SNF Medicare utilization (PAC-PUF) by ACO participation status

Generated 2026-10-28 10:40. Cost report rules: 360-370 day reports; FY-to-CY attribution OFF; gov't/territory exclusion ON; other income NA-to-zero ON; G-3 winsorized by year ON.

Table. SNF Medicare Utilization (PAC-PUF 2020-2023) by ACO Participation Status
Table 1. SNF Medicare Utilization (PAC-PUF 2020-2023) by ACO Participation Status
Characteristic Overall
N = 13,5421		 Never participated
N = 12,7651		 Exited before 2026
N = 2851		 Participating as of 2026
N = 4921		 p-value
Medicare Utilization (2020-2023 mean)
Annual Medicare episodes (mean) 133.5 (116.8) 130.5 (113.6) 174.3 (121.0) 186.5 (167.9) <0.001
Annual Medicare covered days (mean) 3,541.7 (3,196.5) 3,483.9 (3,141.4) 4,485.1 (3,370.7) 4,486.8 (4,138.9) <0.001
Average length of stay (days) 27.2 (6.6) 27.4 (6.6) 25.8 (5.3) 24.4 (5.4) <0.001
Annual Medicare payments ($000s) 1,841.8 (1,985.6) 1,812.5 (1,958.2) 2,274.3 (1,826.0) 2,347.6 (2,593.0) <0.001
Medicare payment per episode ($000s) 13.3 (4.1) 13.4 (4.1) 12.7 (3.3) 12.1 (3.2) <0.001
Beneficiaries with Alzheimer's/dementia, % 50.6 (10.7) 50.8 (10.7) 49.3 (11.0) 46.2 (10.1) <0.001
1 Mean (SD)
Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare (April 2026); HCRIS multi-year mean 2021-2026 (nhcr_2021_2024_07). Continuous: mean (SD). Categorical: n (%). Star ratings: mean (SD), scale 1-5. Financial variables in dollars. p-values: Kruskal-Wallis (continuous), chi-square with simulation (categorical). Bold p < 0.05.