17 Aug Patient falls, especially in gerontological are a significant impediment to quality healthcare provision, and come with heavy financial implications.

Patient falls, especially in gerontological are a significant impediment to quality healthcare provision, and come with heavy financial implications. Falls among the elderly are a critical contributor to hospitalizations annually, since they often lead to fractures. The most common fractures induced by patient falls include head and hip fractures, and these have the potency to trigger immense health implications on the patient such as the development of head trauma, dislocations, as well inflicting injuries on the soft tissues (Vaishya & Vaish, 2020). Fracture treatment takes a heavy financial toll on the nation’s healthcare funding framework, since it accounts for $ 50 billion expenditure, remitted to cater for non- fatal injuries. On the other hand, fatal injuries resulting from patient falls among the older adults account for $ 754 million, and the costs are properly shared among the various institutions mandated for healthcare coverage in the United States (CDC, 2020). For instance, the aforementioned expenditures are catered for by Medicare, Medicaid, as well as other private insurance companies.

Medicare remits $ 29 billion towards the indemnity of healthcare expenditure incurred in the treatment of older adults having non- fatal falls. On the other hand, Medicaid spends $ 9 billion in providing coverage to individuals hospitalized owing to non- fatal falls. Private insurers, as well as out- of pocket costs account for $12 billion spent on non- fatal falls (CDC, 2020). The American population structure encompasses a relatively higher life expectancy which translates into higher financial implications for patient falls, as the number of older adults keep soaring. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) play an imperative role in indemnifying older individuals and cushioning them from the harsh financial implications of fractures resulting from falls. On the other hand, the non- payment policy implies lack of remission of funds to the provider for providing services which culminate in harm to the client. Consequently, healthcare providers have bolstered safety in their premises to avoid being subjected to non- payment. As a result, the quality of healthcare service provision has improved over time.