[20150730]IN10332_2015财年国防健康计划资金缺口.pdf

CRS InsightsDefense Health Program Funding Shortfall for Fiscal Year 2015Pat Towell, Coordinator, Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget (ptowellcrs.loc.gov, 7-2122)Don J. Jansen, Specialist in Defense Health Care Policy (djansencrs.loc.gov, 7-4769)July 30, 2015 (IN10332)As reported in an online article (behind subscription wall) dated July 27, 2015, by Austin Wright in Politico and a Stars and Stripes online article dated July 28, 2015, a letter from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the service Surgeons General to the armed services and appropriations committee chairs dated July 16, 2015, states that the Defense Health Program (DHP) budget account faces a projected shortfall of over $2 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2015. The letter attributes the shortfall to three factors: (1) unexpected growth in retail prescription drug spending, (2) more beneficiaries than expected, and (3) a general increase in the inflation rate of medical costs. The letter asks for committee approval of various reprogramming requests as well as abstention from reductions to the FY2016 DHP appropriation request. The article reports that the shortfall is being cited as an argument