The Department of Defense is responsible for managing one of the largest health systems in the United States, the Military Health System. The military health system operates with the mission of improving the health of service men and women while maintaining an effective, high-quality benefit for those who qualify for care (Brown et al, 2009). Military health systems cover the health care needs of more than nine million service men and women and their dependents across a broad range of military and civilian facilities. Military health services offer three health benefits to those who are eligible for benefits based on their current military status: TRICARE (Brown et al, 2009). TRICARE health plans replace CHAMPUS (Uniformed Services Civil Health and Medical Program); which was the primary provider of healthcare services for military dependents. TRICARE's purpose was also to make it easier for members to access better health care. This program offers primary, secondary and tertiary care to its beneficiaries. TRICARE is the largest single provider of any form of managed healthcare in the United States; being the largest provider has not come without change and upheaval since CHAMPUS was converted to TRICARE (Brown et al, 2009). In 1993, the CHAMPUS program had a demonstration project that suggested the need for a reorganization of military health care. These projects established that healthcare techniques used by civilian-managed care could benefit the military. By adapting to how civilian-run healthcare organizations operate, the military could improve the quality of care, increase patient satisfaction, and cap future costs (Kongstvedt, 2007). These projects have given... half the paper....... If the past can predict the future, TRICARE and the Military Health Service will continue to be an important source of health care for years to come.Works Cited Achieving Performance revolutionary. (2010, January 15). Retrieved from http://www.health.mil/Libraries/Documents_Word_PDF_PPT_etc/2010_MHS_Stakeholders_Report.pdfBrown, D, Kurlantzick, V, McCall, N, Williams, T, & Gantt, J. (2009). Use of six clinical preventive services in Tricare Prime compared to insured, managed care, and all US populations and healthy people 2010. Preventive Medicine, 48(4), 389-391. Kongstvedt, P. R. (2007). Essentials of managed healthcare. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Meltz, J. (2009, April 30). Tricare Stakeholder Report 2006. Retrieved from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/5742336/tricare-STAKEHOLDERS-report-TRANSFORMING-THE-FUTURE-miliTARY-MEDICINE-tAble