Evaluation of the Medicare Part B Fixed Price Experiments in Maine, Upstate New York, and Illinois

摘要

This project evaluates the Medicare Part B fixed-price carrier experiments in Maine, Illinois, and upstate New York. The evaluation examines the experiments' effects on program costs and quality of carrier performance. Fixed-price arrangements are compared with the previous systems in the three areas. The performance of each experimental contractor is also compared with the performance of two comparable cost-reimbursed contractors. Findings indicate that the fixed-price contractor experiments resulted in reduced Federal costs for carrier services. The decreased costs were achieved by using different processing sites and better processing systems, and through some economies of scale.