Ted Budd Questions Military Health System Experts on Logistics and Innovation

Addressing Immediate Logistical Constraints

• 📌 Medical feasibility assessments should be conducted whenever operations are contemplated or plans are updated, similar to logistics feasibility assessments.
• 💡 This ensures combatant commanders are informed about the medical capabilities and limitations for operations.

Leveraging Medical Innovation and Industry Partnerships

• 🤝 The military health system needs to partner with industry for equipment, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare delivery, analogous to the Civilian Reserve Air Fleet for logistics.
• 🏥 A codified system is needed for healthcare partnerships, ensuring commitment and clear reimbursement, unlike the current voluntary National Disaster Medical System (NDMS).
• 💰 The cost of displacing care and increasing hospital costs due to casualty evacuations must be built into supplemental planning for future operations.

Role and Retention of Physician Extenders

• 🩺 Physician extenders, such as nurses, PAs, and NPs, are crucial for medical readiness and caring for the majority of service members' needs, not just wartime specialties.
• ⚠️ Challenges to retention exist, and these extenders must have opportunities to practice at the top of their capabilities, maintaining proficiency and currency.
• 📝 Suggested legislative language for codifying healthcare partnerships was provided for review.