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Brosig-Koch J, Hennig-Schmidt H, Kairies-Schwarz N, Kokot J, Wiesen D. A new look at physicians' responses to financial incentives: Quality of care, practice characteristics, and motivations. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2024; 94:102862. [PMID: 38401249 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102862] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
There is considerable controversy about what causes (in)effectiveness of physician performance pay in improving the quality of care. Using a behavioral experiment with German primary-care physicians, we study the incentive effect of performance pay on service provision and quality of care. To explore whether variations in quality are based on the incentive scheme and the interplay with physicians' real-world profit orientation and patient-regarding motivations, we link administrative data on practice characteristics and survey data on physicians' attitudes with experimental data. We find that, under performance pay, quality increases by about 7pp compared to baseline capitation. While the effect increases with the severity of illness, the bonus level does not significantly affect the quality of care. Data linkage indicates that primary-care physicians in high-profit practices provide a lower quality of care. Physicians' other-regarding motivations and attitudes are significant drivers of high treatment quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Brosig-Koch
- Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and Health Economics Research Center (CINCH) Essen, Germany.
| | | | - Nadja Kairies-Schwarz
- Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Centre for Health and Society (chs) and German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research, Germany.
| | - Johanna Kokot
- University of Hamburg and Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Germany.
| | - Daniel Wiesen
- University of Cologne, Department of Healthcare Management and Center for Social and Economic Behavior (C-SEB), Germany.
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2
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Zwolinski NM, Patel KS, Vadivelu N, Kodumudi G, Kaye AD. ERAS Protocol Options for Perioperative Pain Management of Substance Use Disorder in the Ambulatory Surgical Setting. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2023; 27:65-79. [PMID: 37079258 PMCID: PMC10116112 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-023-01108-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of ambulatory surgeries and ambulatory patients presenting with substance use disorder were increasing, and the end of lockdown has further catalyzed the increasing rates of ambulatory patients presenting for surgery with substance use disorder (SUD). Certain subspecialty groups of ambulatory procedures have already established protocols to optimize early recovery after surgery (ERAS), and these groups have subsequently enjoyed improved efficiency and reduced adverse outcomes as a result. In this present investigation, we review the literature as it relates to substance use disorder patients, with a particular focus on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, and their resulting impact on the acute- or chronic user ambulatory patient. The systematic literature review findings are organized and summarized. We conclude by identifying areas of opportunity for further study, specifically with the aim of developing a dedicated ERAS protocol for substance use disorder patients in the ambulatory surgery setting. - Healthcare in the USA has seen an increase in rates of both substance use disorder patients and separately in ambulatory surgery cases. - Specific perioperative protocols to optimize outcomes for patients who suffer from substance use disorder have been described in recent years. - Agents of interest like opioids, cannabis, and amphetamines are the top three most abused substances in North America. - A protocol and recommend further work should be done to integrate with concrete clinical data, in which strategies should be employed to confer benefits to patient outcomes and hospital quality metrics like those enjoyed by ERAS protocol in other settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Zwolinski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333, Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Kaiwal S Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333, Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Nalini Vadivelu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333, Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Gopal Kodumudi
- Department of Anesthesiology, LSU School of Medicine, 1542 Tulane Avenue Room 659, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Alan David Kaye
- Department of Anesthesiology, LSU School of Medicine, 1542 Tulane Avenue Room 659, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
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Durizzo K, Harttgen K, Tediosi F, Sahu M, Kuwawenaruwa A, Salari P, Günther I. Toward mandatory health insurance in low-income countries? An analysis of claims data in Tanzania. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2022; 31:2187-2207. [PMID: 35933731 PMCID: PMC9543525 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Many low-income countries are in the process of scaling up health insurance with the goal of achieving universal coverage. However, little is known about the usage and financial sustainability of mandatory health insurance. This study analyzes 26 million claims submitted to the Tanzanian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which covers two million public servants for whom public insurance is mandatory, to understand insurance usage patterns, cost drivers, and financial sustainability. We find that in 2016, half of policyholders used a health service within a single year, with an average annual cost of 33 US$ per policyholder. About 10% of the population was responsible for 80% of the health costs, and women, middle-age and middle-income groups had the highest costs. Out of 7390 health centers, only five health centers are responsible for 30% of total costs. Estimating the expected health expenditures for the entire population based on the NHIF cost structure, we find that for a sustainable national scale-up, policy makers will have to decide between reducing the health benefit package or increasing revenues. We also show that the cost structure of a mandatory insurance scheme in a low-income country differs substantially from high-income settings. Replication studies for other countries are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fabrizio Tediosi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteAllschwilSwitzerland
- University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Maitreyi Sahu
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteAllschwilSwitzerland
- University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- University of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - August Kuwawenaruwa
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteAllschwilSwitzerland
- Ifakara Health InstituteDar es SalaamTanzania
| | - Paola Salari
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteAllschwilSwitzerland
- University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
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Baicker K. Evidence, Anecdotes, and Health Policy. JAMA HEALTH FORUM 2022; 3:e222427. [DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.2427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Baicker
- Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Kirwin E, Meacock R, Round J, Sutton M. The diagonal approach: A theoretic framework for the economic evaluation of vertical and horizontal interventions in healthcare. Soc Sci Med 2022; 301:114900. [PMID: 35364563 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The diagonal approach is a health system funding concept wherein vertical approaches targeting specific diseases are combined with horizontal approaches intended to strengthen health systems broadly. This taxonomy can also be used to classify health system interventions as either vertical or horizontal. Previous studies have used mathematical programming to evaluate horizontal interventions, but these models have not allowed concurrent evaluation of different types of horizontal interventions or captured spillovers and intertemporal effects. This paper aims to develop a theoretic framework for the diagonal approach. The framework is articulated through integer programming, maximizing health benefits given constraints by identifying the optimal set of both vertical and horizontal interventions to fund. The theoretic framework for the diagonal approach is developed by synthesizing and expanding three prior works. The decision problem is synthesised to allow concurrent evaluation of three different types of horizontal interventions, those: (i) improving health system efficiency, (ii) improving capacity, and (iii) investing in new platforms. Linear programs are converted to integer form, relaxing previous assumptions related to constant returns to scale and divisibility of interventions. The framework is expanded to evaluate multiple budget constraints and options for new platforms. A new form for the value function is used to estimate the benefits of intervention combinations, capturing spillovers between vertical and horizontal interventions and dynamic returns to scale. The decision problem is specified inferotemporally, explicitly capturing the impact of the time horizon on the optimal choice set. Dynamic examples are provided to demonstrate the advantages of the diagonal approach over prior frameworks. This framework extends existing works, enabling simultaneous comparison of various combinations of both vertical and horizontal interventions, capturing spillovers and intertemporal effects. The diagonal approach framework defines decision problems flexibly and realistically, forming the basis for future applied work. Implementation would improve resource allocation and patient health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Kirwin
- Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Health Organisation, Policy, and Economics, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Rachel Meacock
- Health Organisation, Policy, and Economics, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jeff Round
- Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matt Sutton
- Health Organisation, Policy, and Economics, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
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ALSAN MARCELLA, FINKELSTEIN AMYN. Beyond Causality: Additional Benefits of Randomized Controlled Trials for Improving Health Care Delivery. Milbank Q 2021; 99:864-881. [PMID: 34288117 PMCID: PMC8718586 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Policy Points Policymakers at federal and state agencies, health systems, payers, and providers need rigorous evidence for strategies to improve health care delivery and population health. This is all the more urgent now, during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, especially among low-income communities and communities of color. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are known for their ability to produce credible causal impact estimates, which is why they are used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drugs and, increasingly, to evaluate health care delivery and policy. But RCTs provide other benefits, allowing policymakers and researchers to: 1) design studies to answer the question they want to answer, 2) test theory and mechanisms to help enrich understanding beyond the results of a single study, 3) examine potentially subtle, indirect effects of a program or policy, and 4) collaborate closely to generate policy-relevant findings. Illustrating each of these points with examples of recent RCTs in health care, we demonstrate how policymakers can utilize RCTs to solve pressing challenges.
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Lei VJ, Navathe AS, Seki SM, Neuman MD. Perioperative benzodiazepine administration among older surgical patients. Br J Anaesth 2021; 127:e69-e71. [PMID: 34144785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Victor J Lei
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amol S Navathe
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Corporal Michael J. Cresencz VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Scott M Seki
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Perioperative Outcomes Research and Transformation, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark D Neuman
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Perioperative Outcomes Research and Transformation, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Letter to the Editor by Mehmood regarding the article "Outcomes and Cost Among Medicare Beneficiaries Hospitalized for Heart Failure Assigned to Accountable Care Organizations". Am Heart J 2021; 234:132. [PMID: 33706914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2020.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Finkelstein A. A Strategy for Improving U.S. Health Care Delivery - Conducting More Randomized, Controlled Trials. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:1485-1488. [PMID: 32294343 DOI: 10.1056/nejmp1915762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Finkelstein
- From the Department of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
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10
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Frakt AB, Prentice JC, Pizer SD, Elwy AR, Garrido MM, Kilbourne AM, Atkins D. Overcoming Challenges to Evidence-Based Policy Development in a Large, Integrated Delivery System. Health Serv Res 2018; 53:4789-4807. [PMID: 29862494 PMCID: PMC6232400 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe a new Veterans Health Administration (VHA) program to foster the learning health system paradigm by rigorously evaluating health care initiatives and to report key lessons learned in designing those evaluations. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The VHA's Quality Enhancement Research Initiative and its Health Services Research and Development Service are cooperating on several large, randomized program evaluations aimed at improving the care veterans receive and the efficiency with which it is delivered. The evaluations we describe involve collaborative design, outcomes assessment, and implementation science through partnerships between VHA operations and researchers. We review key factors to assess before committing to an evaluation. In addition to traditional design issues (such as ensuring adequate power and availability of data), these include others that are easily overlooked: the stability of intervention financing, means of controlling and commitment to adhering to randomized roll-out, degree of buy-in from key implementation staff, and feasibility of managing multiple veto points for interventions that span several programs, among others. CONCLUSIONS Successful program implementation and rigorous evaluation require resources, specialized expertise, and careful planning. If the learning health system model is to be sustained, organizations will need dedicated programs to prioritize resources and continuously adapt evaluation designs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steven D. Pizer
- Department of Health Law, Policy & ManagementBoston University School of Public HealthBostonMA
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11
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McCarthy CP, Vaduganathan M, Pandey A. Developing evidence-based and accountable health policy in heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail 2018; 20:1653-1656. [PMID: 30295999 DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.1331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cian P McCarthy
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Muthiah Vaduganathan
- Brigham and Women's Hospital Heart & Vascular Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ambarish Pandey
- Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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Slater JS, Parks MJ, Nelson CL, Hughes KD. The Efficacy of Direct Mail, Patient Navigation, and Incentives for Increasing Mammography and Colonoscopy in the Medicaid Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018; 27:1047-1056. [PMID: 29891726 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-18-0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite lower cancer screening rates and survival rates in the Medicaid population compared with those with private insurance, there is a dearth of population-based, evidence-based interventions targeting Medicaid clients to address this problem.Methods: This study reports results of a population-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) among all individuals enrolled in Minnesota's Medicaid program who were overdue for breast cancer (n = 22,113) and/or colorectal cancer (n = 94,294) screening. Individuals were randomized to intervention or control groups. The intervention group received persuasive and innovative direct mail materials coupled with a $20 incentive for using their Medicaid benefit to get screened. Direct mail materials provided a phone number to a call center staffed by patient navigators who addressed barriers and scheduled appointments via three-way calls. The control group received the intervention 15 months later. Primary outcomes were completion of mammography or colonoscopy within 12 weeks of the intervention. Billing claims served as evidence of screening.Results: Multivariate logistic regression showed significant differences for both breast cancer (P < 0.001) and colorectal cancer (P < 0.01). The odds of receiving a mammogram for the treatment group were significantly higher than the control group [OR = 1.30; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.16-1.46], and the treatment group was more likely to receive a colonoscopy than the control group (OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.04-1.21).Conclusions: This population-based intervention increased breast cancer and colorectal cancer screening in a Medicaid population overdue for screening.Impact: These findings may have broad application for reaching individuals who generally remain outside the health care system despite having public health insurance. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(9); 1047-56. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Slater
- Minnesota Department of Health, Cancer Control Section, St. Paul, Minnesota.
| | - Michael J Parks
- Minnesota Department of Health, Cancer Control Section, St. Paul, Minnesota
| | - Christina L Nelson
- Minnesota Department of Health, Cancer Control Section, St. Paul, Minnesota
| | - Kelly D Hughes
- Minnesota Department of Health, Cancer Control Section, St. Paul, Minnesota
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Methods for the economic evaluation of changes to the organisation and delivery of health services: principal challenges and recommendations. HEALTH ECONOMICS POLICY AND LAW 2018; 14:119-134. [DOI: 10.1017/s1744133118000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThere is a requirement for economic evaluation of health technologies seeking public funding across Europe. Changes to the organisation and delivery of health services, including changes to health policy, are not covered by such appraisals. These changes also have consequences for National Health Service (NHS) funds, yet undergo no mandatory cost-effectiveness assessment. The focus on health technologies may have occurred because larger-scale service changes pose more complex challenges to evaluators. This paper discusses the principal challenges faced when performing economic evaluations of changes to the organisation and delivery of health services and provides recommendations for overcoming them. The five principal challenges identified are as follows: undertakingex-anteevaluation; evaluating impacts in terms of quality-adjusted life years; assessing costs and opportunity costs; accounting for spillover effects; and generalisability. Of these challenges, methods for estimating the impact on costs and quality-adjusted life years are those most in need of development. Methods are available forex-anteevaluation, assessing opportunity costs and examining generalisability. However, these are rarely applied in practice. The general principles of assessing the cost-effectiveness of interventions should be applied to all NHS spending, not just that involving health technologies. Advancements in this area have the potential to improve the allocation of scarce NHS resources.
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Bärnighausen T, Tugwell P, Røttingen JA, Shemilt I, Rockers P, Geldsetzer P, Lavis J, Grimshaw J, Daniels K, Brown A, Bor J, Tanner J, Rashidian A, Barreto M, Vollmer S, Atun R. Quasi-experimental study designs series—paper 4: uses and value. J Clin Epidemiol 2017; 89:21-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Accelerating Research Impact in a Learning Health Care System: VA's Quality Enhancement Research Initiative in the Choice Act Era. Med Care 2017; 55 Suppl 7 Suppl 1:S4-S12. [PMID: 27997456 PMCID: PMC5472006 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: Since 1998, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) has supported more rapid implementation of research into clinical practice. Objectives: With the passage of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act), QUERI further evolved to support VHA’s transformation into a Learning Health Care System by aligning science with clinical priority goals based on a strategic planning process and alignment of funding priorities with updated VHA priority goals in response to the Choice Act. Design: QUERI updated its strategic goals in response to independent assessments mandated by the Choice Act that recommended VHA reduce variation in care by providing a clear path to implement best practices. Specifically, QUERI updated its application process to ensure its centers (Programs) focus on cross-cutting VHA priorities and specify roadmaps for implementation of research-informed practices across different settings. QUERI also increased funding for scientific evaluations of the Choice Act and other policies in response to Commission on Care recommendations. Results: QUERI’s national network of Programs deploys effective practices using implementation strategies across different settings. QUERI Choice Act evaluations informed the law’s further implementation, setting the stage for additional rigorous national evaluations of other VHA programs and policies including community provider networks. Conclusions: Grounded in implementation science and evidence-based policy, QUERI serves as an example of how to operationalize core components of a Learning Health Care System, notably through rigorous evaluation and scientific testing of implementation strategies to ultimately reduce variation in quality and improve overall population health.
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16
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Bärnighausen T, Røttingen JA, Rockers P, Shemilt I, Tugwell P. Quasi-experimental study designs series-paper 1: introduction: two historical lineages. J Clin Epidemiol 2017; 89:4-11. [PMID: 28694121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to contrast the historical development of experiments and quasi-experiments and provide the motivation for a journal series on quasi-experimental designs in health research. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING A short historical narrative, with concrete examples, and arguments based on an understanding of the practice of health research and evidence synthesis. RESULTS Health research has played a key role in developing today's gold standard for causal inference-the randomized controlled multiply blinded trial. Historically, allocation approaches developed from convenience and purposive allocation to alternate and, finally, to random allocation. This development was motivated both by concerns for manipulation in allocation as well as statistical and theoretical developments demonstrating the power of randomization in creating counterfactuals for causal inference. In contrast to the sequential development of experiments, quasi-experiments originated at very different points in time, from very different scientific perspectives, and with frequent and long interruptions in their methodological development. Health researchers have only recently started to recognize the value of quasi-experiments for generating novel insights on causal relationships. CONCLUSION While quasi-experiments are unlikely to replace experiments in generating the efficacy and safety evidence required for clinical guidelines and regulatory approval of medical technologies, quasi-experiments can play an important role in establishing the effectiveness of health care practice, programs, and policies. The papers in this series describe and discuss a range of important issues in utilizing quasi-experimental designs for primary research and quasi-experimental results for evidence synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Bärnighausen
- Heidelberg Institute of Public Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA; Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
| | - John-Arne Røttingen
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ian Shemilt
- University College London (UCL), London, USA
| | - Peter Tugwell
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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17
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P Newhouse
- From the Departments of Health Care Policy (J.P.N., S-L.T.N.) and Biostatistics (S.-L.T.N.), Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Sharon-Lise T Normand
- From the Departments of Health Care Policy (J.P.N., S-L.T.N.) and Biostatistics (S.-L.T.N.), Harvard Medical School, Boston
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18
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Raven MC, Guzman D, Chen AH, Kornak J, Kushel M. Out-of-Network Emergency Department Use among Managed Medicaid Beneficiaries. Health Serv Res 2016; 52:2156-2174. [PMID: 27861836 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Out-of-network emergency department (ED) use, or use that occurs outside the contracted network, may lead to increased care fragmentation and cost. We examined factors associated with out-of-network ED use among Medicaid beneficiaries. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING Enrollment, claims, and encounter data for adult Medi-Cal health plan members with 1+ ED visits and complete Medicaid eligibility during the study period from 2013 to 2014. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed the data to identify factors associated with out-of-network ED use classified by mode of arrival (ambulance vs. nonambulance). DATA EXTRACTION METHODS We extracted encounter, ambulance, and ED census data and linked them together based on ED visit date. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Of 11,143 ED visits, 6,808 (61.1 percent) were out-of-network. The number of hours the study ED was on ambulance diversion increased the odds of out-of-network visits for the 3,365 (30.2 percent) ED visits arriving by ambulance. For all visit types, assignment to a primary care clinic at the in-network hospital and having had any primary care visit during the study period decreased the odds of out-of-network ED care. Individuals were more likely to go out-of-network for ED care if they lived in neighborhoods containing out-of-network EDs. CONCLUSIONS There are a number of factors related to out-of-network ED use, including the proximity and density of out-of-network EDs, race and ethnicity, a prior history of out-of-network ED use, and individuals' connection to primary care. EDs that serve Medicaid beneficiaries may need to explore alternative sites and modalities of care as alternatives to the ED, and consider their ability to absorb large numbers of out-of-network visits given already limited capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Raven
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - David Guzman
- Center for Vulnerable Populations, University of California, San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA
| | - Alice H Chen
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA
| | - John Kornak
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Margot Kushel
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA
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Firestone R, Rowe CJ, Modi SN, Sievers D. The effectiveness of social marketing in global health: a systematic review. Health Policy Plan 2016; 32:110-124. [DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czw088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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