Tracking and Targeted Analysis of Medicare and Health Care Cost Policy Developments

Thorn Run will provide three levels of policy analysis on a regular basis to support the CMWF’s ongoing development of research projects for the Advancing Medicare (AM) and Controlling Healthcare Costs (CC) programs. Level 1 will entail tracking issues and policy developments, including real-time policy and regulatory analyses, key event summaries, and alerts to upcoming health policy events of interest. Level 2 will entail strategic analysis and counsel to ensure program staff’s complete understanding of health policy developments. Level 3 will entail more in-depth policy memoranda in response to program staff’s requests related to Medicare program and health care cost issues.

The target audience is AM/CC program staff. Given the breadth and complexity of the Medicare program and proposals to address health care costs, these analyses will aid staff in developing relevant and efficient program agendas and in their guiding of grant proposals that reflect priorities of policymakers.