October 28, 2009

Geographic Variation and Health Care Cost Growth: Research to Inform a Complex Diagnosis

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation wrote this report regarding the increasing costs of health care. There is disagreement in the health care reform debate, but there is general consensus among policymakers and the American public that reforms must address the rising costs of health care. As policymakers consider various cost containment measures, it is important to understand the drivers of health care costs and growth. To inform these efforts, AcademyHealth convened a meeting of Health Care Financing and Organization, HCFO, grantees and policymakers. Grantees presented preliminary findings from HCFO-sponsored projects that examined factors contributing to cost growth. This policy brief is based on discussion at the meeting and presents some preliminary findings from the HCFO grants.