Program Evaluation

KEY POINTSThe average state provider tax law, which typically taxed a hospital up to 3.5 percent of net patient revenue, resulted in an increase in ESI premiums of 1.5-1.7 percent, plus any spillover effect on interstate markets for provider resources.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYMedicare reimbursement is administered, but it is not insulated from markets for provider labor, capital, facilities, and technology. Traditional Medicare payment formulas incorporate market-basket input prices, geographic wage indexes, case mix, and quality adjustments; total spending also depends on utilization.

KEY POINTSThe Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) provides critical services to low-income peo

Health care provider taxes and state-directed payment policies in the Working Families and Tax Cut legislation are expected to reduce non-Medicaid prices by up to 3.5 percent in markets with provider taxes and reduce spending on Medicaid, commercial and Medicare coverage.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) analyzes the benefits, costs, and other impacts of significant proposed and final rulemakings, consistent with the requirements of several executive orders and statutes. HHS develops these analyses according to technical guidance published by the U.S.

In Fiscal Year 2025, OS-PCORTF projects and other OS-PCORTF initiatives collectively enhanced the data infrastructure available for patient-centered and comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) across national and HHS health objectives.

This 2024 vignette provides examples of how a range of OS-PCORTF cross-agency projects are working to improve maternal health by 1)Reducing Preventable Pregnancy-Related Deaths and Improving Maternity Care 2) Studying Substance Use Treatment Outcomes for Pregnant Women 3) Representing all American Mothers and Children in Research Data

The Fiscal Year (FY) HHS 2026 Evaluation plan includes four (4) evaluations reflecting evidence-building activities in different Operating and Staff Divisions across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The selected evaluations highlight activities that will generate actionable evidence in FY 2026 on priority topics.

This brief describes how enhancing linked data infrastructure across health and human services programs can improve efficiency, increase transparency through strengthening outcomes research, and empower patients and families to make more informed choices.