Research

Provider networks in Medicare Advantage not only appear to impact health care use but can also impact the types of beneficiaries who choose to enroll in traditional Medicare versus MA.

Enrolling in Medicare is associated with a reduction in the use of mental healthcare among individuals with probable mental health symptoms and low or moderate family incomes

Pharmacies located in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods were most at risk for closure, suggesting that closures could worsen existing racial and ethnic disparities in access to pharmacies, medications, and essential health care services.

Climate change concerns were predicted by education and direct experience with harm by severe weather, as well as knowing someone else who was harmed by severe weather.

Medications with somnolence as a potential adverse effect were commonly used, and the findings suggest a link between polypharmacy and the increased risk of somnolence symptoms.

Although envisioned as a way to coordinate benefits between Medicare and Medicaid and serve the specific needs of the dually eligible population, only 46 percent of D-SNP plans feature distinct provider networks from standard MA plans offered by the same insurer.

Over half of Medicare beneficiaries in stand-alone Part D plans kept their coverage without comparing plans during the last enrollment period, and many reported not knowing how to switch plans.

More recent cohorts aging into Medicare seek significantly more counseling and psychotherapy than prior cohorts, suggesting that plans must prepare to accommodate the needs of new Medicare entrants.

States with naloxone access laws permitting pharmacists to dispense to consumers experienced substantially greater naloxone dispensing after Narcan’s introduction.

Expected monthly out-of-pocket costs for a typical enrollee were about 18-24% lower in Medicare Advantage in recent years, which likely helped fuel the program’s enrollment surge.