Defense health care: Prevalence of and efforts to screen and treat mental health conditions in prenatal and postpartum TRICARE beneficiaries : report to congressional committees
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Alternate Title(s):
- Prevalence of and efforts to screen and treat mental health conditions in prenatal and postpartum TRICARE beneficiaries: report to congressional committees
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body. United States. Congress, issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, May 2022
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Depression, Postpartum -- prevention & control Government Regulation Mental Health Services Patient Health Questionnaire -- statistics & numerical data Postpartum Period Pregnant Women United States United States. Department of Defense
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why GAO did this study. TRICARE provides health care to more than 9 million eligible beneficiaries, including military servicemembers and their dependents through both MTFs and private sector providers. In fiscal year 2020, there were more than 105,000 births among beneficiaries. Due to factors such as isolation from social support networks, TRICARE beneficiaries face unique risk factors for perinatal mental health conditions. Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are the most common complication during and after pregnancy in the general population. The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 includes a provision for GAO to study perinatal mental health conditions among TRICARE beneficiaries. This report describes (1) the prevalence of such conditions in the TRICARE population; and (2) DOD’s efforts to screen and treat such conditions. To do this work, GAO analyzed TRICARE data for pregnancy outcomes (live deliveries and losses) in fiscal years 2017 through 2019, to identify (1) mental health diagnoses during pregnancy or up to 1 year after, and (2) mental health-related prescriptions dispensed and psychological services. These were the most recent available data that included the full postpartum year. GAO also reviewed DOD documents and policies, and interviewed officials from DOD’s DHA, obstetric providers from six MTFs (selected for variation in geographic and service locations), five beneficiaries, and other organizations with relevant expertise. GAO also conducted a literature review to identify potential barriers to care.
- 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, 48 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918434087006676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918434087006676