Description of the Study Population and Their Functional Health Status. Weighted descriptive statistics for older Medicare FFS beneficiaries with ADRD at baseline during 2006-2012 are presented in Table 3: Descriptive Statistics on MCBS Study Sample. The unweighted panel analytic sample size is 2,009 observations. I stratified results based on the level of COC into high, medium, and low. The column labeled “p-value” displays the p-value for chi-square testing the association between the level of COC and other confounders. The mean age of the study sample of older adults with ADRD is around 81.6 years old, with 61.8% female, 79.0% Non-Hispanic White, and 71.3% living in the Metropolitan area. These demographic distributions are consistent with current literature on older population with ADRD and other dementia.[16] These demographic distributions are consistent with current literature on older population with ADRD and other dementia.[59] Among the 2,009 Medicare FFS beneficiaries with ADRD, 63.5% of them have private supplemental insurance, 53.8% have Medicare Part D coverage, and 18.3% are dual enrolled in the Medicaid program. 48.8% and 62.4% of the study sample report having difficulties in ADL and IADL at baseline, respectively. In the subsequent year, 32.9% and 41.4% are measured to experience functional decline, respectively. On average, an older patient with ADRD has 12.2 E&M visits in one calendar year, and 93.5% have seen PCPs, while 33.6% have seen disease-relevant specialists. It is worth noting that there is a statistically significant association/trade-off between the involvement of disease-relevant specialist and a patient’s level of COC. Among Medicare FFS beneficiaries with ADRD who have high level of COC, there are fewer patients having disease- relevant specialists involved in their care at baseline compared to those with medium or low level of COC. A patient is more likely to experience lower level of COC if he/she has disease- relevant specialists involved. Medicare FFS beneficiaries who are female, having Medicare Part D plan, and being dual eligible for Medicaid are more likely to have higher level of COC. Additionally, there is a greater proportion of widowed patients in the high level of COC (48.8%) than those in the low level of COC (34.7%), indicating patients who lost their spouse experience relatively better continuum of care. Table 3: Descriptive Statistics on MCBS Study Sample Total sample Level of Continuity of Care p-value Low Medium High Outcomes in the subsequent year, % Functional decline in A...
