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Health care costs to increase in specific clinical areas due to aging boomers
New study: Kidney disorders / heart and vascular conditions costs projected to be the most affected by the aging U.S. population
March 5, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - A new study by HealthPartners published in the current Health Services Research journal is the first to identify clinical areas projected to experience the greatest growth and account for the greatest per capita cost increases over the next several decades as a result of the aging U.S. population.
"These findings are significant because this is the first time projected health care cost changes due to aging have been reported at this clinically relevant level of detail," said E. Mary Martini, the study's lead investigator and senior consultant, HealthPartners Health Informatics. "While aging of the U.S. population is not projected to be a major driver of the rising cost of health care overall, only 0.3 percent annually from 2000 - 2050, we project per capita costs in several clinical areas will dramatically increase." - Kidney Disorders 55 percent increase
- Heart & Vascular Conditions 44 percent increase
- Urologic Conditions 36 percent increase
- Eye Conditions 33 percent increase
- Lung Conditions 31 percent increase
The two areas with the greatest decreases in projected per capita costs include:- Pregnancy and Infertility Care 12 percent decrease
- Chemical Dependency 7 percent decrease
About HealthPartners
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of healthcare companies serve more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community. For the third year in a row, HealthPartners is rated one of the best commercial health plans in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, NCQA's "America's Best Health Plans 2007" and is ranked "Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Minnesota-Wisconsin Region" by J.D. Power and Associates.
Contact: 952-883-5301
Cell: 612-247-9119
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