Study Estimates Medical Costs Attributable to Falls Among Older Adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found the estimated medical costs attributable to both fatal and nonfatal falls in older American adults in 2015 was about $50 billion, reports Medical-News . Medicare paid approximately $28.9 billion, Medicaid $8.7 billion, and private and other payers $12 billion for nonfatal falls in adults aged 65 and older, while overall medical spending for fatal falls was $754 million. "Preventive strategies that reduce falls among older adults could lead to a substantial reduction in healthcare spending," say the researchers.