Under a task order contract with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), NORC is leading a series of analyses to inform policy making related to the Medicare program. Often these projects involve gathering information on trends in the private sector health care market and identifying potential lessons learned for the Medicare program or looking into the implications of program changes for health care providers and Medicare beneficiaries. The projects are conducted on a rapid turnaround basis and are based on use of structured interviews, focus groups, data anlaysis, small surveys or other research methods.
Recently NORC gathered and synthesized information on the distribution and purchasing of physician administered drugs that have been traditionally covered by Medicare. NORC also recently completed a national survey of physicians about issues related to the Medicare program. Finally, NORC is currently working on projects to assess recent changes in covering the practice expense portion of physician payment, how formulary structure under the new Medicare Part D benefit affects choices facing beneficiaries, and the treatment of drugs covered under Part B by Part D plans.
MedPAC has posted two contractor reports on Medicare-covered drugs on its website:
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MedPAC