Upcoming DHCS Webinar: Understanding Chronic Conditions Among Californians with Original Medicare
On December 11, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will host a webinar highlighting new insights on chronic conditions experienced by Californians with Original Medicare in 2021 (advance registration required). The webinar will present an upcoming chartbook on chronic conditions, with detailed data related to demographics, Medicare spending, and co-occurring conditions. The webinar aims to foster a deeper understanding of Californians' experiences with chronic conditions to promote person-centered policies for this diverse population.
Among the findings: More than half of Californians with Original Medicare had four or more chronic conditions in 2021, with the most prevalent conditions being high blood pressure (63 percent), high cholesterol (62 percent), arthritis (33 percent), diabetes (28 percent), and cataracts (24 percent). The prevalence of many common conditions varied by dual Medicare/Medi-Cal status, age, rural-urban geography, sex, and race and ethnicity. Four conditions, including drug use disorder and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, were more than twice as common among full dual beneficiaries than among Medicare-only beneficiaries. Californians with Original Medicare were less likely than the national Original Medicare population to have eight of the top 10 most prevalent conditions.
The chartbook is based on ATI Advisory analysis of Medicare data. Preparation of the chartbook was funded by The SCAN Foundation, with oversight from DHCS’ Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration (OMII).
Please visit the DHCS OMII webpage to register to attend the webinar. Please email questions to OMII@dhcs.ca.gov.
