Medicare

Sarah M. Donelson, M.A., Christopher M. Murtaugh, Ph.D., Penny Hollander Feldman, Ph.D., Kamal Hijjazi, Ph.D., Lori Bruno, M.P.H., Stephanna Zeppie, R.N., M.A., C.P.H.Q., Shiela Kinatukara Neder, R.N., B.S.N., Eva Quint, B.A., R.N., B.S.N., Liping Huang, M.A., and Amy Clark, B.A. Center for Home Care Policy and Research

Members of Congress and others have expressed frustration over the slow progress of the Medicare + Choice program, which makes managed care options available to senior citizens. In particular, critics have been disappointed by the low penetration rate for Medicare managed care.

Part 160 Electronic transactions, Health, Health care, Health facilities, Health insurance, Health records, Medicaid, Medical research, Medicare, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Part 162

Abt Associates Inc. June 2000 This report was prepared under contract #500-96-0003 between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) and Abt Associates Inc.

This booklet provides a statistical portrait of teen participation in 10 of the most prevalent risk behaviors. It focuses on the overall participation in each behavior and in multiple risk-taking.

Widespread interest in Medicare post-acute care issues, particularly after the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) passed, prompted DALTCP to sponsor an "early indication" qualitative study of the potential effects of the BBA provisions and other related issues.

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included a number of changes to Medicare managed care. The newly created Medicare+Choice program differs from its predecessor with regard to payment policies, enrollment and disenrollment policies, and the types of plans that can contract to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries.

Prescription drugs play an ever-increasing role in modern medicine. New medications are improving health outcomes and quality of life, replacing surgery and other invasive treatments, and quickening recovery for patients who receive these treatments. As important as prescription drugs are, not everyone has access to them.

This report presents information on Medicare's hospice benefit — who is using it, how it is being used, what costs are associated with its use, what costs precede hospice enrollment and how these vary by type of enrollee.