Department of War and Department of Veterans Affairs Partnership

The DOW and VA maintain one of the largest healthcare partnerships in the federal government.

Together, they work to deliver seamless, high-quality care for service members from active duty through their transition to veteran status, while maximizing shared resources, facilities, and expertise. Secure data sharing and coordinated procurement are other areas where partnership helps achieve greater outcomes.

The partnership matters to service members and veterans when we're able to reduce waiting times and increase access to care. Just in the Military Health System, the partnership has enhanced surgical volume and added procedural case complexity  for military medical providers. Recapturing regional Direct CareDirect care refers to military hospitals and clinics, also known as “military treatment facilities” and “MTFs.”direct care into federal healthcare facilities has not only cost-savings but also can reduce waiting times for certain services in some locations.

This section features the latest news and updates on our joint health initiatives.

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March 4, 2026

Around the MHS - March 5, 2026

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The latest news from around the Military Health System for the week of March 2-6, 2026, includes a vital collaboration between Department of War and the Department of Veterans Affairs, new whole genome sequencing brain research, and a military surgical milestone.

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Feb. 19, 2026

Around the MHS - February 19, 2026

Around the MHS

The latest news from around the Military Health System for the week of Feb. 16-20, 2026, includes Irwin Army Community Hospital’s partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand care, TRICARE’s preventive breast cancer screenings, and an immersive research bootcamp at Uniformed Services University.