The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 significantly reformed contracting for payment of Medicare's $310 billion per year in fee-for-service claims. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is transitioning claims administration to 19 new entities known as Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) and plans to complete the process ahead of Oct. 1, 2011, the date required by law. This report examined: (1) how CMS has implemented Medicare contracting reform; (2) how CMS assessed the performance of the MACs and what the results of its assessments have been; and (3) what CMS's costs and savings have been for Medicare contracting reform. Charts and tables.

For each country, this study provides a profile and a discussion of the historical background; physical environment; population and ethnic composition; language, religion, and culture; education, health, and welfare; the economy; government and politics; foreign relations; and national security. Each is written by a different author. Includes numerous tables, maps, and lots of fascinating, slightly fuzzy bandw photographs. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR