Gaming the System: Dual Eligibles
9.7 million “dual eligibles” … account for 16% of Medicare’s enrollees, but 27% of its spending. And they make up 15% of Medicaid’s enrollment, but 39% of Medicaid spending … it isn’t uncommon for Medicare and Medicaid to try to dump patient costs on one another, which can raise the total cost for everyone. A recent federal report said the dual system’s incentive structure contributes to hundreds of thousands of annual hospitalizations that could be avoided.
Full article on the “dual eligibles” costly and problem-filled system.
People game the system whenever they can.
Paul, because Medicare and Medicaid are so easy to game, taxpayers are getting gouged.
It never occurred to me that dual eligibles consumed a disproportionate share of both Medicare and Medicaid expenditures. I does make sense since seniors in nursing homes paid for by Medicaid would be expensive and dual eligible.