According to a recently released report from Havard University and and software company Inovalon, Medicare Advantage enrollees experience better quality outcomes than fee-for-service Medicare enrollees, including fewer readmissions, fewer preventable hospitalizations and lower rates of high-risk medication use.
Specifically, Advantage enrollees have over 70% fewer hospital readmissions and 25% fewer preventable inpatient admissions. Also, Advantage enrollees have lower rates of inappropriate medication use, and comparable rates of medication adherence.
The study did make adjusments for “enrollment differences across the two programs and for the pre-existing disadvantages faced by MA members in terms of baseline demographic, clinical, and social risk factors.”
Considering the fact that Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown from 17% of Medicare beneficiaries in 2000 to over 50% in 2023, the findings are encouraging.
Read the full report here.