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RAND advances understanding of health and health behaviors, and examines how the organization and financing of care affect costs, quality, and access. Our body of research includes innovative studies of health insurance, health care reform, and health information technology, as well as obesity, substance abuse, and PTSD. RAND findings also help inform policies that aim to improve the health of seniors and the care they receive.

Report

Spending Estimates Under Medicare for All

Apr 10, 2019

Under a Medicare for All plan similar to some proposals being discussed in Congress, total health expenditures would be an estimated 1.8 percent higher in 2019, relative to the status quo. While this is a small change in national spending, the federal government's health spending would increase substantially, rising by an estimated 221 percent.
Commentary

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.

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Journal Article

Understanding Which Teenagers Benefit Most From a Brief Primary Care Substance Use Intervention

A brief primary care intervention can be effective over the long-term for adolescents who report problems from alcohol and marijuana use.

Aug 16, 2019
Commentary

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

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 sleep expert shares how she helps her teens transition from summer back to waking up early for school.

Aug 15, 2019
Report

Report

The Use of Technology to Augment Clinical Care in Depression and Anxiety Disorders: An Evidence Map

This evidence map provides an overview of the existing research evaluating technology in depression and anxiety care and documents upcoming research to evaluate the role of technology to support clinical care.

Aug 15, 2019
Research Brief

How to Improve Mental Health Care for Veterans

Veterans, especially those who deployed overseas, face elevated risks of mental health conditions. Those who have served since the September 11, 2001, attacks are particularly vulnerable. About one in five experiences mental health problems. Are veterans getting the high-quality care that they need?

Aug 13, 2019
Report

Synthetic Opioid Surge Is a U.S. Public Health Emergency

In less than six years, the number of fatal overdoses in the United States that involve synthetic opioids has increased tenfold. Where are synthetic opioids concentrated? And to what extent is the problem spreading?

Aug 13, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

PTSD Symptoms Are Differentially Associated with General Distress and Physiological Arousal: Implications for the Conceptualization and Measurement of PTSD

Relations between PTSD symptom clusters and PTSD symptoms were examined with respect to general distress and physiological arousal.

Aug 13, 2019
Report

Forensic Familial and Moderate Stringency DNA Searches: Policies and Practices in the United States, England, and Wales

Forensic DNA databases help solve crimes. When an exact DNA match is not found, familial DNA and moderate stringency search may provide investigative leads. Evidence-based practices can guide policymakers on the use and effectiveness of this method.

Aug 12, 2019
Tool

Forensic DNA Surveillance Tool

This tool shows criminal justice policymakers how state policies affect the size and racial composition of forensic DNA databases. Users can view current state policies or change inputs and assumptions to see how database composition is impacted.

Aug 12, 2019
News Release

California Rules to Limit Surprise Medical Bills Are Working, but Influence Insurer-Provider Bargaining

A California law that limits the size of bills from out-of-network physicians for care delivered in hospitals appears to be protecting patients' financial liability. But it has shifted bargaining leverage in favor of insurance plans and had potential unintended consequences.

Aug 12, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Obesity Prevention Interventions and Implications for Energy Balance in the United States and Mexico: A Systematic Review of the Evidence and Meta-Analysis

Obesity is preventable and yet continues to be a major risk factor for chronic disease. This review searched the vast literature on obesity prevention interventions to assess their effects on daily energy consumed and energy expended.

Aug 8, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Business Cycles and Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment

The relationship between business cycles and health is theoretically complex. In a seminal paper, Ruhm (2000) outlined a series of economic mechanisms through which business cycles may influence health.

Aug 6, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Supervised Consumption Sites: A Nuanced Assessment of the Causal Evidence

Supervised consumption sites (SCS) operate in more than 10 countries. We review the higher-quality SCS literature and discuss the evidence through the lens of three types of decision makers and from three intellectual perspectives.

Aug 6, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Associations Between Driving Under the Influence or Riding with an Impaired Driver and Future Substance Use Among Adolescents

In this article, we examined characteristics of adolescents who reported DUI and RWID in the past year using a baseline survey and then assessed associations between baseline reports of DUI and RWID with reports of alcohol and marijuana use and consequences 6 months later.

Aug 6, 2019
Report

Report

Reviewing the Evidence Base for De-escalation Training: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

RAND Europe conducted an evidence assessment of the de-escalation training literature and found that training may help staff manage patient violence and aggression but de-escalation training may not reduce the number of violent/aggressive incidents.

Aug 6, 2019
Report

How Is the Cannabis Market in Washington State Changing?

This report provides detailed information about state-legal cannabis production and sales in Washington, as well as insights about the total amount of THC obtained from legal and illegal sources.

Aug 1, 2019
Report

Survey-Based Reporting of Post-Operative Visits for Select Procedures with 10- or 90-Day Global Periods: Final Report

For many surgeries and procedures, Medicare and most other insurers cover a bundle of services, including post-operative visits, during the global period. This survey was designed to capture the level of post-operative visits during this period.

Jul 31, 2019
Testimony

Implications of U.S.-China Collaborations on Global Health Issues

Past U.S.-China collaborations on pandemic surveillance, public health system building, and biomedical research have benefited both countries and the world. But rising tensions over trade, technology sharing, and security concerns may threaten joint efforts on health.

Jul 31, 2019
Report

What Correctional Institutions Need to Address Security Challenges

In addition to violence, contraband, and compromised staff members, correctional institutions are facing newer security threats like computer hacks, synthetic drugs, cell phones, and drones. An expert workshop identified high-priority needs for countering these threats.

Jul 31, 2019
Report

Profile of Institutional Review Board Characteristics Prior to the 2019 Implementation of the Revised Common Rule

This report details the results of a survey of institutional research boards (IRBs) to obtain baseline information on their demographics and their attitudes about their IRBs and the likely effects of proposed changes to the Revised Common Rule.

Jul 31, 2019
Report

Using Claims-Based Estimates of Post-Operative Visits to Revalue Procedures with 10- and 90-Day Global Periods

This report describes how CMS could use new claims-based data on post-operative visits to adjust the valuations of surgical procedures with 10- and 90-day global periods.

Jul 31, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Health, Health Care, and Aging

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