washingtonscene

families would pay up to four times more in health care costs. According to Army Surgeon Gen-

eral Patricia Horoho, TRICARE Choice “would negatively impact the readiness of our entire health care team and pres- ent financial challenges for active duty families and retirees.” Having TRICARE compete with the

private sector “would drive up administra- tive costs and significantly detract from the operational mission of our medical facilities,” said Air Force Surgeon General Mark Ediger. “It is critical to understand that our

Army Surgeon General Patricia Horoho

direct health care system connects with the battlefield and exists to provide health readiness to our soldiers and their families,” Horoho said. “This is what separates us from the civilian health care system.”

This message echoes what MOAA

President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret), told lawmakers in February. He said problems with TRICARE “can be addressed in a systemic manner without resorting to its elimination.” The surgeons general also rejected the

Surgeon General Mark Ediger

Air Force

creation of a new Joint Readiness Com- mand, saying current and existing reforms are providing the desired changes. The sur- geons general said the recent establishment of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) aims to standardize common or shared services between the three military medical com- mands, such as a joint health information and technology service. MOAA agrees and consistently has said

the largest barrier to an efficient and high- ly reliable health care organization is the three-service system. Instead of creating a far-reaching command tasked with han- dling the entire scope of joint readiness, MOAA suggests building on the current DHA structure and establishing a unified medical command with a single budget

38 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2015

authority, one that can reduce redundan- cies and produce cost savings. MOAA appreciates the time Congress is taking to analyze the MCRMC health care proposals and supports initiatives that strengthen TRICARE for beneficiaries and sustain military medical readiness. At the conclusion of the testimony, Rep.

Joe Heck (R-Nev.) emphasized Congress’ desire to improve TRICARE, saying they “look forward to continuing to work … to make TRICARE the premier health care provider in the nation.”

Maternity Leave

Extended Navy and Air Force policies highlight inconsistencies.

I

n a bold move, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus recently tripled the amount of maternity leave available for women in

the Navy and the Marine Corps. The new policy extends maternity leave from six weeks to 18 weeks. Under the new policy, any Navy or

Marine Corps servicemember who took convalescent leave following the birth of a child since the first of the year is eligible for the full benefit. The 18 weeks of leave are available to use any time within the first year of the child’s birth, and the poli- cy is effective immediately. The services have been trying to become

more family-friendly by looking at making military service easier on families. When questioned on the Navy’s new pol-

icy, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter backed the changes, saying, “We’ve got to keep thinking, sensing, and adjusting and not just living with old regulations that harken back to a different era.” Following Mabus’ announcement, the Air Force announced it will provide a one-