Translating Research into Practice
Marilyn Moon
American Institutes for Research
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Many Challenges to Overcome
 Lots of competition for attention
 Requires persistence
 Keep it simple
 Cannot simply be an afterthought
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Figure 2.2
Cumulative Growth in Per Enrollee Payments for
Comparable Services, Medicare And Private Insurers, 1970-2000*
2500
2000
1500
Medicare
1000
Medicare
500
Year
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Source: Boccuti and Moon, 2003
20
00
19
98
19
96
19
94
19
92
19
90
19
88
19
86
19
84
19
82
19
80
19
78
19
76
19
74
19
72
0
19
70
Growth (%)
Private
Insurers
Private health insurers
Average Annual Growth in Medicare and Private
Health Insurance Benefits Per Enrollee: Selected Periods
Except for 1993–1997, Medicare has grown slightly more slowly than private health insurance.
Medicare
16
Entire Period
14
Percent
8
Selected Calendar Year Periods
12.8
12
10
Private Health Insurance
10.9
10.9
9.5
9.2
7.6
5.9
6
4.3
4
2
0
-0.2
-2
Calendar Years
Source: CMS, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group.
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6.4
Out-of Pocket Spending as a Share of Income Among
Elderly Beneficiaries
25.0%
22.6%
20.0%
19.1%
14.3%
15.0%
12.3%
11.0%
11.2%
1970
1978
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
1965
1984
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Source: American Institutes for Research Calculations Using NHE, CPI, CPS, and Trustees Report, MCBS
1987
2004
Medicare Burden Lowers per Worker GDP over Time but
Substantial Growth Would Remain
$140,000
Per Worker GDP
$130,000
Per Worker GDP minus Medicare
Burden
$120,000
$110,000
$100,000
$90,000
$80,000
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50
20
45
20
40
20
35
20
30
20
25
20
20
20
15
20
20
10
$70,000
C
ur
re
nt
2006 Dollars
$150,000
Growth in per Worker Burdens and
in per Beneficiary Burdens of Medicare
$10,000
$9,000
$8,000
2006 Dollars
$7,000
Per Worker Burden
Per Beneficiary Burden
$6,000
$5,000
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
$0
Curre nt
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2020
2040
Figure 2. Expected Growth Per Capita 2007 to 2030
120%
Percentage
100%
80%
111.1%
60%
88.0%
40%
20%
18.2%
0%
Social Security Benefit
for Those Retiring at 65
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Medicare Costs Borne
by Taxpayers
Medicare Costs Borne
by Beneficiaries
Source: Author’s calculations from Board of Trustees, 2007a and 2007b.
Major Work Needed on Translation
 Too many researchers assume journal article fills the
bill
 Multiple audiences, multiple products needed
 To affect policy, don’t just talk to policymakers
♦Consumers
♦Providers
♦Press
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