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Osazuwa-Peters OL, Greiner MA, Kaufman BG, Zambrano Guevara LM, Dinan M, Havrilesky L, Moss HA. ACO leakage among gynecologic cancer patients: Incidence, predictors, and impact on annual Medicare expenditure. Gynecol Oncol 2024; 187:184-191. [PMID: 38788516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine patterns of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) leakage, the receipt of healthcare by ACO-assigned patients from institutions outside assigned ACO network, among patients with gynecologic cancer. ACO leakage was estimated as rates of patients seeking care external to their ACO assignment. Factors associated with ACO leakage were identified and cost differences within the first year of cancer diagnosis described. METHODS Medicare 5% data (2013-2017) was used to quantify rates of leakage among gynecologic cancer patients with stable ACO assignment. Crude and multivariable adjusted risk ratios of ACO leakage risk factors were estimated using log-binomial regression models. Overall and cancer-specific spending differences by ACO leakage status were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS Overall incidence of ACO leakage was 28.1% with highest leakage for outpatient care and uterine cancer patients. ACO leakage risk was 56% higher among Black relative to White patients, and 77% more for those in higher relative to lowest quintiles of median household income. Leakage decreased by 3% and 8% with each unit increase in ACO size and number of subspecialists, respectively. Healthcare costs were 19.5% higher for leakage patients. CONCLUSIONS ACO leakage rates among gynecologic cancer patients was overall modest, with some regional and temporal variation, higher leakage for certain subgroups and substantially higher Medicare spending in inpatient and outpatient settings for patients with ACO leakage. These findings identify targets for further investigations and strategies to encourage oncologists to participate in ACOs and prevent increased health care costs associated with use of non-ACO providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyomoare L Osazuwa-Peters
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Melissa A Greiner
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Brystana G Kaufman
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America; Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America; Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | | | - Michaela Dinan
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Cancer Outcomes Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Laura Havrilesky
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Haley A Moss
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America; National Oncology Program Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Durham, NC, United States of America.
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Amberger OA, Glushan A, Müller A, Beyer M, Karimova K. Overview article: Impact of primary and secondary care collaboration on hospitalization for chronic heart failure: Two comparative studies. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR EVIDENZ, FORTBILDUNG UND QUALITAT IM GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2023; 182-183:125-129. [PMID: 37806814 DOI: 10.1016/j.zefq.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the past decade, a legal framework was created in Germany that promotes intense collaboration at the interface between primary and secondary care. This overview article distinguishes between the effects of two complementary programs aimed at improving ambulatory care in Baden-Wuerttemberg: (1) general practitioner-centered care (GPCC), which strengthens the role of general practitioners, and (2) collaborative cardiology care (CCC), which coordinates primary and cardiology care. METHODS The overview article presents two already published studies that assess the impact of the programs on hospitalizations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) based on claims data from 2016. The hospitalization rate of patients enrolled in GPCC (N=75,096) and CCC (N=13,404) were compared with corresponding control groups (N=65,618 and N=8,776 respectively). RESULTS The hospitalization rate in GPCC was lower than in the control group (risk ratio 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95-0.99, P=0.0024). GPCC patients with CHF that received specialist cardiology care as part of CCC had significantly lower hospitalization rates than those receiving standard cardiology care (risk ratio 0.92; 0.88-0.97, P=0.0014). DISCUSSION This overwiew study shows that reforming medical care and compensation at the interface between general practice and specialist care can lead to fewer hospital admissions in patients with CHF. CONCLUSION Overall, this article underlines the importance of collaboration between primary care physicians and specialists for patients with CHF that are receiving ambulatory care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Amberger
- Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Anastasiya Glushan
- Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Angelina Müller
- Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Beyer
- Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kateryna Karimova
- Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Malish R, Allen S, Arroyo-Cazurro MA, Geslak KM, Hacker JB, Hall BT, Ingram JC, Stokoe SJ, Whiddon MS. Pivoting to the QUAD AIM-Lessons Learned From the Central Texas Market. Mil Med 2023; 188:e797-e803. [PMID: 34423825 PMCID: PMC8499777 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usab336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since 2009, the Military Health System (MHS) has represented its mission as that of attaining the Quadruple Aim (QUAD AIM): increased readiness, better health, better care, and low per capita costs. The journey to reach the four goals is challenging and ongoing. Leaders in the MHS's Central Texas Market (CTM) sought to understand and overcome the root-cause obstacles that interfered with achieving the QUAD AIM. This process required a self-critical and thoroughly objective review of the behavioral economics of the system. We hypothesized that two corporate behaviors fed upon each other to create a vicious downward spiral. First, as a socialized (salary-based) system, the enterprise has a built-in incentive that covertly competes with the attainment of the QUAD AIM. Because additional work does not result in any material gain for its workers, the system regulates to a comfortable flow. Second, centralized leaders defer important management controls to tactical teammates due to their special medical expertise. This corporate behavior makes overcoming the first one challenging-keeping realization of the QUAD AIM elusive. METHODS Beginning in July of 2019, CTM leaders strove to replace the two identified corporate behaviors with more productive ones. First, in place of regulating to comfort, we directed teammates to focus wholly on achieving the QUAD AIM. Second, we exerted leadership from the top down to attain the QUAD AIM's four goals. Because the vicious cycle manifested itself differently in the realms of primary, inpatient, and specialty care, we adapted the application of our virtuous behaviors to match the problem set in each realm. In primary care, we replaced fee-for-service incentives with value-based ones. In inpatient care, we eliminated hidden incentives that resulted in inappropriate and unnecessary transfers. In specialty care, we consolidated the management of referrals, templating, and scheduling-taking central control of system productivity. The interventions in each realm required the introduction of new workflows, policies, and dashboards to ensure change. RESULTS Over a 2-year period, the CTM made a quantum to leap toward attaining the QUAD AIM. In our community based primary care homes, we significantly improved our operations as quantified by the value-based metrics of patient satisfaction, Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality metrics, access to care, and leakage. In the inpatient realm, we decreased monthly transfers by 73% (110 s to 30 s) resulting in higher bed censuses and multiple downstream positive impacts. In specialty care, we demonstrated our ability to return our specialty service lines quickly to high levels of production in the coronavirus disease-2019 crisis. Each of these interventions demonstrated large-scale movement toward the QUAD AIM. CONCLUSIONS The CTM's actions demonstrate that the QUAD AIM can be attained in military medicine. Doing so requires the recognition of two destructive corporate behaviors. Through decades of hardening, these corporate behaviors have been imprinted upon the MHS, making them practically invisible as guiding currents in economic behavior. Counteracting them with persistent regulation to the QUAD AIM facilitated by proactive top-down leadership offers a solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Malish
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX 76544, USA
| | - Sean Allen
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX 76544, USA
| | | | | | - James B Hacker
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX 76544, USA
| | - Brian T Hall
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX 76544, USA
| | - Joan C Ingram
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX 76544, USA
| | - Scott J Stokoe
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX 76544, USA
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Sabharwal S, Kinney CL, Raddatz MM, Driscoll SW, Francisco GE, Robinson LR, Geis C, Micheo W. Current status and trends in subspecialty certification in physical medicine and rehabilitation. PM R 2023; 15:212-221. [PMID: 35038251 DOI: 10.1002/pmrj.12763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a need to better understand the overall state of sub-specialization in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). OBJECTIVE To examine the status and trends in subspecialty certification for each of the seven subspecialties approved for American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) diplomates. DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective analysis of deidentified information from the ABPMR database. PARTICIPANTS Physicians certified by ABPMR through 2019. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES For each subspecialty, we examined: (1) the number of certificates issued to ABPMR diplomates; (2) the recertification rate; (3) the yearly trends for total active, new, and expired certificates; and (4) for ABPMR-administered subspecialties, recertification rates for those entering the subspecialty through fellowship completion versus a "grandfathered" practice pathway. RESULTS Of 11,421 ABPMR diplomates in the United States in 2019, a total of 3560 (31.2%) had 3985 active subspecialty certificates. Pain Medicine (PM) was the most common subspecialty certification (15.5% of all ABPMR diplomates) followed by Sports Medicine (SM, 6.6%), Brain Injury Medicine (BIM, 4.8%), Spinal Cord Injury Medicine (SCIM, 4.2%), Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM, 2.5%), Neuromuscular Medicine (NMM, 0.7%), and Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM, 0.5%). For diplomates with more than one subspecialty certification, PM and SM was the most frequent combination. Both the recertification rate and the end of practice track eligibility influenced certification trends differently for individual subspecialties. The average number of new certificates added annually for every subspecialty was higher before than after the temporary practice track-based eligibility ended; the difference was statistically significant (p < .05) for SCIM, PM, SM, and NMM. The recertification rate for all subspecialties combined was 73.4%. For the subspecialties (SCIM, PRM) for which these data were available, fellowship candidates had higher recertification rates than those grandfathered through a practice track. CONCLUSION This report informs stakeholders about the state and evolution of subspecialty certification in PM&R over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Sabharwal
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,VA Boston Health Care System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carolyn L Kinney
- American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Mikaela M Raddatz
- American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Gerard E Francisco
- University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.,TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lawrence R Robinson
- University of Toronto, St. John's Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolyn Geis
- University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - William Micheo
- University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Cooper MI, Attanasio LB, Geissler KH. Maternity care clinician inclusion in Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282679. [PMID: 36888632 PMCID: PMC9994708 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) are increasingly common, but the network breadth for maternity care is not well described. The inclusion of maternity care clinicians in Medicaid ACOs has significant implications for access to care for pregnant people, who are disproportionately insured by Medicaid. PURPOSE To address this, we evaluate obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYN), maternal-fetal medicine specialists (MFM), certified nurse midwives (CNM), and acute care hospital inclusion in Massachusetts Medicaid ACOs. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH Using publicly available provider directories for Massachusetts Medicaid ACOs (n = 16) from December 2020 -January 2021, we quantify obstetrician-gynecologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, CNMs, and acute care hospital with obstetric department inclusion in each Medicaid ACO. We compare maternity care provider and acute care hospital inclusion across and within ACO type. For Accountable Care Partnership Plans, we compare maternity care clinician and acute care hospital inclusion to ACO enrollment. RESULTS Primary Care ACO plans include 1185 OB/GYNs, 51 MFMs, and 100% of Massachusetts acute care hospitals, but CNMs were not easily identifiable in the directories. Across Accountable Care Partnership Plans, a mean of 305 OB/GYNs (median: 97; range: 15-812), 15 MFMs (Median: 8; range: 0-50), 85 CNMs (median: 29; range: 0-197), and half of Massachusetts acute care hospitals (median: 23.81%; range: 10%-100%) were included. CONCLUSION AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Substantial differences exist in maternity care clinician inclusion across and within ACO types. Characterizing the quality of included maternity care clinicians and hospitals across ACOs is an important target of future research. Highlighting maternal healthcare as a key area of focus for Medicaid ACOs-including equitable access to high-quality obstetric providers-will be important to improving maternal health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael I. Cooper
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Laura B. Attanasio
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kimberley H. Geissler
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Ikram M, Shaikh NF, Sambamoorthi U. A Linear Decomposition Approach to Explain Excess Direct Healthcare Expenditures Associated with Pain Among Adults with Osteoarthritis. Health Serv Insights 2022; 15:11786329221133957. [PMID: 36325378 PMCID: PMC9618757 DOI: 10.1177/11786329221133957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Many patients with osteoarthritis experience pain which can lead to higher healthcare expenditures. It is important to understand the factors that drive the excess expenditures associated with pain in osteoarthritis. Design: Cross-sectional. Study sample: Our study sample consisted of adults (age ⩾ 18 years) from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS, 2018). Methods: Adults who were alive during the calendar year and had pain status were included in this study (N = 2804 weighted N = 32.03 million). Osteoarthritis was identified from the medical conditions file and household file. We used multivariable ordinary least squares regression to identify the statistically significant association of pain with direct healthcare expenditures. The Blinder-Oaxaca post-linear decomposition on log-transformed total direct healthcare expenditures was used to estimate the extent to which differences in characteristics contribute to the excess expenditures associated with pain. Results: Adults with osteoarthritis and pain had higher average expenditures ($21 814 vs $10 827, P < .001; 9.318 vs 8.538 in logtransformed expenditures) compared to those without pain. Pooled regression weights explained 62.9% of excess expenditures differences in characteristics between the 2 groups. The 2 main drivers of excess healthcare expenditures among adults with osteoarthritis and pain were (i) comorbidities (diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, heart diseases, cancer, and non-cancer pain conditions and (ii) prescription medications (NSAIDs, opioids, and polypharmacy). Conclusion: Need factors such as comorbid conditions, and prescription treatment explained the excess healthcare expenditures among adults with osteoarthritis and pain. The study findings suggest that reducing polypharmacy and appropriate management of comorbid conditions may be a pathway to reduce excess expenditures among adults with osteoarthritis and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ikram
- Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Mohammad Ikram, Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center [North], P.O. Box 9510, Morgantown, WV 26506-9510, USA. Emails: ;
| | - Nazneen Fatima Shaikh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Usha Sambamoorthi
- Pharmacotherapy Department,College of Pharmacy, “Vashisht” Professor of Health Disparities, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
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Cook DA, Stephenson CR, Pankratz VS, Wilkinson JM, Maloney S, Prokop LJ, Foo J. Associations Between Physician Continuous Professional Development and Referral Patterns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ACADEMIC MEDICINE : JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES 2022; 97:728-737. [PMID: 34985042 DOI: 10.1097/acm.0000000000004575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Both overuse and underuse of clinician referrals can compromise high-value health care. The authors sought to systematically identify and synthesize published research examining associations between physician continuous professional development (CPD) and referral patterns. METHOD The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Database on April 23, 2020, for comparative studies evaluating CPD for practicing physicians and reporting physician referral outcomes. Two reviewers, working independently, screened all articles for inclusion. Two reviewers reviewed all included articles to extract information, including data on participants, educational interventions, study design, and outcomes (referral rate, intended direction of change, appropriateness of referral). Quantitative results were pooled using meta-analysis. RESULTS Of 3,338 articles screened, 31 were included. These studies enrolled at least 14,458 physicians and reported 381,165 referral events. Among studies comparing CPD with no intervention, 17 studies with intent to increase referrals had a pooled risk ratio of 1.91 (95% confidence interval: 1.50, 2.44; P < .001), and 7 studies with intent to decrease referrals had a pooled risk ratio of 0.68 (95% confidence interval: 0.55, 0.83; P < .001). Five studies did not indicate the intended direction of change. Subgroup analyses revealed similarly favorable effects for specific instructional approaches (including lectures, small groups, Internet-based instruction, and audit/feedback) and for activities of varying duration. Four studies reported head-to-head comparisons of alternate CPD approaches, revealing no clear superiority for any approach. Seven studies adjudicated the appropriateness of referral, and 9 studies counted referrals that were actually completed (versus merely requested). CONCLUSIONS Although between-study differences are large, CPD is associated with statistically significant changes in patient referral rates in the intended direction of impact. There are few head-to-head comparisons of alternate CPD interventions using referrals as outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Cook
- D.A. Cook is professor of medicine and medical education, director, Section of Research and Data Analytics, School of Continuous Professional Development, and director of education science, Office of Applied Scholarship and Education Science, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and consultant, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2383-4633
| | - Christopher R Stephenson
- C.R. Stephenson is assistant professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, associate program director, Mayo-Rochester Internal Medicine Residency Program, and consultant, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8537-392X
| | - V Shane Pankratz
- V.S. Pankratz is professor of internal medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3742-040X
| | - John M Wilkinson
- J.M. Wilkinson is associate professor of family medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and consultant, Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1156-8577
| | - Stephen Maloney
- S. Maloney is professor of health professions education and deputy head of school, Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2612-5162
| | - Larry J Prokop
- L.J. Prokop is a reference librarian, Plummer Library, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7197-7260
| | - Jonathan Foo
- J. Foo is a lecturer, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4533-8307
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Santavicca S, Duszak R, Nicola GN, Golding LP, Rosenkrantz AB, Wernz C, Hughes DR. Evolving Radiologist Participation in Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations. J Am Coll Radiol 2021; 18:1332-1341. [PMID: 34022135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2021.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to temporally characterize radiologist participation in Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) accountable care organizations (ACOs). METHODS Using CMS Physician and Other Supplier Public Use Files, ACO provider-level Research Identifiable Files, and Shared Savings Program ACO Public-Use Files for 2013 through 2018, characteristics of radiologist ACO participation were assessed over time. RESULTS Between 2013 and 2018, the percentage of Medicare-participating radiologists affiliated with MSSP ACOs increased from 10.4% to 34.9%. During that time, the share of large ACOs (>20,000 beneficiaries) with participating radiologists averaged 87.0%, and the shares of medium ACOs (10,000-20,000) and small ACOs (<10,000) with participating radiologists rose from 62.5% to 66.0% and from 26.3% to 51.6%, respectively. The number of physicians in MSSP ACOs with radiologists was substantially larger than those without radiologists (mean range across years, 573-945 versus 107-179). Primary care physicians constituted a larger percentage of the physician population for ACOs without radiologists (average across years, 66.3% versus 38.5%), and ACOs with radiologists had a higher rate of specialist representation (56.0% versus 33.7%). Beneficiary age, race, and sex demographics were similar among radiologist-participating versus nonparticipating ACOs. CONCLUSIONS In recent years, radiologist participation in MSSP ACOs has increased substantially. ACOs with radiologist participation are large and more diverse in their physician specialty composition. Nonparticipating radiologists should prepare accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Santavicca
- School of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Richard Duszak
- Professor and Vice Chair of Radiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gregory N Nicola
- Finance Chair and Board Member at Hackensack Meridian Health Partners Clinically Integrated Network; Executive leadership position at Hackensack Radiology Group, River Edge, New Jersey
| | - Lauren Parks Golding
- Executive Committee Chair, and Clinical Operations Chair, Triad Radiology Associates, Winston Salem, North Carolina
| | - Andrew B Rosenkrantz
- Professor of Radiology and Urology, Director of Prostate Imaging, Director of Health Policy, and Section Chief of Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Christian Wernz
- Department of Data Science, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Danny R Hughes
- Professor and Vice Chair of Radiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Professor, School of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Director, Health Economics and Analytics Lab (HEAL), Atlanta, Georgia
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Sawicki OA, Mueller A, Glushan A, Breitkreuz T, Wicke FS, Karimova K, Gerlach FM, Wensing M, Smetak N, Bosch RF, Beyer M. Intensified ambulatory cardiology care: effects on mortality and hospitalisation-a comparative observational study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14695. [PMID: 32895445 PMCID: PMC7477232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71770-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since 2010, an intensified ambulatory cardiology care programme has been implemented in southern Germany. To improve patient management, the structure of cardiac disease management was improved, guideline-recommended care was supported, new ambulatory medical services and a morbidity-adapted reimbursement system were set up. Our aim was to determine the effects of this programme on the mortality and hospitalisation of enrolled patients with cardiac disorders. We conducted a comparative observational study in 2015 and 2016, based on insurance claims data. Overall, 13,404 enrolled patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and 19,537 with coronary artery disease (CAD) were compared, respectively, to 8,776 and 16,696 patients that were receiving usual ambulatory cardiology care. Compared to the control group, patients enrolled in the programme had lower mortality (Hazard Ratio: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.91) and fewer all-cause hospitalisations (Rate Ratio: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.97). CHF-related hospitalisations in patients with CHF were also reduced (Rate Ratio: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.69-0.84). CAD patients showed a similar reduction in mortality rates (Hazard Ratio: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.76-0.88) and all-cause hospitalisation (Rate Ratio: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.97), but there was no effect on CAD-related hospitalisation. We conclude that intensified ambulatory care reduced mortality and hospitalisation in cardiology patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Sawicki
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Angelina Mueller
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anastasiya Glushan
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thorben Breitkreuz
- aQua, Institute for Applied Quality Improvement and Research in Health Care, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Felix S Wicke
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Kateryna Karimova
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ferdinand M Gerlach
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michel Wensing
- Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ralph F Bosch
- Cardio Centre Ludwigsburg-Bietigheim, 71634, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Martin Beyer
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
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Ganguli I, Lupo C, Mainor AJ, Orav EJ, Blanchfield BB, Lewis VA, Colla CH. Association between specialist compensation and Accountable Care Organization performance. Health Serv Res 2020; 55:722-728. [PMID: 32715464 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.13323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) using cost reduction measures in specialist compensation demonstrated better performance. DATA SOURCES National, cross-sectional survey data on ACOs (2013-2015) linked to public-use data on ACO performance (2014-2016). STUDY DESIGN We compared characteristics of ACOs that did and did not report use of cost reduction measures in specialist compensation and determined the association between using this approach and ACO savings, outpatient spending, and specialist visit rates. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Of 160 ACOs surveyed, 26 percent reported using cost reduction measures to help determine specialist compensation. ACOs using cost reduction in specialist compensation were more often physician-led (68.3 vs 49.6 percent) and served higher-risk patients (mean Hierarchical Condition Category score 1.09 vs 1.05). These ACOs had similar savings per beneficiary year (adjusted difference $82.6 [95% CI -77.9, 243.1]), outpatient spending per beneficiary year (-24.0 [95% CI -248.9, 200.8]), and specialist visits per 1000 beneficiary years (369.7 [95% CI -9.3, 748.7]). CONCLUSION Incentivizing specialists on cost reduction was not associated with ACO savings in the short term. Further work is needed to determine the most effective approach to engage specialists in ACO efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishani Ganguli
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Claire Lupo
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alexander J Mainor
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Endel John Orav
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bonnie B Blanchfield
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Valerie A Lewis
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Carrie H Colla
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire
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Comfort LN, Fulton BD, Shortell SM. Assessing the Short-Term Association Between Rural Hospitals' Participation in Accountable Care Organizations and Changes in Utilization and Financial Performance. J Rural Health 2020; 37:334-346. [PMID: 32657481 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although much research has been done on accountable care organizations (ACOs), little is known about their impact on rural hospitals. We examine the association between rural hospitals' participation in an ACO and their performance on utilization and financial measures. METHODS This quasi-experimental study estimates the relationship between voluntary ACO participation and hospital metrics using propensity score-matched, longitudinal regression models with year and hospital fixed effects. Regression models controlled for secular trends and time-varying hospital and county characteristics. Hospital measures were from the American Hospital Association, RAND Hospital Data, and Leavitt Partners. The initial population comprises 643 rural hospitals that participated in an ACO for at least one year during the 2011 to 2018 study period and 1,541 rural hospitals that did not participate in an ACO. From this population we created a sample of propensity score-matched hospitals consisting of 525 ACO-participating and 525 comparable non-ACO hospitals. RESULTS Rural hospitals' participation in an ACO is not associated with changes in hospital utilization or financial measures, nor is there an association between these performance metrics and whether another within-county hospital participated in an ACO. A secondary analysis limited to Critical Access Hospitals provides some evidence that inpatient utilization increases in the second year of ACO participation, though the increases are not significant in year 3 and beyond. CONCLUSION We find no evidence that rural hospitals experience substantive changes in outpatient visits, inpatient utilization, or operating margin in the years immediately after joining an ACO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeann N Comfort
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California.,Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brent D Fulton
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Stephen M Shortell
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
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Malish RG. Market Observations, Lessons, and Recommendations for the Defense Health Agency. Mil Med 2020; 185:e1360-e1363. [DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usaa107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Malish
- Darnall Army Medical Center, 36065 Santa Fe Blvd, Fort Hood, Killeen, TX 76544, USA
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