COVID-19-Related Deaths And Excess Deaths Among Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Millions of SARS-CoV-2 infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths occurred in the US by May 2021.
• Identifying vulnerable populations is crucial for equitable vaccine distribution and public health response.
• Understanding COVID-19 mortality risk factors informs targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19 mortality using Medicare administrative data.
• To inform public health policy and data collection strategies for future health emergencies.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Medicare administrative data to assess COVID-19 mortality risk.
• Identification of demographic and clinical factors associated with higher mortality rates.

Main Results:

• Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes, the oldest individuals, racial/ethnic minorities, those with multiple comorbidities, and dual-eligible beneficiaries were at higher risk of death from SARS-CoV-2.
• Medicare data proved adaptable for rapid analysis during the pandemic.
• Comparable data for the general population are not readily available.

Conclusions:

• Specific subgroups within the Medicare population experienced disproportionately high COVID-19 mortality.
• The findings highlight disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.
• Improved data collection and access policies are essential for addressing future health crises.