Medication-Error Deaths Soar, Quality Image Takes Another Hit
The radical shift to outpatient care is being cited as the underlying cause of soaring medication-error deaths adding to the industry's suffering quality image, according to a new study by the University of California at San Diego. After examining U.S. death certificates from 1983 to 1993, the most recent data available, researchers found that fatal medication jumped 850%. Overall, these deaths increased 260%.
After widespread media reports on chemotherapy overdoses in recent years, medication errors are receiving increasing industry attention. The American Medical Association launched a National Patient Safety Foundation campaign last year that addressed medication errors.
Other findings include:
- The number of outpatient-related deaths rose 75% while the number of hospital inpatient days fell 21%.
- The largest increase in medication-error fatalities involve anesthesia drugs.
Another study conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices last year suggests that the rise in medication fatalities was caused by hospital budget and personnel cuts. Its survey involving 151 U.S. hospitals found 951 serious injuries or deaths caused by medication error. (University of California at San Diego, 619/543-3406)
Managed Care: New England HMOs Retaining Market Share
In spite of intense competition from national HMO players, regional managed care plans in New England are commanding the biggest piece of the national healthcare pie, according to a recent study published by the New England HMO Monitor. Regional health plans including Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan are among the New England heavyweights that have enrolled 3.3 million of the area's 5.1 million residents, as of September, 1997.
New England's HMO landscape is comprised of 58 HMOs, half of which are subsidiaries of national companies like Cigna Healthsource, Aetna U.S. Healthcare and Foundation Health Systems.
The study highlights enrollment breakdowns of the region's HMO leaders:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliates enrolling 1.2 million members;
- Harvard Pilgrim affiliates enrolling 1.1 million members; and
- Tufts plans enrolling 585,000 members.
The report is available for $175. (The New England HMO Monitor, Mark Farrah Associates, 207/985-8484)
Seniors: Medicare Is Too Costly For Elderly Poor
Medicare is sending millions of seniors to the poor house due to ineffective outreach efforts, says a new study released by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).Two million elderly people living at or below the poverty line are doling out half of their yearly income for medical expenses that are not covered by Medicare, AARP found.
Out-of-pocket health spending is high among the 3.5 million elderly poor because Medicare is not reaching 60% of this patient group, says John Rother, AARP's director of legislation and public policy.
The study suggests that many low-income seniors on Medicare don't know they qualify for Medicaid.
The study's authors are calling for the federal Medicare commission to shift the Medicare debate away from its financial solvency to innovative managed care opportunities. In an earlier AARP study, Medicare recipients enrolled in an HMO were paying one-third, or $835 less for healthcare than those who had private supplemental insurance.
Other highlights from this study include:
- 13% of Medicare enrollees are in an HMO; and
- Poor Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in an HMO used 48% of their yearly income for healthcare expenses. (AARP, 202/434-2277)