Examining the Costs and Utilization of Care for Those Over 65 Years Old from a Nursing-Economic Perspective

Abstract

Medicare spending in the United States has increased substantially over the last 10 years. Health care costs are especially burdensome for older Americans, who report finding it increasingly difficult to afford necessary treatments, medications, and preventive care. These rising costs can lead to forgone care, exacerbated health issues, and reduced the quality of life for older individuals, especially those who need nursing home care. Additionally, recent reports show that the US government is overpaying the Medicare program in the order of $88-$90 billion annually.  This project will bring to Boston College a large database that contains Medicare claims from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with data on beneficiary enrolment information, demographics, individual health conditions and health insurance plans characteristics for individual in two plans: Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare.  The analysis will propose methods to better understand the drivers of costs and utilization of services in these populations.  We will create an interdisciplinary team leveraging cost/benefit analysis skills from the Economics Department and the clinical knowledge and health perspectives from the Nursing School to facilitate continued collaboration and future research projects to tackle the growing issue of healthcare costs in the U.S.