I am your constituent and I just learned that according to an NPR analysis 50% of military installations in the US are in military deserts. That means they lack primary, obstetric, and mental health care. Here is a link to the NPR story https://www.npr.org/2024/06/13/g-s1-4187/military-bases-shortage-health-care-troops-army-navy-marines.
Can you imagine being pregnant and having to drive hours to get to a prenatal or pediatric appointment EACH WAY?
There is insufficient care available on military bases, and the surrounding communities are not prepared to pick up the slack, and Tricare insurance pays horribly low reimbursement rates. The result is a nightmare for military families on half of our US bases.
Let me point out to you what a National Single Payer Healthcare system, like HR 3421, can do to fix this:
Global budgets make sure that medical facilities costs are covered - that includes salaries.
Regional administrators have the authority to decide where the shortages are and have budgets and authority to boost capabilities to serve communities - that means building needed facilities in medical deserts and encouraging staff to move there.
The regional authorities also have the ability to make sure that reimbursements do not fall short and are fair - something Tricare has not done.
Now it is up to you. I want you to support military families and all your constituents and cosponsor and support national single payer universal healthcare. We are ALL counting on you.
