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Navy chief says military health care delivers on promise
Adm. Vernon Clark, chief of naval operations, told attendees of the annual Tricare conference in Washington Monday that today's troops want fair pay, good housing--and quality medical care. That last item, he told hundreds of military and civilian healthcare professionals, is a "covenant," a promise, made between leaders and the rank-and-file.
In that respect, Tricare, the Defense Department's managed care health plan, has made "truly, truly remarkable" gains in the past few years, Clark noted. Tricare health providers are "seeing to it that this institution keeps its promise," he said.
"I want you to know that I appreciate what you're doing," he told his audience.
The quality healthcare and customer service provided by Tricare is "one of the best-kept secrets out in the (healthcare) industry," the admiral noted.
Clark acknowledged the system once had problems, such as patient access, that have since been fixed. The admiral noted that the master chief petty officer of the Navy recently reported to him: "We're not hearing much (bad) about Tricare these days."
Now is not the time to rest upon laurels, Clark noted, adding that Tricare needs to be made "as effective and efficient as we can."
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