| Hot Topic: Changes to and Opportunities for the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program |
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Implemented in 2006, the Medicare Part D prescription drug program has used market-based principles to increase access to and the affordability of outpatient prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. While Part D is widely considered a success, recent legislative changes resulting from passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the release of prescription drug event data present opportunities to study and refine the program to improve quality and ensure access and
affordability.
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| HCFO Releases a New Findings Brief Examining the Impact of Part D on Nursing Home Residents |
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HCFO released a new findings brief based on a study led by Becky Briesacher, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School, that examined the experience of nursing home residents transitioning to the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.
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| New Data for Researchers |
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The National Center for Health Statistics released data on inpatient hospital care, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a report examining Medicaid patients and hospital readmissions.
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| Grantee Spotlight: Sebastian Schneeweiss, M.D., Sc.D. |
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Sebastian Schneeweiss, M.D., Sc.D., was the principal investigator for an HCFO study examining changes in drug utilization under Medicare Part D drug coverage.
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| New Grantee Publications |
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Stephen Zuckerman, Ph.D., and colleagues published "Clarifying Sources of Geographic Differences in Medicare Spending," in the May 12 online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.
Romana Hasnain-Wynia, Ph.D., and colleagues published "Racial and Ethnic Disparities within and between Hospitals for Inpatient Quality of Care: An Examination of Patient-Level Hospital Quality Alliance Measures" in the May 2010 issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.
Jeffrey McCullough, Ph.D., and Eli Snir, Ph.D., published “Monitoring Technology and Firm Boundaries: Physician-Hospital Integration and Technology Utilization” in the May 2010 issue of the Journal of Health Economics.
Bonnie B. Blanchfield, Sc.D., and colleagues published “Saving Billions of Dollars—And Physicians’ Time—By Streamlining Billing Practices” in the April 29, 2010, Health Affairs web exclusive.
Becky Briesacher, Ph.D., and colleagues published “Medicare Part D’s Exclusion of Benzodiazepines and Fracture Risk in Nursing Homes” in the April 2010 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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| News and Events |
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Grantees in the News
Findings from a study led by Gregg Meyer, M.D., were highlighted in the April 30, 2010, Kaiser Family Foundation Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report article, “Studies Prompt Attention to Streamlining Medical Billing.”
Findings from a study led by Lawrence P. Casalino, M.D., Ph.D., were highlighted in the April 29, 2010, New York Times article, “Fueling the Anger of Doctors.”
Findings from a study led by Gregg Meyer, M.D., were highlighted in the April 29, 2010, Wall Street Journal article, “Could Streamlining Medical Billing Save $7 Billion a Year?”
RWJF Releases
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released the content alert, "Geographic Variations in Health Care," on May 12. It highlights findings from an HCFO-sponsored study led by Jack Hadley, Ph.D.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released the content alert, “Simplifying Medical Billing Could Lead to Big Savings,” on April 29. It highlights findings from an HCFO-sponsored study led by Gregg Meyer, M.D.
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