New Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

Dr. Jonathan Woodson has finally been confirmed as the new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs! This is good news. TRICARE is the largest health care system in the world and the Assistant Secretary runs it, as well as the extended rest of the military health system. There is mounting pressure to reduce the costs of providing health care services to beneficiaries (which number around 9.6 million and include soldiers in Afghanistan, retirees in Germany, and families here in the states). The acting secretaries (which have been numerous) can only 'stay the course' and not make any significant changes. Hence any reform is nearly impossible. So it is good news that we finally have someone appointed, and shame on Congress for taking so long as Dr. Woodson was nominated in April of 2010.