Sen. Ossoff Announces Passage of NDAA Provision to Protect Military Servicemembers’ Health Care

Washington, D.C. - As the Trump Administration reportedly considers reductions at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff today announced passage of a new provision in the NDAA to protect health care for military servicemembers.

Sen. Ossoff announced the passage of a key provision in this year's National Defense Authorization Act that will help protect health care by increasing oversight over the Department of Defense's ability to modify or downsize military hospitals and clinics.

The provision will require the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Surgeon General of the relevant military department to review proposed changes to military treatment facilities to determine their impact on military readiness before changes can be made.

Additionally, the provision will require the Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to explain how servicemembers, families, and retirees would receive medical care if hospital cuts would affect their typical access to health care.

The NDAA became law last month.

This comes after Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry in November with the Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) requesting more information about reported plans to reduce services at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, which serves between 30,000 to 40,000 active-duty servicemembers, retired servicemembers, their families, and DoD civilians in and around the CSRA.

In response to Sen. Ossoff's inquiry, the Acting Director of the DHA told Sen. Ossoff, "It is premature for the DHA to address your detailed and thoughtful questions one by one."

"Any potential reductions in care at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center risks putting further strain on the Augusta Veterans Affairs Medical Center and surrounding hospitals in the region. This new provision will strengthen oversight to protect our servicemembers, their families, and veterans from potential hospital cuts that could risk their access to life-saving care," Sen. Ossoff said.

Click here to read the new provision in the NDAA (sec. 714).

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