Voices of Beneficiaries: Early Experiences with the Medicare Drug Benefit

Presents findings from a survey that examines the enrollment decisions, experiences, and future concerns related to the prescription drug coverage of beneficiaries with the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Part of a series of interviews

Medicare Part D: Simplifying the Program and Improving the Value of Information for Beneficiaries

Examines options for simplifying Medicare's prescription drug benefit, including streamlining benefit procedures and descriptions; further standardizing benefit parameters, especially cost-sharing rules; and modifying rules on plan formularies

CHISL: The Combined High-resolution and Imaging Spectrograph for the LUVOIR Surveyor

NASA is currently carrying out science and technical studies to identify its next astronomy flagship mission, slated to begin development in the 2020s. It has become clear that a Large Ultraviolet/Optical/IR (LUVOIR) Surveyor mission (primary diameter 12 m, 1000 Ang - 2 micron spectroscopic bandpass) can carry out the largest number of NASA's exoplanet and astrophysics science goals over the coming decades. There are technical challenges for several aspects of the LUVOIR Surveyor concept, including component level technology readiness maturation and science instrument concepts for a broadly capable ultraviolet spectrograph. We present the scientific motivation for, and a preliminary design of, a multiplexed ultraviolet spectrograph to support both the exoplanet and astrophysics goals of the LUVOIR Surveyor mission concept, the Combined High-resolution and Imaging Spectrograph for the LUVOIR Surveyor (CHISL). CHISL includes a high-resolution (R 120,000; 1000 - 1700 Ang) point-source spectroscopy channel and a medium resolution (R > 14,000 from 1000 - 2000 Ang in a single observation and R 24,000 - 35,000 in multiple grating settings) imaging spectroscopy channel. We present the CHISL concept, a small sample of representative science cases, and the primary technological hurdles. We are actively engaged in laboratory and flight characterization efforts for CHISL-enabling technologies as components on sounding rocket payloads under development at the University of Colorado. We describe two payloads that are designed to be pathfinder instruments for the high-resolution (CHESS) and imaging spectroscopy (SISTINE) arms of CHISL. We are carrying out this instrument design, characterization, and flight-testing today to support the new start of a LUVOIR Surveyor mission in the next decade.Comment: Accepted for publication in JATIS. 19 pages, 11 figure

Medicaid Managed Care in Florida: Federal Waiver Approval and Implementation

Florida's new Medicaid plan -- called the Managed Medical Assistance program -- will move nearly all of the state's Medicaid beneficiaries into managed-care plans. This new plan, approved in June 2013, is the final chapter in a Medicaid reform effort that is almost a decade old. Drawing on experiences from that decade of experimentation, the new plan incorporates significant consumer protections, some unique to Florida. Most of these protections establish the need for ongoing oversight and public input, creating opportunities for stakeholder monitoring and commen

Physically weighted approximations of unsteady aerodynamic forces using the minimum-state method

The Minimum-State Method for rational approximation of unsteady aerodynamic force coefficient matrices, modified to allow physical weighting of the tabulated aerodynamic data, is presented. The approximation formula and the associated time-domain, state-space, open-loop equations of motion are given, and the numerical procedure for calculating the approximation matrices, with weighted data and with various equality constraints are described. Two data weighting options are presented. The first weighting is for normalizing the aerodynamic data to maximum unit value of each aerodynamic coefficient. The second weighting is one in which each tabulated coefficient, at each reduced frequency value, is weighted according to the effect of an incremental error of this coefficient on aeroelastic characteristics of the system. This weighting yields a better fit of the more important terms, at the expense of less important ones. The resulting approximate yields a relatively low number of aerodynamic lag states in the subsequent state-space model. The formulation forms the basis of the MIST computer program which is written in FORTRAN for use on the MicroVAX computer and interfaces with NASA's Interaction of Structures, Aerodynamics and Controls (ISAC) computer program. The program structure, capabilities and interfaces are outlined in the appendices, and a numerical example which utilizes Rockwell's Active Flexible Wing (AFW) model is given and discussed

Medicare Advantage: Options for Standardizing Benefits and Information to Improve Consumer Choice

Describes the complex choices Medicare Advantage enrollees face. Discusses whether providing better information and decision-support tools, limiting out-of-pocket expenses, or standardizing benefits and cost-sharing would lead to better-informed choices

The multiple-function multi-input/multi-output digital controller system for the AFW wind-tunnel model

A real time multiple-function digital controller system was developed for the Active Flexible Wing (AFW) Program. The digital controller system (DCS) allowed simultaneous execution of two control laws: flutter suppression and either roll trim or a rolling maneuver load control. The DCS operated within, but independently of, a slower host operating system environment, at regulated speeds up to 200 Hz. It also coordinated the acquisition, storage, and transfer of data for near real time controller performance evaluation and both open- and closed-loop plant estimation. It synchronized the operation of four different processing units, allowing flexibility in the number, form, functionality, and order of control laws, and variability in the selection of the sensors and actuators employed. Most importantly, the DCS allowed for the successful demonstration of active flutter suppression to conditions approximately 26 percent (in dynamic pressure) above the open-loop boundary in cases when the model was fixed in roll and up to 23 percent when it was free to roll. Aggressive roll maneuvers with load control were achieved above the flutter boundary. The purpose here is to present the development, validation, and wind tunnel testing of this multiple-function digital controller system

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2008 and Key Changes Since 2006: Summary of Findings

Synthesizes findings from prior research on the scope and generosity of drug coverage under Medicare Part D, as well as on changes in drug coverage and costs since 2006. Looks at premiums, the coverage gap, tiered cost-sharing, and utilization management

The Medicare Part D Coverage Gap: Costs and Consequences in 2007

Analyzes data on Medicare Part D enrollees who reached the coverage gap and had to pay the full cost until they qualified for catastrophic coverage, who then stopped taking their medications or bought cheaper ones, and who received catastrophic coverage