And the Conclusion Is: According to Pentagon health affairs chief William Winkenwerder Jr., the work DOD has done with lawmakers on the Tricare fee issue has led to some conclusions: 1) Everyone agrees there is a “serious problem” with health care costs within DOD; and 2) everyone agrees that changes must be made to the pharmacy co-payment system. So far, that is the extent of the “everyone agrees.” The central issue—the Pentagon plan to raise Tricare fees for military retirees over age 65—still is under discussion.
The Department of the Air Force will be taking over the Pentagon’s prototype Joint Fires Network, or JFN, as it transitions to a fully fledged program of record, program executive officer for command, control, communications, and battle management Maj. Gen. Luke C.G. Cropsey told reporters Sept. 18.