Pentagon health officials said the federal government’s partial shutdown would likely have some impact on the delivery of health care services at US military hospitals and clinics. “Inpatient, acute, and emergency outpatient care in our medical and dental facilities will continue, as will private sector care under Tricare,” states an Oct. 1 Defense Health Agency release. However, local hospital and clinic commanders will need to implement adjustments to medical services so that the quality of care and safety of patients remain intact, according to the release. There might be delays for patients scheduling new routine appointments, for example. There should be “little or no effect” for Tricare beneficiaries using providers in the private sector, states the release.
Gas is king in the vast expanse of the Pacific. And as the Pentagon has sought to build up its capability to deter China, the Department of Defense has undergone a major rethink about how to get fuel to the region. At the heart of the effort is the U.S. Transportation…