Partnership for Solutions, a project of the Johns Hopkins University and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is pleased to announce a new publication: "Medical Necessity Determinations in the Medicare Program: Are the Interests of Beneficiaries with Chronic Conditions Being Met?"  The paper was authored by attorney Vicki Gottlich of the Center for Medicare Advocacy's health care Rights Project in Washington, DC.

The report explores how Medicare medical necessity policy and determinations (deciding when a beneficiary is eligible to receive a covered service) can deny needed services to people with chronic conditions.

Besides rigorous policy analysis, the report provides real-world examples of how beneficiaries are affected by program policies designed for acute care when most beneficiaries need good chronic care to avoid other, unnecessary services. The report carries implications for private health plans as well.

Click here to view the report in its entirety.