Medicare spending for injured elders: Are there opportunities for savings?

Claims for injury care provided to aged fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries cost Medicare more than $8 billion in 1999, almost 6 percent of Medicare claims spending for elders. More than one-fifth of aged FFS beneficiaries had an injury that resulted in a claim. Fractures, which were experienced by one in seventeen aged beneficiaries, were responsible for 67 percent of total injury claims expenses. Medicare could realize substantial savings if these injuries could be prevented; the program should consider underwriting effective prevention activities.