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Military Health and Health Care

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As a large employer 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 health care for everything from general health and well-being to specialized clinical care for deployment related injuries such as amputations, chemically induced illnesses, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Combining its expertise in health and defense policy, RAND examines policy issues surrounding military medical care needs and the systems intended to meet them.

Journal Article

Quality of Care in VA Health System Compares Well to Other Health Settings

Jul 18, 2016

The Veterans Affairs health care system generally performs better than or similar to other health care systems on providing safe and effective care to patients, with some exceptions.
Report

What Is the Quality of Mental Health Care in the Military?

Aug 7, 2017

The care provided by the Military Health System (MHS) is critical to maintaining a physically and psychologically healthy, mission-ready force. When it comes to PTSD and depression, the MHS demonstrates excellent care in some areas but could improve in others.

Explore Military Health and Health Care

Report

Are Soldiers Getting What They Need?

In addition to typical American household issues, service members and their families deal with challenges like deployments and frequent moves. A survey of more than 7,000 active-duty soldiers provides insight into the problems they face, their needs, and the resources they use.

Oct 9, 2017
Research Brief

A New Way Forward in Veterans' Mental Health Care: How "Welcome Back Veterans" Is Making a Difference

This brief provides an overview of the Welcome Back Veterans (WBV) initiative, which provides grants to programs focused on addressing the mental health needs of service members, veterans, and their families.

Oct 9, 2017
Report

Bridging Gaps in Veterans' Mental Health Care

The Welcome Back Veterans (WBV) Initiative aims to bridge gaps in mental health care for returning veterans and their families. Strategic planning will help ensure WBV's continued effectiveness.

Oct 9, 2017
Research Brief

The Changing Landscape for Veterans' Mental Health Care

This brief examines the challenges that newly emerging private initiatives must address to succeed and to sustain their efforts in treating the mental health needs of service members, veterans, and their families.

Oct 9, 2017
Report

Report

The Impact of Health Reform on Purchased Care Access: National Health Reform and Modernization of the Military Health System Study

Newly insured patients through the Affordable Care Act coverage expansion may change how civilian providers interact with the TRICARE program. Some physicians may face financial incentives to drop TRICARE patients for newly insured patients.

Sep 27, 2017
Commentary

The Lack of Clarity Over Medical Support for Light Footprint Operations and How It Could Be Solved

Early identification and planning for medical support for EU-led military operations are vital to saving lives, treating injuries and keeping personnel healthy. Common standards would ensure high-quality and consistent medical support regardless of which country is providing it.

Sep 19, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of VA Home-Based Primary Care on American Indian Reservations: A Qualitative Multi-Case Study

Common experiences among Veterans Affairs medical centers expanding their home-based primary care services to rural American Indian reservations provide lessons learned for future expansions.

Sep 19, 2017
News Release

News Release

Repealing or Replacing Affordable Care Act Would Result in More Uninsured Veterans, Increase Stress on VA Health System

Proposals to repeal or replace the federal Affordable Care Act would likely increase the demand for service in the Veterans Affairs medical system, while also increasing the number of veterans who have no insurance coverage at all.

Sep 14, 2017
Report

Repealing or Replacing ACA Would Result in More Uninsured Veterans and Stress on VA Health System

Recent congressional proposals to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would increase the number of uninsured nonelderly veterans and further increase demand for VA health care. The effects would vary across states, but the largest impacts would be felt in states that expanded Medicaid.

Sep 14, 2017
Research Brief

How Might Veterans and the VA Health System Be Affected by Repeal of the Affordable Care Act?

The American Health Care Act would increase uninsurance among veterans and demand for Department of Veterans Affairs care by a greater margin than simply returning to pre-Affordable Care Act levels of coverage.

Sep 14, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Primary Care Providers with More Experience and Stronger Self-Efficacy Beliefs Regarding Women Veterans Screen More Frequently for Interpersonal Violence

Some primary care provider experiences and beliefs regarding women's health care influence rates of screening for military sexual trauma (MST) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV) .

Sep 6, 2017
Report

Report

Delivering Clinical Practice Guideline–Concordant Care for PTSD and Major Depression in Military Treatment Facilities

This report describes the psychological health workforce at military treatment facilities, examines the extent to which care is consistent with clinical practice guidelines, and identifies facilitators and barriers to providing this care.

Aug 14, 2017
Infographic

Military Mental Health Care: Provider Perspectives on Treating PTSD and Depression

This infographic describes data on various aspects of the Military Health System capacity to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Aug 14, 2017
News Release

News Release

More Than 80% of Military Health Facilities Now Offer Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments

More than 80 percent of military health care facilities offer some form of complementary and alternative medicine—in addition to conventional medicine— mainly for pain management and psychological disorders.

Aug 9, 2017
Report

More Than 80% of Military Health Facilities Provide Complementary and Alternative Medicine

In addition to conventional medicine, 83 percent of military health care facilities offer therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, stress management, yoga, biofeedback, and massage for pain management and psychological disorders.

Aug 9, 2017
Research Brief

Research Brief

Supporting Readiness: Assessing and Improving the Quality of Care for Service Members with PTSD and Depression

Describes various aspects of assessing and improving the quality of care for service members with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Aug 7, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Deployment Length, Inflammatory Markers, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Military Couples

Longer deployments are associated with changes in a range of health-related markers in military veterans as well as their spouses.

Aug 4, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Insomnia Severity as a Mediator of the Association Between Mental Health Symptoms and Alcohol Use in Young Adult Veterans

Insomnia severity accounts in part for the impact of symptoms of depression and PTSD on alcohol use in young adult veterans.

Aug 3, 2017
Commentary

Military Power Is All About People: A Return to Personnel Policy

Ensuring the strength of U.S. armed forces is critical to U.S. national security and the key source of strength is its people. True investment in personnel is a long-term legacy and an investment worthy of attention and policy debate to ensure the United States continues to recruit and retain the most effective fighting force in the world.

Jul 27, 2017

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RAND Topic:
Military Health and Health Care

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