Defense Health Care: Effects of AIDS in the Military
HRD-90-39
Published: Feb 26, 1990. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed: (1) the Department of Defense's (DOD) actions to prevent and control the spread of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the military; (2) how AIDS has affected DOD operations and medical treatment facilities; and (3) DOD plans for dealing with increased incidence of AIDS.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should modify DOD human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS education programs to focus on changing high-risk behaviors. |
Closed – Implemented
Education programs are reflecting this recommendation. The formal policy on education will be included in the new DOD directive on HIV policy. The directive has been issued.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should evaluate the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS education efforts. |
Closed – Implemented
The services have prepared plans to address this recommendation. DOD Office of Health Affairs have certified that these plans are adequate. This action satisfies the recommendation.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop plans for dealing with the increased demand for HIV-related care. Such plans should address the need for financial, staffing, and facility resources, including budgeting for treatment costs, especially prescription drugs. |
Closed – Implemented
The services have developed budget and staffing plans. These plans were provided to the DOD Inspector General (IG) in October 1990. GAO has accepted the plans as valid.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop plans for dealing with the increased demand for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related care. Such plans should address the need for financial, staffing, and facility resources, including assessing which hospitals, based on staffing and bed capacity, could accommodate the projected work load. |
Closed – Implemented
The plans were provided in October 1990. GAO has accepted the plans as valid.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop plans for dealing with the increased demand for HIV-related care. Such plans should address the need for financial, staffing, and facility resources, including determining how DOD will meet needs for chronic care, since its hospitals are currently better suited to provide acute care. |
Closed – Implemented
The plans were provided in October 1990. GAO has accepted the plans as valid.
|
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Topics
AIDSDisease detection or diagnosisEducationHealth care costsHealth care servicesHealth resources utilizationMilitary hospitalsMilitary personnelTestingMilitary health services