“MA recipients have fewer unnecessary medical services compared with traditional Medicare beneficiaries: study says”

“MA recipients have fewer unnecessary medical services compared with traditional Medicare beneficiaries: study says,” by Donna Shryer, McKnights LTC News

“A comprehensive new study of nearly 6 million Medicare beneficiaries, averaging 75 years old, reveals significant differences in how often seniors receive unnecessary medical services depending on their insurance coverage. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, compared traditional Medicare with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, examining 35 different medical services considered low-value — or those treatments or tests that provide little to no clinical benefit yet may expose patients to potential harm. These services included unnecessary imaging, preventative testing, cardiovascular testing and common medical treatments that experts have identified as potentially wasteful.”

LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform:

Maybe MA’s managed care model reduces unnecessary treatments balancing frequent criticism that it cost more.