During final difficult days, Medicare spending spikes

Costs peak at the end for chronically ill

SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE Face the Facts USA Good morning. Nine of 10 Medicare patients die of chronic disease, and caring for them in their final six months of life absorbs one-third of all Medicare dollars. During that time, more than a third of chronically ill Medicare patients are treated by 10 or more doctors. With Medicare emerging as a top campaign issue, we hope today’s infographic sparks discussion. Click to see the whole display. Then contribute to our discussion thread back at the website. How do you feel about the current state of Medicare funding?  How do we know? Check the original sources behind the fact: The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care: “Total Medicare Reimbursements Per Decedent, By Interval Before Death” The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care: “Tracking the Care of Patients with Severe Chronic Illness” The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care: “Trends and Variation in End-of-Life Care for Medicare Beneficiaries with Severe Chronic Illness” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The Power to Prevent, The Call to Control: At A Glance 2009” More