Racial disparity more common among Medicare Advantage readmissions

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries often see greater racial disparity than traditional Medicare patients where readmissions are concerned, according to a recent Health Affairs study. 

Black Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were 64% more likely than white Medicare Advantage beneficiaries to be readmitted within 30 days after undergoing one of six major surgeries. Comparatively, black patients with traditional Medicare were found to be 33% more likely to be readmitted after undergoing one of six major surgeries than white patients with traditional Medicare. The Health Affairs study suggested that Medicare Advantage risk reduction strategies have not successfully reduced readmission rates among black patients compared to white patients.

The study was based on an examination of 30-day readmissions for traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries ages 65 and older who had one of six major surgeries in New York in 2013. The surgeries examined in the study included colectomy, endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, hip replacement, isolated coronary artery bypass graft, open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and pulmonary lobectomy.