May 26, 2015

ICYMI: More Comprehensive Care Reduces Medicare Costs and Hospitalizations

A new Annals of Family Medicine study finds more comprehensive care among primary care physicians leads to lower Medicare costs and fewer hospitalizations. Primary care physicians practicing comprehensive care provide integrated, accessible and accountable care across the health spectrum, addressing the majority of a patient’s health care needs.

Medicare Advantage has a long history of providing seniors with coordinated, integrated care, which relies on the comprehensiveness and continuity of the doctor-patient relationship. By coordinating seniors’ care across medical settings and providers, Medicare Advantage ensures patients receive the right care at the right time, and avoid more costly care in the future.

Below is the key finding from the study:

  • Beneficiaries cared for by primary care physicians with the highest comprehensiveness scores have 10.3% lower Part A and Part B Medicare costs than those cared for by physicians with the lowest scores; 12.8% lower for Part B costs alone.

To view the full study, see here.

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