Geriatric Emergency Department Programs Cut Medicare Costs

Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries who visited a geriatric emergency department programs and were seen by a transitional care nurse (TCN) or a social worker (SW) with special training in geriatric care had lower total costs of care 30 and 60 days later. Per beneficiary, in the 30 days after the visit to the geriatric emergency department, their total cost of care was lower by $2,436 to $2,905. At 60 days after the visit, the total cost of care was lower by $1,200 to $3,202.

The analysis included 24,839 Medicare FFS beneficiaries who received . . .