As the government shutdown enters its second week, concerns are mounting over its impact on health care providers who serve military families.<\/p>\n
Doctors and clinics in San Antonio, a city often referred to as \u201cMilitary City USA,\u201d report that they are no longer receiving compensation for services provided to active-duty service members, retirees, and their dependents through the TRICARE program, Breitbart News\u00a0reports.<\/p>\n
Several providers say they are beginning to feel significant financial strain as payments stall. The funding lapse stems from the ongoing budget impasse in Congress, where Senate Democrats have prioritized extending Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of any reopening agreement.<\/p>\n
Critics warn that the standoff could jeopardize access to medical care for military families nationwide, with the effects especially visible in San Antonio due to its large concentration of Department of Defense facilities and personnel, the outlet noted further.<\/p>\n
San Antonio, home to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) \u2014 the largest joint base operation in the U.S. military \u2014 is among the areas most affected by the ongoing shutdown. The installation includes Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis, all of which support tens of thousands of soldiers, airmen, and their families who depend on TRICARE to cover their medical expenses.<\/p>\n
The funding lapse has left civilian health care providers who treat military personnel and their dependents without reimbursement, creating growing financial strain. Military retirees, who also rely on TRICARE for their health care needs, are facing similar uncertainty, Breitbart noted.<\/p>\n
According to a recent News4SA report, one San Antonio health care provider that serves families with children who have developmental disorders said the clinic is already struggling to remain open due to the lack of payments during the shutdown.<\/p>\n
Dr. Britt Sims, Executive Director of Integrated Behavior Solutions, told News4SA, \u201cWe can last a couple of weeks on what I have personally, but now, I\u2019m done. I\u2019m spent. If by some miracle, something happens, then I don\u2019t know. We\u2019ll keep fighting somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another healthcare provider that serves retirees, soldiers, and their families is facing similar pressures as the shutdown continues. Dr. Gia Koehne, who owns a small practice called the Blossom Center for Children in San Antonio, told the local outlet, \u201cBecause of all of this, everything is completely stalled and halted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of families that need services, and we just don\u2019t have the capacity to be able to do that, because we\u2019re not getting paid,\u201d Koehne explained, noting that the practice provides care for children diagnosed with autism.<\/p>\n
TRICARE is the government-sponsored health insurance program for active, reserve, and retired military members and their families. On October 1, the program warned of potential payment delays due to the government shutdown.<\/p>\n