Military Personnel: Better Debt Management Procedures and Resolution of Stipend Recoupment Issues Are Needed for Improved Collection of Medical Education Debts
Abstract
Military physicians and other health care professionals are needed to support operational forces during war or other military conflicts and to maintain the wellbeing of the forces during nonoperational periods. These professionals also provide health care services to military retirees and dependents. The Department of Defense (DOD) acquires its health care professionals primarily through two programs the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program and the Financial Assistance Program with which it recruits and trains military health care providers who fill medical specialty positions. These programs offer participants reimbursement for tuition, books, fees, other education expenses, and a stipend, which is a fixed amount of money given to the participants on a monthly basis, in return for an active duty service obligation. Recruiting and retaining highly qualified health care professionals, however, is becoming more challenging for each of the military services. The added stresses of repeated deployments and the general perceptions of war, along with the potential for health care providers to earn significantly more money outside of DOD, have caused some professionals to choose to separate themselves from military service, even after DOD has paid for all or part of their medical education. Because DOD medical training programs can take years and are a costly investment, DOD is negatively affected both financially and operationally when individuals do not fulfill their active duty obligations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA479610
Entities
People
- Brenda S. Farrell
- Cheryl Weissman
- David Moser
- Janine Cantin
- Matthew A. Young
- Nicole Harms
- Rebecca Beale
- Terry Richardson
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office