Research results from Johns Hopkins University update knowledge of medicare and medicaid
March 9th, 2009
2009 MAR 9 -- In this recent article published in the American Journal of Managed Care, scientists in the United States conducted a study "To assess the effects of Hurricane Katrina on mortality, morbidity, disease prevalence, and service utilization during 1 year in a cohort of 20,612 older adults who were living in New Orleans, Louisiana, before the disaster and who were enrolled in a managed care organization (MCO). Observational study comparing mortality, morbidity, and service use for 1 year before and after Hurricane Katrina, augmented by a stratified random sample of 303 enrollees who participated in a telephone survey after Hurricane Katrina."
"Sources of data for health and service use were MCO claims. Mortality was based on reports to the MCO from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; morbidity was measured using adjusted clinical groups case-mix methods derived from diagnoses in ambulatory and hospital claims data. Mortality in the year following Hurricane Katrina was not significantly elevated (4.3% before vs 4.9% after the hurricane). However, overall morbidity increased by 12.6% (P <.001) compared with a 3.4% increase among a national sample of Medicare managed care enrollees. Nonwhite subjects from Orleans Parish experienced a morbidity increase of 15.9% (P <.001). The prevalence of numerous treated medical conditions increased, and emergency department visits and hospitalizations remained significantly elevated during the year. The enormous health burden experienced by older individuals and the disruptions in service utilization reveal the long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina on this vulnerable population," wrote L.C. Burton and colleagues, Johns Hopkins University.
The researchers concluded: "Although quick rebuilding of the provider network may have attenuated more severe health outcomes for this managed care population, new policies must be introduced to deal with the health consequences of a major disaster."
Burton and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Managed Care (Health of Medicare Advantage Plan Enrollees at 1 Year After Hurricane Katrina. American Journal of Managed Care, 2009;15(1):13-22).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting L.C. Burton, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
The publisher of the American Journal of Managed Care can be contacted at: Managed Care & Healthcare Communications LLC, 666 Plainsboro Rd., Ste. 300, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA.
Keywords: United States, Broadway, Medicare and Medicaid, Health Policy, Managed Care, Medicaid, Medicare, Johns Hopkins University.
This article was prepared by Managed Care Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Managed Care Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
