Defense Health Care: Department of Defense Needs a Strategic Approach to Contracting for Health Care Professionals.

摘要

DOD operates a large and complex health care system that employs more than 150,000 military, civilian, and contract personnel working in military treatment facilities. Each military department operates its own facilities, and contracts separately for health care professionals to supplement care provided within these facilities. In fiscal year 2011, these contracts totaled $1.14 billion. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, Congress mandated that GAO review the military departments acquisition of health care professional services. This report examines (1) the contracting practices used by the departments and their cost effectiveness; (2) the extent to which the departments consolidate health care staffing requirements; (3) the percentage and associated costs of contract health care professionals working at on-base facilities versus off-base; (4) the training requirements for and experience of medical services contracting personnel; and (5) the extent to which the departments policies address legislated quality standards for contract civilian health care professionals and for staffing companies that provide these professionals. To conduct this review, GAO reviewed military health care policies, analyzed DOD s fiscal year 2011 procurement and staffing data, and interviewed DOD military health system officials. GAO recommends that the Secretary of Defense develop a DOD-wide strategic approach to contracting for health care professionals. DOD concurred with the recommendation.