Quality of Medical Care Delivered to Medicare Beneficiaries

Abstract

It is possible to assemble information on a diverse set of clinical performance measures that represent performance on the range of services in a health insurance program. These findings indicate substantial opportunities to improve the care delivered to Medicare beneficiaries and urgently invite a partnership among practitioners, hospitals, health plans, and purchasers to achieve that improvement. JAMA. 2000;284:1670-1676.

Quality of Care and Racial Disparities in Medicare Among Potential ACOs

“…25 Specifically, for beneficiaries in a 5 % sample, for whom we had claims for both inpatient and outpatient care, we assessed low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol testing in 2009 for beneficiaries with cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, history of acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or history of stroke) and three services for beneficiaries with diabetes, including hemoglobin A1c and LDL cholesterol testing in 2009 and a diabetic retinal exam in 2008 or 2009. 26,27 We also created a composite indicator denoting receipt of all three recommended diabetes services.…”

Long-term Outcomes of Regional Variations in Intensity of Invasive vs. Medical Management of Medicare Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

“…49 Finally, we could not examine the implications of regional treatment intensity on severity of angina, quality of life, and functional status post-MI. [1994][1995]16,18 but invasive management rates have increased as well. Therefore, the message from our study regarding the need to direct optimal treatments to patients with the greatest expected improvement may still be relevant.…”

Lipid Testing Among Patients With Diabetes Who Receive Diabetes Care From Primary Care Physicians

“…D iabetes is a major public health problem, especially among older individuals, African Americans, and those enrolled in Medicare (1)(2)(3)(4). Individuals with diabetes are at high risk for dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality (4,5).…”

“…To identify and monitor those with lipid disorders, the American Diabetes Association recommends that all adults with diabetes receive, at least annually, a fasting lipid profile test to determine levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and LDL cholesterol (5). Nevertheless, lipid testing rates among individuals with diabetes have been far less than ideal (3,7).…”