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Air Force Surgeon General testifies at Defense Appropriations Hearing on MHS Governance

  • Published
WASHINGTON --  Note: The following transcript are remarks by Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Air Force Surgeon General, to the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense.

Transcript

Mr. Chairman, Representative Dicks, and esteemed members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the way ahead for the governance of the Military Health System (MHS). This is an important issue that is appropriately addressed jointly by all of us here today, as the stakes for our military mission and our beneficiaries are very high.

The MHS Governance Task Force recommendations are important because they represent the intense and informed deliberation of both line and medical professionals who were seeking the best solutions to maintain exceptional care to our service members while finding more effective and efficient ways to deliver that care. Efficiency and cost containment are best obtained through an agency construct. I applaud the 2012 NDAA language that requires thorough cost analysis and review by the GAO to ensure we have it right. I am confident that a comprehensive business-case analysis will support the conclusions and recommendations of the task force.

Today's military departments' oversight of medical assets created the most effective system for treatment of casualties with the lowest died-of-wounds rate and the lowest disease non-battle injury rates in history. Our highly capable and efficient expeditionary medical support platforms and aeromedical evacuation operations would not exist without the close alignment of our Air Force medics to Line of the Air Force operational missions. Deployed to our theater hospitals and supporting our AE system, Air Force medics have safely returned 93,000 U.S. casualties to their families from Iraq and Afghanistan. Every day our medics are saving the lives of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, civilians, coalition forces, friend and foe alike under the watchful eye of Air Force commanders.

Implementation of the task force recommendations will ensure the sustainment of this high level of mission success. It is imperative for the MHS to have a single financial accounting system to ensure transparency and promote trust and accountability between the Services. We believe that a more effective and efficient joint medical solution can be attained without the expense of establishing a unified medical command. The Services should - and will -- continue integrating common medical platforms to reduce redundancy and lower costs. The task force recommendations will move us quickly to a construct that curtails expenses and achieves savings to the greatest extent possible while meeting our mission.

In conclusion, the Air Force Medical Service remains committed to working with Health Affairs and our sister Services to ensure the MHS is organized in the most effective manner to provide quality health care to the military member and their families, while being good stewards of American taxpayer dollars. I thank you for your continued support.