Military Health Policy Research Briefs

2012

How Do Soldiers’ Deployments Affect Children’s Academic Performance and Behavioral Health? — 2012

With regard to Army families, the study examines the effects of long and frequent parental deployments on children’s academic performance as well as their emotional and behavioral well-being in the school setting.

Improving Medical and Dental Readiness in the Reserve Components — 2012

Describes options for Department of Defense policy that would help the reserve components of the U.S. military achieve higher levels of individual medical readiness, including dental readiness.

2011

Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families: A New Approach — 2011

Describes a new survey design framework that is centered on what service members and their families believe are their greatest needs.

Better Understanding the Needs of Veterans in New York State — 2011

Shares results of a study assessing the broad array of challenges that returning veterans face at the state level, including a range of mental health concerns, problems finding jobs commensurate with their skills, and complicated health care systems.

The Cost and Quality of VA Mental Health Services — 2011

The quality of mental health care delivered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is generally as good or better than care delivered by private health plans, although it falls short of the high standards set in VA guidelines.

Developing Custodians of Care: Military Medical Leadership — 2011

The Military Health System faces a range of challenges, and effective leadership is key to meeting them. Approaches used by other organizations could guide improvements in how military health care leaders are selected, developed, and incentivized.

Reducing Costs, Increasing Capability: A New Equipping Strategy for Combat Support Hospitals — 2011

Describes a new equipping strategy for the Army's Combat Support Hospitals.

Should the Joint Medical Education and Training Campus Have an Office of Institutional Research? — 2011

Two goals of the joint medical training and education campus at Ft. Sam Houston are to become a high-performing learning organization and an accredited, degree-granting institution. A research and evaluation capability would help it meet these goals.

Views from the Homefront: How Military Youth and Spouses Are Coping with Deployment — 2011

Reports the results of a longitudinal study of youth from military families and their caregivers concerning their emotional well-being and how well they are coping with servicemembers' extended deployments.

The War Within: Suicide Prevention in the U.S. Military — 2011

The increasing number of suicides is causing concern in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Suicide-prevention programs in DoD and across the services have some (but not all) of the characteristics of comprehensive programs.

What Is the Impact of Using Evidence-Based Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Veterans? — 2011

If all veterans suffering from major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder were to receive evidence-based treatments, policy simulations suggest that cost savings generated would be $138 million (15 percent) over two years.

2010

Studies' Estimates of PTSD Prevalence Rates for Returning Service Members Vary Widely — 2010

Summarizes analyses of existing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies for war zone veterans, finding that the prevalence estimates vary widely and are linked to the use of different PTSD diagnostic definitions and divergent study samples.

2009

The Department of Defense Can Improve Its Response to and Management of Anthrax Incidents — 2009

Assesses the Department of Defense (DoD) response to three potential anthrax-related incidents at DoD facilities in March 2005 and recommends ways that DoD can improve its incident-response capabilities.

Enhancing Interoperability Among Enlisted Medical Personnel in the U.S. Military: A Case Study of Military Surgical Technologists — 2009

Air Force, Army, and Navy training programs for enlisted medical personnel are being consolidated to increase interoperability. A RAND methodology defines standards of practice across services and evaluates options for obtaining qualified personnel.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Counselors Under TRICARE — 2009

Evaluates a one-year trial in which two administrative requirements governing the provision of mental health care under TRICARE (the health care system for military personnel) were lifted, focusing on whether this increased access to such care.

Improving Mental Health Care for Returning Veterans — 2009

Identifies barriers to mental health care access for military servicemembers and veterans in community settings.

Using Civilian Facilities to Maintain Military Medical Skills — 2009

To maintain relevant medical skills, some military medical personnel stationed at military treatment facilities could be stationed in civilian emergency rooms and trauma centers, where cases more closely resemble those found during deployment.

2008

Gauging Future Demand for Veterans' Health Care: Does the VA Have the Forecasting Tools It Needs? — 2008

This research highlight summarizes an evaluation of the Enrollee Health Care Projection Model's accuracy and validity; identifies potential model enhancements; and assesses the risks posed by the VA's reliance on the model for budgeting and planning.

Invisible Wounds: Mental Health and Cognitive Care Needs of America's Returning Veterans — 2008

This research brief summarizes a comprehensive RAND study of the mental health and cognitive needs of returning servicemembers and veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

2007

Health Coverage Options for Military Retirees — 2007

This research brief summarizes the results of a 2006 pilot survey of military retirees, providing information on retirees' enrollment in civilian health care plans and reliance on TRICARE, the Department of Defense-sponsored health insurance.