Seniors managing chronic conditions and daily living needs command 40% of health cost

INDIANAPOLIS — A new infographic highlighting the healthcare costs of seniors with multiple chronic conditions and outlining ways to better serve this growing population has been issued by the GRACE Team Care (Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders) program at Indiana University School of Medicine.

 

“People with multiple chronic conditions and functional limitations spend three times as much as people with only multiple chronic conditions,” stated Steven Counsell, executive director of GRACE Team Care. “For that reason it is critical that we find an effective way to manage the health and well-being of high-risk Medicare populations, particularly the frail and lower-income citizens who are the most vulnerable."

 

According to the infographic, 8 million of the 40 million older adults in the United States have multiple chronic conditions and receive help with activities of daily living. This 20% of the senior demographic comprises 40% of healthcare spending, and the per capita healthcare spending for these seniors is about double than for those without the need for help in ADL. Medicare hospitalization collective cost to the healthcare system is more than $140 billion.

 

Participation in the GRACE program has been proven to provide person-centered care, enhance quality of life, optimize health and functional status, and decrease excess healthcare use. In fact an independent study has shown that the GRACE program can result in a 50% reduction in hospital readmission rates, a 30% reduction in hospital admission rates and a 25% reduction in emergency room visits.

 

The catalyst for the GRACE program is its support team, headed by a nurse practitioner and a social worker who complement the primary care physician in fully addressing the patient’s health conditions and achieving a patient’s goal from the comfort of their own home. The GRACE team provides patients with specialized care for geriatric conditions (e.g., falls, depression and memory problems); healthcare education; medication management; and coordination of care between specialty physicians, the emergency department, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and a broad array of community support services.

 

“Independent sources including Avalere Health have reported that GRACE programming is associated with a significant return on investment and thousands of dollars in savings per member per year in healthcare costs,” said Counsell. “With Medicare-eligible citizens now representing the fastest-growing segment of the American public, this is a program where its time and focus have come.”