The 30 percent variance was present in Medicare Part A and Part B spending, but Medicare Part D also experienced variance. Specifically, drug spending was 20 percent more in higher-use areas than lower-use areas, according to the report.
Other findings include:
• Variation in service use is less than variation in Medicare spending.
• Variation in services use is similar in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
• Level of service use has slightly inverse relationship to growth in service use.
Read “Report to Congress: Regional Variation in Medicare Service Use” (pdf).
Read more coverage on Medicare spending:
– ACOs, Reduced Readmissions, Other Reforms Would Save Medicare $418 billion by 2019
– Chief Impetus for Medicare Spending Moved From Inpatient to Outpatient Care
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