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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

How Private Health Care Providers Could Better Serve Veterans

Nov 7, 2018

Almost a third of U.S. veterans live 40 miles or more from the nearest VA medical center, so the VA is trying to make it easier for them to use private providers closer to home. But it will take significant efforts to better prepare civilian doctors to deliver high-quality care to veterans.
Report

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

Sep 14, 2017

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.

Explore Veterans Health Care

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
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Use of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Younger US Veterans: An Economic Evaluation

Chronic pain is prevalent among Veterans in general, but especially among younger Veterans, including participants in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Musculoskeletal pain is the most common type of chronic pain. This pain also often co-occurs with conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse.

Jun 11, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Use of Complementary and Integrated Health: A Retrospective Analysis of U.S. Veterans with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Nationally

This article addresses the use of a variety of nonherbal CIH therapies among any large patient population having chronic pain by exploring the frequency and predictors of CIH therapy use among a national population of VHA users with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Jun 11, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Yoga Versus Education for Veterans With Chronic Low Back Pain: Study Protocol For a Randomized Controlled Trial

This study will help determine if yoga can become an effective treatment for Veterans with chronic low back pain and psychological comorbidities.

Jun 11, 2019
Report

Report

Core Competencies for Amputation Rehabilitation

The authors identify core competencies and behaviors in nine provider disciplines that participate in amputation rehabilitation and offer recommendations on how to implement them in the military health setting.

Jun 3, 2019
Multimedia

Reducing Suicide Among U.S. Veterans: Implications from RAND Research

An overview of testimony by Terri Tanielian presented before the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security on May 8, 2019.

May 8, 2019
Testimony

How to Reduce Suicide Among U.S. Veterans and Service Members

The rate at which veterans and service members die by suicide is a national security problem that requires a comprehensive approach. Improved leadership and investments in access to high-quality care, identifying at-risk individuals, and reducing access to lethal means can make a difference.

May 8, 2019
Testimony

Ensuring Veterans' Access to Timely, High-Quality Health Care

Though the size of the U.S. veteran population has been decreasing over time, an influx of a new era of veterans with significant service-related health problems has increased VA health care enrollment to over 9 million. Insights from RAND research can help inform policymakers about the timeliness and quality of VA care.

Apr 10, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Enriched Life Scale (ELS): Development, Exploratory Factor Analysis, and Preliminary Construct Validity for U.S. Military Veteran and Civilian Samples

The primary objective of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Enriched Life Scale (ELS) in veteran and civilian samples.

Jan 4, 2019
Research Brief

Research Brief

Preliminary Feasibility Assessment of DoD-VA Purchased Care Integration

An integrated approach to purchasing health care for U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs could have important implications for access, quality, and costs but could face legislative, policy, or contractual challenges.

Nov 26, 2018
Report

Integrating Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Purchased Care: Preliminary Feasibility Assessment

An integrated approach to purchasing health care for U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs could have important implications for access, quality, and costs but could face legislative, policy, or contractual challenges.

Nov 26, 2018
Multimedia

The Vital Support of Post-9/11 Military Caregivers

In this episode of Veterans in America, we talk about the military caregivers that inspired RAND's landmark study of America's "hidden heroes."

Nov 12, 2018
Periodical

Periodical

RAND Review: November-December 2018

This issue spotlights RAND's research on how providers can better meet the health care needs of veterans; life as a U.S. Army private; and Air Force efforts to improve leadership opportunities for women.

Nov 6, 2018
Multimedia

Veterans in America Podcast

Veterans in America is a special limited-series podcast that journeys into the lives of veterans and their loved ones, and shares insights from RAND research on how to improve their lives.

Oct 29, 2018
Report

Recommendations for Improving Access to Primary Care

Access to primary care is critical for ensuring population health. Evidence-based priorities can help health care organizations improve access and access management.

Sep 5, 2018
Research Brief

Research Brief

How resilience affects the transition experiences of UK Service leavers

RAND Europe was commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust to research how resilience can affect transition experiences and outcomes for UK Service leavers.

Jun 27, 2018
Report

Report

Understanding resilience as it affects the transition from the UK Armed Forces to civilian life

Building on a previous consultation looking at the transition experiences of UK Service leavers, RAND Europe was commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust to research the effect of Service leavers' resilience on transition pathways and outcomes.

Jun 27, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Veteran Experiences Seeking Non-pharmacologic Approaches for Pain

Veterans are interested in complementary non-pharmacologic approaches to manage pain but they cite a range of barriers to access, including poor communication with providers and poor care coordination.

Jun 1, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

An Evidence-Based Co-Occurring Disorder Intervention in VA Homeless Programs: Outcomes from a Hybrid III Trial

An implementation strategy called Getting to Outcomes increased the number of homeless vets that engaged in treatment in a VA program, but the strategy had no significant effects on hospitalization, mental health, or substance abuse outcomes.

May 30, 2018

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