41% of healthcare spending attributed to 12% of Americans, study finds
Becker's Healthcare May 30, 2017
U.S. adults with five or more chronic conditions spend 14 times more on health services on average than those with no chronic conditions, according to a new RAND Health report prepared for the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease.
For the study, researchers analyzed the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. MEPS is a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized U.S. adult population.
The study revealed 60 percent of U.S. adults had at least one chronic condition in 2014, the most recent year data is available. Forty-two percent of U.S. adults had more than one chronic condition, according to the study.
The study showed people with more chronic conditions require more healthcare services. For example,...