At risk: a look at managing Medicare losses

On top of declining Medicare payment rates, hospitals face the prospects of increasing numbers of Medicare patients and costs associated with caring for them. Geriatric care management programs can help prevent financial losses by focusing on high-risk patients and costly diagnosis related groups. Under one approach, a geriatric care manager works to improve the efficiency of care, reduce lengths of stay, smooth transitions to alternate care settings, and involve patients and their families in decision making.