Study: Medical Equipment, Home Health Are Big Reasons for Variation in Health Care Use

May 8, 2012 - The Commonwealth Fund-supported author of this Health Affairs article examined variations in beneficiaries' use of 13 health care services in 60 communities to investigate: discernible patterns; the extent of variation in service categories across sites; and which services vary to the extent that they account for disproportionate geographic variation in total use.

All-Payer Rate Setting in Japan Contains Costs

May 8, 2012 - Japan has been able to maintain access to care and avoid rationing while also taking advantage of the latest medical technology by applying a standardized fee schedule for nearly all health care goods and services and combining hospital and physician fees, according to this Commonwealth Fund–supported research.

Will Paying More for Primary Care Visits Save Medicare Money?

March 21, 2012 - In this issue brief, researchers used a simulation model to predict the budgetary impact of a permanent increase in Medicare primary care fees.

The Innovation Center at One Year: Much Progress, More to Be Done

November 29, 2011 - The Commonwealth Fund's Mark Zezza, Melinda Abrams, and Stuart Guterman review the Innovation Center's first year and highlight areas for future development and consideration.

Dual Eligible Demonstrations: Resources for Advocates