Report: Department of Defense organizes Defense Health Agency to streamline military healthcare

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — The Department of Defense has been working on consolidating its health systems under one roof — the Defense Health Agency — according to a Military Times report published Tuesday. 

Headed by Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas Robb, the organization was formed a little more than three months ago and "is supposed to make the military health system more efficient by standardizing medical practices and consolidating support services once run by the Army, Navy and Air Force and managing joint facilities in six major military medical regions," the report read. 

“Before you ask retirees or anyone to share the burden of rising health costs, you better get your house in order. And that’s what we’re doing, figuring out how we can best deliver care for the best value,” Robb said in a meeting with Military Times reporters and editors.

DHA was organized to take responsibility for common health services supporting operational forces, such as the Tricare health program and pharmacy benefits. It also was tasked with establishing and managing medical markets in parts of the country with high military populations and numerous military medical facilities. In these areas, medical facilities will be run under one manager leading a joint-service staff, according to the Military Times report.