Defense Health Care: Challenges Facing DOD in Implementing Nationwide
Managed Care (Testimony, 04/19/94, GAO/T-HEHS-94-145).

The Defense Department (DOD) has made great strides in implementing
TRICARE, its nationwide managed health care program.  GAO commends DOD
for tackling this ambitious but necessary undertaking.  TRICARE embodies
many of the lessons learned from DOD's managed health care demonstration
projects over the last several years.  GAO believes that it has the
potential to improve beneficiary access to care, maintain high-quality
care, and gain control of health care costs. Yet some analyses suggest
that it is uncertain whether TRICARE will be more cost effective than
other health care options available to DOD.  Much will depend on
TRICARE's benefit and cost-sharing packages, which DOD still needs to
finalize.  Also, several implementation and contracting issues remain
unresolved.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HEHS-94-145
     TITLE:  Defense Health Care: Challenges Facing DOD in Implementing 
             Nationwide Managed Care
      DATE:  04/19/94
   SUBJECT:  Health care cost control
             Health care programs
             Health care services
             Health resources utilization
             Health maintenance organizations
             Military personnel
             Military dependents
             Cost effectiveness analysis
             Cost sharing (finance)
IDENTIFIER:  CHAMPUS
             CHAMPUS Reform Initiative
             Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed 
             Services
             DOD TRICARE Program
             DOD Catchment Area Management Project
             National Health Care Reform Initiative
             Clinton Health Care Plan
             Health Security Act
             
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