A proposed method for identifying Interfacility transfers in Medicare claims data.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To develop a method of consistently identifying interfacility transfers (IFTs) in Medicare Claims using patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) as an example.

Data sources/study setting

100% Medicare inpatient and outpatient Standard Analytic Files and 5% Carrier Files, 2011-2020.

Study design

Observational, cross-sectional comparison of patient characteristics between proposed and existing methods.

Data collection/extraction methods

We limited to patients aged 65+ with STEMI diagnosis using both proposed and existing methods.

Principal findings

We identified 62,668 more IFTs using the proposed method (86,128 versus 23,460). A separately billable interfacility ambulance trip was found for more IFTs using the proposed than exist

SUBMITTER: Nikpay S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11782054 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature