Health Disparities Attributed to Medicare-Medicaid Dual-Eligible Status in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

Impact of Intensity of Vascular Care Preceding Major Amputation Among Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

BACKGROUND

Lower-limb amputation rates in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia vary across the United States, with marked disparities in amputation rates by gender, race, and income status. We evaluated the association of patient, hospital, and geographic characteristics with the intensity of vascular care received the year before a major lower-limb amputation and how intensity of care associates with outcomes after amputation.

METHODS

Using Medicare claims data (2016-2019), beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic limb-threatening ischemia who underwent a major lower-limb amputation were identified. We examined patient, hospital, and geographic characteristics associated with the intensity of vascular care received the year before amputation. Secondary objectives evaluated all-cause mortality and adverse events following amputation.

RESULTS

Of 33 036 total Medicare beneficiaries undergoing major amputation, 7885 (23.9%) were due to chronic limb-threatening ischemia; of these, 4988 (63.3%) received low-intensity and 2897 (36.7%) received high-intensity vascular care. Mean age, 76.6 years; women, 38.9%; Black adults, 24.5%; and of low income, 35.2%. After multivariable adjustment, those of low income (odds ratio, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.58-0.72]; P<0.001), and to a lesser extent, men (odds ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.81-0.98]; P=0.019), and those who received care at a safety-net hospital (odds ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.78-0.97]; P=0.012) were most likely to receive low intensity of care before amputation. High-intensity care was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality 2 years following amputation (hazard ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.74-0.85]; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who were of low-income status, and to a lesser extent, men, or those cared for at safety-net hospitals were most likely to receive low-intensity vascular care. Low-intensity care was associated with worse long-term event-free survival. These data emphasize the continued disparities that exist in contemporary vascular practice.

Disparities in access to minimally invasive surgery for inflammatory bowel disease and outcomes by insurance status: analysis of the 2015 to 2019 National Inpatient Sample

INTRODUCTION

Despite being the preferred modality for treatment of colorectal cancer and diverticular disease, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been adopted slowly for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to its technical challenges. The present study aims to assess the disparities in use of MIS for patients with IBD.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from October 2015 to December 2019 was conducted. Patients < 65 years of age were stratified by either private insurance or Medicaid. The primary outcome was access to MIS and secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, complications, length of stay (LOS), and total admission cost. Univariate and multivariate regression was utilized to determine the association between insurance status and outcomes.

RESULTS

The NIS sample population included 7866 patients with private insurance and 1689 with Medicaid. Medicaid patients had lower odds of receiving MIS than private insurance patients (OR 0.85, 95% CI [0.74-0.97], p = 0.017), and experienced more postoperative genitourinary complications (OR 1.36, 95% CI [1.08-1.71], p = 0.009). In addition, LOS was longer by 1.76 days (p < 0.001) and the total cost was higher by $5043 USD (p < 0.001) in the Medicaid group. Independent predictors of receiving MIS were age < 40 years old, female sex, highest income quartile, diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, elective admission, and care at teaching hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Medicaid are less likely to receive MIS, have longer lengths of stay, and incur higher costs for the surgical management of their IBD. Further investigations into disparities in inflammatory bowel disease care for Medicaid patients are warranted.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Race and Socioeconomic Deprivation on Outcomes After Lower Extremity Bypass

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the potential pathway, through which race and socioeconomic status, as measured by the social deprivation index (SDI), affect outcomes after lower extremity bypass chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), a marker for delayed presentation.

BACKGROUND

Racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in outcomes after lower extremity bypass; however, limited studies have evaluated the role of disease severity as a mediator to potentially explain these outcomes using clinical registry data.

METHODS

We captured patients who underwent lower extremity bypass using a statewide quality registry from 2015 to 2021. We used mediation analysis to assess the direct effects of race and high values of SDI (fifth quintile) on our outcome measures: 30-day major adverse cardiac event defined by new myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack/stroke, or death, and 30-day and 1-year surgical site infection (SSI), amputation and bypass graft occlusion.

RESULTS

A total of 7077 patients underwent a lower extremity bypass procedure. Black patients had a higher prevalence of CLTI (80.63% vs 66.37%, P < 0.001). In mediation analysis, there were significant indirect effects where Black patients were more likely to present with CLTI, and thus had increased odds of 30-day amputation [odds ratio (OR): 1.11, 95% CI: 1.068-1.153], 1-year amputation (OR: 1.083, 95% CI: 1.045-1.123) and SSI (OR: 1.052, 95% CI: 1.016-1.089). There were significant indirect effects where patients in the fifth quintile for SDI were more likely to present with CLTI and thus had increased odds of 30-day amputation (OR: 1.065, 95% CI: 1.034-1.098) and SSI (OR: 1.026, 95% CI: 1.006-1.046), and 1-year amputation (OR: 1.068, 95% CI: 1.036-1.101) and SSI (OR: 1.026, 95% CI: 1.006-1.046).

CONCLUSIONS

Black patients and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients tended to present with a more advanced disease, CLTI, which in mediation analysis was associated with increased odds of amputation and other complications after lower extremity bypass compared with White patients and those that were not socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Long-term survival with sickle cell disease: a nationwide cohort study of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries

To our knowledge, we report the first population-based period life table, the expected lifetime survival for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries with sickle cell disease (SCD), and the disparities in survival by insurance types in the United States. We constructed a retrospective cohort of individuals with diagnosed SCD receiving common care (any real-world patterns of care except transplant) based on nationwide Medicare and Medicaid claim data (2008-2016), covering beneficiaries in all 50 states. We analyzed lifetime survival probabilities using Kaplan-Meier curves and projected life expectancies at various ages for all, stratified by sex and insurance types. Our analysis included 94 616 individuals with SCD that have not undergone any transplant. Life expectancy at birth was 52.6 years (95% confidence interval: 51.9-53.4). Compared with the adults covered by Medicaid only, those covered by Medicare for disabilities or end-stage renal disease and those dually insured by Medicare and Medicaid had significantly worse life expectancy. Similarly, for beneficiaries aged ≥65 years, these 2 insurance types were associated with significantly shorter life expectancy than those enrolled in Medicare old age and survivor's insurance. Our study underscores the persistent life expectancy shortfall for patients with SCD, the burden of premature mortality during adulthood, and survival disparities by insurance status.

Dual-eligible, dual-risk? A brief review on the impact of dual-eligible status on health disparities and peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been associated with poorer outcomes based on particular social determinants of health, including insurance status. A unique population to study treatment outcomes related to PAD is those with dual-eligible status-those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid-comprising more than 12 million people. We performed a systematic review of the literature surrounding dual-eligible patients and impact on PAD, with final inclusion of six articles. Dual eligibility has been associated with higher rates of comorbidities; more severe symptoms at initial presentation for PAD; and poorer treatment outcomes, including mortality. Further studies are needed to specifically look at the association between PAD and dual-eligible status, but what is clear is that patients in this population would benefit from early identification to prevent disease progression and improve equity.

Housing insecurity of medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

While people with cognitive disabilities are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased housing insecurity in the general population, less is known about Medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities' housing insecurity during the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

This study's aim was to explore housing insecurity of Medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities during the pandemic (April 2021-May 2022).

METHODS

We analyzed Household Pulse Survey data from 473,626 (unweighted) people; frequency-person weights were applied. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and binary and ordinal logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Findings revealed 26% of Medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities who rented or owned with a mortgage were behind on their housing payments between April 2021 and May 2022; more than half of which (52%) were very or somewhat likely to face eviction/foreclosure. Most (70%) were concerned about their ability to make their next housing payment. Medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities were more likely to experience housing insecurity than all other people with disabilities and nondisabled people. The people with Medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities more likely to experience housing insecurity included: renters; people with visual disabilities; cisgender women; transgender people; Black people; 'another' race or multiracial people; people with graduate degrees; people from lower income households; households that experienced income loss; and larger households.

CONCLUSIONS

Attention to Medicaid beneficiaries with cognitive disabilities' experiences with housing insecurity during the pandemic is critical in order to develop programs and policies to facilitate housing security.