The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 dramatically altered Medicare's home health payment provisions. Effectively, the interim payment system froze agency practice patterns at their 1994 casemix levels. While this did not freeze payment levels, it restricted the continuing trend toward long home health episodes. In 1998, concern was raised that these payment limits would restrict access to care for the sickest, most costly populations. This paper analyzes the characteristics of the expensive health care cases to determine whether access to necessary care is being restricted.
The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.
Usage, posting and reprint of materials on the UI web site:
Most publications may be downloaded free of charge from the web site in PDF format. This information may be used and copies made for research, academic, policy or other non-commercial purposes. Proper attribution is required.
Copyright of the written materials contained within the Urban Institute website is owned or controlled by the Urban Institute. Posting UI research papers on other websites is permitted subject to prior approval from the Urban Institute—contact paffairs@urban.org.
If you are unable to access or print the PDF document please contact us or call the Publications Office at (202) 261-5687.
Latest Research
Browse by Topic:
Printer-friendly summary
