Lab researches Medicare
by Holly Leighton
News | 11/6/07
Posted online at 9:33 PM EST on 11/5/07
/ Last updated at 4:06 AM EST on 11/5/07
CR is effective in prolonging survival and reducing disability in patients with coronary heart disease, Shepard said.
In the group's next research step, Prof. Jose A. Suaya (Heller) led colleagues in constructing a map looking at the demographics of people who sought out CR programs, Shepard explained, and then rated each U.S. state, statistically correcting for factors such as age, gender and facilities.
Shepard said there were variations in the use of CR across states, suggesting important variations in attitudes of physicians, patients and Medicare officers.
"We found that overall, those who need it most use it less," said Moaven Razavi, a Heller Ph.D. candidate who participated in the statistical analysis of the research.
Razavi discovered disparities in the social classes of those who received CR versus those who didn't. His research, mostly done through surveys and simulations, found that most who received it were better-educated, owned homes, were more likely to have a spouse and were less likely to have a history of smoking.
"Our theory was that the introduction of new technology increases the gap between the poor and the rich, the insured and the uninsured," he said.
The study shows that that some beneficial interventions increase disparities due to slower uptake by certain populations, according to a poster from the research.
Razavi explained that the Lifestyle Modification Program Demonstration is a new technology whose utilization is not equal across the social strata.
While the gap exists, it shouldn't affect the utilization of Medicare to the extent that it currently does, Razavi explained, as money isn't a barrier to accessing the benefits of the free program.
"Since All Medicare beneficiaries have insurance, I would have expected higher utilization," Shepard said.
In the group's next research step, Prof. Jose A. Suaya (Heller) led colleagues in constructing a map looking at the demographics of people who sought out CR programs, Shepard explained, and then rated each U.S. state, statistically correcting for factors such as age, gender and facilities.
Shepard said there were variations in the use of CR across states, suggesting important variations in attitudes of physicians, patients and Medicare officers.
"We found that overall, those who need it most use it less," said Moaven Razavi, a Heller Ph.D. candidate who participated in the statistical analysis of the research.
Razavi discovered disparities in the social classes of those who received CR versus those who didn't. His research, mostly done through surveys and simulations, found that most who received it were better-educated, owned homes, were more likely to have a spouse and were less likely to have a history of smoking.
"Our theory was that the introduction of new technology increases the gap between the poor and the rich, the insured and the uninsured," he said.
The study shows that that some beneficial interventions increase disparities due to slower uptake by certain populations, according to a poster from the research.
Razavi explained that the Lifestyle Modification Program Demonstration is a new technology whose utilization is not equal across the social strata.
While the gap exists, it shouldn't affect the utilization of Medicare to the extent that it currently does, Razavi explained, as money isn't a barrier to accessing the benefits of the free program.
"Since All Medicare beneficiaries have insurance, I would have expected higher utilization," Shepard said.
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