Improving provider directory accuracy: can machine-readable directories help?

Objectives: To examine inaccuracies in health plan provider directories and consider whether the machine-readable (MR) formats required of provider directories in the health insurance exchanges are more accurate than conventional directories and have the potential to improve directory accuracy in the future.

Study Design: The descriptive study design included qualitative data collection through stakeholder interviews and quantitative data analysis and verification of provider data source accuracy from multiple sources.

Methods: Four separate sources of provider data from 5 counties were captured and aggregated into an analytic database.

Prescription coverage, use and spending before and after Part D implementation: a national longitudinal panel study.

Background: In January 2006, 43 million Medicare beneficiaries became eligible for subsidized prescription coverage (Part D) through Medicare. To date, no longitudinal study has afforded information on beneficiaries' prescription coverage transitions and corresponding changes in prescription use and spending.

Objective: To evaluate changes in Medicare beneficiaries' prescription coverage, use and spending before and after Part D implementation, including comparison of those who enrolled in Part D with those who did not.

Medicare prescription drug benefit progress report: findings from a 2006 national survey of seniors.

A national survey in 2006 found that Part D secured drug coverage for most seniors who were without it in 2005, prior to the Medicare drug benefit. Seniors without drug coverage in 2006 generally fell into two groups: those in relatively good health and those potentially difficult to reach. Compared with seniors covered through employer plans or the Department of Veterans Affairs, Part D enrollees had higher out-of-pocket spending and greater cost-related nonadherence.

Physician-patient communication about prescription medication nonadherence: a 50-state study of America's seniors.

Context: Understanding and improving the quality of medication management is particularly important in the context of the Medicare prescription drug benefit that took effect last January 2006.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of physician-patient dialogue about medication cost and medication adherence among elderly adults nationwide.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.