RAND advances understanding of health and health behaviors and examines how the organization and financing of care affect costs, quality, and access. RAND's body of research—conducted primarily through the RAND Health division—includes innovative studies of health insurance, health care reform, health information technology, and women's health, as well as topical concerns such as obesity, complementary and alternative medicine, and PTSD in veterans and survivors of catastrophe.
With the complex process of implementing the ACA underway, RAND research is tracking the progress of implementation and assessing the potential consequences of choices facing federal and state governments, employers, families, and individuals.
In its second term, the Obama Administration can restrain further health care spending growth—without compromising quality—by employing four broad strategies: fostering efficient and accountable providers, engaging and empowering consumers, promoting population health, and facilitating high-value innovation.
M-TEENS, the Military Teenagers' Environments, Exercise, and Nutrition Study, will examine how military adolescents' schools and neighborhoods influence their physical activity, eating behaviors, and more.
Established in December 2005 to support hurricane recovery and long-term economic development, the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute is dedicated to developing informed public policy in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and a better future for the people who live there.
Because cancer patients often receive poorly organised and fragmented care, University College Hospital Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support have established a new cancer centre. RAND Europe is evaluating the centre's efforts and developing a sustainable quality improvement environment across the partnership.
HIV/AIDS can rightly be called an epidemic in the Gulf States. RAND has examined attitudes and beliefs about HIV and AIDS, the roles of faith-based and community organizations, and issues regarding AIDS treatment; this research can help Congressional, state, and local policymakers understand how to approach the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS in the region.
If the pharmaceutical industry develops innovative and meaningful business models to offer services that improve access and adherence to prescription drugs for common chronic conditions, it can profit far more than by developing more "blockbuster" drugs.
The RAND Center for Health and Safety in the Workplace conducts research and analysis that helps improve worker health and safety and reduce the economic costs of workplace accidents and illnesses.
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program writes the vast majority of flood insurance on residential properties in the United States; current legislation includes a number of reforms that could strengthen the program. RAND has completed studies in four key areas that offer insight into the issues under consideration.
The performance of health systems is a key determinant of the inclusiveness of economic growth. With Kenya and Tanzania as case studies, RAND Europe is exploring whether potential synergies between industrial development and health systems can contribute to faster and more inclusive growth.
PHRESH Plus explores whether making parks, playgrounds, and trails—“green space”—safer and more accessible could impact the health neighborhood residents.
By using newly available data from more than 15 countries, researchers are analyzing how the interaction between individual behavior, social context, institutions, and policies shapes health and well-being in old age.
The original purpose of experience modification rating in workers' compensation was to address insurer underwriting concerns; researchers are now exploring whether the rating also operates as an effective safety incentive for businesses.
Evaluating California's disability ratings and worker outcomes can help to assess the accuracy and consistency of these ratings, identify potential practices and policies that would improve both the quality and the efficiency of the medical care provided under the California workers' compensation system, and increase the efficiency of the medical benefit administration.
California's Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducts a higher percentage of accident investigations than the federal agency does. Should Cal-OSHA allocate inspection resources differently among different types of inspections and among different types of workplaces?
An evaluation of 16 integrated care pilot programs in England revealed that greater integration of health and social care led to improved care processes and more satisfied staff, but some aspects of patient experience were less positive, and the intended reduction in emergency admissions was not seen.
Employment trajectories following the onset of disability are poorly understood. Employer-focused policy interventions may reduce uptake in public disability insurance and disability-induced early retirement.
As the Affordable Care Act expands health insurance coverage in the U.S., the "cost" of applying for SSDI will decline for many. Studying the effect of Massachusetts health care reform in 2006 may provide insights into the impact the ACA may have on SSDI applications and awards.
RAND Europe is working to capture a broader view of malaria's impacts on the economy and to estimate the potential effects that reduced malaria could have over time on consumption inequality, poverty, and dynamic growth.
This study examines the injury rate profile of new firms and seeks to answer the following questions: How do their rates change over time? Are the rates related to how long they remain in business? What policy initiatives might address the risk there?
RAND Europe is conducting an independent evaluation of the Department of Health's drug and alcohol recovery payment-by-results pilots to determine whether market forces can encourage the development of better recovery programmes.
Previous research has shown that changes in income and health insurance are associated with changes in health and/or mortality. An examination of administrative data may show whether receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance and participation in related programs causally affect survival rates among applicants.
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