Following a comparative study of FFS and FFS Advantage (MA) program beneficiaries, researchers found that home health utilization is a “substantial” source of FFS costs, but FFS Advantage plan usage is unknown. Between nationwide and intra-regional utilization of home health care, beneficiaries enrolled in fee-for-service (Medicare) 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 Medicare FFS 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.