The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Examining the Impact of Senate Bill 1160 on Utilization Review and Medical Treatment in California Workers' Compensation
English Summary
This RAND report evaluates whether California's Senate Bill 1160 successfully reduced administrative burdens and improved timely care in workers’ compensation by limiting utilization review (UR) requirements for certain treatments within the first 30 days of injury. Using large-scale claims data, the analysis assesses changes in UR approval rates, adherence to medical guidelines, and time-to-treatment before and after the law's implementation. Initial findings indicate that UR approval rates remained consistently high across both periods, suggesting the impact on authorization processes may be minimal for certain treatments. Overall, the study provides critical empirical data intended to guide policymakers (like the California Department of Industrial Relations) in refining workers’ compensation policy to balance timely medical access with necessary oversight.
中文摘要
這份RAND報告評估了加州參議院法案1160號（Senate Bill 1160）是否成功透過限制工傷初期30天內特定治療的利用審查（Utilization Review, UR）要求，從而減輕了工資補償系統的行政負擔並改善了醫療照護的時效性。分析運用大規模理賠數據，評估了該法案實施前後在UR核准率、醫學指南遵循度以及治療時間等方面的變化。初步發現指出，無論是在法規實施前還是之後，UR核准率都保持在高位穩定，這暗示對於某些治療而言，其對授權流程的影響可能微乎其微。總體而言，本研究提供了關鍵的實證數據，旨在指導政策制定者（例如加州工業關係部）完善工資補償政策，以在確保及時醫療存取與必要監管之間取得平衡。
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