What is the Defense Health Agency (DHA)? | TRICARE Glossary

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## Definition The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is the joint military combat support agency that manages the TRICARE health program and oversees the administration of all Army, Navy, and Air Force medical facilities.

## What it means in practice For a TRICARE beneficiary, the DHA is essentially the "corporate headquarters" of your healthcare. While your local military hospital or clinic provides the care, and a private contractor like **Humana Military** (East Region) or **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (West Region) processes your claims, the DHA is the entity that sets the rules, determines what benefits are covered, and manages the multi-billion dollar budget.

The DHA's role became significantly more visible to families following the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which shifted the administration of military hospitals from the individual service branches (Army, Navy, Air Force) to the DHA. This means that whether you are at Fort Liberty (Army) or Nellis Air Force Base, the standards for scheduling, billing, and patient rights are standardized under DHA policy.

Practically speaking, the DHA impacts your wallet and your access to care in three major ways: 1. **Policy and Coverage:** The DHA decides if a new medical technology or drug is "proven" and therefore covered by TRICARE. 2. **Contract Management:** The DHA manages the contracts for the TRICARE pharmacy program (Express Scripts) and the regional managed care coordinators. 3. **Standardization:** The DHA manages the "MHS GENESIS" electronic health record system, allowing your medical history to follow you across the globe regardless of which branch of service originally treated you.

As of 2026, the DHA continues to oversee the T-5 contract transition, ensuring that beneficiaries in the West Region receive stable care under the TriWest Healthcare Alliance. While the DHA sets the enrollment fees (such as the 2026 rates for TRICARE Select Group A retirees), they do not process individual medical claims; that task remains with the regional contractors.

## Related terms * **Military Health System (MHS):** The entire infrastructure of military medical care, encompassing the DHA, the service medical departments, and the TRICARE program. * **Direct Care:** Medical services provided directly at a Military Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) by military or civilian government staff. * **Purchased Care:** Healthcare services provided by civilian providers and paid for by TRICARE through regional contractors. * **T-5 Contract:** The fifth generation of TRICARE managed care contracts, currently managed by the DHA to provide services in the East and West regions. * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, the database the DHA uses to verify who is eligible for TRICARE benefits.

## Sources * **Defense Health Agency (DHA) Official Site:** [health.mil/About-MHS/O-DHA](https://health.mil/About-MHS/O-DHA) * **TRICARE Official Site:** [tricARE.mil](https://tricare.mil) * **Military Health System Overview:** [health.mil/Military-Health-Topics](https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics)