Changes in Total Knee Arthroplasty Utilization since the Implementation of ACA: An Analysis of Patient-Hospital Demographics, Costs, and Charges

Are All Patients Going Home after Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Temporal Analysis of Discharge Trends and Predictors of Nonhome Discharge (2011-2020)

Value-based orthopaedic surgery and reimbursement changes for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are potential factors shaping arthroplasty practice nationwide. This study aimed to evaluate (1) trends in discharge disposition (home vs nonhome discharge), (2) episode-of-care outcomes for home and nonhome discharge cohorts, and (3) predictors of nonhome discharge among patients undergoing TKA from 2011 to 2020. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was reviewed for all primary TKAs from 2011 to 2020. A total of 462,858 patients were identified and grouped into home discharge (n = 378,771) and nonhome discharge (n = 84,087) cohorts. The primary outcome was the annual rate of home/nonhome discharges. Secondary outcomes included trends in health care utilization parameters, readmissions, and complications. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with nonhome discharge. Overall, 82% were discharged home, and 18% were discharged to a nonhome facility. Home discharge rates increased from 65.5% in 2011 to 94% in 2020. Nonhome discharge rates decreased from 34.5% in 2011 to 6% in 2020. Thirty-day readmissions decreased from 3.2 to 2.4% for the home discharge cohort but increased from 5.6 to 6.1% for the nonhome discharge cohort. Female sex, Asian or Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class > II, Charlson comorbidity index scores > 0, smoking, dependent functional status, and age > 60 years were associated with higher odds of nonhome discharge. Over the last decade, there has been a major shift to home discharge after TKA. Future work is needed to further assess if perioperative interventions may have a positive effect in decreasing adverse outcomes in nonhome discharge patients.

Access to Total Knee Arthroplasty Among Patients With Low Incomes Has Not Increased Under Global Budget Revenue

In 2014, Maryland implemented an experimental reimbursement model, Global Budget Revenue (GBR). This model provided hospitals with a capitated annual budget each fiscal year to use toward all services, regardless of payer. Goals of GBR include reductions in cost, improvements in care quality, and increased access for patients to high-volume procedures, such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We assessed demographics and outcomes among patients with low incomes and patients of racial minority groups in Maryland who underwent TKA before and after GBR implementation. Patients undergoing TKAs from 2011 to 2016 were queried from the Maryland State Inpatient Database, resulting in 71,066 patients. There were 13,722 patients with low incomes and 19,846 patients of racial minority groups. The chi-square test was used for sex, income, insurance, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and morbid obesity, with the Student's t test being reserved for age before and after GBR. The proportion of patients with low incomes decreased the year before GBR but increased with GBR and maintained (P<.001). The proportion of patients of racial minority groups increased the year before GBR implementation, decreased slightly, and then maintained (P<.001). Mean cost decreased for both cohorts of patients (both P<.001). Discharges to home increased for both cohorts (P<.001), while length of stay decreased (both P<.001). Global Budget Revenue decreased cost while improving outcomes for TKA patients post-GBR. Patients with low incomes have not increased their use of TKA, contrary to patients of racial minority groups. This suggests that barriers remain. Further follow-up of GBR performance in subsequent years will increase understanding of the sustainability of this trend and the degree to which any increase in access is dependent on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(1):e11-e16.].

National Trends in Pediatric Facial Fractures: The Impact of Health Care Policy

BACKGROUND

Traumatic injuries are significant sources of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Using a national database, this study aims to characterize pediatric facial fracture management and the effect of health care policy changes on populations receiving treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database databases from 2000 to 2016. Pediatric patients admitted with a facial fracture diagnosis were included. Clinical outcomes include mortality, reduction of fracture during hospital stay, and open fracture reduction. The impact of the Affordable Care Act on patient demographics and management was assessed.

RESULTS

Between 2000 and 2016, 82,414 patients were managed for facial fractures, 8.3 percent of whom were managed after implementation of the Affordable Care Act (n = 6841). Mean age was 15.2 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 2.9:1. Significant racial disparities were identified before the Affordable Care Act: African American and Native American patients had decreased odds of having facial fracture reduction during the initial hospital stay (OR, 0.84 and 0.86, respectively), and identifying as either Hispanic or Native American was associated with higher odds of mortality (OR, 1.4 or 2.4, respectively). Race was not contributory to patient mortality after the Affordable Care Act. Before Affordable Care Act implementation, patients receiving care with no charge (including charity care/charity research) had lower odds of having an open reduction or any reduction; insurance status was not contributory to management after the Affordable Care Act.

CONCLUSION

Although the Affordable Care Act may have increased access to care for certain populations, race- and sex-associated differences in mortality rate and fracture management should be further investigated to ensure a national standard of equitable patient care.

Influence of the Maryland All-Payer Model on Primary Total Knee Arthroplasties

In 2014, Maryland received a waiver for the Global Budget Revenue (GBR) program. We evaluated GBR's impact on patient and hospital trends for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in Maryland compared with the U.S. Specifically, we examined (1) patient characteristics, (2) inpatient course, and (3) costs and charges associated with TKAs from 2014 through 2016.

METHODS

A comparative analysis of TKA-treated patients in the Maryland State Inpatient Database (n = 36,985) versus those in the National Inpatient Sample (n = 2,117,191) was performed. Patient characteristics included race, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), morbid obesity, patient income status, and primary payer. Inpatient course included length of hospital stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and complications.

RESULTS

In the Maryland TKA cohort, the proportion of minorities increased from 2014 to 2016 while the proportion of whites decreased (p = 0.001). The proportion of patients with a CCI of ≥3 decreased (p = 0.014), that of low-income patients increased (p < 0.001), and that of patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid increased (p < 0.001). In the U.S. TKA cohort, the proportion of blacks increased (p < 0.001), that of patients with a CCI score of ≥3 decreased (p < 0.001), and the proportions of low-income patients (p < 0.001) and those covered by Medicare or Medicaid increased (p < 0.001). In both Maryland and the U.S., the LOS (p < 0.001) and complication rate (p < 0.001) decreased while home-routine discharges increased (p < 0.001). Costs and charges decreased in Maryland (p < 0.001 for both) whereas charges in the U.S. increased (p < 0.001) and costs decreased (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

While the U.S. health reform and GBR achieved similar patient and hospital-specific outcomes and broader inclusion of minority patients, Maryland experienced decreased hospital charges while hospital charges increased in the U.S.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Economic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.