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Value-based models in Medicare Advantage (MA) achieve better patient outcomes and more efficient care compared to traditional Medicare, according to a recent study from Optum.
The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, included data on more than 316,000 people, split evenly between MA members in a two-sided risk accountable care model and traditional Medicare beneficiaries. The researchers found that the MA model produced better outcomes and greater efficiency across all eight metrics studied, including admissions for certain diseases, avoidable emergency department visits and readmissions.
Patients enrolled in the MA model were 18% less likely to be admitted to the hospital and had 11% lower odds of visiting the emergency room, according to the study. They were 44% less likely to be admitted for complications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and had a 9% lower rate of 30-day readmissions.