To expand the role of private managed care plans in Medicare, the MMA provided Medicare Advantage plans with significant increases in monthly payment rates, beginning in March 2004. About half the payment increases were used by plans to reduce enrollee premiums and cost sharing and enhance...

This brief, developed by staff at Mathematica and the Kaiser Family Foundation, looks at efforts by a number of states to set up accountable care organizations (ACOs) within their Medicaid programs. The analysis reveals that many initiatives are in a very early stage of development. Medicaid's...

These summaries provide an overview of the mission, organization, and budget of every federal agency, including distinct units within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with a description and analysis of how each agency’s work relates to diabetes prevention, detection, and...

Notes that 14 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had no source of supplemental coverage to pay costs not covered by Medicare. Medicare HMOs are an important source of coverage, especially for those who do not receive supplemental coverage under an employer group. Although HMOs in New Orleans seem...

Examines the California experience from year-end 1997 through the beginning of 2002 to identify lessons that can be applied to the national M+C environment. California enrollees account for about one-quarter of the national enrollment in the M+C program, and the state has a much higher market...

The National Health Plan Collaborative (NHPC) was formed in 2004 to bring together national and regional health plans to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. This brief summarizes findings from Mathematica’s evaluation, provides background, and describes accomplishments. It also reviews the...