Supplemental Oxygen Use, Outcomes, and Spending in Patients With COPD in the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program.

Importance: The Medicare Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), a policy that reduced durable medical equipment prices, was implemented starting in 2011. Legislation introduced in 2024 aims to remove supplemental oxygen from the CBP because of concerns that recent decreases in oxygen prescribing are due to lower prices set by the CBP, which may have decreased supply and, in turn, limited oxygen access for patients with chronic lung diseases. However, low-value prescribing of oxygen is also prevalent in practice, and decreased oxygen prescription rates may not have necessarily caused harm.

The Initial Nonprofit Exposure and Response to Seattle's Minimum Wage Ordinance.

Nearly 40 local governments adopted minimum wage rates higher than the federal minimum in the last decade. Research on such laws focuses on employment and price adjustments of for-profit firms. Higher minimum wage rates, however, may pose unique challenges to community-based nonprofit organizations, many of which serve vulnerable communities and have limited ability to modify business practices.

Justice "cost points": Examination of privatization within public systems of justice.

Research Summary: In addition to outsourcing the management of correctional facilities, many local and state authorities contract with private companies to provide a variety of services and processes within U.S. courthouses, jails, and prisons.