title: Use of home health care by ESRD and Medicare beneficiaries.
abstract: The use of home health care (HHC) services among Medicare end stage renal disease (ESRD) enrollees remains an under-studied area. In this article, the authors report sociodemographic characteristics and patterns of HHC utilization by Medicare-covered ESRD patients. The authors found that those who were female, age 85 or over, diabetic, and residing in the New England or West South Central census divisions were more likely to use HHC services and were also more intensive users. Analysis of use patterns in such high-risk populations is necessary to ensure that health policy changes do not have unintended consequences for vulnerable patients.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kauf
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019352:Censuses; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D019371:Topography, Medical; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology