Effects of Care Coordination on Hospitalization, Quality of Care, and Health Care Expenditures Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Abstract

Chronic illnesses pose a significant expense to the Medicare program and a major detriment to beneficiaries' quality of life. The cost and complexity of care are greater for those patients with multiple chronic illnesses. In 2002, for example, half of Medicare beneficiaries had been treated for 5 or more conditions but accounted for a disproportionately large 75% of Medicare spending.¹