A study examining the relationship between hospital characteristics and hospital prices can help inform the debate on controlling health care costs. Compared to other hospitals, high-price hospitals tend to be larger, be major teaching hospitals, belong to systems with large market shares,...

This report presents findings from a study on outreach and Medicaid enrollment best practices to meet Missouri’s insurance expansions under the Affordable Care Act. The study found that mobilizing a broad network of local partners is key; new messages and partners will be needed to reach a...

Analyzes the effect of shrinking managed care benefits on enrollees by examining trends in estimated out-of-pocket costs. Those in poor health not only paid more than those in good health; they also experienced the highest growth in out-of-pocket costs—62 percent—in the three-year...

The large number of children who lack health insurance is a source of concern for public officials and policymakers. This brief notes that continuous coverage for children in the SCHIP and Medicaid programs—which allows them to maintain their eligibility for a specified period, regardless...

Medicare reform is at the top of the domestic policy agenda, and the role of private plans in that reform is a critical factor. Most of Medicare's experience with private plans has involved the Medicare+Choice (M+C) program. M+C plans, primarily HMOs, receive capitated payments and provide...