Cannon AFB Faces Medical Travel Burden

PHOTO CAPTION: The 27th Special Operations Medical Group at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. A new GAO report found service members at Cannon traveled up to 350 miles each way for some medical care in fiscal year 2025. U.S. Air Force photo.

Service members stationed at Cannon Air Force Base lost at least 5,000 duty days in a single year traveling for medical care, with some trips requiring them to travel as far as 350 miles each way, according to a new federal watchdog report.
The Government Accountability Office released the report Sept. 24 after examining support services at remote and isolated military installations across the country.
At Cannon, officials told investigators that service members traveled approximately 110 to 350 miles each way for medical treatment during fiscal year 2025. Based on travel voucher data, those medical trips cost the installation at least 5,000 duty days. GAO Files
The problem goes beyond time on the road.
Cannon generated approximately 12,400 referrals to health care facilities outside the military health system during fiscal year 2025 because services could not be provided on the installation or in the immediate area.
Officials also reported approximately $587,000 in reimbursable patient travel expenses that year.
The Defense Health Agency spent roughly $28 million on medical care outside Cannon during fiscal years 2024 and 2025, according to installation officials interviewed by GAO. GAO Files
Cannon does operate the 27th Special Operations Medical Group, but the base cannot provide every type of specialty care. Current referral guidance states that patients may be sent to TRICARE authorized providers when the required specialty is unavailable at the military clinic. TRICARE Prime patients referred more than 100 miles from Cannon may qualify for travel reimbursement. Cannon TRICARE
The base has already taken steps aimed at reducing that burden.
In January 2025, Cannon introduced tele-audiology so Airmen needing certain hearing evaluations could receive care without traveling to civilian providers outside the local area. The 27th Special Operations Medical Group has also reorganized clinics in an effort to improve access to care. Cannon Air Force Base
But GAO found that Cannon is far from alone.
Every remote or isolated installation examined by investigators reported challenges providing comprehensive health care. Those problems included shortages of specialty care, difficulty recruiting medical personnel and limited services in surrounding communities. GAO Files
GAO said those gaps can directly affect military readiness when troops have to leave work for a full day or longer just to receive treatment.
Cannon officials also told investigators that problems with critical support services have contributed to lower retention rates compared with the service average. GAO Files
GAO recommended that the Defense Department clarify how it defines remote and isolated installations and examine how civilian workforce reductions have affected support services at those locations. DOD agreed with both recommendations.

(Source: OAF Nation)