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Veterans Health Care

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As the largest integrated health care provider in the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs faces significant challenges in ensuring access to high quality health care for military veterans. RAND has a wealth of expertise in health policy research, which informs its analyses related to the medical care needs of military veterans and their families, as well as the care systems intended to meet them.

Essay
Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics in Treating PTSD and Depression Among Veterans
Clinical trials have shown that psychedelics can have a positive effect on mental health conditions like PTSD or depression for some people. Enthusiasm for these treatments has grown among veterans and providers who work with military populations. The VA should invest in research and provide guidance on psychedelics.
Nov 8, 2023
Content
RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute
The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute, housed at the RAND Corporation, is dedicated to conducting innovative, interdisciplinary, evidence-based research to improve the lives of those who have served in the U.S. military.
Jul 15, 2021

Explore Veterans Health Care

Report
"If Everyone Is Responsible, Then No One Is": Proceedings from a Roundtable on Factors That Affect Veterans' Transitions from Military to Civilian Life
The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute hosted a roundtable discussion on the transition to becoming a veteran and its implications for life trajectories, spanning one year prior to one year after leaving military service.
Dec 6, 2023
Periodical
RAND Review: November-December 2023
Features explore the use of psychedelics to address depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders among veterans, and the prevalence of food insecurity among active-duty military families and veterans.
Nov 9, 2023
Testimony
Improving Treatment Outcomes for Veterans with Mental Health Conditions
Current treatments for veterans experiencing PTSD and other mental health conditions are largely effective but they do not work for everyone. More treatments that yield better outcomes are needed. With sustained research investment and careful planning, psychedelic-assisted therapies hold great promise to improve care for veterans.
Oct 19, 2023
Commentary
A Matter of Trust: More Delays for the VA's EHR System
Given how long it's taken to get five Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals online, the path to around 170 hospitals using the VA's new electronic health record system seems hard to envision. The next step won't even come until March. Until then, veterans just have to wait as fixes are made, money is spent, and patients are hopefully kept safe.
Oct 6, 2023
Report
Using Quality Measures and Measurement-Based Care to Improve Behavioral Health Care for Veterans and Service Members
Using quality measures and measurement-based care can help community-based organizations that provide behavioral health (BH) care to veterans and service members ensure that their BH care is high-quality and effective.
Sep 12, 2023
Commentary
Potential Changes to Veterans' Benefits Under the Major Richard Star Act: Veterans' Issues in Focus
The Major Richard Star Act would drop the “offset” that reduces retirement pay for some disabled veterans. If it is signed into law, what could change for veterans’ benefits, and how many veterans would see an increase in their compensation?
Aug 31, 2023
Report
Review of Reserve Component Activation Data Quality
In this report, the authors quantify the frequency of errors in reserve component (RC) activation data, discuss the potential sources of each type of error, and estimate the potential impact of these errors on RC member benefits.
Jul 25, 2023
Blog
The Wagner Revolt, Housing in L.A., Cyberstalking: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the Wagner Group's power play against Russian leadership, how Truth Decay affects national security, why the U.S. legal system is underprepared to handle cyberstalking cases, and more.
Jun 30, 2023
Commentary
Home and Community-Based Services Help Aging Veterans and Provide Cost Savings
Home and community-based services allow veterans to “age in place” while receiving the care and support they need. They also cost less than institutional care facilities. As these VA programs expand, it will be important to make them available to all veterans who would benefit from them.
Jun 26, 2023
Blog
Teacher Well-Being, Russian PMCs, AI Conspiracy Theories: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how America's teachers are doing, the proliferation of Russian private military companies, preparing for conspiracy theories about artificial intelligence, and more.
Jun 23, 2023
Multimedia
Geographic Availability of Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Veterans
Testimony presented before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on June 14, 2023.
Jun 14, 2023
Testimony
Geographic Availability of Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Veterans
Far too many Americans, and especially veterans, fail to receive treatment for substance use disorder. Improved data collection on the availability and accessibility of treatment could help increase the number of veterans who get treatment and prevent unnecessary drug overdose deaths.
Jun 14, 2023
Journal Article
Geographical Access to Specialized Behavioral Health Treatment Programs for U.S. Active Duty Service Members and Military Families from Military Installations
The purpose of this study is to determine geographical access to specialized behavioral health programs tailored to active duty U.S. service members and military families from military installations.
Jun 1, 2023
Blog
RAND Turns 75: A Look Through the Decades At World-Changing Research
From anticipating the Space Age in the 1940s to studying gun policy and COVID-19 responses in the 2020s, RAND is celebrating 75 years of research that has made a difference.
May 8, 2023
Journal Article
Veteran Knowledge, Perceptions, and Receipt of Care Following Visits to VA Emergency Departments for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
Using explanatory sequential mixed methods, we interviewed Veterans with follow-up care needs after ACSC-related ED visits, and manually reviewed ED notes, abstracting interviewees' documented follow-up needs and care received.
Apr 27, 2023
Commentary
The Ripples of War Are Only Beginning to Spread. Is America Ready?
There are now more than 1.9 million U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 50,000 were physically injured and around 15 percent have experienced PTSD. Perhaps all were exposed to burn pits and other toxins. What are the long-term impacts of the wars on those who fought them?
Mar 23, 2023
Report
A Needs Assessment of Women Veterans in Western Pennsylvania: Final Report to Adagio Health
To identify opportunities to expand and enhance Adagio Health's efforts to support women veterans' health and wellness, the authors quantitatively and qualitatively assessed the needs of women veterans in the Adagio Health service area.
Mar 8, 2023
Research Brief
Opportunities to Improve Support for Western Pennsylvania’s Women Veterans
Despite their growing numbers, women who have served in the U.S. military continue to encounter challenges accessing the services and support they need. What national and local programs, services, and supports for veterans are available to meet those needs?
Mar 8, 2023
Commentary
RAND Experts on Veteran Mental Health Respond to the White House Mental Health Research Priorities
The White House identified eight research priorities to better manage America's current mental health crisis. RAND researchers highlight why each area is critical for veteran mental health and how RAND is contributing to address them.
Feb 20, 2023

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Rajeev Ramchand

Codirector, RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute

Rajeev Ramchand (he/him) is codirector of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute and a senior behavioral scientist at RAND. He studies the prevalence, prevention, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders in adolescents, service members and veterans, and…
Mary Avriette

Assistant Policy Researcher and Ph.D. Candidate, Pardee RAND Graduate School

M. Avriette is a Ph.D. student in the Research, Analysis, and Design stream at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at RAND. She is an active-duty veterinarian in the U.S. Army. Her research interests include national security, developing-nation economics, zoonoses…

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