Methodology

  • Annual trend rates calculated using 2019 and 2020 Q1 – Q4 quarterly claims data from the Medicare Research Identifiable Files.
  • Spending and beneficiary months for MSSP assignable beneficiaries with at least one E&M visit were calculated at the county level for each Medicare eligibility category (Aged-Non-Dual, Aged-Dual, Disabled, ESRD).
  • We calculated spending for COVID-19 episodes as defined in the December 2020 MSSP Specifications of Policies to Address the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19.
  • Spending data for each beneficiary category and year were annualized and truncated based on the approach specified in MSSP Shared Savings and Losses and Assignment Methodology Version #9. We repeated this step for 2020 spending minus COVID-19 expense.
  • County level spending and beneficiary years were aggregated into core-based statistical areas (CBSAs). Please note that CBSAs that cross state lines may be split into as many as four distinct areas.
  • We calculated spending per beneficiary year for each eligibility category for each CBSA in 2019 and 2020.
  • We calculated change in spending per Medicare beneficiary between 2019 and 2020 by eligibility category with and without COVID-19 expenses.
  • We calculated change in total spending per Medicare beneficiary between 2019 and 2020 holding the percentage of beneficiaries in each eligibility constant within each CBSA.