Research

The 1.7 million pandemic-era excess deaths that occurred as of January 2023 reduced expected future outlays of the Social Security Administration OASDI program by $205 billion on net.

The long-run innovation elasticity associated with U.S. revenues lies between 0.25 and 1.5, implying that a 10% reduction in expected revenues leads to a 2.5% to 15% decline in pharmaceutical innovation. Policymakers evaluating options to manage healthcare costs should take significant care to balance reductions in health outcomes long-term with short-term access improvements.

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.