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Medicare Managed Care: Growing Enrollment Adds Urgency to Fixing HMO Payment Problem

HEHS-96-21 Published: Nov 08, 1995. Publicly Released: Nov 08, 1995.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed Medicare payments to health maintenance organizations (HMO), focusing on: (1) current trends in Medicare beneficiary enrollment in HMO; (2) flaws in Medicare's rate-setting method that prevent it from realizing potential savings from HMO; and (3) the Health Care Financing Administration's (HCFA) efforts to test HMO payment reforms.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
In light of the increasingly urgent need to realize savings from the Medicare HMO program and to develop viable new methods of paying HMO, Congress may wish to consider giving the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to selectively reduce Medicare HMO payment rates (the adjusted average per capita cost rate) in areas where market data indicate that the Medicare rates are too high.
Closed – Not Implemented
In passing the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress completely changed the HMO rate-setting methodology. Beginning in 1998, HMO rates will be determined by the formula specified in the act. The Secretary of HHS was given no discretion to selectively reduce rates in specific counties.
In light of the increasingly urgent need to realize savings from the Medicare HMO program and to develop viable new methods of paying HMO, Congress may wish to expand HCFA authority to mandate HMO participation in demonstration projects in order to conduct more meaningful studies of alternative payment methods.
Closed – Implemented
In passing the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress gave HCFA a mandate and clear authority to conduct alternative HMO payment demonstrations. The location and design of these demonstrations will be determined by a Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee, whose members will be appointed by the Secretary of HHS.

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Topics

CompetitionElderly personsHealth insurance cost controlHealth maintenance organizationsManaged health careMedical economic analysisMedical services ratesMedicareOverpaymentsRisk managementRisk adjustments