Health Care Reform

The debate within the U.S. government about reforming the health care system centers on ways to control rising costs and assure high-quality, affordable care. RAND Health and its health care reform initiative--RAND COMPARE (Comprehensive Assessment of Reform Efforts)--provide objective research and analysis on topics that can inform the health care reform debate, including financing; increasing access, insurance coverage, and quality; decreasing costs; and promoting wellness and prevention.

Research conducted by: RAND Health

All Items (204)

BLOG

Would the Affordable Care Act Lead to Reductions in Employer-Sponsored Coverage? — May 4, 2012

As the U.S. Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual mandate, one of the questions being debated is what effect the mandate would have on employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. A factor to consider in this is the effect the ACA would have on small businesses, which employ the majority of America's private-sector workforce.

REPORT

What is the Impact of Health Care Reform on Workers' Compensation Medical Care? — Apr 23, 2012

When enacting, implementing, and evaluating health care reform, policymakers should consider potential spillover effects on workers' compensation insurance. The experience of Massachusetts's heath care reform suggests that reform may reduce medical costs.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Ways to Improve Health Care Provider 'Report Cards' — Mar 5, 2012

As health care reform expands the use of "report cards" to grade health care providers, greater attention to reporting methods may be needed to assure the quality of such efforts.

NEWS RELEASE

Ways to Improve Health Care Provider 'Report Cards' — Mar 5, 2012

As health care reform expands the use of "report cards" to grade health care providers, greater attention to reporting methods may be needed to assure the quality of such efforts.

MULTIMEDIA

What Would Removing the Individual Mandate from the ACA Mean For Costs and Coverage? — Feb 22, 2012

New RAND research finds that eliminating the requirement that all Americans have health insurance would sharply lower the number of people gaining coverage, but would not dramatically increase the cost of buying policies through new insurance exchanges. RAND Economist Christine Eibner discusses the ramifications.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Rules Allowing Small Businesses to Opt Out of Health Reform Should Have Minor Impact on Insurance Cost — Feb 8, 2012

Rules that allow some small employers to avoid regulation under the federal Affordable Care Act are unlikely to have a major impact on the future cost of health insurance unless those rules are relaxed to allow more businesses to opt out.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Financial Burden of Prescription Drugs Is Dropping, but Costs Remain a Challenge for Many Families — Feb 8, 2012

The financial burden Americans face paying out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs has declined, although prescription costs remain a significant challenge for people with lower incomes and those with public insurance.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Two Years and Counting: How Will the Effects of the Affordable Care Act Be Monitored? — Jan 1, 2012

The Affordable Care Act marks a new era in US health care and US medicine. This commentary suggests ways to monitor the act's effect on the health of the US population.

RESEARCH BRIEF

How Does Health Reform Affect the Health Care Workforce? Lessons from Massachusetts — Dec 13, 2011

Since Massachusetts enacted health reform legislation in 2006, health care employment in the state has grown more rapidly than in the rest of the United States, primarily in administrative positions.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Bundling Payments to Curb Health Care Costs Proves Difficult to Realize — Nov 7, 2011

Under bundled payments, doctors, hospitals, and other providers share one fee for treating all aspects of a procedure such as a hip replacement or a chronic disease like diabetes. The approach should eliminate unnecessary care and improve quality, but putting it into practice is proving to be more difficult than anticipated.

NEWS RELEASE

Bundling Payments to Curb Health Care Costs Proves Difficult to Realize — Nov 7, 2011

Under bundled payments, doctors, hospitals, and other providers share one fee for treating all aspects of a procedure such as a hip replacement or a chronic disease like diabetes. The approach should eliminate unnecessary care and improve quality, but putting it into practice is proving to be more difficult than anticipated.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Can the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Become Relevant to Controlling Medical Costs and Improving Value? — Nov 1, 2011

Research sponsored by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute can help patients make better decisions by comparing the effectiveness of alternative therapies, but it is constrained from considering the costs of therapies it compares.

COMMENTARY

Ensuring the ACA Helps Reduce Disparities—Not Exacerbate Them — Oct 14, 2011

Evidence from past efforts in the U.S. and abroad suggests that the full potential of health reform will not be realized without specific efforts to reduce disparities, write Robin M. Weinick, Malcom V. Williams, and Romana Hasnain-Wynia.

REPORT

Focus on the Rising Cost of Health Care — Oct 5, 2011

A substantial body of RAND research has focused on evaluating policies to lower health care costs; promoting health and preventing disease; and improving health system value and quality of care.

MULTIMEDIA

How Does Growth in Health Care Costs Affect the American Family? — Oct 3, 2011

In this October 2011 Congressional Briefing, Art Kellermann presents a breakdown of how U.S. health care cost growth directly affects the finances of a typical American family.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.: How to Ensure That They Help Reduce Disparities--Not Increase Them — Sep 30, 2011

This article examines potential effects of the Affordable Care Act's quality provisions on disparities and suggests disparities impact assessments to measure and monitor effects.

PERIODICAL

Beyond the Shadow of 9/11 — Sep 1, 2011

The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks warrants a thoughtful review of America's progress and future strategy. In this RAND Review cover story, RAND experts offer perspectives on Afghan-led solutions, ways to counter al Qaeda, air passenger security, and compensation for those affected by terrorism.

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Health Care Reform and the Health Care Workforce — The Massachusetts Experience — Aug 31, 2011

Analysis of the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Plan suggests national health care reform may require larger numbers of support personnel, rather than requiring greater numbers of physicians and nurses themselves.

COMMENTARY

Insurance Expansion and Health Literacy — Aug 9, 2011

The ongoing evolution of the health care system is leading US households toward greater responsibility for their own well-being. With this responsibility, however, comes an increasing need to be able to find, trust, use, and act on relevant information to make informed choices, write Laurie T. Martin and Ruth M. Parker.

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