Spending differences associated with the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration.

ABSTRACT:

Context

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently launched accountable care organization (ACO) programs designed to improve quality and slow cost growth. The ACOs resemble an earlier pilot, the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration (PGPD), in which participating physician groups received bonus payments if they achieved lower cost growth than local controls and met quality targets. Although evidence indicates the PGPD improved quality, uncertainty remains about its effect on costs.

Objective

To estimate cost savings associated with the PGPD overall and for beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

Design

Quasi-experimental analyses comparing preintervention (2001-2004) and postintervention (2005-2009) trends in spending of PGP

SUBMITTER: Colla CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3484377 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature