Military Health and Health Care

As the largest health care provider in the United States, the Department of Defense faces significant challenges ensuring that all members of the military, as well as their families, receive appropriate care for everything from general health and well-being to amputations, chemically induced illnesses, and post-traumatic stress. Combining its expertise in health and defense policy, RAND examines policy issues surrounding military medical care needs and the systems intended to meet them.

Research conducted by: RAND Arroyo Center; RAND Project AIR FORCE; RAND National Security Research Division; RAND Health; Center for Military Health Policy Research

All Items (158)

PERIODICAL

Calls of Duty: America Weighs Its Obligations to Veterans and Their Families — May 11, 2012

Ten RAND authors highlight seven ways in which the United States can help to ensure that veterans and their families receive health care, employment and education opportunities, and other benefits.

REPORT

Improving Joint Expeditionary Medical Planning Tools Based on a Patient Flow Approach — Apr 24, 2012

The authors propose a planning concept for U.S. military expeditionary medical care that, by promoting patient flow rate as the common unit of measurement, will help integrate medical planning across treatment and evacuation functions, across the increasing levels of care, and across the different military services.

REPORT

Medical Readiness of the Reserve Component — Apr 16, 2012

The reserve components (RCs) must ensure that reservists are not only properly equipped and trained, but also free from health-related conditions that could limit their ability to carry out their duties. This volume identifies existing medical readiness requirements, quantifies current RC medical readiness, identifies obstacles to achieving compliance, and suggests options for improving medical readiness in a cost-effective manner.

REPORT

Assessment of the Content, Design, and Dissemination of the Real Warriors Campaign — Apr 16, 2012

The Real Warriors Campaign, launched in 2009, is a multimedia program designed to promote resilience, facilitate recovery, and support the reintegration of returning servicemembers, veterans, and their families. This report presents the results of an independent assessment of the campaign.

RESEARCH BRIEF

How Do Soldiers’ Deployments Affect Children’s Academic Performance and Behavioral Health? — Apr 9, 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.

BLOG

Celebrating the Month of the Military Child — Apr 5, 2012

April is the Month of the Military Child, a national initiative to support and honor America's service members and their families. The celebration is being recognized with events around the country, and is a key national initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama.

COMMENTARY

Military Families: What We Know and What We Don't Know — Mar 2, 2012

Never before in our nation's history have our service members and their families been so challenged and never before have their struggles (and successes) been the topic of so much scholarly attention, writes Sarah O. Meadows.

PERIODICAL

RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 3, Winter 2011-2012 — Jan 13, 2012

Stories discuss world demographic trends, Afghan peace prospects, U.S. health care spending, California prisoner reentry, Latin American inequalities, global health, veterans' mental health, highway investments, teacher bonuses, and charter schools.

COMMENTARY

Bridging the Gaps in Treating Veterans with Post-Deployment Mental Health Problems — Dec 5, 2011

Delivery of evidence-based care to all veterans with PTSD or depression would pay for itself—or even save money—within two years by improving productivity and reducing medical and mortality costs, writes Terri Tanielian.

REPORT

Suicide Prevention Efforts and Behavioral Health Treatment in the Veterans Health Administration — Dec 2, 2011

Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health on December 2, 2011.

MULTIMEDIA

VA Mental Health Care: How Good Is It and How Can We Make It Better? — Dec 1, 2011

In this December 2011 Congressional Briefing, Katherine Watkins discusses the VA's capacity to deliver care to veterans with mental health and substance use disorders and the quality of the care that is delivered. This congressionally mandated study is the first comprehensive look at the full spectrum of clinical services provided to veterans with mental health issues.

RESEARCH BRIEF

Reducing Costs, Increasing Capability: A New Equipping Strategy for Combat Support Hospitals — Nov 21, 2011

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

REPORT

A New Approach for Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families — Nov 21, 2011

A survey tool based on a new methodological framework can be used by the Department of Defense and local military commanders to gauge the problems and problem-related needs of service members and their families, how well those needs are being met, and the barriers and bridges to accessing services.

RESEARCH BRIEF

Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families: A New Approach — Nov 21, 2011

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

MULTIMEDIA

The New Generation of Veterans — Nov 15, 2011

At this November 2011 Policy Forum, Jonathan Schleifer, policy director for Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America, joined RAND's Terry Schell for a discussion about the challenges faced by and experiences of recent combat veterans.

REPORT

Multicomponent Dietary Supplements for the Military — Nov 14, 2011

The U.S. military has had a long-standing interest in the potential for dietary supplements to enhance performance and optimize health among military service personnel. An expert panel considered issues pertaining to the development, assessment (of both efficacy and safety), and regulation of multicomponent dietary supplements for the military.

TOOL

Catalog Analyzes DoD-Sponsored Programs that Address Psychological Health — Nov 9, 2011

The U.S. Department of Defense sponsors many programs for servicemembers and their families. RAND compiled a searchable online catalog of 211 programs that address psychological health and traumatic brain injury.

REPORT

Care Is Expensive for Mentally Ill Veterans, but Quality Is as Good or Better Than Other Health Systems — Oct 19, 2011

Treating U.S. veterans with mental illness and substance use disorders is more expensive than caring for those with other medical conditions but the quality of mental health care offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is as good as or better than that reported by privately insured, Medicare, or Medicaid populations.

NEWS RELEASE

Care Is Expensive for Mentally Ill Veterans, but Quality Is as Good or Better Than Other Health Systems — Oct 19, 2011

Treating U.S. veterans with mental illness and substance use disorders is more expensive than caring for those with other medical conditions but the quality of mental health care offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is as good as or better than that reported by privately insured, Medicare, or Medicaid populations.

RESEARCH BRIEF

The Cost and Quality of VA Mental Health Services — Oct 19, 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.

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