The results of this study are of natural concern for all taxpayers, but they are of particular concern for seniors for a couple of reasons. First, seniors who may need hospice care should receive the proper care. When in-home care is the appropriate treatment, then they should not be given inpatient care because that is better financially for the hospice. Secondly, many seniors have co-pays for Medicare Part D prescriptions. If the drugs are already being paid for by Medicare, seniors lose money when Medicare Part D is charged as well.
Eliminating $260 million per year of unnecessary Medicaid charges would make it much less likely that benefits would need to be reduced – as politicians seek to save the government money by cutting these benefits.