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NORC at the University Chicago
NORC offers reliable expertise in Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance policy issues and marketplace support within the rapidly changing health care landscape.

Medicare and Medicaid, along with other federal health insurance programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance subsidies account for more than 25 percent of the federal budget*. Ensuring the quality, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of care is paramount to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), states, and other agencies involved in administering these programs, as well as to providers and patients.

NORC’s long partnership with CMS spans a wide variety of projects including surveys, technical assistance, and evaluation research designed to provide accessible findings and actionable results for researchers and policymakers alike. Among these projects, NORC supports CMS initiatives to test and evaluate new administrative, service, and payment models for those enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. NORC also conducts the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey for CMS, which provides critical information on health care access, utilization, living arrangements, and spending by Medicare enrollees, and informs program policymaking. 

Through efforts such as the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program Value-Based Payment and Financial Simulation project, NORC provides informative solutions and accessible information to leaders and policymakers regarding ways for Medicaid programs across the country to improve the effectiveness of how providers and managed care organizations are paid under Medicaid. These efforts improve both the cost and quality of outcomes for Medicaid enrollees and help states operate more effective Medicaid programs. 

Medicare, Medicaid & Private Health Insurance Experts

Highlighted Projects

Health Disparities in Employer-Sponsored Insurance

Forming a baseline understanding of the health status of employer-sponsored insurance enrollees

Client:

Morgan Health

Supporting States’ Medicaid and Medicare Reform Efforts

Technical assistance and implementation support for CMS’s State Innovation Models Initiative

Client:

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Framework for Whole-Person Care Integration in State Medicaid Programs

A guide for Medicaid delivery systems as they aim to address the needs of the whole-person

Funder:

NORC

Medicaid 1115 Evaluations

NORC partners with states to independently evaluate Medicaid 1115 demonstrations, helping them assess how policy innovations impact access, quality, delivery system transformation, and cost of care.

NORC brings deep experience in designing and executing mixed-methods evaluations that reflect the unique goals of each state’s demonstration. We collaborate closely with state agencies to design and tailor evaluation plans, ensure methodological rigor, and generate findings that are both actionable and policy-relevant. Our team supports states throughout the process—from planning and implementation to analysis and reporting—ensuring transparency and accountability every step of the way.

In states like Vermont, Rhode Island, and Kentucky, our work contributes to a broader understanding of how states can reshape their Medicaid programs to better serve their residents. By translating data into meaningful insights, we help states understand what’s working, where improvements are needed, and how lessons learned can inform future program design.

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    NORC works side-by-side with state agencies to evaluate Medicaid 1115 demonstrations. Find out how we can help.

    Highlighted Medicaid 1115 Projects

    Evaluating Rhode Island's Medicaid Comprehensive Waiver

    Evaluation of programs implemented under Rhode Island’s Medicaid section 1115 demonstration

    Client:

    Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services

    Evaluating Vermont’s Medicaid Global Commitment to Health Waiver

    Understanding the impact of Vermont’s Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver

    Client:

    Agency of Human Services, State of Vermont

    Evaluating Minnesota’s Medicaid 1115 Substance Use Disorder System Reform Waiver

    Evaluating efforts to improve access to high-quality, evidence-based SUD treatment for Medicaid recipients

    Client:

    Minnesota Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Division