Summary

In response to a request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) plans to use nonmilitary hospitals to treat battlefield casualties in the event of war or conflict, and discussed the need for developing a contingency hospital system consisting of DOD, the Veterans Administration (VA), and civilian medical resources. The primary emphasis is that the VA role should be greater than currently planned by DOD. The extent of support VA will provide DOD in treating returning battlefield casualties is the most important issue in developing a civilian-military contingency hospital system for medical treatment of wartime casualties. DOD has looked primarily to civilian medical resources to meet anticipated shortfalls should the United States become involved in war. Only recently has specific consideration been given to VA medical capability. DOD officials said that civilian resources would still be needed to treat battlefield casualties even if DOD and VA resources were fully used for that purpose.

DOD recently revised several aspects of its original system. Major changes are: (1) elimination of a new, possibly duplicative administrative structure as originally proposed; and (2) reliance on the military services for patient administration responsibilities. GAO agreed with these revisions. DOD-revised plans are still unclear about how civilian beds and staff would be made available. Available beds and staff should be identified assuming patients are discharged early whenever possible and nonemergency admissions are restricted during the war surge period. Failure to resolve issues regarding civilian physician and hospital reimbursement and liability could limit implementation of the planned system. VA should be much more involved in planning and caring for battlefield casualties than it would be in caring only for those who will not return to duty. Just how much VA can participate is questionable. DOD has not told VA what its needs are, nor has VA told DOD what its capabilities are. GAO believes that the nation should prepare for a possible conflict by planning to appropriately use federal medical resources before calling on civilian resources. A strong peacetime medical resources sharing program could provide a more effective relationship between VA and DOD that could prove invaluable in war.