Medicare Advantage Customer Service Is Used Most by Higher-Need Patients
Medicare Advantage customer service supports a less healthy, higher-need population, indicating that it should be designed and staffed to effectively serve complex, high-need patients.
Poor Self-rated Mental Health and Medicare Beneficiaries’ Routine Care-Seeking
Efforts are needed to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with poor mental health receive regular routine care, which may be facilitated by having a personal doctor.
Sex Differences in Medicare Beneficiaries’ Experiences by Low-Income Status
Only low-income male Medicare beneficiaries had worse patient experience than their female counterparts. The authors discuss opportunities to improve experiences for all patients.
Patient-Reported Denials, Appeals, and Complaints: Associations With Overall Plan Ratings
Patient ratings of plans and care were lower among beneficiaries filing complaints or reporting denied care. Appeals did not further predict ratings, but successful complaint resolution did.
Boosting Workplace Wellness Programs With Financial Incentives
Financial incentives created under the Affordable Care Act can help promote employer wellness programs and support preventive services utilization.
Healthcare Spending and Preventive Care in High-Deductible and Consumer-Directed Health Plans
Enrollment in high-deductible health plans is associated with reduced spending on healthcare and with moderate reductions in the use of preventive care.
