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HEALTH CARE
The Public Policy Institute’s Health Team conducts research and policy analysis, and brings together thought leaders to develop and advance AARP’s public policy agenda on health care.
Click below for reports on major health care topics. Use the PPI search box on the right for a more precise search.
Health Quality, Safety and Access
Featured
Rx Price Watch: Retail Prices Jump for Specialty Drugs
This report by Stephen Schondelmeyer and AARP’s Leigh Purvis finds that retail prices for specialty prescription drugs widely used by Medicare Part D enrollees increased between 2005 and 2009. read
Expanding Clinical Trials
Including older, sicker patients in clinical trials would make medical research more relevant for treating these people. read
What Care Works Best For Dual Eligibles?
A report on focus groups held with older Americans who receive Medicare and Medicaid. read
Many Medicare Part D Plans to Raise Premiums, Increase Cost-sharing
This report by Leigh Purvis and Lee Rucker shows that beneficiaries should carefully evaluate 2012 Part D plans during open enrollment. read
Biologics in Perspective: The New Biosimilar Approval Pathway
This AARP Public Policy Institute fact sheet by Leigh Purvis examines provisions in the Affordable Care Act that created an approval pathway for generic versions of biologic drugs, or biosimilars, but ensured that brand name biologic manufacturers are protected from this new competition for at least 12 years. read
Removing Barriers to Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Care: Hospital Privileges
Consumers benefit when advanced practice registered nurses have hospital privileges read
Health Reform Law Creates New Opportunities for States to Save Medicaid Dollars
This AARP Insight on the Issues report by PPI's Lynda Flowers and Wendy Fox-Grage examines how health care reform offers opportunities for cash-strapped Medicaid programs to save money and get extra federal dollars. read
Advancing Health in Rural America: Maximizing Nursing’s Impact
The 70 million Americans who live in rural areas face a significant shortage of health care providers. Registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses are delivering essential health care services as primary providers and care managers in rural areas. A Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Mary Sue Gorski. read
The High Cost of Capping Federal Medicaid Funding
Deficit reduction commissions and some policymakers have recommended capping federal funding to some or all of the Medicaid program. This Fact Sheet by AARP’s Lynda Flowers examines the pros and cons of these proposed changes. read
New Health Care Law Helps Protect 18 Million Medicare Beneficiaries from High Drug Costs
This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by AARP’s Leigh Purvis examines how many Medicare Part D enrollees will benefit from the new health care law that closes the “doughnut hole.” National- and state-level estimates are provided. read
Medicare Beneficiaries’ Out-of-Pocket Spending for Health Care
A report from AARP’s Lynn Nonnemaker shows Medicare beneficiaries spent a median of $3,103 a year of their own money on health care in 2006. Ten percent of beneficiaries—more than 4 million people—spent more than $8,300 a year. The oldest and poorest beneficiaries spent about one-quarter of their income on health care. read
Medicare Part D Open Enrollment: Tough Choices for 2011 as Plans Change, Costs Shift
To make the most of Medicare Part D, beneficiaries will need to closely investigate changes in plan benefits and choices. read
Care Management Practices in Integrated Care Models for Dual Eligibles
Administrative challenges for State-authorized health plans whose members are qualified to receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits. read
The Creation of American Health Benefit Exchanges
Exchange-related provisions of the Affordable Care Act. read
Rx Price Watch: Retail Prices Jump for Specialty Drugs
This report by Stephen Schondelmeyer and AARP’s Leigh Purvis finds that retail prices for specialty prescription drugs widely used by Medicare Part D enrollees increased between 2005 and 2009. read
Quick Health Facts 2010: A Compilation of Selected State Data
A compilation of selected state data on older Americans read
Health Care Reform Improves Access to Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services
Health care reform improves access to home and community-based services. read
Health Reform Initiatives to Improve Care Coordination and Transitional Care for Chronic Conditions
This PPI Fact Sheet describes how health reform legislation will improve care coordination and transitional care. read
Health Reform and the Workforce: Will There Be Enough Providers?
This fact sheet reviews provisions in the new health care reform law to increase the number of providers available. read
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