A plan supported by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
to civilianize thousands of military medical care
positions caught a one-two punch when the fiscal 2006
authorization act became law. First, the act forbids
any conversion of military medical or dental positions
into civilian slots before June 1. After that,
conversions can be made only if the Defense Department
certifies that they will not diminish the quality of
care or increase taxpayer expenses. Each certification
will require a market survey to show that medical care
and costs for beneficiaries in the area would not be
adversely affected. The original plan contended that,
although civilians might be paid more than service
members, the net cost would be less because civilians
don’t create transfer and retraining costs. Service
members and their families seen by physicians, dentists,
nurses and technicians in U.S. military installations
worldwide would be affected by the plan.
