Federal Grant Award Summary

Indiana University Indianapolis received a $433,593 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866), awarded July 1, 2026, with a completion date of March 31, 2031. The project, titled "Enhancing National Quality Measurement Through Integrated Medicare Data," delivers integrated analysis and measurement tools that address critical gaps in hospital quality measurement resulting from the significant shift in Medicare enrollment toward Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The grant supports research to evaluate the completeness and comparability of MA inpatient encounter data, compare quality and outcomes metrics between Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) and MA beneficiaries, and develop standardized measurement approaches that account for disparities in care delivery across both coverage types.

The project addresses a substantive measurement infrastructure need in U.S. healthcare by integrating Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data sources to enable comprehensive quality, outcomes, and disparities assessment across the entire Medicare population. Deliverables include comparative analyses of MA inpatient data validated against independent Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) records, development of hospital performance metrics applicable to MA-enrolled populations, and methodologies to strengthen the statistical reliability of FFS-based measures as MA enrollment continues to grow. These research outputs will enhance hospital quality improvement initiatives and support more informed consumer decision-making in Medicare plan selection.