Figure 1 is a schematic of the two analytic samples. Analytic Sample 1 is the longitudinal cohort which includes beneficiaries with initiating events in 2006 and two years of their claims. Analytic Sample 2 is the cross section. This includes the first episode per year for beneficiaries with initiating events in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Click here to return to Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a schematic of the difference between fixed-length and variable-length episodes. Fixed-length episodes include claims within 30 days of discharge from an initiating event. Variable-length length episodes include claims following discharge from an initiating event prior to a 30 day gap in acute or PAC service use.

Click here to return to Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a schematic of the difference between fixed-length episodes including any claim initiating within a fixed period versus fix-length episodes that are prorated. Under a prorated approach, only claim dollars and days associated with service use in the fixed-length period are included in the episode. Under the any claim initiating approach, the entirety of a claim initiating prior to the fixed-length end point is included in the episode.

Click here to return to Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a bar chart reporting the mean PAC payment per discharge and the mean PAC payment per PAC User by state for beneficiaries under the episode definition 30-Day Fixed: Any Claim Starting within 30 Days in 2008. Data for Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, California, Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, and Montana are shown here. The mean and median national payment per PAC user are also reported to allow for an understanding of how the states compare to each other and how they compare to the nation overall.

Click here to return to Figure 4.

Figure 5 reports the percentage of beneficiaries with at least one acute or PAC claim following discharge from an initiating event, by initiating event, for each of the twenty-four 30-day windows included in the longitudinal cohort analysis.

Click here to return to Figure 5.

Figure 6 reports the mean acute and PAC payments per PAC User following discharge from an initiating event, by initiating event, for each of the twenty-four 30-day windows included in the longitudinal cohort analysis.

Click here to return to Figure 6.

Figure 7 reports the percentage of beneficiaries with at least one acute, PAC, or physician claim following discharge from a acute hospital-initiating event, by type of claim (HHA, IRF, LTCH, SNF, readmission, hospital outpatient therapy, independent therapy and physician services) for each of the twenty-four 30-day windows included in the longitudinal cohort analysis.

Click here to return to Figure 7.

Figure 8 reports the mean acute, PAC, and physician payments per PAC Users following discharge from an acute hospital-initiating event, by type of claim (HHA, IRF, LTCH, SNF, readmission, hospital outpatient therapy, independent therapy and physician services) for each of the twenty-four 30-day windows included in the longitudinal cohort analysis.

Click here to return to Figure 8.

Figure 9 reports the mean acute and PAC payments per PAC User following discharge from an acute hospital- initiating event, by MS-DRG, for each of the twenty-four 30-day windows included in the longitudinal cohort analysis. Five MS-DRGs are shown here including MS-DRG 470 "Major joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity w/o MCC"; MS-DRG 194 "Simple pneumonia & pleurisy w CC; MS-DRG 065 "Intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction w CC; MS-DRG 690 "Kidney & urinary tract infections w/o MCC'; and MS-DRG 481 "Hip & femur procedures except major join w CC."

Click here to return to Figure 9.

Figure 10 reports the mean acute, PAC, and physician payments per PAC Users following discharge from an acute hospital-initiating event for MS-DRG 470 "Major joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity w/o MCC", by type of claim (HHA, IRF, LTCH, SNF, readmission, hospital outpatient therapy, independent therapy and physician services) for each of the twenty-four 30-day windows included in the longitudinal cohort analysis.

Click here to return to Figure 10.

Figure 11 reports the mean acute, PAC, and physician payments per PAC Users following discharge from an acute hospital-initiating event for MS-DRG 194 "Simple pneumonia & pleurisy w CC", by type of claim (HHA, IRF, LTCH, SNF, readmission, hospital outpatient therapy, independent therapy and physician services) for each of the twenty-four 30-day windows included in the longitudinal cohort analysis.

Click here to return to Figure 11.