An Analysis of a Dual-Eligible Population at Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Abstract
In October 1993, the Department of Defense (DoD) adopted the program known as TRICARE, which failed to incorporate the 1.2 million over 65 dual-eligible beneficiaries. Consequently, these dual-eligible beneficiaries were forced to utilize their Medicare benefits or receive care at DoD medical treatment facilities on a space available basis. In April 1996, Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill, Oklahoma developed the Silver Care Program. The goals of the program were to educate the dual-eligible population on both Medicare and the Medicare Demonstration Project known as Medicare Subvention and to provide health care to beneficiaries who were unable to obtain care through civilian providers. The continuance of this program was dependent on financial assistance from higher command and the possibility of rolling the program into the Medicare Demonstration Project. The purpose of this study was to analyze utilization and costs of inpatient and outpatient services of the dual-eligible populations (N = 2216) from April 1996 - December 1997. The study entailed two analyses: a historical utilization and cost analysis and the employment of a health status and patient satisfaction survey. The first analysis revealed that the total cost of health care for the dual-eligible population was $6.69 million dollars. The survey results revealed a significant statistical difference, F(1,233) = 282.845, p <.0001, in overall satisfaction between Silver Care enrollees and space available beneficiaries, with the Silver Care enrollee being most satisfied. In addition, a backward linear regression was conducted in order to determine predictor variables for the dependent variables: inpatient bed days and outpatient visits. The predictor variables for bed days were health status and patient satisfaction with F(2,231) = 9.763, p<.001, and R2 = .078. The predictor variables for outpatient visits were age, health status and patient satisfaction with F(3,230)=21/479, p<.001, and R2 = .c
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 08, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA372469
Entities
People
- Noel J. Cardenas
Organizations
- Academy of Health Sciences