Merging VA and Tricare health services

White House officials looking into merging VA and Tricare health services
By: Leo Shane III ? 3 days ago

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers and veterans advocates are demanding more details of a secret White House plan to merge parts of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military’s Tricare health system in an effort to trim billions in federal medical bills.

But VA Secretary David Shulkin insists there is no underhanded effort to sneak through major reforms, and that the work thus far amounts to brainstorming about ways to make veterans care more efficient.

“In no way should this be interpreted as privatizing or taking down the VA system,” he said in an interview with Military Times. “This is nothing more than good business discussions.”

At issue is a proposal, first made public by the Associated Press Friday, that would combine aspects of the Veterans Health Administration and Tricare, the military’s health care program for troops, families and retirees.

<more>

https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2017/11/17/white-house-officials-looking-into-merging-va-and-tricare-health-services/