Research Examines Physician Medicare Rates, Medicare Advantage Regions

• "Medicare Physician Payments: Geographic Adjustments Indices Are Valid in Design but Data and Methods Need Refinement," Government Accountability Office: The report examines whether geographic practice cost indices, which are used to raise or lower Medicare physician rates in a particular area, are valid in design and use appropriate data and methods. According to the report, GPCIs are "valid in their fundamental design as tools to account for geographic cost differences." The report recommends that HHS improve the indices by "augmenting the data and refining the methods used to construct them" (GAO, "Highlights of GAO-05-119," March 2005).
  
  
• "Profile and Analysis of the 26 Medicare Advantage Regions," Kaiser Family Foundation: The analysis by Marsha Gold and Lindsay Harris of Mathematica Policy Research describes the new Medicare Advantage regions and the availability of Medicare plans in each region. The paper also examines the factors influencing a region's ability to attract companies that would offer the new Medicare Advantage plans. The Kaiser Family Foundation also has updated its Medicare Health Plan Tracker, an online resource on Medicare Advantage plans, with data on Medicare HMOs and other plans in the 26 regions (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 3/11).