To estimate expenditures for fall‐related injuries (s) among older Medicare beneficiaries.
The 2007–2009 Medicare claims and 2008 Health and Retirement Study () data for 5,497 (228 and 5,269 non‐) beneficiaries.
s were indicated by inpatient/outpatient ‐9 diagnostic codes for fractures, trauma, dislocations, and by e‐codes. A pre‐post comparison group design was used to estimate the differential change in pre‐post expenditures for the relative to the non‐ cohort ( expenditures). Out‐of‐pocket () costs, service category total annual ‐related Medicare expenditures, expenditures related to the type of initial treatment (inpatient, , outpatient), and the risk of persistently high expenditures (4th quartile for each post‐ quarter) were estimated.
Estimated expenditures were $9,389 (95 percent : $5,969–$12,808). Inpatient, physician/outpatient, skilled nursing facility, and home health comprised 31, 18, 39, and 12 percent of the total. costs were $1,363.0 (95 percent : $889‐$1,837). Expenditures for s initially treated in inpatient//outpatient settings were $21,424/$6,142/$8,622. The cohort had a 64 percent increased risk of persistently high expenditures. Total Medicare expenditures were $13 billion (95 percent : $9–$18 billion).
s are associated with substantial, persistent Medicare expenditures. Cost‐effectiveness of multifactorial falls prevention programs should be assessed using these expenditure estimates.
