For the TRICARE Management Activity, U.S. Department of Defense, NORC is conducting a study of migration behavior of nonelderly, U.S.-based TRICARE beneficiaries with reasonable access to both military treatment facilities and purchased-care services.   Specific research objectives of the study are:

• To examine and describe the role of individual beneficiary choice for increased use of civilian care
• To analyze outcomes and processes of care to determine if persons using direct and purchased care have coordination problems
• To update prevalence rates, outcome and costs for MHS and compare them on an age and gender adjusted basis with privately insured persons and Veteran Administration beneficiaries
• To examine what factors TRICARE beneficiaries consider most important to their preferred source of care
• To synthesize findings and make recommendations for strategies to improve the health of TRICARE users of multiple systems of care and efficient coordination among direct and purchased care systems.

Data are being collected through a beneficiary telephone survey and additional analyses will be conducted using claims and admissions data.  A final report of findings will establish what organizational and individual factors are most important for use of civilian sources of healthcare and will identify specific mitigating strategies needed to improve the health of users of multiple systems of care and efficient coordination of services between MHS systems of care.