The Department of Defense’s SFC Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act, enacted in 2019, has yielded approvals for fewer than one in ten medical malpractice claims filed since the program began in 2020. Of the 764 claims submitted by service members and their families, just 73 have been granted compensation, and only $15 million of the $400 million earmarked by Congress has been disbursed.
The data, obtained from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, show a stark disparity between approvals and denials. The Army received 351 claims, settling 45 and denying 160, with 146 still under review; the Air Force logged 163 claims, paying out nearly $2 million on 14 settlements while rejecting 100; the Navy/Marine Corps handled 250 claims, paying more than $5.3 million on 14 settlements and denying 138. Roughly 38% of all claims remain under review, and over half have been turned down.
High‑profile denials—including the case of the law’s namesake, Master Sgt. Richard Stayskal, and the tragic death of Navy Corpsman Jordan Way—have fueled criticism that the system lacks transparency and favors denial. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are urging reforms to clarify review criteria and improve accountability, while the Pentagon’s 2023 increase of the non‑economic damages cap to $750,000 has yet to translate into higher payouts.
