Congressional Policy Guidance Should Improve Military Hospital Planning

The GAO model for determining acute-care bed needs in military hospitals, developed as part of a prior planning review of the San Diego Naval Hospital, was used to review three military hospitals included in DOD's fiscal year 1977 budget request. Congressional policy guidance involved: (1) calculation of acute-care hospital bed requirements for active-duty members and their dependents using the GAO model, (2) review of adequacy of guidelines on providing beds for retirees and dependents of retired and deceased members, (3) calculators of basic bed requirements adjusted to provide for program factors, mobilization requirements, and specialized facilities, and (4) development of policies to make cost-effective use of existing and adequate Federal and civilian hospitals.