EVALUATION OF THE COSTS FOR VETERANS RECEIVING CARE IN GERIATRIC MEDICAL HOMES (GERIPACT)

• Published in: Innovation in aging Vol. 1; no. suppl_1; p. 1329
• Main Authors: Shay, K., Phibbs, C., Intrator, O., Kinosian, B., Scott, W., Dally, S., Allman, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01.07.2017
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.4871

VA Office of Geriatrics & Extended Care established Geriatric Patient-Aligned Care teams (GeriPACT) with team members (pharmacy, and social work) added to the panels, and panels 2/3 the size of most VA primary care teams, to better manage aged and frail Veterans. We evaluated GeriPACT effect on expenditures among Veterans with >2 diagnoses based self-care capacity limitations (JEN Frailty Index, JFI>2) cared for at 84 VA facilities. NOSOS, a refinement of Medicare’s HCC model, was used to predict expenditures. Regressions estimated effect of GeriPACT on log expenditures, comparing GeriPACT Veterans to propensity score-matched Veterans receiving regular care. Management by GeriPACT was associated with significantly lower combined VA and Medicare expenditures: 14% less for JFI>2, 8% for JFI>5 and 13% for JFI 3–6. VA expenditures alone had associated savings of 12%, 6%, and 11%, respectively. GeriPACT reduces costs, especially when targeted at appropriate patients, e.g., those with JFI 3–6.