Piper Report
Blog on Medicare, Medicaid, pharma, biotech, health reform, and more. Insights and resources on hot issues. Kip Piper, editor.
Kip Piper, MA, FACHE
Health care strategist, speaker, and writer. Expert on Medicare, Medicaid, and pharma, biotech, and device industries. President, Health Results Group LLC. Senior Counselor, Fleishman-Hillard. Senior Consultant, Sellers Dorsey. Visit KipPiper.com. Or email Kip here.
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Previous Notables by Date
posted: February 16, 2010

Shackling Innovation: The Regulation of Industry-Supported Clinical Trials (PDF)

posted: February 15, 2010

State Health Care: Trends Among States in Addressing Costs, Quality and Access (PDF)

posted: February 12, 2010

Health Coverage for Labor Union Markets: Backgrounder

posted: February 11, 2010

Minimizing Cardiac Risk in the Young

Preventing and Treating Cardiovascular Disease: Resources

First Lady Targets Childhood Obesity in National Initiative

posted: February 9, 2010

Healing without Harm: Healthcare through High Reliability (PDF)

State Legislators Guide to Prescription Drug Policy (PDF)

posted: February 5, 2010

Health Reform: The Role of the Health Insurance Exchange (PDF)

posted: February 4, 2010

Procedures with the Most Rapidly Increasing Hospital Costs: Briefing

posted: February 1, 2010

Health Risk Appraisals: Research on Tools to Support Healthy Behavior (PDF)

posted: January 30, 2010

Six Ways Not to Reform Health Care: AEI Analysis (PDF)

posted: January 29, 2010

Implications of Health Reform for Retiree Health Benefits: Issue Brief (PDF)

Integrating Technology and the Future of Health: Insights from TEDMED

Health Screening Saving Lives: New Developments

posted: January 28, 2010

Impact of Recession on Health Care Safety Net Providers: Research Brief (PDF)

How Health Care Reform Will Affect Young Adults: Impact Analysis (PDF)

posted: January 27, 2010

How Americans Take Care of Their Health: Survey and Report (PDF)

posted: January 21, 2010

Reforming Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital Program: Report (PDF)

posted: January 17, 2010

Episode-Based Payments: Health Care Payment Reform (PDF)

posted: November 19, 2009

Physicians' Perceptions of Reimbursement as Barrier to Comprehensive Diabetes Care (PDF)

posted: November 16, 2009

Troublesome Direction of Health Reform: AEI Analysis

posted: November 15, 2009

Pushing Health Reform When Job Losses Are Rising: Commentary

posted: November 11, 2009

Administrative Expenses of Health Plans: Analysis (PDF)

posted: November 10, 2009

Impact of Health Care Price Transparency on Price Variation: New Hampshire Experience (PDF)

Health Insurers Pursue Growth Potential of Individual Market: Challenges for Consumers and Insurers (PDF)

posted: November 9, 2009

Hospital Strategies to Engage Physicians in Quality Improvement (PDF)

posted: November 8, 2009

Putting Medicare Consumers in Charge: Lessons from the FEHBP

posted: November 7, 2009

Geographic Variation and Health Care Cost Growth: Research Brief (PDF)

posted: November 6, 2009

Health Reform Legislative Proposals: Overview by Congressional Research Service (PDF)

Impact of Medicare Premiums on Social Security Beneficiaries: CRS Report (PDF)

posted: November 5, 2009

Influenza Pandemic of 2009: Overview by CRS (PDF)

posted: November 3, 2009

FDA and Adverse Event Reporting for Medical Devices: OIG Report (PDF)

Medicaid Beneficiaries and Access to Care: issue Brief (PDF)

History of Medicare Payment Demonstrations: Few Demos Implemented on Broad Scale

posted: November 2, 2009

Targeted Reforms to Fix Health insurance Market: Alternatives to Federal Control

Health Reform: Do Americans Support a Public Option?

Assessing Patient Safety Practices and Outcomes in the U.S. Health Care System: RAND Report (PDF)

State Health Reform: Evaluating State Efforts to Expand Health Coverage (PDF)

posted: November 1, 2009

Health Insurance Fraud: Implications for Policymakers (PDF)

Hospital Strategies to Engage Physicians in Quality Improvement (PDF)

posted: October 31, 2009

New Drug Approval: GAO Report on FDA Oversight of Drugs (PDF)

posted: October 30, 2009

Different Measures for Analyzing Health Reform Proposals: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: October 26, 2009

Pharmaceutical R&D and the Evolving Market for Drugs: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: October 25, 2009

Medicare and Physicians: GAO Report on Profiling Physicians on Resource Use (PDF)

posted: October 22, 2009

FDA Oversight of Clinical Researchers: GAO Report (PDF)

posted: October 21, 2009

Federal Regulation of Health Insurance Markets: Brief on Pros and Cons (PDF)

posted: October 17, 2009

Administrative Solutions in Health Care Reform (PDF)

posted: October 14, 2009

Discharge Planning and Medical Social Services in Fee for Service Medicare: NHPF Primer (PDF)

posted: October 2, 2009

Financing American Indian Health Care: Options for Improving Access and Quality (PDF)

posted: September 15, 2009

Provision and Reporting of Community Benefits by Hospitals: Lessons from Maryland (PDF)

posted: August 12, 2009

Health Care Reform: Primer by Congressional Research Service (PDF)

Congressional Proposals to Mandate Employer Health Coverage: issue Brief on Play or Pay (PDF)

posted: August 11, 2009

What the States Experience with Mandates Should Tell Us about Universal Healthcare Coverage

posted: August 10, 2009

Medicare Administrative Contractors: Primer on CMS Contractors (PDF)

posted: August 9, 2009

Incorporating Costs into Comparative Effectiveness Research: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: August 8, 2009

Health Care Reform in West Virginia: A Lesson from the States (PDF)

posted: August 7, 2009

Prevention and Wellness: CBO Report on Budgetary Impact of Federal Prevention Efforts (PDF)

Dual Eligibles: Opportunities to Improve Medicare and Medicaid Policy for Dual Eligibles (PDF)

posted: August 1, 2009

Killing Americans by Stifling Medical Innovation: Concerns about the Medical Device Safety Act (PDF)

posted: July 30, 2009

Physician Quality: Relationship between Practice Size and Quality of Care in Medicaid (PDF)

posted: July 29, 2009

Building Medical Homes in State Medicaid and CHIP Programs: NASHP Report (PDF)

posted: July 28, 2009

Oncology Benefit Design Innovations: Balancing Cost, Quality, and Access
in Cancer Care (PDF)

Pharmaceutical Research & Development in a Value-Based Healthcare System (PDF)

posted: July 27, 2009

Supporting Integrated Care for Dual Eligibles: Policy Brief (PDF)

Encouraging Integrated Care for Dual Eligibles: Resources (PDF)

posted: July 25, 2009

Approaches for Giving the President Broad Authority to Change Medicare: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: July 21, 2009

Market-Based Health Insurance: New Approach to Contain Health Costs (PDF)

posted: July 20, 2009

Getting Tools Used: Lessons Learned from Successful Decision Support Tools Unrelated to Health Care (PDF)

posted: July 18, 2009

Health Care Benefit Designs: Issues in Creating Effective Benefit Designs (PDF)

Cost Sharing in Individual and Small Group Health Insurance: Analysis of the Distribution (PDF)

posted: July 17, 2009

MedPAC Data Book on Medicare Spending: 2009 Edition (PDF)

posted: June 2, 2009

Economic Case for Health Reform: Obama White House Arguments (PDF)

State Employee Health Care as a "Public Plan" (PDF)

Glossary of Key Terms in Health Reform (PDF)

posted: June 1, 2009

Trends in Medicaid Physician Fees, 2003-2008: Study (PDF)

posted: May 30, 2009

Citizenship Documentation in Medicaid and CHIP (PDF)

posted: May 28, 2009

Obama Health Agenda: Impact on the States (PDF)

posted: May 27, 2009

Federal Budgetary Treatment of Proposals on Mandated Insurance Coverage and National Exchange: CBO Analysis (PDF)

posted: May 26, 2009

Health Care Reform: An Introduction by Congressional Research Service (PDF)

State Health Reform Strategies: Primer by Congressional Research Service (PDF)

posted: May 25, 2009

Comparative Effectiveness Research and Innovation in U.S. Health Care: White Paper (PDF)

posted: May 22, 2009

Milliman Medical Index for 2009: Changes in US Health Benefit Costs (PDF)

posted: May 20, 2009

Comparative Effectiveness Research: Lessons from Other Countries (PDF)

posted: May 19, 2009

State Savings from Medicaid Managed Care: Synthesis of 24 Studies (PDF)

posted: May 18, 2009

Medicare Advantage: Options for the Medicare Advantage Benchmarks and Federal Payments (PDF)

Health Care Without the Doctor: How New Devices and Technologies Aid Clinicians and Patients (PDF)

posted: May 14, 2009

Health Information Technology: Role of HIT in Patient Safety (PDF)

posted: May 6, 2009

Health Insurance Choices: Behaviors of Firms and Their Workforces (PDF)

posted: May 5, 2009

Top 10 Health Technology Issues for Hospitals in 2009: White Paper (PDF)

Opportunities for Medicaid to Invest in Health Information Technology (PDF)

posted: May 4, 2009

Health Reform: Lessons Learned from State Health Reforms (PDF)

Health Reform: Case for Federalism (PDF)

posted: April 11, 2009

Health Plans: Is Market Ripe for Acquisitions?

posted: April 10, 2009

Financial and Health Burdens of Chronic Conditions: Analysis (PDF)

posted: April 9, 2009

Medicare Primer: Financing, Eligibility, Coverage, Payment (PDF)

posted: April 8, 2009

Executive Order Creating White House Office of Health Reform

posted: April 7, 2009

State and Local Government Funding in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (PDF)

Health Funding in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (PDF)

posted: April 5, 2009

Innovative Health Plan Outreach and Enrollment Efforts to Increase Access (PDF)

Health Care Cost Containment and Coverage Expansion: Report (PDF)

posted: April 2, 2009

Reforming the Health Care Delivery System: MedPAC Testimony (PDF)

posted: April 1, 2009

National Health Care Expenses in the US: AHRQ Statistical Brief (PDF)

posted: March 19, 2009

Fleecing Medicare: Kip Piper Interviewed on NPR All Things Considered

posted: March 18, 2009

Health Care Reform: Do Other Countries Have the Answers? (PDF)

Performance Incentive Programs in Medicaid: State P4P Programs (PDF)

posted: March 15, 2009

Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Health Insurance Plans: Implications for Those with High Medical Costs, Low Incomes, and the Uninsured (PDF)

posted: March 7, 2009

Medicare Advantage: Detailed Briefing on History, Issues, and Legislation (PDF)

Health Information Technology: Briefing on Federal HIT Legislation and Funding (PDF)

posted: March 6, 2009

End-of-Life Care: Services, Costs, Ethics, and Quality of Care (PDF)

Governors' Health Care Objectives for 2009: Medicaid Changes, Reforms, Cuts

posted: March 5, 2009

Medicaid Funding of Graduate Medical Education: Briefing (PDF)

Medicaid Funding of Schools: Issues and Controversies (PDF)

State Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage of Noncitizens: Background and Issues (PDF)

Health Insurance for Unemployed: Current Law, Legislation, and Issues (PDF)

posted: March 4, 2009

Medicare Drug Benefit: Effect of Part D Coverage Gap on Beneficiaries Without Subsidies (PDF)

posted: March 2, 2009

Medicare Payment Policy: MedPAC Report to Congress (PDF)

Medicare Payment Policy: Summary of MedPAC Recommendations to Congress (PDF)

Drugs on Specialty Tiers in Medicare Part D: Drug Plan Benefit Designs (PDF)

posted: March 1, 2009

Comparative Effectiveness: Institute of Medicine Recommendations (PDF)

Drug Development for Rare Diseases: Breakthrough Business Models

posted: February 28, 2009

Regional Disparity in Medicare Spending: Interactive Map

Pharmacy Payment: Comparing Medicare Part D to Medicaid (PDF)

posted: February 21, 2009

Retail Clinics: State Regulations and Policies on Licensure and Operation of Retail Clinics (PDF)

Health Insurance Continuation Coverage Under COBRA: Backgrounder (PDF)

posted: February 18, 2009

Medical Devices: Primer on FDA Approval Process and Issues in Congress (PDF)

posted: February 15, 2009

Possible Nominees for HHS Secretary and FDA Commissioner

posted: February 13, 2009

Dual Eligibles: State Medicaid Enrollment and Spending for Medicare Beneficiaries (PDF)

Dual Eligibles: Medicaid's Role Covering Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (PDF)

Dual Eligibles: Rethinking Medicaid's Role in Financing Care for Medicare Enrollees (PDF)

posted: February 12, 2009

Diabetes Care and Health Plan Performance: Best Practices and Results (PDF)

Medicare Physician Payment: Primer on Relative Value Units (PDF)

posted: February 11, 2009

Expanding Health Insurance Coverage and Controlling Costs for Health Care (PDF)

posted: February 10, 2009

FDA Must Shift Priorities: Commentary

posted: February 7, 2009

Federal Funding for Health Services Research: AHRQ, NIH, CMS, CDC, VA, DoD (PDF)

State Health Reform: State of the States in 2009 (PDF)

posted: February 6, 2009

Increasing Use of the Capitated Model for Dual Eligibles: Cost Saving Estimates and Public Policy Opportunities (PDF)

posted: February 5, 2009

Are Bundled Payments the Answer: Commentary

posted: February 4, 2009

Comparative Effectiveness Research: Lessons from Abroad (PDF)

posted: February 3, 2009

Targeting Premium Subsidies: Employers versus Individuals (PDF)

posted: February 2, 2009

Dual Eligible Pharmacy Costs Under Medicaid and Medicare Part D: Analysis (PDF)

Impact of Medicaid and SCHIP on Low-Income Children's Health (PDF)

Medicaid FMAP: Primer on Federal Matching Payments (PDF)

posted: January 17, 2009

Tough Challenges at the FDA

Medicare Part D Drug Benefit: Primer (PDF)

posted: January 16, 2009

SCHIP Reauthorization: Ideas and Views from State Directors (PDF)

State Medicaid Fiscal Challenges: Views of Medicaid Directors (PDF)

posted: January 15, 2009

Primer on Healthcare Payment Reforms (PDF)

FDA Review of High-Risk Medical Devices: GAO Concerns (PDF)

Health Information Technology: Challenges to Successful Implementation (PDF)

posted: January 14, 2009

Role of Medicaid in State Economies: Research Brief (PDF)

Cost Sharing for Health Care: France, Germany, and Switzerland (PDF)

Massachusetts Health Reform: Solving the Long-Run Cost Problem (PDF)

SCHIP Reauthorization: Background and Summary of Key Issues (PDF)

posted: January 13, 2009

Does the Doctor Need a Boss: Medical Care Coordination (PDF)

posted: January 12, 2009

How Medicare Drug Pricing Can Hurt R&D (PDF)

posted: January 10, 2009

Health Policy: The 100 Best Health Care Policy Blogs

posted: January 9, 2009

What Medicaid Tells Us about Government Health Care

posted: January 7, 2009

Key Questions for Tom Daschle, Nominee for HHS Secretary (PDF)

Top Management Challenges at Department of Health & Human Services (PDF)

posted: January 6, 2009

Managing Chronic Care: What Works

posted: January 4, 2009

Medicare Part B Premium: History and Issues in Part B Premium (PDF)

Membership of the 111th Congress: A Profile (PDF)

posted: January 2, 2009

Federally Run Health Plan: Impact on Access to Health Care (PDF)

posted: January 1, 2009

Concept of a Federal Health Board: Learning from Britain's Experience (PDF)

posted: December 24, 2008

Health Insurance Coverage for State and Local Government Employees (PDF)

Impact of Primary Care Physician Shortage on Quality and Costs (PDF)

posted: December 23, 2008

Quality Improvement in Medicaid: Opportunities for States (PDF)

Medicaid Financing: How the Federal Matching Formula Works (PDF)

Long-Term Care: Primer on LTC Consumers, Services, and Financing (PDF)

posted: December 22, 2008

Health Care and Family Budgets: Financial Pressures from Medical Expenses (PDF)

Tax Treatment of Health Insurance: A Primer

posted: December 20, 2008

Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services: Data Update (PDF)

posted: December 19, 2008

Disparities: Regional and Racial Variation in Health Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries (PDF)

Reducing the Administrative Burden of Health Care Quality Reporting (PDF)

Consequences of Reporting on Health Care Quality

posted: December 18, 2008

Health Care Budget Options: CBO Scores Health Reform Ideas (PDF)

Key Issues in Analyzing Major Health Reform Proposals (PDF)

posted: December 17, 2008

Medicare Drug Use: Comparing Special Needs Plans to Other Medicare Advantage Plans (PDF)

Adverse Events in Hospitals: Overview of Key Issues (PDF)

Adverse Events in Hospitals: State Reporting Mandates (PDF)

posted: December 15, 2008

Short Term Options for Medicaid in a Recession: Policy Brief (PDF)

Medicare Advantage: Characteristics, Financial Risks, and Disenrollment Rates of Beneficiaries in Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PDF)

posted: December 12, 2008

HHS Reform: IOM Recommendations for Department of Health and Human Services

Innovation and Technology Adoption in Health Care Markets (Book in PDF)

Health Information Technology: Issue Brief on HIT Issues (PDF)

posted: December 11, 2008

Making Medical Homes Work: Moving from Concept to Practice (PDF)

posted: December 9, 2008

Physician and Hospital Reimbursement: Comparison of Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial Payments (PDF)

posted: December 5, 2008

Strategies to Covering the Uninsured: Reference Guide (PDF)

posted: December 2, 2008

Medicaid: Primer on Key Elements of Medicaid (PDF)

Medicare: Primer on Key Elements of Medicare Program (PDF)

Comparative Effectiveness: Implications for Health Coverage and Reimbursement Decisions (PDF)

posted: November 19, 2008

State and Local Fiscal Challenges: Health Care Costs Drive Budget Pressures (PDF)

posted: November 16, 2008

Should Healthy Medicare Beneficiaries Postpone Enrollment in Part D? (PDF)

posted: November 12, 2008

Implications of the Economic Downturn on Health Care Access

posted: November 10, 2008

Physician Supply and Demand: Projections through 2025 (PDF)

posted: November 7, 2008

Medicare Coverage for the Disabled: Impact on Private Insurance Market (PDF)

posted: November 6, 2008

Medicare Part D: Stats on Prescription Drug Plans in 2009 (PDF)

posted: November 4, 2008

High and Rising Health Care Costs: Demystifying U.S. Health Care Spending (PDF)

posted: October 30, 2008

Medicare Part D Plans: CMS Oversight of Drug Plan Compliance Activities (PDF)

posted: October 26, 2008

Financial Outlook for Medicaid: 10-year Projections of Medicaid Expenditures and Enrollment (PDF)

posted: October 22, 2008

Analyzing Costs of Dual Eligibles: Understanding Medicare and Medicaid Service Use and Costs (PDF)

posted: October 10, 2008

Federal Share of Medicaid Costs: Primer on Federal Matching Payments (PDF)

posted: October 7, 2008

An Actuarial Perspective on Health Spending Growth: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: October 4, 2008

Sales Taxes on Medical Services to Help Fund State Coverage Expansions: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: October 2, 2008

Reforming the Health Care Delivery System: MedPAC Advice to Congress (PDF)

posted: September 30, 2008

Medicare Part D Drug Coverage: Oversight of Reported Price Concessions (PDF)

posted: September 22, 2008

State Health Reform: How States Can Control Costs and Expand Coverage (PDF)

posted: September 16, 2008

Federal Perspective on Health Care Policy and Costs: CBO Presentation (PDF)

posted: September 12, 2008

Quality and Price Transparency as an Element of State Health Reform: NGA Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: September 10, 2008

Fundamentals of Health Insurance: Implications for Coverage Expansion (PDF)

posted: September 5, 2008

Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy: GAO Report on Applications, State and Pharma Programs(PDF)

posted: August 26, 2008

Medicare Prescription Drug Data Development: Methods for Improving Patient Safety and Pharmacovigilance (PDF)

posted: August 25, 2008

Medicare Part D Anti-Fraud Programs by Drug Plans and CMS: GAO Report (PDF)

posted: August 24, 2008

Improving Quality through Better Access and Technology: Group Health Cooperative (PDF)

posted: August 23, 2008

Consumer Health Information: Dramatic Increase in Consumers Seeking Health Information (PDF)

posted: August 22, 2008

Medicare Part D Coverage Gap: Costs and Consequences in 2007 (PDF)

posted: August 21, 2008

Medicaid Prescription Reimbursement Information by State (PDF)

posted: August 18, 2008

Comparative Effectiveness Research: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: August 16, 2008

How to Fix Medicare: Paying Patients, Not Physicians

posted: August 15, 2008

Government as Competitor: Latest Prescription for Government Control of Health Care (PDF)

posted: August 13, 2008

Engaging Consumers: Lessons Learned from Public Health Consumer Education Programs (PDF)

Impact of Benefit Reductions and Increased Cost Sharing in a Medicaid Program: Oregon Health Plan (PDF)

posted: August 12, 2008

Increasing Transparency in the Pricing of Health Care Services and Pharmaceuticals: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: August 11, 2008

States Moving Toward Comprehensive Health Care Reform: August 2008 Update (PDF)

posted: August 8, 2008

Medical Response to Catastrophic Events: Latest Efforts, Opportunities (PDF)

posted: August 7, 2008

Behavioral Economics: Lessons for Health Care (PDF)

posted: August 1, 2008

Shaping Medicaid and SCHIP Through Waivers: The Fundamentals (PDF)

Fundamentals of Medicare Demonstrations (PDF)

Medicare Demonstrations: Basics (PDF)

Medicaid and SCHIP Waivers: Basics (PDF)

posted: July 31, 2008

Medicare Part B Imaging Services: GAO Report on Spending and Compliance Issues (PDF)

posted: July 30, 2008

Risk Adjustment in Consumer-Driven Health Insurance Markets (PDF)

posted: July 24, 2008

Financing the U.S. Health System: Issues and Options for Change (PDF)

Success of Medicare Advantage Plans: What Seniors Should Know (PDF)

posted: July 17, 2008

Overuse, Underuse, and Misuse of Health Care: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: July 16, 2008

Increasing the Value of Federal Spending on Health Care: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: July 14, 2008

How Prescription Drug Use Affects Health Care Utilization and Spending by Older Americans: Literature Review (PDF)

posted: July 12, 2008

Reinsurance in State Health Reform: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: July 11, 2008

Individual Insurance Market: A Building Block for Health Care Reform? (PDF)

posted: July 10, 2008

Tax Subsidies for Health Insurance: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: July 9, 2008

States Moving Toward Health Care Reform: Profiles of 17 States (PDF)

posted: July 2, 2008

Health Reform in Massachusetts: Medicaid Waiver Renewal Will Set a Precedent (PDF)

posted: July 1, 2008

Chronic Disease Care: Innovations Lacking in Provider Payment Reform (PDF)

posted: June 30, 2008

Medicaid Hospital Payments: GAO Report on Reimbursement Issues (PDF)

posted: June 26, 2008

Truth About Drug Innovation: Case Histories on Private Sector Contributions to Pharmaceutical Science (PDF)

posted: June 25, 2008

Biosimilars: Nationwide and Federal Savings from Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2007 (PDF)

Health Costs and Health Information Technology: CBO on HIT Savings (PDF)

posted: June 23, 2008

Health Competition and Collaboration, Chicago-Style (PDF)

posted: June 20, 2008

Comparing Pharmacy Benefit Managers: Moving Well Beyond Simple Spreadsheet Analysis (PDF)

Fiscal Survey of the 50 States: Health Budget Challenges (PDF)

posted: June 19, 2008

Electronic Prescribing: Detailed Report on Status and Future of E-Prescribing (PDF)

Guidelines for Structuring Health Insurance: Case for State-Based Market

posted: June 17, 2008

Options for Slowing the Growth of Health Care Costs: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: June 16, 2008

Opportunities to Increase Efficiency in Health Care: CBO Report (PDF)

Evidence-Informed Case Rates: Paying for Safer, More Reliable Care (PDF)

Public Programs as Building Blocks for Health Reform (PPT Slides)

posted: June 14, 2008

Reforming Medicare Delivery System: MedPAC Report (PDF)

posted: June 13, 2008

Cost, Quality, and Access: Cornerstones of Health Care Reform in 2008 Election (PDF)

Success of Medicare Advantage Plans: What Seniors Should Know (PDF)

posted: June 12, 2008

Medicaid Financing: Primer by Congressional Research Service (PDF)

posted: June 10, 2008

Building Health Care Workforce for Aging America: IOM Report (PDF)

posted: June 9, 2008

Physician Accountability, Reporting, and Teamwork: Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (PDF)

Hospital Patient Safety: Does Leapfrog Program Identify High Quality Hospitals (PDF)

posted: June 6, 2008

Increasing Transparency in the Pricing of Health Care Services and Pharmaceuticals (PDF)

Medicare Part D: Availability of Drugs for Dual Eligibles in Nursing Homes (PDF)

Medicare Part D: Role of Nursing Homes and Long Term Care Pharmacies in Influencing Drug Plan Selection (PDF)

External Quality Reviews in Medicaid Managed Care (PDF)

posted: June 5, 2008

Medicare Advantage in 2008: Detailed Report on Enrollment, Market Share, and Issues (PDF)

posted: June 4, 2008

Health and Wellness Initiatives by Large Employers and Health Plans (PDF)

posted: May 30, 2008

Health Care and Behavioral Economics (PDF)

Federal Spending on Medicare and Medicaid: How CBO Projects Spending Growth (PDF)

posted: May 28, 2008

Child Health Care: States Compared on Access, Quality, Cost, and Equity (PDF)

posted: May 24, 2008

Comprehensive State Health Care Reform: Updates on 15 States (PDF)

posted: May 22, 2008

Reducing Overuse and Increasing Efficiency in Physician Care (PDF)

posted: May 21, 2008

Massachusetts Health Care Reform: First Two Years (PDF)

Medicare Physician Payment Crisis: Another Reason for Medicare Reform (PDF)

posted: May 20, 2008

Evidence on the Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology: CBO Report (PDF)

posted: May 18, 2008

Nursing Home Care: Federal and State Quality Monitoring Problems (PDF)

posted: May 16, 2008

Covering Uninsured Children via the State Children's Health
Insurance Program (PDF)

posted: May 15, 2008

Individual Health Insurance Market Reform: Policy Brief (PDF)

Individual Health Insurance Market Reform: Synthesis of Research (PDF)

posted: May 14, 2008

Health Reform and the Presidential Candidates: Key Issues

Quality Lags at Safety-Net Hospitals

Performance Measures Using Electronic Health Records: Five Case Studies (PDF)

posted: May 13, 2008

Employment-Based Health Benefits Under Universal Coverage

Disease and Care Management Programs: Guide to Design and Implementation in Medicaid (PDF)

posted: May 11, 2008

Physician Credentialing: Modernizing, Simplifying Process for Health Plans and Hospitals (PDF)

posted: May 10, 2008

Drug Access in Medicare Part D: Focus Groups with Beneficiaries, Physicians, and Pharmacists (PDF)

posted: May 8, 2008

Public and Physician Views of Direct to Consumer Prescription Drug Advertising (PDF)

Prescription Drugs: Trends in FDA Oversight of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising (PDF)

posted: May 7, 2008

Health Care Reform: Design Principles for a Patient Centered, Consumer Based Market (PDF)

posted: May 6, 2008

Medicare Competitive Bidding for Medical Equipment and Supplies: GAO Report (PDF)

posted: May 5, 2008

Wellness Programs: Business Case and ROI for Employers

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: May 4, 2008

Comparative Effectiveness: Can We Get Better Health Value for the Dollars We Spend?

posted: May 3, 2008

State Health Reform: Six Key Tests (PDF)

posted: May 2, 2008

What's a Human Life Worth in Dollars and Cents

posted: May 1, 2008

Health Reform: Lessons Learned from Health Reform Debate in 1993-94 (PDF)

posted: April 12, 2008

Consumer-Directed Health Plans: Mixed Employer Signals, Complex Market Dynamics (PDF)

posted: April 11, 2008

Role of States in Shaping High Performance Health Systems (PDF)

posted: April 9, 2008

Covering Uninsured Children via the State Children's Health Insurance Program (PDF)

posted: April 4, 2008

Top 100 Academic Medical Blogs

posted: April 3, 2008

Medicaid Financing: GAO Report on State Efforts to Draw Federal Dollars (PDF)

posted: April 1, 2008

Medicaid and Outpatient Hospital Services: Primer on New Federal Rules Limiting Payments (PDF)

posted: March 28, 2008

Medicaid Financing: Primer by Congressional Research Service (PDF)

posted: March 27, 2008

Improving Care Management for High-Need, High-Cost Medicaid Beneficiaries (PDF)

Strategies to Improve Care Management for Complex Populations: National Scan of States (PDF)

posted: March 25, 2008

National Health Care Systems Around the World: How U.S. Compares on Spending, Quality, and More (PDF)

posted: March 24, 2008

Pay for Performance: Lessons for Medicare from Rewarding Results P4P Projects (PDF)

posted: March 23, 2008

Medicaid Provider Taxes: Primer on Taxes to Finance Medicaid (PDF)

Medicaid Payments for Public Providers: Primer on State Financing Policies (PDF)

posted: March 22, 2008

Access to Medicare Part D Drug Claims Data: MedPAC Report (PDF)

posted: March 21, 2008

Mystery of Patients Who Fail to Follow Physician Prescriptions

posted: March 20, 2008

Creating a Center for Evidence-Based Medicine: MedPAC Study (PDF)

posted: March 13, 2008

Health Care: Capturing the Opportunity in the Nation's Core Fiscal Challenge (PDF)

posted: March 12, 2008

Employer Sponsored Health Insurance: Increasing Stability and Coverage (PDF)

Health Insurance Costs: Variation Among Employers

posted: March 10, 2008

Federal Funding for Health Services Research: AHRQ, CMS, VA, NIH, and DoD (PDF)

posted: March 7, 2008

Hospital Quality Data: Issues and Challenges in Medicare Hospital Reporting (PDF)

posted: March 6, 2008

FDA Fast Track and Priority Review Programs for New Drugs: Primer (PDF)

posted: March 4, 2008

Changing Nursing Home Culture: Resident Centered, More Home-Like Facilities for Seniors (PDF)

Medicaid Long-Term Supports to Prevent Nursing Home Admissions: Rate Setting and Best Practices (PDF)

posted: March 2, 2008

Medicare Payment Policy: MedPAC Report to Congress for 2008 (PDF)

posted: March 1, 2008

Medicare Advantage Vs. Medicare Fee for Service: GAO Report (PDF)

posted: February 29, 2008

State E-Health Activities in 2007: Findings from 50 State Survey (PDF)

posted: February 28, 2008

Medical Device Industry and Physicians: OIG Report (PDF)

posted: February 26, 2008

Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans for Dual Eligibles: Primer (PDF)

Coordinating Care for Dual Eligibles: Options for Linking State Medicaid Programs with Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (PDF)

posted: February 24, 2008

State of the States: State Health Reforms and Coverage Expansions (PDF)

posted: February 22, 2008

Health Coverage Tax Credits: Policy Lessons (PDF)

posted: February 16, 2008

Geographic Variations in Health Care Spending: Data, Trends, Issues (PDF)

posted: February 14, 2008

Health Information Technology: GAO Assessment of HHS Strategy (PDF)

posted: February 13, 2008

Prescription Drug Utilization: Trends and Geographic Variations (PDF)

posted: February 12, 2008

Primary Care: Supply Trends, Projections, and Valuation of Services (PDF)

posted: February 10, 2008

Lessons from Massachusetts Health Reform and the Individual Mandate (PDF)

posted: February 9, 2008

State Health Reform: Recently Enacted Coverage Expansions

posted: February 7, 2008

Medicaid: Overview and Impact of New CMS Regulations (PDF)

posted: February 5, 2008

Oncology Drug Reimbursement Decisions: Use and Cost of New Biologics (PDF)

Improving Access to Drugs in Developing Countries (PDF)

posted: February 4, 2008

How Non-Group Health Coverage Varies With Income: Analysis (PDF)

posted: February 1, 2008

Health Care Costs: Historical and Future Spending Growth, Causes of Cost Increases, and Policy Options (PDF)

Technological Change and the Growth of Health Care Spending: CBO Report (PDF)

State Budget Cycles Hinder Health Care Safety Net (PDF)

posted: January 31, 2008

Pay for Performance: Policy Briefing on P4P Initiatives (PDF)

Pay for Performance: Synthesis on Physician P4P Initiatives (PDF)

posted: January 30, 2008

Current Issues in Medicaid: Discussion with Leading Medicaid Directors (PDF)

Health Coverage for Children and Families in Medicaid and SCHIP: 50-State Survey (PDF)

Values-Focused Health Benefits and Consumer Education (PDF)

posted: January 29, 2008

Pharmacogenomics: A Primer for Policymakers (PDF)

posted: January 28, 2008

Medical Devices: Challenges for FDA in Conducting Manufacturer Inspections (PDF)

posted: January 24, 2008

Federal Poverty Guidelines for CY 2008

posted: January 23, 2008

Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans: MA-SNP Market and Issues (PDF)

posted: January 22, 2008

NIH: Conflicts of Interest in Extramural Research (PDF)

posted: January 11, 2008

Medicare Financing and Fiscal Outlook: Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: January 8, 2008

Helping States Improve and Integrate Patient Safety Initiatives (PDF)

Improving Health Care Quality Through New Care Delivery Systems: Primer on Systemness (PDF)

State Adverse Event Reporting Systems: Latest on Medical Error Reporting (PDF)

posted: January 7, 2008

Community-Based Long-Term Care: Wisconsin Stays Ahead (PDF)

posted: January 4, 2008

Reducing U.S. Health Spending: Report on 15 Federal Savings Options (PDF)

Health Information Technology: Toolkit on Issues and Resources

posted: January 1, 2008

Comparative Effectiveness of Medical Treatments: Research, Issues, and Options for Expanded Federal Role (PDF)

posted: December 20, 2007

State Children's Health Insurance Program: SCHIP Structure, Enrollment, Expenditures, and Outreach Approaches (PDF)

posted: November 26, 2007

Health Policy Communications: Tutorial on Media Outreach

posted: November 23, 2007

Comparing Public and Private Health Insurance: Would a Single-Payer System Save Enough to Cover the Uninsured (PDF)

posted: November 16, 2007

Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Policies: Survey of States (PDF)

Medicaid Long-Term Care Policies: Survey of New State Initiatives (PDF)

posted: November 15, 2007

Generic Drug Utilization in Medicare Part D: OIG Report (PDF)

posted: November 14, 2007

Outlook for Health Care Budgets: Medicare and Medicaid Spending for Next 75 Years (PDF)

posted: November 10, 2007

Quality Improvement Strategies with Cost-Saving Potential: Evidence Base for Return on Investment (PDF)

State Fiscal Conditions and Impact on Medicaid (PDF)

posted: November 9, 2007

Drug Formularies in Medicare Part D Plans: MedPAC Analysis (PDF)

Benefit Designs in Medicare Part D Drug Plans: MedPAC Analysis (PDF)

posted: November 8, 2007

Quality of Medicare Advantage Health Plans: MedPAC Analysis (PDF)

Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs): MedPAC Analysis (PDF)

posted: November 6, 2007

Premiums of Medicare Part D Drug Plans for 2008 (PDF)

Medicare Part D in 2006 and 2007: Data on Sponsors, Plans, Benefits, and Enrollment (PDF)

Coverage Gap in Medicare Part D Plans: Doughnut Hole in 2008 (PDF)

posted: November 1, 2007

Medicaid Financing: GAO Report on State Medicaid Practices (PDF)

FDA Inspection of Foreign Drug Manufacturers: GAO Report (PDF)

posted: October 31, 2007

Coverage and Pricing of Prescription Drugs Under Medicare Part B and Part D (PDF)

posted: October 30, 2007

Toolkit on Uninsuired: Key Facts, Background, Resources, Experts (PDF)

posted: October 23, 2007

State Medicaid Initiatives on Health Information Technology (PDF)

posted: October 20, 2007

AMCP Guide to Pharmaceutical Payment Methods: Comprehensive Edition (PDF)

AMCP Guide to Pharmaceutical Payment Methods: Executive Summary (PDF)

posted: October 18, 2007

Medicare HMOs Reduce Inpatient Hospital Utilization: Study Findings (PDF)

Medicare Advantage: Research Projects on Medicare Health Plan Issues

posted: October 16, 2007

Health Reform Proposals by Republican Candidates for President (PDF)

Health Reform Proposals by Democrat Candidates for President (PDF)

Presidential Candidates Health Reform Proposals: Side-by-Side Comparison Tool

posted: October 15, 2007

Medicare Drug Plans: House Committee Report on Admin Expenses and Drug Rebates (PDF)

posted: October 12, 2007

Medicare Part D Drug Plans: Plan Options and Premiums for 2008 (PDF)

Medicaid and Diabetes: Prevalence, Costs, and Policy Implications (PDF)

posted: October 10, 2007

Prescription Drugs: Trends in Usual and Customary Prices for Drugs Frequently Used by Medicare and Non-Medicare Patients (PDF)

Medicaid Budget Survey: 50-State Analysis of Medicaid Spending, Enrollment, and Budget Changes (PDF)

Why Did Medicaid Spending Decline in 2006? (PDF)

posted: October 9, 2007

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety: Emerging Methods and Tools (Series of Articles)

posted: October 8, 2007

Mental Health Parity: Requirements and Cost Issues (PDF)

posted: October 5, 2007

Long-Term Care: Future Role and Challenges for Medicaid (PDF)

Characteristics of Frequent Hospital Emergency Room Users (PDF)

posted: October 4, 2007

Health Care Cost and Access Challenges: A Look at 12 Metro Markets (PDF)

posted: October 3, 2007

Economic Burden of Chronic Disease: State Specific Cost Estimates (PDF)

Medicare Advantage Payment Policy: Primer and Issues (PDF)

posted: October 1, 2007

Drug Reimbursement: Comparison of Average Sales Prices to Average Manufacturer Prices (PDF)

FDA Oversight of Clinical Trials: OIG Report (PDF)

Medicare Inpatient Hospital Payments, New Technology, and CMS Use of Data (PDF)

posted: September 29, 2007

Strategies to Improve SCHIP Enrollment (PDF)

posted: September 28, 2007

Trends in Health Care Costs and Spending: Fact Sheet (PDF)

Health Coverage of Children: Role of Medicaid and SCHIP (PDF)

posted: September 24, 2007

New Value-Driven Payment Systems: Issues and Options (PDF)

posted: September 23, 2007

Evolution of State Outreach Efforts Under SCHIP (PDF)

posted: September 18, 2007

Employer-Based Health Insurance: Current and Future Role of Employers in Offering and Financing Health Coverage (PDF)

posted: September 17, 2007

Cost-Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness: Strategies for Maximizing the Value of Health Spending?

posted: September 14, 2007

Early Experiences with Federal Health Insurance Tax Credits (PDF)

posted: September 7, 2007

Crowd Out and SCHIP: Background Materials on Crowd Out Issue

Out-of-Pocket Health Spending Among Seniors Versus Younger Adults (PDF)

posted: September 5, 2007

Comparative Effectiveness: Potential Savings from Research (PDF)

posted: August 29, 2007

Reforming Medicare Payments to Improve Quality and Reward Efficiency (PDF)

posted: August 28, 2007

Medicare Use of Risk Adjustment to Pay Health Plans, Hospitals, and Other Providers (PDF)

posted: August 25, 2007

Medicaid and State Budgets: Recent History, Trends, Challenges (PDF)

posted: August 24, 2007

Medicaid Waivers: GAO Report on Florida and Vermont (PDF)

Seniors and Prescription Drugs: Charts on National Survey (PDF)

posted: August 17, 2007

Medicare Part D: Strengths and Weaknesses

posted: August 15, 2007

Expanding SCHIP Will Challenge State Finances: A State-by-State Analysis (PDF)

Children's Coverage: Making Sense of Recent Estimates of Eligible but Uninsured Children (PDF)

posted: August 14, 2007

State Health Reform Initiatives: NGA Report on State Activities (PDF)

posted: August 9, 2007

Drug Pricing: Differential Pricing of Pharmaceuticals (PDF)

SCHIP and Uninsured Children: Latest State-Specific Data (PDF)

posted: August 8, 2007

Health Care Cost Trends: A Primer (PDF)

Why Young Adults Become Uninsured and How New Policies Can Help (PDF)

posted: August 3, 2007

Strategies for Automatic Enrollment in State Health Programs (PDF)

posted: August 2, 2007

State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs): Role in Serving Medicare Beneficiaries (PDF)

Consumer-Oriented Strategies for Improving Health Benefit Design: AHRQ Report on CDHPs (PDF)

posted: July 27, 2007

Hospital Quality Alliance: Quality Measures and Mortality Rates (PDF)

State Health Reform: Pooling Arrangements to Increase Small Business Coverage (PDF)

State Health Reform: Benefits and Limits of Reinsurance (PDF)

Massachusetts Health Reform and Affordability (PDF)

Medicare Part D Drug Plans: Benefit Options and Enrollment by State (PDF)

posted: July 25, 2007

Number of Uninsured Children Who Are Eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP (PDF)

Medicare Advantage: Briefing Materials on Costs and Benefits (PDF)

SCHIP Reauthorization: Key Questions in the Current Debate (PDF)

posted: July 23, 2007

Pharmacy Participation in Medicare Part D Drug Plans (PDF)

posted: July 22, 2007

Searching for a Better Way to Pay Providers: Latest Innovations

Using Payment Incentives to Improve Care Delivery: Boston Case Study

Medicaid Drug Use and Costs Highlight Issues for States After Medicare Part D (PDF)

posted: July 20, 2007

Encouraging Healthy Behaviors in Medicaid: Early Lessons (PDF)

Medicaid Efforts to Incentivize Healthy Behaviors (PDF)

Consumer Direction in Medicaid: Latest State Approaches (PDF)

Retiree Health Benefits: Chartbook of Employer Survey (PDF)

posted: July 19, 2007

Impact of Medicare Payment Rates on the Volume of Skilled Nursing Home Services (PDF)

posted: July 17, 2007

Health Insurance Connectors: Guide to Creating State Health Insurance Exchanges (PDF)

posted: July 16, 2007

Comparative Effectiveness of Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes (PDF)

Economic Benefits of SCHIP Expansion (PDF)

posted: July 13, 2007

Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans: Collection of Reports and Resources (PDF)

Meeting the Future Long-Term Care Needs of Baby Boomers (PDF)

Rising Health Care Costs and the Challenge of Coverage

posted: July 12, 2007

Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs: Summary for Clinicians and Policymakers (PDF)

posted: July 6, 2007

Nursing Home Residents: Changes in Characteristics, Needs, and Payment for Care (PDF)

posted: July 5, 2007

Six Innovations to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Extend Coverage

posted: July 3, 2007

Exodus of Men from Primary Care Drives Shift to Medical Specialty Practices

posted: July 1, 2007

Corporate Responsibility for Health Care Quality: OIG Briefing (PDF)

posted: June 30, 2007

Medicare Advantage Private FFS Plans: CBO Issue Brief (PDF)

posted: June 29, 2007

Massachusetts Health Reform: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (PDF)

posted: June 25, 2007

State Coverage Expansions for Children: Update on Reforms as of June 2007 (PDF)

Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy: GAO Advises More Outreach by Social Security (PDF)

posted: June 22, 2007

SCHIP and Crowd-Out: How Public Program Expansion Reduces Private Health Coverage (PDF)

State Health Reform: Comparison of Health Insurance Exchanges and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (PDF)

Health Care and the Federal Budget: Issues and Challenges for Health Reform (PDF)

posted: June 21, 2007

Medicare Part D: CMS' Process and Policy for Enrolling New Dual Eligibles

Health Coverage and Access to Care for Low-Income Non-Citizens (PDF)

posted: June 20, 2007

Integrated Care Models for Dual Eligibles: Combining Medicare Advantage and Medicaid (PDF)

Approaches to Integrated Long-Term Care in Medicaid and Medicare (PDF)

Wall Street Panel on Health Insurance Market, Provider Reimbursement, and Drug Industry Trends: Transcript

Physician Payment: Is There a Better Way to Pay? (PDF)

posted: June 18, 2007

Prescription Drug Safety: Risks of Proposed FDA Legislation (PDF)

Promoting Efficiency in Medicare: MedPAC Recommendations to Congress (PDF)

posted: June 17, 2007

New Medicaid Integrity Program: Issues and Challenges (PDF)

posted: June 15, 2007

Health Care Performance: National and State Specific Scorecards on Cost, Access, and Quality (PDF)

Chronic Care Initiatives in Medicare: Detailed Briefing (PDF)

posted: June 14, 2007

Pharma 2020: Challenges Facing Pharmaceutical Industry

Medicaid Pharmacy Payments: Impact DRA and Medicaid Federal Upper Limit Program (PDF)

posted: June 13, 2007

Competition: A Prescription for Health Care Transformation (PDF)

Comparative Effectiveness of Medical Treatments: Options for Expanded Federal Role (PDF)

posted: June 12, 2007

Medicare Finances: Past, Present, and Future (PDF)

posted: June 11, 2007

Maternity Care in Consumer-Driven Health Plans (PDF)

posted: June 10, 2007

Medicare's Financial Condition: Report from American Academy of Actuaries (PDF)

posted: June 9, 2007

Medicare Spending for Physician Services: Factors Driving Spending Growth (PDF)

posted: June 7, 2007

Average Manufacturer Prices for Prescription Drugs: OIG Report on AWP Fluctuations (PDF)

posted: June 2, 2007

Medicare Part D Drug Plan and Beneficiary Characteristics: Latest State-Specific Data (PDF)

posted: May 31, 2007

Prescription Drug Trends: Briefing on Drug Spending, Coverage, and Cost Containment (PDF)

posted: May 27, 2007

Private Fee-For-Service Plans In Medicare: Rapid Growth and Future Implications (PDF)

posted: May 25, 2007

SCHIP: Using Premium Assistance to Expand Health Coverage (PDF)

posted: May 22, 2007

Prescription Drug Safety Net: Access to Pharmaceuticals for the Uninsured (PDF)

Pediatric Drug Research: Study and Labeling of Drugs for Pediatric Use (PDF)

posted: May 20, 2007

Understanding State Public Health (PDF)

posted: May 17, 2007

Pharmacogenomics: Assessment of Market Conditions and Competition in Genetic Analysis and Diagnosis (PDF)

posted: May 15, 2007

Medicare Part D and Dual Eligibles: Drug Access Problems and Issues (PDF)

Impact of Medicare Part D on Dual Eligibles Who Spend-Down to Medicaid (PDF)

posted: May 10, 2007

Options to Improve Medicare Physician Reimbursement: MedPAC Advice (PDF)

posted: May 8, 2007

Medicare Advantage Chartpack: Medicare Plans, Enrollment, and Other Data (PDF)

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In ancient China, physicians were paid only when their patients were kept well and often not paid if the patient got sick. If a patient died, a special lantern was hung outside the doctor's house. Upon each death, another lantern was added. This is the first known use of the two most powerful drivers for health care performance - incentives and transparency.
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