Commentary from RAND Health Care Researchers

Drug Markets and Supply
What Will the Opioid Crisis Look Like in Five Years?
Nov 18, 2019
Despite variations in European opioid markets, there is an overarching commonality too: Once a synthetic opioid like fentanyl becomes dominant, it stays that way. The United States should prepare for fentanyl and other synthetic opioids as a lasting phenomenon. Learning from other countries' experiences is an important part of that effort.
Caregivers
Recognizing Family Caregivers as Part of the Health Care Team
Nov 18, 2019
Recent shifts in health care practices have left family caregivers increasingly responsible for medical tasks. Given family caregivers' central role in medical care, there are efforts underway to improve family caregiver integration into the health care team, but there are barriers to effective integration and engagement.
Suicide
More Can Be Done to Save Veterans from Suicide
Nov 4, 2019
A decade of research at RAND has sought to focus the national conversation about suicide in general, and veteran suicide in particular, around solutions that work. The overwhelming message: We could do more to save the lives of veterans like Daniel Somers. Here is his story.
Wildfires
Turning Off Power to Combat Wildfires Could Harm the Very People Who Need Protection
Oct 28, 2019
Intentionally shutting off power may be a practical way to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires. But is it worth the risks? Until more thoughtful and comprehensive decisions are made, planned power outages need to be planned better.
Breast Cancer
Treating Breast Cancer Is Not Just About the Disease: Its Wider Impacts Need to Be Considered, Too
Oct 22, 2019
Successes in the early treatment of breast cancer are to be celebrated. But those achievements need not limit the development of further and better treatment for patients. Understanding the disease's wider effects could help bring this about.
Environmental Science and Technology
The Science of Climate Policy: Q&A with Benjamin Preston
Oct 22, 2019
Benjamin Preston, a senior policy researcher and director of RAND's Community Health and Environmental Policy Program, specializes in climate risk and adaptation, disaster recovery, and resilience. In this Q&A, he discusses common misperceptions about climate change and how to decarbonize the U.S. economy.
Health Care Workforce
Review of Behavioral Health Technician Training, Policies, and Practice Identifies New Opportunities
Oct 15, 2019
Behavioral health technicians are trained to be an essential part of the mental health clinical team, serving as provider extenders who work alongside and support licensed mental health providers. What are the factors that affect these roles? And how can the Military Health System most effectively incorporate them into mental health care settings?
Opioids
Synthetic Opioid Crisis Still Growing, Often Among Unwitting Users
Oct 14, 2019
Although opioid prescriptions in the U.S. have fallen, opioid overdose deaths remain at historic levels. The continued spread of fentanyl and other illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids suggests the problem could still get worse.
Veterans Health Care
How High-Quality Mental Health Care Improves Veterans' Lives
Sep 25, 2019
A growing body of RAND research shows that veterans who receive high-quality care have the best chance of improving their mental health outcomes.
Pharmaceutical Drugs
The Promise and Peril of Offshoring Prescription Drug Pricing
Sep 16, 2019
Most Americans, including Congress and the president, agree that prescription drug prices are too high. Policy proposals from both major parties could promise some relief. Several of them look to drug prices in other countries to help set prices in the United States.
Tackle Fentanyl like a Poisoning Outbreak, Not a Drug Epidemic
Sep 3, 2019
America's fentanyl problem is far deadlier than past crises with other illegal drugs. New ideas, be they public policies, technologies or law enforcement strategies, are desperately needed. Continuing to treat fentanyl just like previous drug epidemics will likely be insufficient and may condemn thousands more to early deaths.
Sleep
I'm a Sleep Specialist. Here's How I Prepare My Two Teenagers for the First Day of School
Aug 15, 2019
Sleep deprivation has measurable negative effects on teens' behavior and health. Early school start times make it difficult for teens to get sufficient sleep. A RAND sleep expert shares how she helps her teens transition from summer back to waking up early for school.
Child Health
Sleep Deprivation Could Do Long-Term Damage to Migrant Children
Jul 22, 2019
The challenges faced by detained children at the U.S. southern border are immense. Sleep disruption may significantly hinder their ability to function physically and mentally. Policymakers shouldn't overlook the importance of providing appropriate sleeping conditions.
Childhood Trauma
After School Shootings, Children and Communities Struggle to Heal
Jul 19, 2019
School shootings leave wounds that affect students, school staff, families, and communities for years. Building community resilience, implementing evidence-based mental health support early, and providing access for survivors and the community immediately and in the long term could help promote healing and prevent more tragedy.
Health Care Price Competition
Price-Fixing Case Reveals Vulnerability of Generic Drug Policies
Jul 15, 2019
A massive lawsuit filed by 44 states accuses 20 major drug makers of colluding to inflate prices on more than 100 generic drugs, including HIV, cancer, and depression treatments. If these allegations are true, then this isn't just a violation of antitrust law. It's a betrayal of the policies that created and defended the entire generic drug industry.
Child Well-Being
Augmented Reality on the Playground
Jul 10, 2019
As children's screen time increases, their time spent outdoors decreases. How might new technologies merge with nature to help kids get outside and be more active?
Drug Markets and Supply
China's Ban on Fentanyl Drugs Won't Likely Stem America's Opioid Crisis
May 22, 2019
Given China's recent decision to ban the unauthorized manufacture of fentanyl, authorities there appear to recognize a growing problem. But China cannot solve the U.S. opioid problem. The United States could do more to reduce demand for opioids as well as drug users' exposure to these powerful drugs.
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Why Are Drug Prices So High in the United States?
May 3, 2019
Ezekiel J. Emanuel is vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. In 2018, he delivered the Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy at RAND, where he offered a framework for thinking about drug pricing.
Patient Experience
A New Way to Capture the Patient Experience
May 2, 2019
Researchers have developed a more effective and reliable way for patients to provide narrative feedback about the care they receive. When the right questions are asked, patients' answers can help health care providers better understand the patient experience and learn how they could improve.
Child Welfare
A Champion for Children and Practitioners: Q&A with Dionne Barnes-Proby
Apr 29, 2019
Dionne Barnes-Proby started her career as a child welfare social worker and is now a social policy researcher at RAND. She brings the voices of clients and practitioners to the conversation, so that policies will reflect an understanding of the needs of the populations they're intended to improve.

Browse all Health and Health Care Commentary

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Should Medicare Be Opened to Americans at Age 50?

The Arab Spring in the Upside-Down

Did No One Audit the Apple Card Algorithm?

Preparing for the Future of Fentanyl

The Policy Currents Podcast

Helping Children Cope with Trauma: A School-Based Intervention

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Addressing the Invisible Wounds of War

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Commentary from RAND Health Care Researchers

What Will the Opioid Crisis Look Like in Five Years?

Recognizing Family Caregivers as Part of the Health Care Team

More Can Be Done to Save Veterans from Suicide

Turning Off Power to Combat Wildfires Could Harm the Very People Who Need Protection

Treating Breast Cancer Is Not Just About the Disease: Its Wider Impacts Need to Be Considered, Too

The Science of Climate Policy: Q&A with Benjamin Preston

Review of Behavioral Health Technician Training, Policies, and Practice Identifies New Opportunities

Synthetic Opioid Crisis Still Growing, Often Among Unwitting Users

How High-Quality Mental Health Care Improves Veterans' Lives

The Promise and Peril of Offshoring Prescription Drug Pricing

Tackle Fentanyl like a Poisoning Outbreak, Not a Drug Epidemic

I'm a Sleep Specialist. Here's How I Prepare My Two Teenagers for the First Day of School

Sleep Deprivation Could Do Long-Term Damage to Migrant Children

After School Shootings, Children and Communities Struggle to Heal

Price-Fixing Case Reveals Vulnerability of Generic Drug Policies

Augmented Reality on the Playground

China's Ban on Fentanyl Drugs Won't Likely Stem America's Opioid Crisis

Why Are Drug Prices So High in the United States?

A New Way to Capture the Patient Experience

A Champion for Children and Practitioners: Q&A with Dionne Barnes-Proby

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