Delaware’s Annual Health Care Report: Reducing Spending, Improving Quality Measures – But At What Cost?
Delaware recently released its annual benchmark trend report on health care, highlighting both positive and negative trends in the state. The report for 2022 focuses on reducing the economic burden of health care spending and improving quality measures within the health care system.
Per capita health care spending increased by over 6%, surpassing the benchmark growth rate of 3%, indicating that there was an overall increase in spending. However, the results of quality measures showed a mixed outcome, with some areas of improvement and concerning trends.
One area of improvement included the use of opioids at high dosages and statin therapy for cardiovascular disease patients. However, opioid-related deaths were well above the benchmark in 2022 and increased from the previous year, leading to worries from health officials like Steven Costantino, who emphasized the need for more interventions and preventative measures to address this rising trend. Adult obesity rates were also above the benchmark by 6%, with an increase from 2021, prompting concerns about chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The report analyzed nine key areas by age, gender, and race/ethnicity to provide a comprehensive overview of health care trends in Delaware. One issue highlighted was disparities in care across different populations, such as certain screenings not meeting the benchmark for Medicaid patients. This suggests that there is a need for more targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all populations.
Despite these concerns, Costantino noted that there is a disconnect between spending and quality outcomes, prompting policymakers to consider alternative approaches to improve health care delivery and outcomes. Overall, this report provides valuable insights into Delaware’s ongoing efforts to improve its health care system while addressing pressing issues related to cost and quality of care.
