Healthcare News of Note: Latino, Black and Asian people ‘significantly more likely’ to enroll in Medicare Advantage
- Among beneficiaries of color, Medicare Advantage enrollees are demographically and geographically different from those in fee-for-service Medicare.
- Turnover among hospital CEOs has trended downward since hitting 20% in 2013.
- Eleven of the 100 U.S. hospitals to earn NRC Health’s Consumer Loyalty Award were also honored with the organization’s Consumer Loyalty “Best in Class” Award for 2023.
Over the past few weeks, I have found these industry news stories that should be of interest to healthcare finance professionals.
1. MA and FFS Medicare program enrollees report similar care quality, but demographic differences are evident
Although quality of care reported “is similar” among enrollees in Medicare Advantage (MA) and fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, demographic differences among the programs’ enrollees are evident, according to ATI Advisory, which analyzed data and prepared a report* (registration required) for the Better Medicare Alliance (BMA).
How MA and FFS enrollees differ
ATI authors noted: “Among beneficiaries of color, Medicare Advantage enrollees are demographically and geographically different from those in FFS Medicare; while their care experiences are similar, enrollees in Medicare Advantage spend less on health care.”
BMA President Mary Beth Donahue said in a news release: “This analysis once again confirms that MA serves a more diverse and economically disadvantaged population than traditional FFS Medicare.”
According to the news release from BMA, MA’s leading research and advocacy organization, the differences between individuals enrolled in MA versus FFS Medicare include:
- Latino, Black and Asian Medicare beneficiaries “are significant more likely” to enroll in MA than white beneficiaries, with the rates of people opting for MA enrollment by race and ethnicity as follows:
- Latino: 69%
- Black: 65%
- Asian: 60%
- Other: 53%
- White: 48%
- Enrollees in MA are 19% more likely than those in FFS Medicare to live in socially vulnerable counties, and 20% more likely to live in counties at high risk for negative impacts of climate change.
- A higher proportion of enrollees in MA, across races and ethnicities, report incomes under 200% of the federal poverty level, compared to FFS Medicare enrollees.
Authors of the ATI report noted, “Understanding differences in Medicare beneficiary experiences by race and ethnicity can help policymakers and business leaders identify opportunities for health equity and continual improvement across both pathways to Medicare coverage.”
Similar experiences among MA and FFS enrollees
Across race, ethnicity and programs, ATI reported that Medicare beneficiaries report similar levels of:
- Ability to understand Medicare
- Satisfaction with the quality of healthcare they received
- Satisfaction with the ease of getting to the doctor
Additionally, according to a RetirementLiving.com survey of 351 MA enrollees, 71% of beneficiaries reported being “satisfied with their plan,” adding that “affordable costs and out-of-pocket expenses” were the top two reasons they chose an MA plan.
* Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (years 2017-22), the Master Beneficiary Summary File and other county-wide data were analyzed by ATI.
HFMA insight
HFMA has original content on Medicare Advantage and FFS Medicare, including:
- “The state of Medicare Advantage: As the program grows, healthcare stakeholders express concerns,” an article by Nick Hut, senior editor, published May 30.
- “Perspectives differ on Medicare’s 2 houses,” a column by Susan Dentzer, MS, president and CEO of America’s Physician Groups, published April 28.
2. Hospital CEO turnover remains at 16% for third year in a row
For the third consecutive year, hospital CEO positions in 2022 turned over at a rate of 16%, according to an Aug. 8 news release by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
“The 16% turnover rate in 2022, 2021 and 2020 is the lowest the industry has seen since 2011, when it also was at 16%,” states the release. “Turnover among hospital CEOs has trended downward since hitting 20% in 2013, the highest since ACHE began tracking this data in 1981.”
Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, ACHE’s president and CEO, said in the release: “As hospitals continue to wrestle with workforce and financial challenges, the value of strong and capable leaders in healthcare has never been more important.”
Highest and lowest annual CEO turnover
The highest and lowest annual turnover rates for nonfederal, general medical and surgical hospital CEO positions by state were also detailed in the report:
- Montana and Vermont had the highest turnover rates, 30% and 29% respectively.
- Rhode Island and Delaware both reported no hospital CEO turnover in 2022, while Utah and Puerto Rico reported a 2% turnover rate.
3. 11 hospitals earn a best-in-class award for their consumer loyalty efforts
Eleven of the 100 U.S. hospitals to earn NRC Health’s Consumer Loyalty Award were honored with the organization’s Consumer Loyalty “Best in Class” Award for 2023, according to an Aug. 8 news release.
“These organizations have exemplified the commitment and initiative necessary to cultivate and maintain long-lasting loyalty among their patient populations and the communities they serve,” states the release.
Top consumer loyalty hospitals
The 11 hospitals to earn this year’s top designation, in alphabetical order, are:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
- California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles
- Christ Hospital, Cincinnati
- Cleveland Clinic Hospital – Weston, Weston, Florida
- Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- JW Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia
- Mayo Clinic Hospital – Arizona, Phoenix
- Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester Saint Marys [DF1] Campus, Rochester, Minnesota
- Mayo Clinic Hospital – Florida, Jacksonville
- Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Saint Louis
- University of California-Davis Medical Center, Sacramento
NRC also announced the winners of its 2023 Excellence in Patient Experience Award, recognizing organizations for “commitment to enhancing care experiences for every patient.” These awards are based on patient surveys determining whether patients would “recommend a healthcare organization to others in their community,” as measured by a Net Promoter Score, according to the release.
Top patient satisfaction hospitals
The winners of this year’s patient experience awards are:
Health System
- Community Healthcare System, Munster, Indiana
- Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Mercy, Troy, Missouri
Hospital
- The Women’s Hospital, Evansville, Indiana
- Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Monterey, California
- UMC Health System, Lubbock, Texas
Pediatric
- Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee
- Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, Florida
- Scottish Rite for Children, Dallas
Medical Group
- Brown Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology, Georgia
- Tryon Medical Partners, Charlotte, North Carolina
HFMA bonus content
- Read “Children’s hospitals swim against the tide to improve the health of their patients and communities” by Nick Hut, senior editor.
- Review HFMA’s“FY 2024 Skilled Nursing Facilities PPS Final Rule Summary,” which was posted Aug. 24 on HFMA’s Regulatory and Accounting Resources page.
- Read “Regulators seek feedback about medical credit cards as potential restrictions loom” by Nick Hut.
