Just over one-quarter of U.S. adult health care spending was associated with disability in 2006, according to a new study by researchers at RTI International and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
The study, published in the January-February issue of Public Health Reports, found that disability-associated health care spending for U.S. adults totaled $397.8 billion in 2006, which was almost 27 percent of U.S. adult health care spending. New York had the highest disability-associated health care spending at $40.1 billion and Wyoming had the lowest, with $598 million.
Eighteen percent of all adults reported having a disability, defined as having any limitation resulting from a physical, mental or emotional problem, according to the study. The disability-associated health care costs included the treatment costs for conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and vision impairment and some treatment costs for chronic conditions such as diabetes and arthritis.
"Most people think of disability as affecting only seniors, but many younger adults also have a disability," said Wayne Anderson, Ph.D., a senior health policy analyst at RTI, and the paper's lead author. "Disability often complicates obtaining health care, including for people with chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. When looking for ways to improve health and control costs, the role of disability in care management should be addressed."
Wayne Anderson discusses adult health care costs and disabilityAccording to the research, the costs of health care for people with disabilities are borne largely by the public sector, particularly Medicaid, where 68 percent of the program's spending was associated with disability. Approximately 38 percent of all Medicare spending was associated with disability, as well as 12 percent of health care costs for those with either private insurance or who were uninsured.