Spatial Analysis for Medicare Spending

Does Higher Spending Translate to Better Health or Better Quality Health Care? Compare Health Care Spending to HCC Scores and Hospital Readmission Rates Examine Spatial Patterns

Hot Spot Map of Per Capita Medicare Spending

Higher HCC scores indicate a sicker population: higher incidence of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and other chronic health conditions Hot Spot Map of HCC Scores Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC)

Hot Spot Map of Hospital Readmissions Consistently high readmission rates indicate that the medical needs of patients are not being adequately addressed

Spending HCC Scores Readmissions

Where should we focus efforts to reduce health care costs? Analyze Preventable Hospital Admissions Prevent Unnecessary Hospital Admissions

Map of Preventable Hospital Admissions Red – diabetes and lower extremity amputation Orange – bacterial pneumonia and dehydration Yellow – hypertension Green – bright spots: low rates for all above factors

Are the Factors Promoting Higher Spending the Same Everywhere? Understanding the Factors that Promote Higher Spending Provides Tools for Reducing Costs Explore Factors Contributing to Higher Spending

Geography matters Factors vary over regions Global policies may not be effective Map of Spatial Data Relationships Exploring Data Factors for higher spending Region 3: - Dehydration - Imaging - Hospital readmissions Region 7: - Days in nursing facilities - Congestive heart failure - Number of hospital beds

Where does each Factor have the Biggest Impact on Health Care Spending? Understanding Where each Factor is Most Important to Health Care Costs is Key Remediate Using Targeted Strategies

Focus on Region 3 Dehydration and Imaging are factors that affect high Medicare spending in the South. Analyze these factors individually

ImagingDehydration Darker areas are: not necessarily where imaging costs are highest where imaging costs are an important contributor to higher health care costs where greatest impact on decreased spending might be, if remediation efforts were focused there Where is each factor most important?

Dehydration Contributes to Higher Health Care Costs Darker – where dehydration problems are an important contributor to higher health care costs

Imaging Costs Contribute to Higher Spending Darker areas are: not necessarily where imaging costs are highest where imaging costs are an important contributor to higher health care costs where greatest impact on decreased spending might be, if remediation efforts were focused there

Which Programs or Policies Will Have the Biggest Impact? Knowing Which Programs or Policies Will Make the Biggest Difference Gives You An Advantage Compare “What-If” Analyses Evaluate the Impact of Investments

After Before Messaging programs – importance of staying hydrated Target families, nursing care facilities and medical staff What if Dehydration was Reduced by 75%?

Darker – associated with highest per capita Medicare costs Dehydration: Before Remediation The Impact of Reducing Dehydration Issues

Dehydration: After Remediation The Impact of Reducing Dehydration Issues by 75%