CBO: Medicare Cost-Cutting Programs Fall Short of Goals
Pilot programs established under the federal health reform law to study Medicare payment reform did not produce significant savings or improve health care quality, according to a Congressional Budget Office brief. On average, the 34 programs that were part of six demonstration projects to improve care coordination for patients with chronic diseases had little or no effect on hospital admissions or Medicare spending. Meanwhile, only one of four programs that offered financial incentives for higher quality care reduced spending, according to CBO.
- "CBO: Medicare Cost-Cutting Programs Haven't Worked" (Baker, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 1/18).
- "CBO Finds Demo Projects Have Little Impact on Medicare Spending" (Zigmond, Modern Healthcare, 1/18).