The Landscape of Private Firms Offering Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage in 2006 February 28, 2006 Issue Brief describes key characteristics of the organizations that offer the new Medicare drug benefit and analyzes how companies are positioning themselves to attract Medicare enrollees.• Seven of the 10 organizations that sponsor stand-alone prescription drug plans nationwide are based in commercial insurance firms with substantial Medicare Advantage experience, and three of…
Health Centers Reauthorization: An Overview of Achievements and Challenges February 28, 2006 Report This report reviews the role of community health centers in the nation's health care safety net. Today, over 1,000 federally funded and “look-alike” health centers serve 14.3 million people, three-quarters of whom are uninsured or covered by Medicaid.As health centers look toward legislative reauthorization in 2006, they face several policy…
The Growth of Private Plans in Medicare, 2006 February 28, 2006 Issue Brief , details the different types of private plan options available to people on Medicare. These include Medicare Advantage plans (such as Medicare HMOs, PPOs and private fee-for-service plans) and new stand-alone prescription drug plans.• In 2006, all Medicare beneficiaries have access to at least one type of private Medicare Advantage…
Issue Briefs Describe Changes in Private Plan Market and Effects on Medicare Beneficiaries February 28, 2006 Issue Brief These two issue briefs describe the different types of private plan options available to people on Medicare, identify key characteristics of the organizations offering the new Medicare drug benefit, and analyze how companies are positioning themselves to attract Medicare enrollees.The Growth of Private Plans in Medicare, 2006The Landscape of Private…
Can States Stretch the Medicaid Dollar Without Passing the Buck? Lessons from Utah February 27, 2006 Report With the enactment of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, states have gained increased flexibility over benefits and cost sharing for certain currently eligible Medicaid populations without having to obtain a waiver of Medicaid rules. New findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2004 survey of the experiences of Medicaid beneficiaries…
A Case Study of the Utah Primary Care Network Waiver: Insights into Its Development, Design, and Implementation February 27, 2006 Report This report examines the creation and implementation of Utah’s waiver through interviews with key stakeholders and an analysis of state enrollment data and quarterly reports. Also see Health Affairs article, Can States Stretch the Medicaid Dollar Without Passing the Buck? Lessons from UtahReport (.pdf)
Medicare-Medicaid Policy Interactions February 27, 2006 Issue Brief Because over seven million elderly and disabled individuals are entitled to benefits under both Medicare and Medicaid, policy changes in one program not only affect both coverage and spending in the other but also impact access to services by individuals eligible for both programs. This primer summarizes two key policy…
The President’s FY 2007 Budget Proposal: Overview and Briefing Charts February 27, 2006 Report This chartpack reviews the President’s FY 2007 budget request to Congress and highlights overall budget assumptions and funding for major health programs. It begins with a description of the federal budget process, followed by summary information on the overall composition of the Administration’s budget. Overall, the budget includes net reductions…
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005: Implications for Medicaid February 1, 2006 Issue Brief This issue brief summarizes the Medicaid provisions of the budget reconciliation law signed in February 2006 and discusses the implications of the proposed changes. The changes would net reductions of $4.8 billion over the next five years and $26.1 billion over the next ten years from current Medicaid spending. Issue…
The Transition of Dual Eligibles to Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage: State Actions During Implementation February 1, 2006 Report This 50-state survey of Medicaid officials assesses states’ early experience relating to the transition of low-income seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare (dual eligibles) to the Medicare Part D drug benefit. Conducted by Health Management Associates, the survey covers the types of problems observed by…