This research will analyze the quality of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offered to rural MA beneficiaries currently, in relation to urban beneficiaries, and how it has evolved over the past four years. In addition, the effect of quality-based payment incentives will be measured by: 1) changes that have been made to improve the quality of existing plans in rural areas or to encourage the entry of high quality plans into rural areas, and 2) the movement of plans' entry and exit into the MA market by plan type and rural/urban location.

Publications

• 2014: Rural Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update
  Policy Brief
  RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
  Date: 01/2015
  Rural Medicare Advantage (MA) and other prepaid plan enrollment in March 2014 was about 1.95 million, an increase of more than 216,000 from March 2013. Enrollment increased to 1.99 million in October 2014. Rural and urban enrollment increased despite reductions in payment and the conclusion of the MA bonus payment demonstration at 2014's end.
• Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2016
  Policy Brief
  RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
  Date: 09/2016
  This annual brief examines Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment data from March 2015 and March 2016. It shows that enrollment in MA and other prepaid plans increased, both nationally and in non-metropolitan areas, but the rate of growth has slowed compared to previous years.
• Rural Medicare Advantage Market Dynamics and Quality: Historical Context and Current Implications
  Policy Brief
  RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
  Date: 07/2016
  There is significant variation in the quality ratings of MA plans that are available to rural beneficiaries. This brief suggests that policy interventions may be necessary to improve the quality of MA plans in rural areas.
• Rural Medicare Advantage Plan Payment in 2015
  Policy Brief
  RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
  Date: 01/2016
  Payment to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans was fundamentally altered by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). This brief finds that while plans operating in both rural and urban areas have experienced a reduction in MA payment, the reduction in rural payment overall has been less significant.