Source of health care for military dependents with cystic fibrosis.
Health care to military dependents with cystic fibrosis (CF) may be compromised by lack of consistency. Civilian centers provide an alternative for care. A reliable count of dependents with CF is unknown. We surveyed 196 military treatment facilities (MTFs) to obtain data on dependents with CF and compared it with data from the National CF Registry. Seventy-seven percent of the MTFs responded and 143 patients were identified. Registry data identified 373 CHAMPUS patients at 82 civilian centers. There were 284 patients in the Registry only and 54 patients in the MTF survey only. Eighty-nine patients were identified through both data sources. A total of 427 patients were identified. Under current CHAMPUS reorganization plans, MTFs will serve as "gateways" for funding of specialized civilian care. Thus, the influx of these and other chronically ill children into the MTF may tax the resources and capabilities of these facilities.
Callahan
C W
CW
Department of Pediatrics, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19134.
FitzSimmons
S C
SC
Schidlow
D V
DV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005190:Family; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D012042:Registries; D014481:United States