In this study, authors compare expenditures of fall-related injuries (FRIs) using several methods to identify FRIs in administrative claims data. Using 2007-2009 Medicare claims and 2008 Health and Retirement Survey data, FRIs were identified using external-cause-of-injury only, e-codes plus a broad set of primary diagnosis codes, and a newer approach using e-codes and diagnostic and procedural codes.

Linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic, health, and geographic characteristics were used to estimate per-FRI, service component, patient cost share, expenditures by type of initial FRI treatment (inpatient, emergency department only, outpatient), and total annual FRI-related Medicare expenditures. FRIs are costly, with implications for Medicare and its beneficiaries. However, expenditure estimates vary considerably based on the method used to identify FRIs.