Hawley Sends Letter to Pentagon & Defense Health Agency Advocating for Fort Leonard Wood’s Community Hospital

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Thursday, July 10, 2025
Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)senta letter to acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara and Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Dr. David J. Smith, urging them to protect Fort Leonard Wood’s newly built hospital, the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH).Senator Hawley wrote, “In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.”He continued, “As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.”Senator Hawley isfollowingup on a letter he sent to Dr. Smith on May 13, 2025, in which he outlined his concerns over potential reductions to the hospital’s funding, personnel and services.Read the full letterhereor below.
Dr. Steve FerraraActing Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health AffairsOffice of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000Dr. David J. SmithActing Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Acting DirectorDefense Health Agency7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101 Falls Church, VA 22042Dear Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Smith,I write to follow up on my letter to Dr. Smith of May 13, 2025 concerning the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) at Ft. Leonard Wood. Thank you for your June 16, 2025 response—it provided some helpful information, but did not allay my concerns regarding the future of GLWACH.In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.I therefore request that you provide me with written answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:1. Does DHA intend to reduce the funds, personnel, or other resources available to GLWACH?2. Does DHA intend to change the care or services provided by GLWACH?3. Can DHA commit to maintaining GLWACH’s current scope of care, including its Surgery, Emergency Room, OBGYN, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Allergy and ENT Services departments?4. What effects will recent or planned changes to DOD’s resourcing model for direct care—including a potential shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model—have on GLWACH and Ft. Leonard Wood?5. Does DHA have a plan to solicit and consider input from the Army, local community members and groups, and other stakeholders before it makes changes to the resourcing or management of GLWACH?

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