Medicare beneficiaries don't get full range of preventive services

Healthcare Financial Management, Dec, 2003

Most Medicare beneficiaries do not receive the full range of recommended preventive services available, although they typically visit a physician several times per year, according to a report released by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). Analysis of 2000 data shows that nearly 9 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries visited a physician at least once a year, with a beneficiary making an average of six visits or more within the year. Although each preventive service that the GAO examined for this report was delivered to these beneficiaries, relatively few received the full range of preventive services.

The GAO studied both the Medicare fee-for-service program and five Medicare Choice plans considered to have innovative approaches to delivering preventive services. In addition to determining the extent of preventing services delivered, the GAO examined whether approaches used by these Medicare Choice plans provide insight for improving preventive care delivery throughout the program.

The GAO reports that no clear "best practice" for delivering preventive care stands out among the Medicare Choice plans studied. These plans identify health risks, provide feedback on risks to patients or their physicians, and follow up to reduce those risks. Yet, their follow-up strategies vary, and little is known about their effectiveness.

To read Most Beneficiaries Receive Some but Not All, Recommended Preventive Services, go to www.gao.gov/new.items/do3958.pdf.>

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