Despite recommended guidelines and proven effectiveness of the influenza vaccination, not all Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ utilize this preventive service. To increase influenza immunization rates among Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older in North Carolina, we conducted a pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a targeted mailed postcard reminder. Using Medicare claims data from 1995 to 1997 Medicare beneficiaries in five NC counties were classified according to history of flu shot use as never, sporadic, or regular users. Never and sporadic users were randomly assigned to intervention or control group. The intervention group (n=33,566) received a reminder postcard encouraging immunization. The control group (n=55,095) received no information. The outcome, being immunized in 1999, was measured using 1999 Medicare claims data. We compared flu immunization rates among the control and intervention groups using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The immunization rate in the intervention group was 34% compared with 30% in the control group. Those in the intervention group were 1.2 times more likely (OR=1.20, 95%CI:1.16-1.23) to be immunized compared to the control group. Among sporadic users, those receiving the postcard were 1.3 times more likely to be immunized than those in the control group. Never users receiving the postcard were 1.16 times more likely (OR=1.16, 95%CI:1.10-1.22) to be immunized than never users in the control group. The postcard reminder modestly increased influenza immunization rates. The increase was greater for sporadic users versus never users. This approach offers a relatively inexpensive intervention to increase flu immunizations.
Learning Objectives: 1) Gain an understanding of the value of targeted interventions and 2)Recognize the value of Medicare claims data in evaluating interventions and conducting research
Keywords: Immunizations, Interventions
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.