February 27, 2007 - There has been relatively little research documenting the health-related language barriers facing older adults. This Fund-supported study finds that Medicare beneficiaries with limited English proficiency are less likely than those who are proficient in English to have access to a consistent source of care and less likely to receive important preventive care.
In the Literature
February 13, 2007 - According to survey results published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, many seniors are not talking to their physicians about problems they are having with prescription medications, including side effects and costs.
In the Literature
February 1, 2007 - A newly updated and revised Fund chartbook documents the pre-Part D landscape of state pharmacy assistance programs, providing an important baseline for assessing states' evolving role and the impact of future policy choices.
Chartbook
February 1, 2007 - Medicare is undertaking a number of demonstrations aimed at improving the quality and coordination of services provided to its beneficiaries. A new Commonwealth Fund report examines Medicare's efforts to play a more active role in ensuring that it purchases appropriate, high-quality, and efficient health care for its beneficiaries.
Fund Report
December 1, 2006 - Medicare's first pay-for-performance initiative for physicians, the Physician Group Practice Demonstration, is showing promise, a new Fund report finds. Participating practices are responding to financial incentives for both quality improvement and cost containment.
Fund Report
November 30, 2006 - Payments to private Medicare Advantage plans in 2005 averaged 12.4 percent more per enrollee compared to what it would have cost in the fee-for-service program. The authors of a new Fund issue brief say these extra payments could instead be used to close the prescription drug coverage gap or reduce premiums.
Issue Brief
November 7, 2006 - Creating a center to compare the effectiveness of drug treatments and medical procedures could stem the rising tide of health care costs and help health plans, hospitals, and public health programs "spend smarter" on health care, a new Fund-supported study finds.
In the Literature
August 24, 2006 - In each state, seniors face a dizzying array of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans—each with different benefit designs and formulary structures that are used to control costs, but may also affect enrollees' ability to access medications. This issue brief examines plans in the four most populous Medicare states—California, Florida, New York, and Texas.
Issue Brief
July 25, 2006 - "Determining how much to pay physicians certainly is an important issue, but determining how to pay physicians so Medicare beneficiaries get the best care possible is of at least equal importance," The Fund's Stuart Guterman testified at a July 25th U.S. House of Representatives hearing on Medicare physician payment.
Testimony
July 14, 2006 - From AARP's perspective, the Medicare drug benefit is best assessed in relation to the five distinct goals sought in supporting it.
Commentary
July 14, 2006 - How the Medicare drug benefit became one of this country's most remarkable success stories yields powerful lessons for the new benefit and for future public-private partnerships.
Commentary
May 19, 2006 - Beneficiaries in poor health can pay more out-of-pocket in some Medicare Advantage managed care plans than in traditional, fee-for-service Medicare with Medigap supplemental coverage, according to a new Commonwealth Fund issue brief.
Issue Brief
March 28, 2006 - The government faces many challenges in implementing the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. First among them is overseeing the enrollment of millions of beneficiaries into private plans, including shifting those currently relying on Medicaid coverage to Medicare drug plans.
Fund Report
February 27, 2006 - Among the groups most likely to be helped by the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit are nursing home residents, a new Fund-supported study finds. One-fifth of residents lacked any drug coverage in 2001, and most of them have low incomes.
In the Literature
February 15, 2006 - In a new essay, the Fund's Karen Davis and Sara Collins reflect on Medicare's historic achievements and discuss policy options for tackling the program's new challenges.
In the Literature