Executive Summary -

This project was designed to collect a broad range of perspectives from stakeholders and the literature to (1) understand the current state of the implementation of the Independent Dispute Resolution (“IDR”) process, and (2) arrive at a set of productive, broadly supported recommendations—however narrow—for its reform and improvement. We interviewed stakeholders from all relevant categories involved in IDR, including providers, payers, regulators, experts, and Independent Dispute Resolution Entities (“IDREs”), with the aim of avoiding the most contentious questions under litigation and focusing on areas of potential agreement. By necessity, these areas turned out to be technical, system-focused, and incremental.