The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the HHS or the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. The authors thank Barbara Manard and Bob Kane for insightful comments and suggestions on earlier drafts, and Felicity Skidmore for editing this version. Gregory Capaldini provided valuable assistance in preparing the document.
Any errors are our own.
Changing from retrospective to prospective payment for post-acute care represents a major policy response to the expenditure escalation. But it does not address many other cost, quality, and access concerns. In response to this changing policy environment and the policy concerns it is raising, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the Department of Health and Human Services sponsored a study to examine potential problems with Medicare's post-acute care services and explore promising solutions. Growth in the supply and changes in the distribution of the four major types of post-acute care providers. Characteristics of beneficiaries, providers, and market areas that are associated with differential use of particular types of post-acute care providers.