The Evolution of the Military Health Care System: Changes in Public Law and DoD Regulations

The military health care system has two missions. The first is the readiness mission to provide care for U.S. forces who become sick or injured during military engagements. The second is the peacetime mission, which includes maintaining the health of U.S. military personnel and supporting the provision of the military health care benefit to active duty dependents, retirees and their dependents, and survivors. This paper focuses on the legislative and regulatory evolution of this second mission and the costs associated with pro- gram change. --Original contains color plates: All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.