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Defense Health Care: Potential for Savings by Treating CHAMPUS Patients in Military Hospitals

HRD-90-131 Published: Sep 07, 1990. Publicly Released: Sep 07, 1990.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the potential for savings by adding staff and other resources at military hospitals to treat more patients, instead of paying for their care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS).

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense As DOD proceeds with efforts to identify additional locations in which to implement its cost-containment initiatives, the Secretary of Defense should direct secretaries of the military departments to identify, using either the GAO-developed methodology or a similar one, the hospitals and medical specialties for which expanding capability to care for patients whose care is now funded under CHAMPUS would be most cost-effective.
Closed – Not Implemented
The DOD Coordinated Care Program is designed to integrate the direct care system and CHAMPUS, and this program is expected to be implemented within the continental United States. DOD has designated a number of hospitals to serve as cornerstones for its Coordinated Care Program. These hospitals will be the principal sources of specialty care for beneficiaries.
Department of the Air Force Where warranted, the military services should proceed to increase hospitals' capabilities, after the services determine the appropriate hospitals and medical specialties.
Closed – Not Implemented
The DOD Coordinated Care Program is designed to integrate the direct care system and CHAMPUS, and this program is expected to be implemented within the continental United States. DOD has designated a number of hospitals to serve as cornerstones for its Coordinated Care Program. These hospitals will be the principal sources of specialty care for beneficiaries.
Department of the Navy Where warranted, the military services should proceed to increase hospitals' capabilities, after the services determine the appropriate hospitals and medical specialties.
Closed – Not Implemented
The DOD Coordinated Care Program is designed to integrate the direct care system and CHAMPUS, and this program is expected to be implemented within the continental United States. DOD has designated a number of hospitals to serve as cornerstones for its Coordinated Care Program. These hospitals will be the principal sources of specialty care for beneficiaries.
Department of the Army Where warranted, the military services should proceed to increase hospitals' capabilities, after the services determine the appropriate hospitals and medical specialties.
Closed – Not Implemented
The DOD Coordinated Care Program is designed to integrate the direct care system and CHAMPUS, and this program is expected to be implemented within the continental United States. DOD has designated a number of hospitals to serve as cornerstones for its Coordinated Care Program. These hospitals will be the principal sources of specialty care for beneficiaries.

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Health care cost controlHealth care servicesHealth insurance cost controlHealth resources utilizationHospital administrationMilitary benefits claimsMilitary cost controlMilitary dependentsMilitary hospitalsMilitary personnelMilitary health services