Implementation and Impact of Health Based Risk Adjustment

Now that various risk-adjustment tools have been developed, what impact is risk-adjusted payment having in the health care marketplace? Researchers at the Institute for Research and Education, HealthSystem Minnesota, will evaluate the implementation of risk-adjustment mechanisms in the following eight markets: Minneapolis-St. Paul; Sacramento, CA; Seattle; Denver; Portland, OR; Baltimore; Phoenix; and Miami. They will survey managed care organizations, assessing in particular the purchaser-health plan relationship as it relates to risk-adjusted payment. Their goal is to inform state and private policymakers on the impact of risk adjustment on the mix of enrollees, costs, and satisfaction of payers and plans.