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SUMMARY
Improving the
Medicare Market
Rdding Choice and Protections
Committee on Choice and Managed Care: Assuring Public
Accountability and Information for Informed Purchasing
by and on Behalf of Medicare Beneficiaries
Stanley B. Jones and Marion Ein Lewin, Editors
Office of Health Policy Programs and Fellowships
INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C. 1996
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NATIONAL ACAI)EMY PRESS · 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. · Washington, D.C. 20418
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing
Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of
the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Insti-
tute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen
for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to
procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of
Medicine.
The Institute of Medicine was chartered in 1970 by the National Academy of Sci-
ences to enlist distinguished members of the appropriate professions in the examination
of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. In this, the Institute acts under
both the Academy's 1863 congressional charter responsibility to be an adviser to the
federal government and its own initiative in identifying issues of medical care, research,
and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.
Support for this project was provided by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
The Commonwealth Fund, the Kansas Health Foundation, and The Pew Charitable
Trusts. The views presented are those of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Choice
and Managed Care and are not necessarily those of the funding organizations.
This Summary is available in limited quantities from the Institute of Medicine,
Office of Health Policy Programs and Fellowships, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20418.
The complete volume of Improving the Medicare Market: Adding Choice and Pro-
tections, from which this Summary is extracted, is available from the National Academy
Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Box 285, Washington, D.C. 20055. Call 800-
624-6242 or 202-334-3313 (in the Washington Metropolitan Area), or visit the NAP's on-
line bookstore at http://www.nap.edu.
Copyright 1996 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
The serpent has been a symbol of long life, healing, and knowledge among almost
all cultures and religions since the beginning of recorded history. The image adopted as
a logotype by the Institute of Medicine is based on a relief carving from ancient Greece,
now held by the Staatlichemuseen in Berlin.
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COMMITTEE ON CHOICE AND MANAGED CARE:
ASSURING PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND
INFORMATION FOR INFORMED PURCHASING BY
AND ON BEHALF OF MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES
STANLEY B. JONES* (Chair), George Washington University
Health Insurance Reform Project, Washington, D.C.
HARRY P. CAIN IT, Business Alliances, Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Association, Chicago, TIlinois
GERALDINE DALLEK, Department of Health Policy,
Families USA, Washington, D.C.
HELEN B. DARLING, Healthcare Strategy and Programs,
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, Connecticut
TOM J. ELKTN, Independent Health Care Consultant,
Sacramento, California
ALLEN FEEZOR, Insurance and Managed Care Programs,
East Carolina University Medical Center, Pitt County
Memorial Hospital, Greenville, North Carolina
JAMES P. FTRMAN, National Council on the Aging,
Washington, D.C.
SANDRA HARMON-WETSS, U.S. Healthcare, Blue Bell,
Pennsylvania
RTSA d. LAVTZZO-MOUREY, Institute on Aging and Division
of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MARK V. PAULY,* Departments of Economics and Health
Care Systems, The Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Study Staff
Marion Ein Lewin, Study Director
Valerie Tate dopeck, Research Assistant
Richard Julian, Program Assistant
Ramona Brinegar, Firtartcial Associate (July 1995-February
1996)
Nancy Diener, Firtartcial Associate (March 1996-July 1996)
Institute of Medicine Member.
. . .
zzz
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prafara
As part of the ongoing transformation of the U.S. health care
system, there is mounting pressure to reform the $~80 billion
Medicare program to make it more efficient and to secure its
future viability. A centerpiece of current public- and private-
sector efforts to restructure the nation's biggest social program
and to reduce Medicare expenditure growth focuses on expand-
ing health plan options for beneficiaries, with an emphasis on
managed care arrangements. A number of studies and surveys
attribute the recent slowing rate of spending on health benefits
by large employers to the growth of managed care programs.
Although only 10 percent of the Medicare population is cur-
rently enrolled in managed care plans, these risk contract pro-
grams now appear to be attracting more Medicare beneficiaries.
Enrollment more than doubled between 1987 and 1995 and is
now growing at more than 25 percent a year.
As major efforts to shift Medicare patients into managed
care plans move forward, many experts and patient advocates
are concerned whether the necessary information and protec-
tions are in place to enable Medicare patients to select an appro-
priate health plan wisely and to ensure that this group contin-
ues to have access to high quality health care. The potentially
daunting scope and speed of the transition by elderly Americans
v
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vz
PREFACE
into what for most beneficiaries remains uncharted waters
makes the need for high-quality, trustworthy information and
accountability particularly critical. Only by laying a sound in-
frastructure in which individuals can make informed purchas-
ing decisions and in which competition is based on quality per-
formance can the public confidence needed to move Medicare
beneficiaries safely and responsibly into a marketplace for choice
and managed care be ensured.
Within this context of historical change and major leg~sla-
tive proposals by the 104th Congress to restructure the Medi-
care program, the Institute of Medicine was asked to appoint a
committee that would provide guidance to policy makers and
decision makers on ensuring public accountability, promoting
informed purchasing, and installing the necessary protections
to help Medicare beneficiaries to operate effectively, safely, and
confidently in the new environment of greater health plan
choice. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation generously took
the lead in funding this project, and was joined by The Common-
wealth Fund, the Kansas Health Foundation, and The Pew
Charitable Trusts, which also provided funding.
Tn the fall of 1995, a committee of 10 individuals was ap-
pointed to conduct a 12-month study on ensuring public ac-
countability and informed purchasing for Medicare beneficia-
ries, performing the following tasks:
· to commission background papers from experts and prac-
titioners in the field that review the literature and synthesize
aspects of the leading issues and current policy proposals as
they pertain to ensuring public accountability and informed
purchasing in a system of broadened choice;
· to guide, develop, and convene an invitational sympo-
sium to (~) examine what is known (or not known) about ensur-
ing public accountability and informed purchasing in the cur-
rent Medicare program and other health plans, (2) recommend
how public accountability and informed purchasing can be en-
sured for Medicare beneficiaries in managed care and other
health plan choices, and (3) discuss options and strategies that
can be used to help government and the private sector achieve
the desired goals in this arena; and
· to produce a report that will include the commissioned
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PREFACE
. .
VZZ
background papers, a summary of the symposium discussion,
and recommendations on the major issues that need to be ad-
dressed to ensure public accountability and the availability of
information for informed purchasing by and on behalf of Medi-
care beneficiaries in managed care and other health care deliv-
ery options.
The committee met twice during the course of this study. In
carrying out its charge, the committee recognized that the sci-
ence-based and peer-reviewed literature in the major areas of
the committee's scrutiny is sparse since the field is young and
continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. The state-of-the-
art information in this area resides primarily among a large
number of private and public purchasers and various other or-
ganizations and agencies. With that in mind, the committee
constructed a 2-day symposium primarily around real-world
experts who could comment on and respond to the available
research findings and to current Medicare reform proposals from
their well-recognized experiences. Given the committee's broad
charge and the many issues that potentially fall under the ru-
bric of ensuring public accountability and informed purchasing
in an environment of choice and managed care, the committee
had to set some priorities and parameters and provide some
caveats regarding its work agenda. These are detailed in the
body of the report.
The report is divided into three chapters and 12 appendixes.
Chapter i, an overview, provides the background, context, and
parameters of the study. Chapter ~ also outlines how the com-
mittee defined and approached its charge and work agenda.
Chapter 2 presents highlights from testimony heard at the invi-
tational symposium held on February ~ and 2, 1996, and sum-
marizes the major points made by the authors of the commis-
sioned papers, by the invited respondents, and at the discussion
that followed the pane] presentations. As a summary, however,
this section cannot do adequate justice to the rich and valuable
data and information included in the eight commissioned pa-
pers found in Appendixes E to L. The information found in the
papers contributed significantly to the committee's findings and
recommendations.
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RchnollJledgments
This study could not have succeeded without the help, guid-
ance, and generosity of a number of organizations and many
individuals. This is especially true for a study such as 7mprov-
irtg the Medicare Market: Addirtg Choice arid Protections, where
new research findings, information, and assessments continue
to be developed on almost a weekly basis as part of the ongoing
transformation of the U.S. health care system. Whereas it is not
possible to mention by name all of those who contributed to the
study as it moved from conception to completion, the committee
wants to express its gratitude to a number of groups and indi-
viduals for their special contributions.
Deep appreciation is extended to The Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation for major funding of this activity and to The Com-
monwealth Fund, the Kansas Health Foundation, and The Pew
Charitable Trusts for generous additional support. The com-
mittee thanks these sponsors, not only for the support that en-
abled the institute of Medicine to undertake this timely and
important assignment, but also for their encouragement and
interest.
Getting "up to speed" for a new study is always a challenging
exercise, particularly when a study is focused on a dynamic and
evolving field and has to be completed within a relatively short
zx
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x
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
time frame. A number of organizations and individuals with
special interest, recognized expertise, and key responsibilities
pertinent to the committee's charge provided invaluable back-
ground information and important perspectives.
At the Health Care Financing Administration, thanks go to
Bruce C. VIadeck, Kathleen M. King, Jeffrey Kang, Judy Sangle,
Deborah Ball, Debbie Thomas, Celeste Newcomb, and several
staffers in the Office of Managed Care. Helen Smits did an
outstanding job of briefing the committee at its first meeting.
Harvey Brook also served as a very helpful resource expert in
the early stages of the committee's deliberations.
Janet L. Shikles, CarIotta coiner, and Sarah F. Jaggar of the
U.S. General Accounting Office were enormously helpful in
keeping the committee informed about GAO activities related to
the themes of this report. Margaret O'Kane and Cary Sennett
from the National Committee on Quality Assurance gave gener-
ously of their time and expertise to inform the committee on
NCQA's activities related to quality and accountability.
The committee greatly appreciated the help and contribu-
tions of Lauren B. LeRoy, John F. HoadIey, and Anne L.
Schwartz of the Physician Payment Review Commission. Laura
A. Dummitt from the Prospective Payment Assessment Com-
mission deserves our sincere thanks as well. Irene Fraser of the
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) was very
helpful in sharing with study staff current projects at AHCPR
that could inform the committee's task and work agenda.
Shoshanna Sofaer of the George Washington University
Medical Center not only played an important role in the study's
major symposium, but also provided the committee with invalu-
able additional guidance and key readings. Catherine M. Dun-
ham from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation offered impor-
tant information about the special needs of vulnerable
populations in an environment of managed care and enhanced
choice. Bettina Experton of Humetrix shared with the commit-
tee a number of important study findings on the special needs of
the frail elderly in managed care arrangements. Herbert
Nickens and Lois Bergeisen of the Association of American Medi-
cal Colleges contributed to the committee's understanding of the
role of minority physicians in improving care for the
underserved.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
XZ
Michael Hash from Health Policy Alternatives contributed
to the success of this project in important ways, Even his well-
respected knowledge of government programs and the workings
of the Congress and executive branch. The committee also ac-
knowledges with gratitude Kenneth Cohen of the U.S. Senate
Special Committee on the Aging who, throughout the process,
helped keep the committee and study staff current on the ongo-
ing changes to the Medicare reform provisions of the Balanced
Budget Act of 1995.
The committee is thankful for the guidance and contribu-
tions of Simeon Rubenstein of the Group Health Cooperative of
Puget Sound, Deborah Lipson of the Alpha Center, Trish
Newman from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Robert B.
FriedIand of the National Academy on Aging, Michael E. Gluck
of the National Academy of Social insurance, and Louis F.
Rossiter from the Medical College of Virginia.
The committee also extends many thanks to Judy Miller
Jones and Larry Lewin, not only for the support they gave to
their spouses during the duration of this project, but also for
lending their own valuable expertise and insights.
Sincere thanks go to all of the participants in the February ~
and 2, 1996 symposium who gave so generously of their time
and expertise to help inform and guide this study (Appendix C).
An added note of thanks go to Marc A. Rodwin and Lucy Johns
for their contributions not only during the workshop but before
and after as well. In addition, the committee wishes to express
heartfelt appreciation to the authors of the eight commissioned
papers (Appendix D). The well-researched and highly informa-
tive background papers not only enhanced the committee's un-
derstanding of the many dimensions of this complex issue but
also represent notable additionals to the literature in this field.
Linda Loranger deserves many thanks for contributing to
the write-up of the February symposium and we are indebted to
Michael Hayes for his careful editing of the report.
The committee wants to give special thanks to the dedicated
and hard-working staff at the Institute of Medicine. Study
director Marion Ein Lewin's professionalism and expertise in
health policy coupled with her excellent writing skills advanced
the progress of the report through its several reviews and revi-
sions. Valerie Tate Jopeck, who served as research assistant,
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. .
xzz
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
worked closely with the study director on various aspects of the
study. She took primary responsibility for coordinating the
committee's briefing materials and ably orchestrated the opera-
tion of the February 1996 symposium. Program assistant Rich-
ard Julian is also to be commended for his diligent administra-
tive support. We are especially grateful to them.
Other TOM staff provided very valuable guidance, both in
the areas of substance and process, particularly Kathleen N.
Lohr, former director of the Division of Health Care Services,
and deputy director Marilyn J. Field. They were always avail-
able to answer questions and to offer excellent advice. The com-
mittee extends its appreciation as well to Karen Hein for her
ongoing interest in, and enthusiastic support of, this study ef-
fort. Mona Brinegar and Nancy Diener ably kept us on budget.
At a difficult time Claudia Car] graciously and competently
helped us to negotiate the complex logistics of the TOM/NAS
report review process. Michael Edington guided the report
through the editing and production process with skill and
aplomb. Sally Stanfield, Francesca Moghari, and Estelle Miller
of the National Academy Press were generous with their cre-
ativity and expertise.
Finally, the committee would like to thank the chair, Stanley
B. Jones, for his outstanding work and deep commitment to the
purposes of this project. His tireless dedication to the develop-
ment of an "un-vanilIa" TOM report made participating in this
activity both more meaningful and enjoyable. He, in turn,
wishes to thank the hardworking and particularly cooperative
and dedicated committee members.
70M Committee on Choice arid Marlaged Care
