Mil Med. 2015 Apr;180(4):374-9. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00250.

Health care utilization behavior of veterans who deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Lee SE¹, Fonseca VP¹, Wolters CL², Dougherty DD², Peterson MR³, Schneiderman AI³, Ishii EK³.

Author information

1: Intellica Corporation, 209 West Poplar Street, San Antonio, TX 78212.
2: Lockheed Martin, 2700 Prosperity Avenue Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031.
3: Epidemiology Program, Post-Deployment Health Group, Office of Public Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1717 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Previous assessments of Afghanistan/Iraq Veterans have lacked a systematic overview of all injury and illness experiences captured by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care services. In this initial study, we quantify the health care utilization behavior of eligible Veterans and describe the level and type of usage among them.

METHODS:

A roster of service members who have served in Afghanistan/Iraq and became eligible for VHA care between 2002 and 2010 and their corresponding administrative VA medical encounter data were abstracted from the VHA Office of Public Health Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn Health Surveillance System.

RESULTS:

Between 2002 and 2010, approximately 55% of eligible Veterans accessed VHA health care. Higher utilization was observed among Veterans 50 years of age and older compared to younger Veterans. Higher utilization was also observed among Veterans with increasing cumulative deployment time. Mental disorder diagnostic codes accounted for the greatest number of visits per Veteran.

CONCLUSIONS:

Veterans with mental health diagnoses may need a different level of care than other VHA users. Other service factors associated with utilization require further research to better understand the underlying relationship. Current observed results may be reflective of future expected utilization patterns and may assist in resource planning and research.