Frontiers In Health Policy Research: Volume 7 (nber Frontiers In Health Policy)

This series from the NBER presents new research by leading economists on current health care policy issues. The papers in this seventh volume, originally presented at the annual Frontiers in Health Policy Research conference held in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2003, reflect the economic challenges faced by policymakers and health care professionals in an age of budget deficits. Topics discussed include prescription drug benefits as a stand-alone component of Medicare, disability rates and Medicare costs, and conversion to for-profit health plans. Introduction -- David M. Cutler and Alan M. Garber Reference pricing of pharmaceuticals for medicare: evidence from Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand -- Patricia M. Danzon and Jonathan D. Ketcham Adverse selection and the challenges to stand-alone prescription drug insurance -- Mark V. Pauly and Yuhui Zeng Disability forecasts and future medicare costs -- Jayanta Bhattacharya ... [et al.] Benefit plan design and prescription drug utilization among asthmatics: do patient copayments matter? -- William H. Crown ... [et al.] An economic analysis of health plan conversions: are they in the public interest? -- Nancy Dean Beaulieu. Relation of the Directors to the Work and Publications of the NBER......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1 Reference Pricing of Pharmaceuticals for Medicare: Evidence from Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand......Page 16 2 Adverse Selection and the Challenges to Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Insurance......Page 70 3 Disability Forecasts and Future Medicare Costs......Page 90 4 Benefit Plan Design and Prescription Drug Utilization Among Asthmatics: Do Patient Copayments Matter?......Page 110 5 An Economic Analysis of Health Plan Conversions: Are They in the Public Interest?......Page 144 This important series presents timely economic research on health care and health policy issues. Each volume contains papers from an annual conference of researchers, government officials, and policy experts held in Washington, D.C. Topics include the effects of health policy reforms, changes in health care organization and management, measurement of health outcomes, health care output and productivity, the role of health-related behavior, health and aging, health and children, and health care financing. Leading Economists Discuss Current Health Policy Challenges, Including Prescription Drugs Benefits As A Component Of Medicare And Conversion To For-profit Health Plans.