Patients dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid accounted for about one-third of all Medicare hospital stays in 2008, according to a report by AHRQ’s Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project.
Dual eligibles were more than twice as likely as other Medicare beneficiaries to be hospitalized for pressure ulcers, asthma, and diabetes, 52 percent more likely for urinary tract infection, and over 30 percent more likely for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bacterial pneumonia.
The principal diagnoses of dual eligibles were pressure ulcers (36 percent of dual eligible patients), asthma (32 percent) and diabetes (32 percent); and about one-quarter of stays for urinary tract infection, COPD and bacterial pneumonia.
"Care for this population faces unique challenges due to split financial accountability between the two programs, diverse socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and the related poverty and poor health of the population," the report concluded. "Identifying conditions that are common reasons for potentially preventable hospitalizations would help guide development of strategies to improve care and patient outcomes while potentially lowering costs."
Read the HCUP report on Medicare (pdf).
Read more on Medicare beneficiaries:
-CMS Achieves 1% Cut in Medicare Advantage Premiums by Denying Rate Increases, Benefit Cut
-All Eyes on DSH Payment Cuts: The Future of DSH Payments in Healthcare Reform
-5 Starting Points for Developing an ACO
Dual eligibles were more than twice as likely as other Medicare beneficiaries to be hospitalized for pressure ulcers, asthma, and diabetes, 52 percent more likely for urinary tract infection, and over 30 percent more likely for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bacterial pneumonia.
The principal diagnoses of dual eligibles were pressure ulcers (36 percent of dual eligible patients), asthma (32 percent) and diabetes (32 percent); and about one-quarter of stays for urinary tract infection, COPD and bacterial pneumonia.
"Care for this population faces unique challenges due to split financial accountability between the two programs, diverse socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and the related poverty and poor health of the population," the report concluded. "Identifying conditions that are common reasons for potentially preventable hospitalizations would help guide development of strategies to improve care and patient outcomes while potentially lowering costs."
Read the HCUP report on Medicare (pdf).
Read more on Medicare beneficiaries:
-CMS Achieves 1% Cut in Medicare Advantage Premiums by Denying Rate Increases, Benefit Cut
-All Eyes on DSH Payment Cuts: The Future of DSH Payments in Healthcare Reform
-5 Starting Points for Developing an ACO