Specialized services are focus of $4.8 million in AHCPR grants
Back Page Briefs
January 31, 1997
ROCKVILLE, MD—The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) is funding eight research projects on referral patterns to specialized services in managed care. The research projects, supported by $4.79 million in grants from AHCPR, will help determine how quality and cost of care are affected by access to specialized services. The issues to be studied include:
• Referrals of Medicare patients—as part of the study, researchers will look at differences in cost and outcomes among patients with cardiovascular disease (Pennsylvania State University. Funding $403,397)
• Specialty referrals among California physician groups—study will examine referral patterns for 6,300 adult patients with one of three common chronic conditions (Kaiser Foundation Research Institute. Funding $725,925)
• Financial incentives and organization controls and their effect on referral patterns by primary care physicians (Ambulatory Sentinnel Practice Network, Denver, CO. Funding $909,794)
• Referrals of Medicaid children—study will compare referrals to pediatric specialists and specialists for adults (Massachusetts General Hospital Funding $245,892)
• Use of vision care by Medicare beneficiaries—will compare use of vision care in fee-for-service and capitated managed care (University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine. Funding $694,285)
• Referrals of primary care physicians based on characteristics of physicians, patients and practices (Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY. Funding $469,112)
• Specialty care in closed- versus open-access HMOs—study will look at use of primary care and specialist services in a closed panel gatekeeper HMO plan and in a point-of-service (POS) plan. (University of Pennsylvania. Funding $707,328)
• Nephrologist care—will determine timing of referrals prior to the diagnosis of end-stage renal disease (ERSD) and clinical course of disease (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. Funding $634,179). Contact AHCPR at 301-594-1364
National survey examines state policies on assisted living
PORTLAND—Thirteen states have established a task force or are developing recommendations regarding their assisted living policies, according to a national survey by the National Academy for State Health Policy. According to State Assisted Living Policy: 1996, nine states will, or presently, license all assisted living facilities; 13 both license and provide Medicaid reimbursement for assisted living; and nine states provide Medicaid reimbursement for assisted living, but do not have a separate licensure category. Copies of the 225-page report are available for $25. Contact NASHP at 207-874-6524.
Specialized services are focus of $4.8 million in AHCPR grants
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