Hospices gearing up for a Medicare Advantage carve-in demonstration in 2021 may place greater emphasis on addressing social determinants of health, as Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are increasingly affected by a lack of associated services, according to a report from consulting firm Avalere Health. Patients with dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid are the most affected, according to the report.
Social determinants of health include patient and family demographics, access to and quality of housing, food, and transportation, as well as internet access and other socio-economic factors.
“Information on social determinants of health will be essential for strategic planning of services and providing the appropriate end-of-life care,” said Christie Teigland, researcher with Inovalon Inc., and author of the report. “Factors such as living below the federal poverty level, low education status, lack of family or social supports, loneliness, and other social risk issues will need to be addressed to achieve the best overall care experience for these patients.”
Read the full story here.