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CMW news: Prevention and health promotion could save Medicare $1.4 trillion over 10 years

Case Management Weekly, August 12, 2009

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Government health promotion and prevention programs for pre-Medicare and Medicare populations could save the country as much as $1.4 trillion over 10 years—and add on average as many as 6 years on Medicare beneficiaries' lives, according to a new Center for Health Research at Healthways report.

The report, Potential Medicare Savings Through Prevention & Health Risk Reduction, found that focusing on programs that keep people healthy and reduce health risk factors, and manage chronic conditions—before and during Medicare eligibility—can have long-term cost savings. In fact, though these programs could extend beneficiaries' lives, the researchers found the cost savings associated with keeping people healthier would offset the extra years of life and coverage expenses that the federal government would have to pay for under Medicare.

The researchers found a range of potential savings through a combination of health promotion, prevention, and chronic care management initiatives before and after the age of 65. The gross savings estimates ranged between $652 billion and $1.4 trillion over 10 years (in 2008 dollars).

Source: HealthLeaders Media

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