Reductions in the fees paid by Medicare to physicians have raised concerns that beneficiaries in some areas may have problems obtaining needed care in a timely manner. This report suggests that these reductions have not led to marked restrictions in access to care, even though the study examined...

This paper describes a multi-method approach for evaluating 10 small interventions that participated in the Medicaid Value Program, which sought to improve quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. The approach relied on quantitative and qualitative methods to...

The Medicaid Value Program tested interventions to improve care for adult Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. This report presents findings from Mathematica's evaluation; estimates of program effects, produced by the programs themselves; and case studies for the 10...

Explores a proposed mechanism, using Pharmacy Benefit Managers, for making a Medicare drug benefit available, manageable, and affordable. For printed copies, call the Kaiser Family Foundation at 800-656-4533.

This brief details private plan options available to people on Medicare, including Medicare Advantage plans (such as Medicare HMOs, PPOs, and private fee-for-service plans) and new stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs). In 2006, all beneficiaries have access to at least one type of private...

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 set ambitious goals for using health information technology (HIT) to improve healthcare delivery. Critical first steps for success involve rapid nationwide...

This issue brief examines the mission of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, as well as challenges in balancing relevance and rigor to learn how to improve payment and delivery.

This data spotlight examines trends in benefits and cost-sharing for Medicare Advantage plans in 2010, including the wide variations found across plans and the rapid increase in cost sharing requirements for some benefits, including stays in skilled nursing facilities. It also examines the...