Medicare costs could be cut by $7-$15 billion by funding weight-loss programs for overweight beneficiaries ages 60-64 who show acceptable risk factors, according to a Health Affairs report.
The range of savings reflects how broadly program eligibility would be defined and actual levels of beneficiary participation.
Based on results seen in a recent trial study, enrolling 70 percent of the Medicare cohort ages 60-64 who have prediabetes or cardiovascular risk factors could reduce Medicare expenditures by a net $15.1 billion over this group's lifetimes.
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