Sequester will raise the cost of troops medical care?

Military to spend more on care under sequester
By Gregg Zoroya
USA Today
Posted : Thursday Feb 28, 2013

Sweeping budget cuts going into effect Friday create a paradox for military medicine: spending money to save money, Army, Navy and Air Force medical officials say.

As thousands of civilian medical workers are furloughed because of the “sequester,” patients will be sent to private doctors at public expense to receive timely medical care, according to the military medical officials.

“This will result in increased medical care costs to the DOD (Department of Defense) and American taxpayers,” says an Army Public Affairs statement released this week.

The point of the sequester cuts established by Congress and signed by President Obama was to slash federal spending by $85 billion across the federal government.

Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, Navy surgeon general, wrote in a recent message to sailors that “Navy Medicine will not and cannot hang a ‘closed’ sign at the front door of our facilities. We will work ... to refer care as necessary, also recognizing that referring out care does not save money in the long run.”
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