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. 2018 Apr 17;319(15):1616-1617.
doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.2408.

Trends in Post-Acute Care Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries: 2000 to 2015

Rachel M Werner  1 , R Tamara Konetzka  2
Affiliations

Trends in Post-Acute Care Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries: 2000 to 2015

Rachel M Werner et al. JAMA. .

Abstract

This study uses MedPAR data to characterize trends in use of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) after acute care hospitalizations and trends in hospital and SNF/IRF lengths of stay among Medicare beneficiaries.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Both authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Dr Werner reported receiving grants from the National Institute on Aging and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and personal fees from CarePort Health. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Proportion of Medicare Beneficiaries Discharged to Institutional Post–Acute Care vs Discharged Home
Estimates are adjusted for patient age, sex, race, and Elixhauser comorbidities. The median number of hospital discharges to home per year was 6 664 718 (interquartile range [IQR], 5 768 018-7 367 173) and the median number of discharges to post–acute care per year was 2 151 959 (IQR, 1 978 709-2 199 801).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Mean Length of Stay in the Hospital, in Post–Acute Care, and in the Combination of Hospital Plus Post–Acute Care
Estimates are adjusted for patient age, sex, race, and Elixhauser comorbidities. The median number of hospital discharges to home per year was 6 664 718 (interquartile range [IQR], 5 768 018-7 367 173) and the median number of discharges to post–acute care per year was 2 151 959 (IQR, 1 978 709-2 199 801).
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References

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    1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services MedPAR RIF. https://www.resdac.org/cms-data/files/medpar-rif. Accessed February 9, 2018.