Articles by Vicki Fung, PhD

High-Risk Care Management Impact on Medicaid ACO Utilization and Spending
ByKathryn Corelli, MD,Erin Duralde, MD,Diya Mathur, BA,Mary Price, MA,Nicole M. Benson, MD, MBI,Nishmi Abeyweera, AB,Vicki Fung, PhD,Christine Vogeli, PhD,Katherine H. Schiavoni, MD, MPP,Maryann M. Vienneau, BS,Mallika L. Mendu, MD, MBA,Lindsay Jubelt, MD, MS,Gregg S. Meyer, MD, MSc,John Hsu, MD, MBA, MSCE In Massachusetts’ largest Medicaid accountable care organization (ACO), high-risk care management significantly reduced spending, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, demonstrating that targeted strategies can manage health care costs amid budget constraints.

Premium Tax Credits in the American Rescue Plan and Off-Marketplace Enrollees
ByVicki Fung, PhD,Delaney Tevis, BA,Max Weiss, BA,Sharon-Lise Normand, PhD,John Bertko, BS,Joseph P. Newhouse, PhD,John Hsu, MD We estimate that the median 2021 premium tax credit for off-marketplace enrollees in California would be $311 if they switched to marketplace plans, with wide variation by age and plan size.

The Introduction of Generic Risperidone in Medicare Part D
ByVicki Fung, PhD,Mary Price, MA,Alisa B. Busch, MD, MS,Mary Beth Landrum, PhD,Bruce Fireman, MA,Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD,Joseph P. Newhouse, PhD,John Hsu, MD, MBA, MSCE This study examines the plan characteristics associated with generic risperidone use and spending and adherence outcomes associated with use among Medicare Advantage Part D beneficiaries.

Patients with higher out-of-pocket visit costs, such as co-payments and deductibles, initiated provider contact by e-mail more often. Patients report that e-mailing changed their care-seeking behaviors and improved overall health.

This review article explores the Medicare data available for researchers and approaches that could be used to enhance the data%u2019s value for comparative effectiveness research.

The Structure of Risk Adjustment for Private Plans in Medicare
ByJoseph P. Newhouse, PhD,Jie Huang, PhD,Richard J. Brand, PhD,Vicki Fung, PhD,John Hsu, MD, MBA, MSCE Health plan accounting data are used to test how well the CMSHCC risk adjustment system tracks relative costs of treating various diagnoses: not very well.

Medicare Part D Coverage Gap and Diabetes Beneficiaries
ByJulie A. Schmittdiel, PhD,Susan L. Ettner, PhD,Vicki Fung, PhD,Jie Huang, PhD,Norman Turk, MS,Elaine S. Quiter, MS,Bix E. Swain, MS,John T. Hsu, MD, MBA, MSCE,Carol M. Mangione, MD, MSPH When diabetic patients in 2 Medicare Advantage Part D plans reached the 2006 coverage gap, overall drug costs dropped as out-of-pocket costs increased.