Health Economics and Financing

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RAND Health conducts a variety of studies on medical costs, insurance coverage, reimbursement models, and consumer health expenses—including proposed health care reforms. Our research identifies opportunities to control spending while improving health care access, efficiency, and outcomes.

From the RAND Blog

Dementia's Growing Cost to Caregivers — Apr 29, 2013

Young woman and grandfather sitting hand in hand at tableAt the rate that the U.S. population is aging, the total cost of dementia could reach half a trillion dollars a year by 2040. Those who care for impaired relatives and friends are acutely aware of the effects of dementia, and unfortunately they are all too familiar with its costs, writes Kathleen J. Mullen.

Governors Missing the Point on Medicaid — Apr 29, 2013

6170068425_b192a9d867_bWhile a governor or legislator may disagree with Medicaid expansion for philosophical reasons, the claims that the expansion will be a burden on states' economies seem misguided given the full range of projected economic impacts on the states, writes Carter C. Price.

Latest Research and Publications

Infographic: How Pennsylvania May Fare Under the ACA

Pennsylvania capitol buildingThis infographic presents findings from a RAND analysis of the economic and other effects of Medicaid expansion on the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Medicare Payment Reform and Provider Entry and Exit

doctor examAn investigation of the impacts of Medicare payment reform on post-acute providers found that payment reforms reducing average and marginal payments reduced entries and increased exits from the market, which may affect market structure, access to care, quality and cost of care, and patient outcomes.

Impact of Socioeconomic Adjustment on Physicians' Relative Cost of Care

Young doctor holding elderly womanOngoing efforts to profile physicians on their relative cost of care have been criticized because they do not account for differences in patients' socioeconomic status (SES).
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Research in Progress

  • Health Care Reimbursement

    Examining the impact on care of different reimbursement systems, including Medicare payments and pay-for-performance programs

  • Prescription Drug Benefits

    Studying drug formularies and prescription benefit plans, including physician authorization and beneficiary enrollment

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Featured Research Brief

Cover: Flattening the Trajectory of Health Care Spending

Flattening the Trajectory of Health Care Spending: Insights from RAND Health Research

RAND Health research supports four strategies to restrain health care spending growth and maintain quality: foster efficient and accountable providers, engage and empower consumers, promote population health, and facilitate high-value innovation.

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