitment to provide care on the battlefield and meet the health care needs of our beneficiaries, active duty, reservists, military retirees, and family members, as our nation continues to be engaged in combat operations fighting the Global War on Terror (GWOT).

Our first step in caring for the warfighter is to make sure they are physically and mentally prepared to consider whatever mission they are asked to complete. We are dedicated to maintaining a healthy and fit force that is ready to deploy and to deploying medical personnel ready to provide the best health care to our warfighter on the battlefield. And when that is not enough, we are committed to restoring the health of those injured on the battlefield, whenever possible, through the full continuum of care until they have healed from their wounds.

At the same time, we are responsible for ensuring access to world-class health care for all eligible beneficiaries. Meeting these two missions are an exceptional team of military, active and reserve, and civilian health care professionals who perform their duties with the same enthusiasm in deployed settings as well as at our medical treatment facilities (MTF)s.

Defense Health Program and Navy Medicine Budget for Fiscal Year 2008

"In recent years, Navy Medicine faced many fiscal challenges and anticipates that some will continue throughout fiscal year 2008. Fiscal year 2008 provides funding challenges in that the efficiency wedge increases and certain assumptions regarding savings opportunities may not be borne out in execution. These reductions represent leadership and management challenges, which we must meet. We are vigorously integrating these fiscal challenges, and our military to civilian conversion requirements, into an ongoing business process review that is designed to make Navy Medicine an efficient, effective health care provider.

As you know, the Department of Defense faces tremendous difficulty with balancing the growing costs and long-term sustainability of the Military Health System. We will need to consider all options available to ensure a superior benefit remains available for the long term. I look forward to hearing the recommendations from the recently-established Department of Defense Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care – a group made up of distinguished members from within the Department, other federal agencies, and the civilian sector."