Following a comparative study of Medicare and health insurance ( MA ) program beneficiaries , researchers found that home health utilization is a “ substantial ” component of healthcare costs , but Medicare Advantage plan usage is unknown . Between nationwide and intra - regional utilization of home health care , beneficiaries enrolled in fee - for - service ( FFS ) used significantly more care , and experienced nearly 33 % longer in duration , where healthcare providers do not entirely overcome non - health related regional influences affecting use . Home health represented over 5 % of all FFS Medicare spending , or $ 18.4bn , in 2011 , with variation attributed to the “ fraud , waste and abuse ” of the system .
Following a comparative study of Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) program beneficiaries, researchers found that home health utilization is a “substantial” source of Medicare costs, but Medicare Advantage plan usage is unknown. Between nationwide and intra-regional utilization of home health care, beneficiaries enrolled in fee-for-service (FFS) used significantly more care, and experienced episodes 33% longer in duration, where MA plans do not entirely overcome non-health related regional influences affecting use. Home health represented over 5% of all FFS Medicare spending, or $18.4bn, in 2011, with variation attributed to the “fraud, waste and abuse” of the system.