Under a task order contract with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), NORC is leading a series of analyses to inform policy making related to the Medicare program. Often these projects involve gathering information on trends in the private sector health care market and identifying potential lessons learned for the Medicare program or looking into the implications of program changes for health care providers and Medicare beneficiaries. The projects are conducted on a rapid turnaround basis and are based on use of structured interviews, focus groups, data anlaysis, small surveys or other research methods.

Recently NORC gathered and synthesized information on the distribution and purchasing of physician administered drugs that have been traditionally covered by Medicare. NORC also recently completed a project assessing the role of long term care hospitals in communities where they exist. Finally, NORC is currently working on a project assessing how state rules governing pharmaceutical coverage for dually (Medicare and Medicaid) enrolled beneficiaries will work in the context of a new federal Medicare drug benefit.