Synopsis
The average amount Medicare spent on health services for each beneficiary age 65 and older declined by $180 between the periods 2007–2010 and 2011–2014, after adjusting for provider payment rate changes. Most of the decrease can be attributed to lower spending for Medicare beneficiaries with certain chronic illnesses, particularly cardiovascular and endocrine conditions — possibly a result of efforts by health care stakeholders to control costs and improve efficiency. However, the rising prevalence of chronic kidney disease and certain other conditions reduced overall savings for Medicare.
Keohane, L. M., Gambrel, R. J., Freed, S. S., Stevenson, D. and Buntin, M. B. (2018), Understanding Trends in Medicare Spending, 2007–2014. Health Serv Res. doi:10.1111/1475-6773.12845