As the largest health care provider in the United States, the Department of Defense faces significant challenges in maintaining quality health care for current and retired military personnel. RAND has a wealth of expertise in health and defense policy research, which informs its analyses related to the medical care needs of military veterans and the care systems intended to meet them.
PERIODICAL
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
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.
PERIODICAL
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
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
Testimony presented before the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health on December 2, 2011.
MULTIMEDIA
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.
MULTIMEDIA
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
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
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 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.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Collaborative care models for depression designed and implemented by VA primary care practices using evidence based quality improvement increased patients' use of antidepressants.
RESEARCH BRIEF
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.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
About one-third of veterans report using alcohol, street drugs, or medication prescribed for others to manage pain.
RESEARCH BRIEF
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.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
This study conducted in the VA mental health system identified consensus areas, validated instruments, and assessment strategies that can be used for monitoring outcomes and improving quality of care for schizophrenia in routine practice.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Longitudinal studies examining care for seriously ill patients are needed to understand patients' experience of illness, evaluate interventions, and improve quality of care. Unfortunately, such studies face substantial methodological challenges. This article describes such challenges and the strategies used to overcome them in a successfully implemented palliative care intervention trial for veterans.
REPORT
Military veterans from New York state who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are at high risk for mental health problems. Outreach to connect veterans with services and better coordination among government and community agencies is needed.
NEWS RELEASE
Military veterans from New York state who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are at high risk for mental health problems. Outreach to connect veterans with services and better coordination among government and community agencies is needed.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
This paper presents the methodology used to develop a comprehensive set of performance indicators in a national evaluation of the mental healthcare delivered by the Veterans Health Administration.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
The 15 % of veterans with mental health illness accounted for about one-third of total VA costs, mostly for non-mental health conditions. VA quality of care was generally better than care in private plans, but quality varied across VA regions.
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