The Pentagon's architect of healthcare ready to step down

In his final week as assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, Dr. Jonathan Woodson achieved, in part, an objective he had sought for more than 5 years: a softening in Congress to the prospect of raising health care fees for military families and retirees.

Woodson did not propose Tricare fee hikes every single budget cycle he was in office just to dig into the troops' wallets or make retirees angry, he informed Military Times earlier this month. He did it to secure the military's health care system and position it to meet the issues of war while “pivoting to the future.”

"Sometimes," Woodson stated, "when you make a vision that is over the horizon, people consider that you are crazy. The key is to present that vision in increments so you can achieve your goals."

When Woodson steps down, effective Sunday, he will leave a health system that looks largely the same as it did in the year 2010 — at least to the average patient. Military personnel continue to give care to troops and beneficiaries in military facilities, and Tricare pays for community care.

But the system is vastly different. A new Defense Health Agency provides support facilities for the military medical commands. Health facilities in the greatest military markets fall under regional umbrella organizations. And this year, Tricare will be consolidated into 2 regions, with more sufferers being reassigned to military hospitals and clinics for primary care.