DoD Receives Independent Review Group Report
April 19, 2007

The Independent Review Group (IRG) established by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates provided DoD with its assessment of rehabilitative care and the administrative processes at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) on Monday.

The department intends to quickly evaluate the recommendations in order to establish an action plan for change. In anticipation of the IRG findings and recommendations, the department recently requested an adjustment to the fiscal year 2007 emergency supplemental request to provide $50 million to create a medical support fund. This will allow DoD to promptly implement these and other recommendations that may be forthcoming.

The department is currently surveying wounded warriors and their families to assess their needs. With the Department of Veterans Affairs, DoD has begun the process of redesigning the disability evaluation and separation systems and is implementing initiatives to transfer medical records between the two agencies electronically.

The results of all the reviews being conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes and the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors will likewise provide invaluable advice to chart the way forward for the care of our service members.