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 posttraumatic 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.

Commentary
Addressing the Shortage of Behavioral Health Clinicians: Lessons from the Military Health System
Access to behavioral health services is one of the top challenges for the U.S. health care system, due in part to a shortage of licensed mental health providers. One potential solution to expanding the behavioral health workforce can be found in the U.S. military.
May 23, 2022
Report
How the Dobbs v. Jackson Ruling Could Affect U.S. National Security
Women are an integral part of the U.S. military and DoD civilian workforce. Limiting their access to legal abortion services will affect their health and could decrease force readiness. It could also raise health care, child care, and education costs, and affect recruitment and retention.
Sep 13, 2022

Explore Military Health and Health Care

Blog
U.S. Gun Laws, China's COVID Outbreak, Space in 2050: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on gun policy in America, the myth of America's “Ukraine fatigue,” the COVID outbreak in China, and more.
Jan 13, 2023
Report
Considerations Around the Use of Intensive Outpatient Programs for Service Members Who Experienced Sexual Trauma in the U.S. Military
This report summarizes a review of clinical practices and TRICARE requirements for intensive outpatient programs to treat active-duty members affected by the mental health consequences of sexual harassment and sexual assault while in the military.
Jan 10, 2023
Report
Psychological Harms and Treatment of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in Adults: Systematic and Scoping Reviews to Inform Improved Care for Military Populations
Researchers conducted three evidence reviews on interventions for victims of sexual assault and harassment in military settings, barriers and facilitators to accessing care, and associations between victims and specific mental health conditions.
Jan 9, 2023
Research Brief
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in Military Settings
Members of the military who have been victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment often experience PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders. What therapies are effective at treating these conditions? And what barriers prevent service members from getting the care that they need?
Jan 9, 2023
News Release
Food Insecurity Affects Many Active-Duty U.S. Military Families, but Root Causes Remain Unclear
More than a quarter of active-duty military personnel have faced some level of food insecurity, but the underlying causes are not well understood.
Jan 4, 2023
Report
Food Insecurity Among U.S. Service Members and Their Families
Over a quarter of active duty personnel were food insecure in 2018, but only 14 percent of them used food assistance programs. Some said that the military culture of self-sufficiency and pride kept them from seeking help. Other barriers were a lack of knowledge about available resources and eligibility.
Jan 3, 2023
Research Brief
Food Insecurity in the U.S. Military: Responses to Eight Topics Raised by Congress
In response to a congressional query, RAND researchers examined the extent of food insecurity among military service members, their participation in food assistance programs, and the advisability of a basic needs allowance.
Jan 3, 2023
Report
Alternative Approaches for Expanding the Air Force's Task Force True North Program
This report identifies approaches to expanding the Air Force's Task Force True North program, which seeks to provide prevention and treatment programs to airmen in need by embedding health care providers directly into units.
Dec 22, 2022
Report
Evaluation of Flexible Spending Accounts for Active-Duty Service Members
This report presents an analysis of the implications of flexible spending accounts for active-duty service members and their families that would allow pre-tax payment of dependent care expenses, insurance premiums, and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Dec 12, 2022
Blog
Supporting America's Veterans: RAND Weekly Recap
This Veterans Day edition of the weekly recap focuses on helping veterans succeed in civilian jobs, a bakery that doubles as a business school for members of the military community, Black Americans’ military service, and more.
Nov 11, 2022
Essay
Dog Tag Bakery: A Fresh Start for Veterans
A bakery in Washington, D.C., brings together service-disabled post–9/11 veterans, military spouses, and caregivers. For five months, they are immersed in an intensive entrepreneurial-focused business program. It's become a model for helping veterans and others in the military community reestablish their lives.
Nov 1, 2022
Periodical
RAND Review: November-December 2022
Features explore an innovative fellowship for military veterans, spouses, and caregivers; how veterans fare in the civilian labor market after leaving the military; and the impact of racism on patient safety in health care settings.
Oct 31, 2022
Report
Peer-to-Peer Support Interventions for Health Care Providers: A Series of Literature Reviews
This report presents a series of literature reviews focused on the evidence for peer-to-peer interventions for health care providers receiving emotional support from colleagues.
Oct 31, 2022
Research Brief
Fellowship Program Supports the Transition from Military to Civilian Life
Dog Tag Inc.'s entrepreneurial fellowship program helps veterans, their spouses, and their caregivers prepare for careers in the civilian workforce. In addition to occupational training in a variety of business sectors, the program offers wellness activities and peer support.
Oct 12, 2022
Report
The Impacts of Dog Tag Inc. A Mixed-Methods Exploration of an Entrepreneurial Fellowship for Veterans, Military Spouses, and Military Caregivers
This report describes efforts to help Dog Tag Inc. better understand the impacts of its entrepreneurial fellowship program, which seeks to help veterans, their spouses, and those who serve as their caregivers reintegrate into civilian life.
Oct 12, 2022
Multimedia
Wait Times for Veterans Scheduling Health Care Appointments
An overview of testimony by Carrie M. Farmer presented before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on September 21, 2022.
Sep 21, 2022
Testimony
Wait Times for Veterans Scheduling Health Care Appointments
There are no national standards for how long is too long for a patient to wait for a health care appointment. Better data about the timeliness and quality of VA Community Care are needed to help veterans make better-informed decisions. What are some recommended approaches to improve data collection and reporting?
Sep 21, 2022
News Release
Landmark Women's Reproductive Health Survey Shows Need for Improvements in DoD Reproductive Health Care
Improvements to reproductive health care services provided by the U.S. Department of Defense would allow DoD to better meet the needs of female service members and address the high rate of unintended pregnancies among active-duty service women.
Sep 13, 2022
Infographic
Assessing Reproductive Health Among Active-Duty Service Women in the U.S. Air Force: Results from Respondents to the Women's Reproductive Health Survey
The RAND-developed Women’s Reproductive Health Survey (WRHS) was conducted to better understand active-duty service women’s experiences with reproductive health. This infographic presents results for the U.S. Air Force.
Sep 13, 2022
Infographic
Assessing Reproductive Health Among Active-Duty Service Women in the U.S. Army: Results from Respondents to the Women's Reproductive Health Survey
The RAND-developed Women's Reproductive Health Survey (WRHS) was conducted to better understand active-duty service women's experiences with reproductive health. This infographic presents results for the U.S. Army.
Sep 13, 2022