The Defense Department is shaping a final decision document to reorganize the military health-care system around a new unified medical command, say senior officials.The command would be led by a four-star medical officer given unprecedented authority. He would take charge of what now are service-unique responsibilities for medical staffing, training, purchasing, operations and medical readiness across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
Service and Defense leaders in early May received, for review and comment within 30 days, three options for a new command structure.
Under the first, which enjoys strong support from the Army and Navy surgeons general, the new medical command would be a major combatant command similar to the U.S. Special Operations Forces Command, and reporting directly to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.