The Department of Defense has scheduled “listening sessions” at three U.S. military bases in Japan next week to collect feedback on a pilot program designed to connect DOD civilians with Japanese health care providers. 

A new dental clinic is in the works to serve American civilians at the home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo.

A pilot program aims to connect Department of Defense civilians in Japan with local health care providers without paying large, upfront service fees.

The Defense Department is counting on the contractor that provides health care for military members overseas to create a provider network in Japan that accepts civilian employee health insurance without crippling upfront payments.

The Department of Defense announced a one-year pilot program this week in a bid to help 11,000 civilian employees in Japan navigate and defray the cost of medical care in the country. 

Last year’s decision to defer medical billing for Department of Defense civilians has left hundreds confused and concerned about debt, according to the Japan Civilian Medical Advocacy group.

The immunization clinic at Kadena Air Base reopened this week after an investigation into ineffective vaccines administered May 3 through July 29.

The 459th Airlift Squadron and the 374th Medical Group at Yokota Air Base used a UH-1 Iroquois, or Huey, to fly a critically ill patient from Yokota to Yokosuka Naval Base in record time for emergency care.

Japanese hospitals are denying health care for Defense Department civilians and military personnel once every two days, on average, according to a recent report by the Japan Civilian Medical Advocacy group. 

Two U.S. senators and a representative remain concerned about gaps in health care access for Defense Department civilians in Japan, they said in a recent letter to the Defense Health Agency.