Mining Medicare Claims: Searching for Value in the Medicare Program
October 30-31, 2006
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
The Medicare claims form has evolved primarily as a vehicle for payment of claims. Physicians and researchers have used the data in Medicare claims to evaluate the utilization of Medicare services. There is, however, a growing demand for greater value in all health care services, necessitating better understanding the use of technology and the outcomes of care, as well as paying for performance not volume. All these new initiatives require information. The ubiquitous Medicare claims form is the key to developing the data necessary for finding value in Medicare.
The MTLF Fall Forum will explore how to leverage existing and potential data streams to improve the quality of care and encourage appropriate utilization. Our goal is to learn more about how the Medicare claims form is designed, the value and limitations of current data, discuss creative options, and debate short term and long term reforms.
Economics vs. Innovation: When Does Collaboration Become Conflict of Interest?
Harvard/Partners HealthCare/CIMIT/Brigham & Women’s Hospital
June 13 - 14, 2006
Boston, MA
Our health care system seeks innovations to improve patient care and health outcomes. Medical technology innovation requires the collaboration of scientists, bioengineers, physicians, academic institutions, and large and small manufacturers in an iterative process of invention, investigation, development, and use. These collaborations require investments and economic incentives, and the rewards for success can be considerable. Economic incentives drive innovation. However, concerns about how those incentives might skew scientific independence and the best interests of patients abound.
The Medical Technology Leadership Forum was founded on the premise that a dialogue among experts with multiple perspectives and experiences will improve understanding of issues of importance to the medical technology community. MTLF is not new to these issues. In July, 2001 we met at Stanford University to discuss "Risk and Rewards in Medical Technology Innovation: Conflict of Interest at the Academic/Industry Interface."
In April of 2003, MTLF held a Summit, sponsored by Harvard Medical School and Partners HealthCare to examine creative ways of overcoming barriers to interdisciplinary research and to encourage collaboration between the academy and industry.
Recent controversies involving the Cleveland Clinic have thrown a new spotlight on these issues. MTLF’s 2006 Spring Forum, sponsored by Partners HealthCare, Harvard Medical School, and CIMIT (Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology) examined issues of collaboration and conflict in medical technology development. When is payment acceptable to participate in medical technology innovation? Who should pay for gathering experimental data? When is payment for use of a device acceptable or not acceptable? Can physicians be paid not to use technology? These are a few of the challenging questions MTLF explored at Harvard.
MTLF was joined by leaders such as Dr. Samuel Their, Dr. John Parrish, and Dr. Jerome Kassirer, and others to explore these issues from many perspectives.
Annual Capitol Forum
The Policy Environment for Medical Technology – Issues for 2006
February 15 and 16, 2006
Capitol Hill, Washington DC
The 2006 Capitol Forum focused on the policy environment for medical technology. We heard the perspectives of policy makers and engaged in dialogue on three key topics:
- Gain Sharing and Related Policy Issues
- Pay for Performance – Implications for Medical Technology
- Update on the Post Approval Issues
As is the MTLF standard, these topics were explored from the perspective inside Washington by those making the policy.
