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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Can we afford comprehensive, supportive care for the very old? | | Author(s) | John H Wasson, Thomas A Bubolz, Joanne Lynn |
| Journal title | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol 46, no 7, July 1998 |
| Pages | pp 829-832 |
| Keywords | Health services ; Domiciliary services ; Services ; Cost effectiveness ; Usage [services] ; Octogenarians ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | This US study asked the question, `Is there enough overuse of Medicare reimbursement to hospitals, that reallocation of excess could provide sufficient funds to enhance home care and community services?' The study consisted of a simulation using data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary System to estimate how much money might be reallocated; and interviews with 3577 people aged 80 and over from the MCBS. US hospital service areas (HSAs) Medicare hospital discharge rates were ranked, and compared with hospitalisation expenditures and mortality rates of MCBS respondents. Results indicate that by reducing hospital use to the mean level used by the lowest quartile of HSAs, $560 would be saved per Medicare beneficiary aged 80 or older with no difference in mortality rates. Savings could be used for other needs. The simulation suggests that the very old might safely receive less hospital care. It is argued that because relatively few older people need home and community services in a year, these per capita savings could be reallocated to purchase many services for those having greatest need. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980819003 A |
| Classmark | L: N: I: WEC: QLD: BBM: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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