KFF Health Tracking Poll: App & Website Trust
- This article details a survey exploring how older adults with Medicare view the role of technology in healthcare and the priorities of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
- * Most Medicare beneficiaries recognize the importance of technology advancements: 81% believe it's critically important for Medicare to facilitate secure health information sharing between providers, and 63% see...
- * Multiple Apps are Common: 51% of healthcare app users (including 55% of Medicare beneficiaries 65+) use multiple apps, websites, or accounts to manage their health.
Summary of “How Older Adults wiht Medicare See technology as a Priority for CMS”
This article details a survey exploring how older adults with Medicare view the role of technology in healthcare and the priorities of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Here’s a breakdown of the key findings:
1. Importance vs.Top Priority:
* Most Medicare beneficiaries recognize the importance of technology advancements: 81% believe it’s critically important for Medicare to facilitate secure health information sharing between providers, and 63% see increasing access to chronic condition management apps as important.
* however, few see these as top priorities: Only 27% prioritize easier health information sharing, and just 12% prioritize more chronic condition management apps. Around half view them as important, but not urgent.
* A small percentage deem these initiatives insignificant: 14% don’t see much importance in easier information sharing, and 30% feel the same about chronic condition apps.
2. App Usage & Management:
* Multiple Apps are Common: 51% of healthcare app users (including 55% of Medicare beneficiaries 65+) use multiple apps, websites, or accounts to manage their health.
* Managing Multiple Apps is a Challenge for Some: While 72% of Medicare enrollees find it easy to manage multiple sources, 28% find it somewhat or vrey difficult.
3. Privacy Concerns:
* Widespread Privacy Concerns: A large majority (78%) are concerned about the privacy of their health information when using healthcare apps, irrespective of who manages them.
* Concerns Vary by Manager: Concerns are highest for apps managed by the government (78%) or private tech companies (75%), followed by insurance companies (64%), and lowest for hospitals/healthcare providers (52%).
the article suggests that while older adults with Medicare acknowledge the potential benefits of technology in healthcare, they don’t necessarily view it as a top priority for CMS. Privacy concerns are a important factor, and managing multiple apps presents a challenge for a notable portion of users.
The article includes two data visualizations (charts) illustrating these points: one showing the importance/top priority breakdown for digital health advancements, and another showing the difficulty people experience managing multiple health apps.