Defense

Military health funding a down payment on full budget request

Congress will address full supplemental funding request in the spring.

December 28, 2007

Editor at Large

Editor's Note: The article below updates a previous story that was based on the incorrect assumption that the funding for military health care included in the omnibus spending measure represented the full amount the Military Health System would receive for fiscal 2008.

The Military Health System views the $575.7 million in funding it received in the fiscal 2008 omnibus appropriations bill signed by President Bush this week as a bridge supplemental to handle immediate requirements until Congress can address its full supplemental funding request next spring, a Military Health System spokesman said.

Government Executive reported last week that Congress had slashed the MHS 2008 supplemental funding request of $1.14 billion by $561.7 million. But the MHS spokesman said "We have every expectation that our requirements will be adequately resourced by Congress in their final supplemental bill."

The spokesman added that MHS considers the $575.7 million in bridge funding" a positive act and it was great news."

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