Health Issues
This page offers an easy way for policymakers to access health research and analysis that is relevant to current Congressional agendas. For more in-depth information, visit the Health Research Area. For additional information, to request documents, or to arrange a briefing, contact the RAND Office of Congressional Relations at ocr@rand.org or (703) 413-1100 x5395.
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Newsletters
RAND regularly sends newsletters to update Congress on highlights of recent work about health.
To view the topics of each newsletter, place your cursor over the month to see a list of work featured in that issue (requires Javascript).
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Health Newsletter 2011: 2010: 2009: 2008: 2007: 2006: 2005: 2004 (PDF): 2003 (PDF): |
Testimony
2011
Suicide Prevention Efforts and Behavioral Health Treatment in the Veterans Health Administration
Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health on December 2, 2011.
Insights from Early RAND Research on Deployment: Effects on U.S. Service Members and Their Families
Testimony presented before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on July 27, 2011.
2010 and prior
September 20, 2010
Insights on the Effects of Marijuana Legalization on Prices and Consumption
Testimony presented before the California State Assembly Public Safety Committee and California State Senate Public Safety Committee.
April 14, 2010
An Assessment of the Scientific Support Underlying the FY2011 Budget Priorities of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Testimony presented before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on Domestic Policy.
March 9, 2010
Children on the Home Front: The Experiences of Children from Military Families
Testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
October 28, 2009
Legalizing Marijuana: Issues to Consider Before Reforming California State Law
Testimony presented before the California State Assembly Public Safety Committee.
October 27, 2009
Issues in "Meaningful Use" of Health Information Technology for Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Testimony presented before the Health Information Technology Policy Committee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
April 29, 2009
Gauging Future Demand for Veterans' Health Care: Does the VA Have the Forecasting Tools It Needs?
Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.
March 24, 2009
Assessing Combat Exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Troops and Estimating the Costs to Society: Implications from the RAND Invisible Wounds of War Study
Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
September 23, 2008
Health Insurance Market Rating Practices
Testimony presented before the Senate Finance Committee.
July 17, 2008
The Potential Benefits and Costs of Increased Adoption of Health Information Technology
Testimony presented before the Senate Finance Committee.
June 30, 2008
Assessing Health and Health Care in the District of Columbia
Testimony presented before the DC City Council Committee on Health.
Testimony unavailable - oral remarks only.
June 12, 2008
Invisible Wounds of War: Quantifying the Societal Costs of Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Testimony presented before the Joint Economic Committee.
June 11, 2008
Invisible Wounds of War: Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Testimony presented before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
June 11, 2008
Invisible Wounds of War: Summary of Key Findings on Psychological and Cognitive Injuries
Testimony presented before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
June 3, 2008
The Case for Keeping Quality on the Health Reform Agenda
Testimony presented before the Senate Committee on Finance.
April 2, 2008
Availability of Drinking Water in California Public Schools
Testimony presented before the California State Assembly Subcommittee on Education.
March 12, 2008
What Research Tells Us About the Reasonableness of the Current Priorities of National Drug Control
Testimony presented before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on Domestic Policy.
September 12, 2007
Protecting Emergency Responders at Large-Scale Incidents: Lessons Learned from the Response to the Attacks on the World Trade Center
Testimony presented before the House Education and Labor Committee.
June 20, 2007
Perspective on B17-076
Written testimony submitted to the Council of the District of Columbia, Committee on Health.
March 28, 2006
Public Health Preparedness in the 21st Century
Testimony presented before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Subcommittee on Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness.
September 20, 2005
Consumer-Directed Health Plans: Research on Implications for Health Care Quality and Cost
Testimony presented to the California Department of Insurance.
April 21, 2005
Initiatives to Control Military Health Costs
Testimony presented to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Personnel.
February 28, 2005
Public Health Preparedness in California: Lessons from Seven Jurisdiction
Testimony presented to the California State Assembly Budget Committee, Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.
June 2, 2004
Public
Health Preparedness in California: Lessons from Seven Jurisdictions
Testimony presented to the California State Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
June 17, 2003
Statement on the Final Report of the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans
Testimony presented before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Testimony not available
May 30, 2003
Ephedra: Is It Worth the Risk?
Testimony submitted for the Record to the New York State Senate Committee on Consumer Protection.
January 15, 2003
Inflation in Hospital Charges: Implications for the California Workers' Compensation Program
Testimony presented before the California State Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.
June 10, 2002
After 9/11: Stress and Coping Across America
Testimony presented before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions field hearing.
November 6, 2001
Anthrax Attacks, Biological Terrorism and Preventive Responses
Testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate.
July 13, 2001
The Costs of Covering Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care at the Same Level as Medical Care in Private Insurance Plans
Testimony presented to the Health Insurance Committee, National Conference of Insurance Legislators.
April 4, 2000
Testimony on Drug Treatment Alternatives to Incarceration
Testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives.
February 17, 2000
What Is SAMHSA Doing to Help Communities Make Good Decisions About the Allocation of Scarce Treatment Resources?
Testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives.
October 21, 1999
Effects of Substance Abuse Parity in Private Insurance Plans Under Managed Care
Testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives.
Briefings
For more information on these and other Congressional briefings, contact the Office of Congressional Relations.
Global HIV Programs at the Crossroads: How Can Donor Funding Be Optimized?
December 15, 2011
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2168 Rayburn House Office Building
VA Mental Health Care: How Good Is It and How Can We Make It Better?
Presented by Katherine E. Watkins
December 1, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
B-369 Rayburn House Office Building
How Does Growth in Health Care Costs Affect the American Family?
Presented by Art Kellermann
October 3, 2011
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cannon House Office Building 121
The Public Health System Since 9/11: Progress Made and Challenges Remaining
Presented by Jeffrey Wasserman, Jeanne Ringel, Anita Chandra, and Melinda Moore
August 23, 2011
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Visitor Center SVC 203/2
How Governments Can Leverage the Strengths of NGOs in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Presented by Joie Acosta, Jan Epstein, Ann Williamson, and Thad Allen
March 14, 2011
2:00-3:00pm
2168 Rayburn House Office Building
The Quality of Care for Patients Dying in the Hospital: Areas for Improvement Suggest Fundamental Problems in U.S. Healthcare
Presented by Neil Wenger
September 13, 2010
1:00-2:00pm
428a Russell Senate Office Building
Marijuana Legalization: Projected Revenues, Costs, and Effects on Price and Use in California
Presented by Beau Kilmer
July 12, 2010
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
1334 Longworth House Office Building
The Impact of Air Pollution on Hospital Spending in California
Presented by John Romley
June 24, 2010
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
234 Cannon House Office Building
Health Care on Aisle 7: The Growing Phenomenon of Retail Clinics
Presented by Ateev Mehrotra
March 19, 2010
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
2456 Rayburn House Office Building
Children on the Home Front: The Experience of Children from Military Families
Presented by Anita Chandra
March 1, 2010
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2200 Rayburn House Office Building
The H1N1 Pandemic: Lessons Learned from the Cities Readiness Initiative
Presented by Christopher Nelson and Edward Chan
September 14, 2009
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Room 203 SVC Capitol Visitor Center
Health Care Cost Growth and the Economic Performance of U.S. Industries
Presented by Neeraj Sood
August 24, 2009
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
210 Cannon House Building
Options for Controlling Health Care Spending in Massachusetts
Presented by Christine Eibner
August 17, 2009
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
210 Cannon House Building
Assessing Disparities Faced by Boys and Men of Color
Presented by M. Rebecca Kilburn
August 10, 2009
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
268 Capitol Visitor Center, North Congressional Meeting Room
Korea's Experience in Harmonizing Public and Private Health Insurance Systems for Universal Coverage
Panelists: Michael Rich, RAND Corporation
Jae Hee Jeon, Minister for Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, Republic of Korea
Woojin Chung, Health Insurance Policy Research Institute
Yo Han In, Medical Center for the Foreign Patients, Yonsei Hospital
Melinda Beeuwkes Buntin, RAND Health
Moderators: Tom McNaugher and Chaibong Hahm, RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy
July 15, 2009
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
212 Capitol Visitors Center
The Economic Cost of Methamphetamine Use in the United States
Presented by Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
July 13, 2009
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2247 Rayburn House Office Building
Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery
Presented by Terri Tanielian
April 28, 2008
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Room
S-211, The United States Capitol
Better Understanding the Health Insurance Issues that Small Firms Face
Presented by Susan Gates and Christine Eibner
April 4, 2008
1:00 A.M. – Noon
304 Cannon House Office Building
Healthy Passages: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Health Behaviors and Experiences of 5th Graders
Presented by Marc N. Elliott and Mark A. Schuster
March 18, 2008
1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
304 Cannon House Office Building
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness in Southeast Asia and the Middle East
Presented by Melinda Moore
March 10, 2008
1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Pay for Performance: What You Need to Know Before Making Policy
Presented by Cheryl Damberg
December 3, 2007
1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
304 Cannon House Office Building
Measuring State and Local Public Health Preparedness
Presented by Christopher Nelson
September 10, 2007
1:00 P.M. — 2:00 P.M.
430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Gender Disparities in Cardiovascular Care
Presented by Dr. Chloe Bird
May 21, 2007
12:00 P.M.
902 Hart Senate Office Building
Learning from Natural Disasters: Public Health Responses to Hurricane Katrina and International Disaster Management Successes
Presented by Dr. Jeanne Ringel and Dr. Melinda Moore
May 18, 2007
10:00 A.M. — 11:00 A.M.
Mansfield Room
S-207, the U.S. Capitol
What Does Pandemic Flu Teach Us About Public Health Preparedness?
Presented by Nicole Lurie
April 20, 2007
10:00 A.M. — 11:00 A.M.
1539 Longworth House Office Building
How Does State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Coverage Affect Children's Quality of Life?
Presented by Michael Seid
March 12, 2007
3:00 P.M. — 4:00 P.M.
2257 Rayburn House Office Building
How The Children Of The Gulf Hurricanes Are Faring: Their Mental And Academic Health
Presented by John Pane and Lisa Jaycox
June 23, 2006
10:00 A.M.
HC-7 in the Capitol Building
Who Is At Greatest Risk for Receiving Poor Quality Health Care?
Presented by Dr. Elizabeth McGlynn
May 8, 2006
12:00 P.M. — 1:30 P.M.
2253 Rayburn House Office Building
Budgeting for an AIDS-Free Nation: An Examination of the Federal AIDS Prevention Budget
Hosted by The AIDS Institute, amFAR AIDS Research, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), and HIV Prevention Action Committee of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership, featuring Deborah Cohen
March 1, 2006
9:30 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
485 Russell Senate Office Building
Insights for Medicare Part D from Relevant RAND Research
Presented by Dr. Geoffrey Joyce
November 14, 2005
12:00 P.M. — 1:30 P.M.
B-340 Rayburn House Office Building
Impact of a Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program
Presented by Lisa Jaycox
October 3, 2005
12:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M.
G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Can Information Technology Transform Health Care?
Presented by Dr. Richard Hillestad
September 15, 2005
5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
1116 Longworth House Office Building
Gaps in Public Health Preparedness: Lessons Learned in California and Beyond
Presented by Dr. Nicole Lurie
April 25, 2005
2:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.
2257 Rayburn House Office Building
Preparedness for Terrorism: The Behavioral and Psychological Implications from Anthrax 2001
Presented by Terri Tanielian
April 11, 2005
12:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M.
2167 Rayburn House Office Building
Improving Health Care: Lessons From The VA
In conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs and cosponsored by the 21st Century Health Care Caucus
Presented by Dr. Steven Asch
February 4, 2005
10:30 A.M. - Noon
1537 Longworth House Office Building
Organized Breast Cancer Screening: Lessons Learned from National and International Experience
Presented by Rob Boer
November 9, 2004
10:30 A.M.
Room HC-7
Laboratories of Reform: State Efforts to Cover the Uninsured
Presented by Susan Marquis
September 20, 2004
2:00 - 3:30 P.M.
B-354 Rayburn House Office Building
Capping Non-Economic Awards in Medical Malpractice Trials: California Jury Verdicts Under MICRA
Presented by Nick Pace
July 12, 2004
Noon - 1:30 P.M.
121 Cannon House Office Building
The Societal Promise of Improving Care for Depression
Presented by Ken Wells, Michael Schoenbaum, and Jeanne Miranda
Sponsored by Senator Joe Lieberman
June 22, 2004
10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.
562 Dirksen Senate Office Building
How Good is Quality of Care in the U.S.?
Presented by Beth McGlynn
May 10, 2004
Noon - 1:30 P.M.
2212 Rayburn House Office Building
An Effective Mental Health Program for School Children Exposed to Violence
Presented by Bradley D. Stein
October 20, 2003
Noon - 1:30 P.M.
562 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Improving Asthma Outcomes for Latino Children and Their Families
Presented by Marielena Lara
May 6, 2003
11:00 A.M. - Noon
HC-6 Capitol Building
How Do Drug Benefits Affect Drug Use and Costs?
Presented by Geoffrey Joyce
March 31, 2003
11:00 A.M. - Noon
1116 Longworth House Office Building
Modeling Smallpox Vaccination Policy
Presented by Samuel Bozzette
February 11, 2003
Noon - 1:30 P.M.
2154 Rayburn House Office Building
Fact Sheets
The following fact sheets encapsulate selected RAND publications, creating quick and easy references on a variety of policy issues.
What Is the Impact of Using Evidence-Based Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Veterans? — Jul. 6, 2011
What Is the Impact of Workplace Policies to Promote Influenza Vaccination Among Health Care Personnel? — Apr. 20, 2011
Does Employer-Based Health Insurance Discourage Entrepreneurship and New Business Creation? — Apr. 7, 2011
How Will the Affordable Care Act Affect Employee Health Coverage at Small Businesses? — Sep. 10, 2010
How Might Marijuana Legalization in California Affect Public Budgets and Marijuana Consumption? — Jul. 7, 2010
Diagnosing and Treating Food Allergies: The State of the Research — Jun. 14, 2010
Improving the Quality of Care for Dementia — May 14, 2010
The Effects of Multiple Anxiety Disorders on Patient Functioning and Well-Being — Apr. 13, 2010
Post-Katrina Project Demonstrates a Rapid, Participatory Assessment of Health Care and Develops a Partnership for Post-Disaster Recovery in New Orleans — Mar. 15, 2010
Are Adolescents Talking with Their Parents About Sex Before Becoming Sexually Active? — Mar. 12, 2010
RAND COMPARE Analysis of President Obama's Proposal for Health Reform — Mar. 3, 2010
Coverage, Spending, and Consumer Financial Risk: How Do the Recent House and Senate Health Care Bills Compare? — Feb. 16, 2010
Studies' Estimates of PTSD Prevalence Rates for Returning Service Members Vary Widely — Feb. 12, 2010
South Los Angeles Ban on Fast-Food Chains Misses the Mark — Nov. 10, 2009
Electronic Health Records are Associated with Higher Quality in Primary Care Practices — Oct. 29, 2009
Hold the Salt: Lowering Sodium Intake Would Improve Health and Save Money — Oct. 15, 2009
Rural Hospitals Struggle to Attract Patients and Remain Viable — Oct. 14, 2009
Using Civilian Facilities to Maintain Military Medical Skills — Sep. 1, 2009
Risk Communication in the Early Stages of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Alert: How Effective Were State and Local Public Health Departments? — Aug. 13, 2009
Health Care Cost Growth and the Economic Performance of U.S. Industries — Aug. 5, 2009
Expanding Access to Mental Health Counselors Under TRICARE — Jul. 27, 2009
When Drug Cost-Sharing Increases, Patients Newly Diagnosed with a Chronic Illness Delay Starting Medication — Jul. 2, 2009
Enhancing Interoperability Among Enlisted Medical Personnel in the U.S. Military: A Case Study of Military Surgical Technologists — Jun. 3, 2009
Improving Mental Health Care for Returning Veterans — May 14, 2009
The Department of Defense Can Improve Its Response to and Management of Anthrax Incidents — Apr. 20, 2009
Improving Mass Delivery of Antiretroviral Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa — Apr. 14, 2009
A Step Forward in Accountability for Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Developing Standards for Mass Antibiotic Dispensing — Nov. 13, 2008
Exposure to Sex on TV May Increase the Chance of Teen Pregnancy — Nov. 3, 2008
A National Health Information Network -- What Are the Real Privacy Issues? — Aug. 27, 2008
Do Neighborhood Economic Conditions Influence the Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables? — Aug. 13, 2008
The Behavioral Health Care System Is Poised for Change — Aug. 13, 2008
Life Expectancy Is Better Than Age as a General Predictor of Health Care Expenditures — Jul. 17, 2008
Validating the Link Between Good Physician Process of Care and Better Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients — Jul. 10, 2008
Insurance Companies' Fears of Covering Acupuncture Appear Unfounded — Jul. 10, 2008
Pathways to Obesity: Are People "Hardwired" to Overeat? — Jun. 17, 2008
Constrained Choice: Why Are Some Women and Men Able To Create and Maintain Healthy Lifestyles, While Others Are Not? — Apr. 17, 2008
Delivery of Genomic Medicine for Common Chronic Adult Diseases — Apr. 16, 2008
Why People Overeat: Rethinking the Causes of Obesity — Feb. 14, 2008
Immigrants and Health Care: A Complex Picture — Jan. 21, 2008
Teens Who Work Are More Likely to Smoke — Jan. 14, 2008
How Schools Responded to Student Mental Health Needs Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — Oct. 18, 2007
A Systematic Review of the Adverse Effects of Prescription Drug Cost Sharing — Sep. 14, 2007
Do Policies That Target Physicians Who Make Medical Malpractice Payments Reduce Negligent Injuries? — Sep. 10, 2007
Promoting Accountability in Public Health Emergency Preparedness — Sep. 7, 2007
Bioterrorism with Zoonotic Disease: Public Health Preparedness Lessons from a Multiagency Exercise — Aug. 10, 2007
Behavioral Health Parity: Consequences for Federal Employee Health Plans — Apr. 20, 2007
How Schools Can Help Children Recover from Traumatic Experiences — Dec. 13, 2006
Vaccinating Residents and Staff Can Reduce Influenza Outbreaks in Nursing Homes — Nov. 14, 2006
Quality Improvement Methods Can Be Used to Improve Public Health Emergency Preparedness — Sep. 15, 2006
Emergency Preparedness Is Stimulating Changes in Public Health Practice — Sep. 15, 2006
Meeting the Health Care Needs of Adults with Severe Mental Illness — Jul. 17, 2006
Three Steps for Improving the Quality of Mental Health Care in the United States — Jul. 14, 2006
Integrating Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders in Public Systems of Care — Jul. 14, 2006
Getting To Outcomes™: Improving Community-Based Substance-Use Prevention — Feb. 14, 2006
Anxiety Disorders Can Have Broad, Negative Health Effects — Feb. 14, 2006
Project ALERT Plus May Leverage the Effect of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign — Jan. 24, 2006
Cutting Drug Co-Payments for Sicker Patients on Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Could Save a Billion Dollars Every Year — Jan. 17, 2006
Quality Primary Care Requires More Than Insurance — Jan. 17, 2006
Saturated in Beer — Nov., 2005
Reducing Sexual Risk Among Injection Drug Users — Aug., 2005
Obese Women Receiving Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Are Often Undertreated — Aug., 2005
Some Prescription Diet Drugs Promote Weight Loss — Aug., 2005
Weight Loss Surgery is More Effective Than Diet and Exercise in Helping Severely Obese People Lose Weight — Aug., 2005
Cost-Effective Allocation of Government Funds for Preventing HIV — Jul., 2005
The Managed Care Backlash: Did Consumers Vote with Their Feet? — Apr., 2005
Do Cardiologists Perceive Racial or Ethnic Disparities in the Treatment of Heart Patients? Results of a RAND Survey — Apr., 2005
How Cost Sharing Affects Use of Drugs by the Chronically Ill — Mar., 2005
HIV Testing Among Indigent Women: Who Gets Tested? — Feb., 2005
The Relationship Between Volume and Quality in Mental Health Care — Jan., 2005
Prospects for Change in the Individual Health Insurance Market — Dec., 2004
Role of Doctors Critical in Effective Public Health — Dec., 2004
“Voltage Drops” in Children's Health Care: Barriers That Impede Children's Access to Quality Health Care — Nov., 2004
Will Public Health's Response to Terrorism Be Fair? — Oct., 2004
Helping Children Cope with Violence: The Potential of a School-Based Program — Sep., 2003
The Global Threat of New and Reemerging Infectious Diseases — Apr., 2003
Publication Profiles
The following PDF publication profiles list relevant research studies in various areas of public policy interest, creating a quick and easy reference guide of research in that area.
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