The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46022

Gerald M. Eggert, PhD¹, Brenda Wamsley, MSW², Jim Hardman², Frank Castrignano, BSME¹, and Rowena Sizemore, LCSW². (1) Executive Director, Monroe County Long Term Care Program, Inc./ACCESS, 349 West Commercial Street, Suite 2250, East Rochester, NY 14445, 585-248-8770, gmeggert@aol.com, (2) Executive Director, Center for Aging & Healthcare in West Virginia, 517 Market Street, Dils Building, Parkersburg, WV 26101

Consumer-directed approaches offer strategies that maximize consumer preferences. This paper describes a randomized controlled trial of primary and consumer-directed care being conducted in parts of New York, West Virginia and Ohio with an impaired group of 1,609 Medicare beneficiaries. Three consumer-directed approaches are described: 1) a health promotion nurse intervention, 2) a voucher for in-home services and equipment, and 3) a combination of voucher and health promotion nurse. This study has been completed. Twenty-four month results of cost and use data will be presented, by treatment group, including: 1) home modifications 2) communication, dental, hearing and sight related supplies and equipment, 3) ambulation aids and 4) consumable care supplies. This study will help policymakers and practitioners determine cost and use patterns associated with Medicare consumer-directed approachs.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to demonstrate knowledge of three strategies to empower consumers to take more responsibility for their own health care. The participant should also be able to identify the cost and service use patters for consumable care goods and adaptive and assistive equipment use among frail, chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries.

Keywords: Frail Elderly, Cost Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.