New Medicare and Medicaid Findings from University of South Carolina Described (Thirty-Day Readmission Rates Among Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Investigators discuss new findings in Medicare and Medicaid. According to news reporting originating in Columbia, South Carolina, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "PurposeDual-eligible beneficiaries represented 19% of Medicare and 14% of Medicaid enrollment in 2009. Of Medicare discharges among dually eligible beneficiaries, 21.5% resulted in a 30-day rehospitalization."

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of South Carolina, "Little has been published regarding dual-eligible beneficiaries' readmission rates and factors affecting readmission. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of Medicare claims, restricted to 297,084 beneficiaries with a hospitalization from February 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009. FindingsDual eligibles had higher hospitalization and 30-day readmission rates than Medicare-only beneficiaries. Multivariable regression indicated dual eligibility, younger age, and specific chronic conditions increased the likelihood of a 30-day readmission. Rural dually eligible beneficiaries had lower readmission rates than other beneficiaries, and they had a protective effect of physician follow-up care. ConclusionsHaving a 30-day physician follow-up had differential effects in urban versus rural locations, yet rural residents had a higher rate of follow-up care. The impact of adequate follow-up care, and how rural populations are successful, would be beneficial to understand."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Substantial savings could accrue if interventions reduced readmissions among dual-eligible beneficiaries."

For more information on this research see: Thirty-Day Readmission Rates Among Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries. Journal of Rural Health, 2016;32(2):188-195. Journal of Rural Health can be contacted at: Wiley-Blackwell, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA. (Wiley-Blackwell - www.wiley.com/; Journal of Rural Health - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1748-0361)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting K.J. Bennett, University of South Carolina, Arnold Sch Public Hlth, Dept. of Hlth Serv Management & Policy, Columbia, SC 29203, United States.

Keywords for this news article include: Columbia, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America, Medicare and Medicaid, Health Policy, Medicare, University of South Carolina.

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2016, NewsRx LLC