At the request of the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will conduct a study on national variation in healthcare spending and utilization for individuals with Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or no insurance. A committee empaneled by the IOM—made up of health economists, clinicians, and policy experts— will examine care costs, supply, and quality; health outcomes; medical evidence to inform physician care decisions; access to care; and more. The study will inform changes to specific Medicare payment systems that would promote high-value care, especially for high-volume, high-cost decisions. The committee will meet again January 17-18, 2011.
