A study published in Health Affairs confirms earlier research suggesting that Medicare Advantage plans do a better job of delivering quality health care than does fee-for-service Medicare.
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Evidence is accumulating that Medicare Advantage plans do a better job than fee-for-service Medicare in controlling utilization and spending, while not adversely affecting quality outcomes, but there is substantial geographic…
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For a number of years CMS has conducted demonstrations and pilots with provider organizations similar to the current accountable care organization concept. Those demonstrations appear to have had mixed results,…
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An examination of variation in the costs of specific episodes of care for Medicare beneficiaries finds that health of the population in an area and practice patterns appear to account…
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Medication Therapy Management is mandated for certain Medicare beneficiaries, but many more patients may benefit from its focus on prescription drugs as a care management tool
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The Congressional Budget Office released a presentation which examines how competition among plans appears to affect pricing for Medicare' Part D drug benefit.
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The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has issued a report on Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, which delves into a series of issues including hospital readmissions, payments for various…
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A new study suggests that Medicare's lower payments to hospitals, contrary to prevailing beliefs, don't lead to cost-shifting and actually lower private insurer payment rates. The reality or mechanism of…
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A study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that greater penetration by Medicare Advantage plans leads to lower rates of hospitalization and mortality for beneficiaries.
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Medicare Advantage plans have been a source of controversy, but a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that they have beneficial spillover effects across the health…
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Several articles in Health Affairs discuss what can be done to ensure that Medicare spending stays in control, including benefit design changes and greater cost-sharing by beneficiaries.
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About this Blog
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
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