Coast Guard health care: Additional actions could help ensure beneficiaries’ access : report to congressional committees

Coast Guard health care: Additional actions could help ensure beneficiaries’ access : report to congressional committees

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Alternate Title(s):
Additional actions could help ensure beneficiaries’ access: report to congressional committees
Contributor(s):
United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, April 2023
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Dental Health Services -- statistics & numerical data
Government Regulation
Health Services Accessibility -- statistics & numerical data
Legislation, Medical
Military Personnel -- legislation & jurisprudence
National Health Insurance, United States -- legislation & jurisprudence
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Why GAO did this study. In support of its missions, the Coast Guard is tasked with providing health care to its active duty personnel and ensuring the availability of health care for their dependents. Coast Guard personnel have access to limited outpatient care at Coast Guard clinics. These personnel and their dependents may also obtain medical care and dental care from military facilities and civilian providers through TRICARE. The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 included a provision for GAO to review the Coast Guard health care system. This report examines, among other objectives, challenges Coast Guard beneficiaries face accessing medical and dental care through TRICARE, the extent to which the Coast Guard monitors TRICARE access, and what data show about beneficiaries’ TRICARE access. GAO reviewed relevant Coast Guard and TRICARE documents and analyzed access-to-care data for Coast Guard beneficiaries for 2018 through 2021 (most recent available). GAO also interviewed Coast Guard and DHA officials as well as officials from six Coast Guard clinics selected for variation in geographic location and number of medical staff. What GAO recommends. GAO is making seven recommendations, including that the Coast Guard and DHA agree to share access data and that the Coast Guard monitor access to TRICARE for Coast Guard beneficiaries. The Department of Homeland Security concurred with our recommendations. The Department of Defense did not provide comments.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (iii, 77 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918627775806676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918627775806676