Meeting Medicaid's Cost and Quality Challenges: The Role of AHCPR Research. AHCPRProgram Note 5

摘要

Medicaid program costs increased dramatically in the late 1980s and early 1990s,because of rapid expansion of eligibility, a national recession, inflation in health care spending, and State use of statutory loopholes to leverage Federal dollars. Parly to control costs, the Medicaid program has moved rapidly toward using managed care. AHCPR has been (1) providing science-based research to support Federal and State efforts, (2) disseminating research finding and guidelines that managed care plans and providers servicing the Medicaid population can use to lower costs and improve quality, and (3) providing technical assistance to State policymakers and administrators seeking to improve their Medicaid programs. AHCPR's research and technical assistance falls into six areas: care for elderly and disabled populations, maternal and child health, research and technical assistance on HIV and AIDS, drug policy, informing consumers, and system financing and management.