Objective: To identify associations between market factors, especially relative reimbursement rates, and the probability of surgery and cost per episode for three medical conditions (cataract, benign prostatic neoplasm, and knee degeneration) with multiple treatment options. Methods: We use 2004...

This opinion piece critiques the large body of geographic variations research, finding much of it flawed or uninformative for policy. The author posits that wide geographic variation in fee-for-service Medicare spending and care delivery could be mitigated by reforming the payment system to...

This opinion piece critiques the large body of geographic variations research, finding much of it flawed or uninformative for policy. The author posits that wide geographic variation in fee-for-service Medicare spending and care delivery could be mitigated by reforming the payment system to...

Objective: To identify associations between market factors, especially relative reimbursement rates, and the probability of surgery and cost per episode for three medical conditions (cataract, benign prostatic neoplasm, and knee degeneration) with multiple treatment options. Methods: We use 2004...

Addresses the suitability of some commonly used statistical software packages for analyzing the Community Tracking Study surveys of households and physicians, to help data users make informed choices about the software they use. Because of the complexity of the CTS survey designs, SUDAAN is the...

This issue brief finds that when episodes of care involving hospitalizations, similar to Model 2 of the ongoing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Bundled Payment for Care Improvement demonstration, are applied to privately insured patients, inpatient prices drive the bulk of...

This issue brief evaluates the effects of a permanent 10 percent increase in Medicare fees for primary care ambulatory visits on Medicare costs. Using a simulation model with real-world parameters, the study found that, in spite of raising the overall cost of primary care visits, such a fee...

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) established provisions intended to increase access to affordable health insurance and thus increase access to medical care and long-term surveillance for populations with pre-existing conditions. However, childhood cancer survivors' coverage...