Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among Medicare Beneficiaries, United States, 2010
Open Access
- 25 April 2013
- journal article
- Published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Preventing Chronic Disease
- Vol. 10, E61
- https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd10.120137
Abstract
The increase in chronic health conditions among Medicare beneficiaries has implications for the Medicare system. The objective of this study was to use the US Department of Health and Human Services Strategic Framework on multiple chronic conditions as a basis to examine the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions among Medicare beneficiaries. We analyzed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrative claims data for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the fee-for-service program in 2010. We included approximately 31 million Medicare beneficiaries and examined 15 chronic conditions. A beneficiary was considered to have a chronic condition if a Medicare claim indicated that the beneficiary received a service or treatment for the condition. We defined the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions as having 2 or more chronic conditions. Overall, 68.4% of Medicare beneficiaries had 2 or more chronic conditions and 36.4% had 4 or more chronic conditions. The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions increased with age and was more prevalent among women than men across all age groups. Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women had the highest prevalence of 4 or more chronic conditions, whereas Asian or Pacific Islander men and women, in general, had the lowest. The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions among the Medicare fee-for-service population varies across demographic groups. Multiple chronic conditions appear to be more prevalent among women, particularly non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women, and among beneficiaries eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Our findings can help public health researchers target prevention and management strategies to improve care and reduce costs for people with multiple chronic conditions.Keywords
This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
- Defining and Measuring Chronic Conditions: Imperatives for Research, Policy, Program, and PracticePreventing Chronic Disease, 2013
- Managing Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Strategic Framework for Improving Health Outcomes and Quality of LifePublic Health Reports, 2011
- Chronic Conditions Account For Rise In Medicare Spending From 1987 To 2006Health Affairs, 2010
- Prevalence of multiple chronic conditions in the United States' Medicare populationHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2009
- More Accurate Racial and Ethnic Codes for Medicare Administrative Data2008
- Medicare and Chronic ConditionsThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2005