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Military Health System

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Health Services Policy & Oversight

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight leads policy formulation and program oversight of the Military Health System clinical policies and programs and provides medical information, advice and consultation to senior Defense officials, Congress, other government agencies and stakeholders. Responsibilities cover a broad range of health policy issues and oversight for the MHS, which serves 9.5 million beneficiaries around the globe.

The HSP&O portfolio includes policy development and oversight of patient safety; quality improvement; medical informatics/health information technology; disease prevention; population health; mental health and substance use; women's health; medical ethics; graduate medical education; medical accession and retention standards; health professions accession, and wounded warrior care.

HSP&O collaborates with the Services, the Defense Health Agency and across the Department of Defense to ensure that the MHS accomplishes its mission and those in uniform are medically ready to deploy anywhere around the globe on a moment's notice and military medical professionals are also ready to be deployed with them.

Mission

America's MHS is a unique partnership of medical educators, medical researchers, and healthcare providers and their support personnel worldwide. It is prepared to respond anytime, anywhere with comprehensive medical capability to military operations, natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the globe, and to ensure delivery of world-class healthcare to all DOD service members, retirees, and their families. The MHS promotes a fit, healthy and protected force by reducing non-combat losses, optimizing healthy behavior and physical performance, and providing casualty care.

Vision

The integrated MHS delivers a coordinated continuum of preventive and curative services to eligible beneficiaries and is accountable for health outcomes while supporting the Services' warfighter requirements.

Areas of Responsibilities

Last Updated: September 23, 2024
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