Defense Health Agency

Defense Health Agency
Agency name	Defense Health Agency
Formed	October 1, 2013
Jurisdiction	United States Department of Defense
Headquarters	Falls Church, Virginia
Chief1 name	Lieutenant General Telita Crosland
Chief1 position	Director
Parent agency	Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Website	health.mil

Defense Health Agency. The Defense Health Agency is a joint, integrated combat support agency responsible for administering the Military Health System. Established to achieve greater integration and efficiency across the United States Armed Forces, it provides shared health services and oversees the management of military treatment facilities. The agency's mission is to support a medically ready force and a ready medical force for the Department of Defense.

History

The agency was established on October 1, 2013, by direction of the Deputy Secretary of Defense as part of a broader reform of the Military Health System. This initiative was driven by recommendations from the Government Accountability Office and the Defense Business Board to consolidate redundant functions across the separate medical departments of the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force. Key legislative milestones, including provisions within the National Defense Authorization Act, have since expanded its authorities and scope. The transition involved integrating the former TRICARE Management Activity and assuming management responsibilities for all military hospitals and clinics from the individual service branches.

Organization

The agency is organized under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, who serves as the principal advisor on health matters to the Secretary of Defense. Its structure includes several directorates and centers, such as the National Capital Region-based Defense Health Headquarters and the TRICARE Health Plan office. It also oversees three core geographic markets: the National Capital Region, the Central Region, and the Pacific Region. Key subordinate organizations include the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and the Military Health System Headquarters.

Functions and responsibilities

Primary functions include the management and administration of the TRICARE health plan for over 9.5 million beneficiaries. The agency is responsible for developing and implementing shared clinical and business processes across all military treatment facilities to standardize care. It oversees the procurement and distribution of pharmaceuticals through the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and manages the Military Health System electronic health record, known as MHS GENESIS. Additional responsibilities include health information technology, medical logistics, and public health surveillance in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Military Health System

The agency serves as the lead component for the overarching Military Health System, which encompasses all worldwide medical and dental assets of the Department of Defense. This system includes the medical commands of the Army Medical Command, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, and Air Force Medical Service, which now focus primarily on operational medical readiness. The agency's role is to ensure these separate service medical components are supported by a common, efficient infrastructure for garrison healthcare, enabling them to prepare for deployments to locations like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Facilities and locations

The agency directly manages a vast network of military treatment facilities, including hospitals and clinics previously run by the individual services. Notable facilities under its administration include Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, and Naval Medical Center San Diego. Its headquarters is located in Falls Church, Virginia, within the National Capital Region. The agency's purview extends to facilities worldwide, supporting installations such as Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and Camp Humphreys in South Korea.

Leadership

The agency is led by a Director, a three-star flag officer who can be from any service branch, appointed by the Secretary of Defense upon the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. The first director was Lieutenant General Douglas Robb of the United States Air Force. The current director, as of 2023, is Lieutenant General Telita Crosland of the United States Army. The Director reports to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, a civilian position such as held by Dr. Lester Martínez-López.

Category:United States Department of Defense agencies Category:Military medicine of the United States Category:Healthcare in the United States