Policy & Regulation

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services RESEARCH BRIEF

Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) is a target rate of growth in spending for physicians’ services. Payments for physicians’ services are supposed to automatically adjust in response to actual spending falling either above or below the target.

Several proposals to increase health coverage for the currently uninsured rely on encouragements to utilize and potentially expand the individual insurance market. In broadening health insurance coverage, it is important to understand the regulatory environment under which these proposals would be implemented.

In this report, the authors present the results of an assessment that involved review of the literature on emergency preparedness risk communication and public health messaging strategies; the compilation of educational and outreach materials for emergency preparedness communication with vulnerable populations; and site visits in three states and the Washington, DC, area to identify gaps in the

IntroductionAlthough the majority of Americans with health insurance obtain their coverage through group health plans offered through their employers, many individuals obtain their coverage through the nongroup (or individual) insurance market.

The study provides public programs, employers and private insurers with effective best practices used in Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, and the private insurance market to improve participation in health insurance coverage.

Application of Adult-Based Dietary Guidelines to Children: Evidence, Knowledge Gaps and Policy Implications Prepared by: Ronette R. Briefel, Allison Hedley Dodd, Charlotte Cabili and Carol West Suitor

Summary of panel discussion concerning the challenges of measuring the impact of disease management programs, especially for individuals with multiple chronic conditions.

Current Issues and Options: Coverage and Reimbursement for Complex Molecular Diagnostics This is a policy analysis document developed to inform ongoing discussions regarding certain types of diagnostic tests. Bruce Quinn MD PhD Foley Hoag LLP

This report documents IHSS Plus Waiver implementation and recipient Medicaid service use in calendar year 2005.