Prescription Drugs: Advertising, Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Patient Safety from the Perspective of Doctors and Pharmacists October 30, 2006 Poll Finding Prescription Drugs: Advertising, Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Patient Safety from the Perspective of Doctors and Pharmacists This document highlights additional findings from separate surveys of pharmacists and physicians related to their views and experiences on a wide range of health care issues. Issue Brief (.pdf)
How States Are Responding to the Challenge of Financing Health Care for Retirees September 2, 2003 Report State governments are an important source of health insurance coverage for retired state employees. Confronted with rising health care costs, budget deficits, and an overall downturn in the economy, this report describes how states are responding to the challenge of financing health care for retirees who tend to be sicker…
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…
Prescription Drug Procurement and the Federal Budget May 8, 2012 Issue Brief This brief commissioned by the Foundation considers areas where Medicare faces limited opportunity for market-based competition and price negotiation to drive down drug spending. These areas include drug purchasing for low-income people enrolled in Part D plans who face minimal cost-sharing requirements, and purchasing certain unique drugs, such as biologicals,…
Medicare Advantage Plan Star Ratings and Bonus Payments in 2012 November 1, 2011 Report This report looks at the star ratings that have been used for many years to help consumers compare plans, and examines how Medicare Advantage quality scores will interact with plan payments, beginning in 2012. To encourage Medicare Advantage plans to provide quality care, the 2010 health reform law authorized Medicare…
Kaiser Family Foundation Resources on Deficit-Reduction Debate October 31, 2012 Report These Foundation resources shed light on how the ongoing national debate about deficit reduction may affect Medicare, Medicaid and other health-care programs. These resources include analysis of specific savings proposals, polling on the public’s views of deficit-reduction options, summaries and comparisons of relevant elements of major deficit-reduction plans, and explanatory…
Briefing – Medicare: A Primer March 11, 2011 Event This briefing provided an overview of the Medicare program and its role in the health care system. Panelists discussed who is eligible for Medicare, what benefits are covered and how the program is administered. Medicare financing and the program’s role in health reform was also explained. More information on Medicare…
Medicare’s Role for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries April 4, 2012 Issue Brief About 9 million low-income seniors and younger people with disabilities in the United States are covered by both Medicare and Medicaid. This brief examines the role of Medicare in providing health coverage for these beneficiaries. Medicare is the primary source of health insurance, while Medicaid provides supplemental coverage, helping with…
March/April 2005 Kaiser Health Poll Report – Toplines April 1, 2005 Poll Finding Health News Index March/April, 2005 The March/April Kaiser Health Poll Report featured topic explores the public’s views on the Medicare prescription drug benefit. This featured topic covers the historical perspective from before the law was passed as well as current views and understanding of the benefit, including how seniors are…
The President’s FY 2006 Budget Proposal: February 27, 2005 Report Overview and Briefing ChartsThis chartpack reviews the President’s FY 2006 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 an overview of federal surplus/deficit spending patterns dating back to 1969. It then…