Designing a Comprehensive Policy Evaluation Tool to Assess Medicare Savings Policies

This project will develop and promote a comprehensive policy evaluation tool for assessing the full range of potential effects associated with Medicare savings measures that are likely to be considered by the next Congress. The tool will incorporate traditional financial measures as well as measures of impact on beneficiary welfare, the well-being of safety-net health systems, and the effectiveness of delivery system reform initiatives. The team at Health Management Associates will use the new evaluation tool to examine 15 Medicare proposals for their potential to improve solvency while minimizing negative impacts on these other measures. Throughout the project, the Commonwealth Fund’s Council of Economic Advisors and other Medicare experts will provide input on technical design, assumptions, and selection of measures.