A recent study published in JAMA Health Forum suggests that beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans receive shorter and less intensive home healthcare services compared to those in traditional Medicare.
Home healthcare services, which include nursing, rehabilitation, and social work support, have been linked to improved health outcomes for patients recovering from illness or injury.
The Impact of Home Healthcare Services on Patient Recovery
These services can help patients regain mobility and independence, potentially reducing hospital readmissions.
The current Medicare system allocates home healthcare services in 60-day episodes, with payments issued in 30-day cycles.
However, Medicare Advantage plans frequently require additional authorization or renewal of services before patients can receive the full 60 days.
Researchers examined data from a national home healthcare provider to compare the experiences of Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare beneficiaries who received home healthcare services between 2019 and 2022. The study involved over 285,000 patients.
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Challenges and Consequences for Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries
While Medicare Advantage beneficiaries tended to be younger and have slightly better health upon admission to home healthcare, they also faced disadvantages. They were more likely to live alone and in rural areas, with potentially less access to informal support networks.
Significantly, the study found that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries received shorter home healthcare stays, averaging 1.62 days fewer than traditional Medicare patients. They also received fewer visits from nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and home health aides.
These reductions in service translated to lower rates of improvement in mobility and self-care abilities for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries compared to traditional Medicare.
Interestingly, the study also found that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were more likely to be discharged directly back to their communities after treatment. While this may seem positive on the surface, researchers caution that without adequate functional improvement, these patients could face increased caregiver burden and potentially experience worse health outcomes, especially if they live alone.
The study suggests that healthcare policies, including those associated with Medicare Advantage plans, which may limit access to home healthcare services, should be evaluated based on their impact on functional recovery alongside other health metrics.
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