The Defense Health Agency officially established the Tidewater Market in southeast Virginia on April 19. This is the fifth Military Health System market established to manage military medical treatment facilities as they transition to DHA.
Tidewater follows the National Capital Region, Central North Carolina, Jacksonville, and Coastal Mississippi markets, which were established in January 2020. It is the first transition since the COVID-19 national health emergency was declared.
A market is a group of MTFs in one geographic area working together with its TRICARE partners, Veterans Affairs hospitals, other federal health care organizations, private sector teaching hospitals and medical universities, as well as other health care partners. Markets operate as a system to support the sharing of patients, staff, budget, and other functions across facilities to improve readiness and the delivery and coordination of health services.