
Inpatient encounters for Medicare patients 65 years and older are associated with higher coding intensity compared with commercially insured, Medicaid, or self-pay hospitalizations for those same individuals prior to age 65 years.

Inpatient encounters for Medicare patients 65 years and older are associated with higher coding intensity compared with commercially insured, Medicaid, or self-pay hospitalizations for those same individuals prior to age 65 years.

Industry payments to cardiologists are linked to higher Medicare spending, with $10,000 in payments tied to $14.10 more per beneficiary.

This study of 26,805 cardiologists shows that industry payments (averaging $3958) are linked to increased Medicare costs, with each $10,000 in payment associated with $14.1 higher beneficiary spending.