Enrollees in Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare use less postacute care in markets with higher Medicare Advantage penetration, a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs found.
Researchers compared rates of postacute care for congestive heart failure, hip fractures and stroke from 2013-2017 among Medicare Advantage, traditional Medicare and traditional Medicare enrollees in accountable care organizations.
A 10 percentage point increase in MA market penetration was associated with less use of postacute care among traditional Medicare beneficiaries, the study found.
This effect was stronger in markets where more enrollees were in accountable care organizations.
The study was authored by researchers at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and Providence, R.I.-based Brown University.
Read the full study here.