Dataset Information

Association of Inpatient Continuity of Care With Complications and Length of Stay Among Hospitalized Medicare Enrollees.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Continuity in primary care is associated with improved outcomes, but less information is available on the association of continuity of care in the hospital with hospital complications.

Objective

To assess whether the number of hospitalists providing care is associated with subsequent hospital complications and length of stay.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study used multilevel logistic regression models to analyze Medicare claims for medical admissions from 2016 to 2018 with a length of stay longer than 4 days. Admissions with multiple charges on the same day from a hospitalist or an intensive care unit (ICU) stay during hospital days 1 to 3 were excluded. The data were accessed and analyzed from November 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021.

Exposures

The number of different hospitalists who submitted charges during hospital days 1 to 3.

Main outcomes and measures

Overall length of stay and transfer to ICU or a new diagnosis of drug toxic effects on hospital day 4 or later.

Results

Among the 617 680 admissions, 362 376 (58.7%) were women, with a mean (SD) age of 80.2 (8.4) years. In 306 037 admissions (49.6%), the same hospitalist provided care on days 1 to 3, while 2 hospitalists provided care in 274 658 admissions (44.5%), and 3 hospitalists provided care in 36 985 admissions (6.0%). There was no significant association between the number of different hospitalists on days 1 to 3 and either length of stay or subsequent ICU transfers. Admissions seeing 2 or 3 hospitalists had a slightly greater adjusted odds of subsequent new diagnoses of drug toxic effects (2 hospitalists: odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07; 3 hospitalists: OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12).

Conclusions and relevance

There was little evidence that receiving care from multiple hospitalists was associated with worse outcomes for patients receiving all their general medical care from hospitalists.

SUBMITTER: Goodwin JS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9026593 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Association of Inpatient Continuity of Care With Complications and Length of Stay Among Hospitalized Medicare Enrollees.

Goodwin James S JS Li Shuang S Hommel Erin E Nattinger Ann B AB Kuo Yong-Fang YF Raji Mukaila M

JAMA network open 20210802 8

<h4>Importance</h4>Continuity in primary care is associated with improved outcomes, but less information is available on the association of continuity of care in the hospital with hospital complications.<h4>Objective</h4>To assess whether the number of hospitalists providing care is associated with subsequent hospital complications and length of stay.<h4>Design, setting, and participants</h4>This retrospective cohort study used multilevel logistic regression models to analyze Medicare claims for ...[more]

PMID: 34383060

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Project description:ObjectiveDescriptions of the inpatient experience for patients hospitalized with systolic heart failure (HF) are limited and lack a cross-sectional representation of the US population. While length of stay (LOS) is a primary determinant of resource use and post-discharge events, few models exist for estimating LOS.Research design and methodsMarketScan(®) administrative claims data from 1/1/2005-6/30/2008 were used to select hospitalized patients aged ≥18 years with discharge diagnoses for both HF (primary diagnosis) and systolic HF (any diagnostic position) without prior HF hospitalization or undergoing transplantation.ResultsAmong 17,597 patients with systolic HF; 4109 had commercial; 2118 had Medicaid; and 11,370 had Medicare payer type. Medicaid patients had longer mean LOS (7.1 days) than commercial (6.3 days) or Medicare (6.7 days). In-hospital mortality was highest for patients with Medicaid (2.4%), followed by Medicare (1.3%) and commercial (0.6%). Commercial patients were more likely to receive inpatient procedures. Renal failure, pressure ulcer, malnutrition, a non-circulatory index admission DRG, receipt of a coronary artery bypass procedure or cardiac catheterization, or need for mechanical ventilation during the index admission were associated with increased LOS; receipt of a pacemaker device at index was associated with shorter LOS.LimitationsSelection of patients with systolic HF is limited by completeness and accuracy of medical coding, and results may not be generalizable to patients with diastolic HF or to international populations.ConclusionInpatient care, LOS, and in-hospital survival differ by payer among patients hospitalized with systolic HF, although co-morbidity and inpatient procedures consistently influence LOS across payer types. These findings may refine risk stratification, allowing for targeted intensive inpatient management and/or aggressive transitional care to improve outcomes and increase the efficiency of care.

Project description:ImportanceCost-sharing requirements can discourage patients from seeking care and impose financial hardship. The Medicare program serves many older and disabled individuals with multimorbidity and limited resources, but little has been known about the affordability of care in this population.ObjectiveTo examine the affordability of medical care among Medicare enrollees, in terms of the prevalence of delaying medical care because of costs and having problems paying medical bills, and risk factors for these outcomes.Design setting and participantsCross-sectional analyses conducted from November 1, 2019, to October 15, 2021, used logistic regression to compare the probability of outcomes by demographic and health characteristics. Data were obtained from the 2017 nationally representative Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (response rate, 61.7%), with respondents representing 53 million community-dwelling Medicare enrollees.Main outcomes and measuresNew questions about medical care affordability were included in the 2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey: difficulty paying medical bills, ongoing medical debt, and contact by collection agencies. A companion survey question asked whether individuals had delayed seeking medical care because of worries about costs.ResultsRespondents included 10 974 adults aged 65 years or older and 2197 aged 18 to 64 years; 54.2% of all respondents were women. The weighted proportions of Medicare enrollees with annual incomes below $25 000K were 30.7% in the older population and 67.4% in the younger group. Self-reported prevalence of delaying care because of cost was 8.3% (95% CI, 7.4%-9.1%) among enrollees aged 65 years or older, 25.2% (95% CI, 21.8%-28.6%) among enrollees younger than 65 years, and 10.9% (95% CI, 9.9%-11.9%) overall. Similarly, 7.4% (95% CI, 6.6%-8.2%) of older enrollees had problems paying medical bills, compared with 29.8% (95% CI, 25.6%-34.1%) among those younger than 65 years and 10.8% (95% CI, 9.8%-11.9%) overall. Regarding specific payment problems, 7.9% (95% CI, 7.0%-8.9%) of enrollees overall experienced ongoing medical debt, contact by a collection agency, or both. In adjusted analyses, older adults with incomes $15 000 to $25 000 per year had odds of delaying care more than twice as high as those with incomes greater than $50 000 (odds ratio, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.82-3.39), and their odds of problems paying medical bills were more than 3 times as high (odds ratio, 3.37; 95% CI, 2.81-5.21). Older adults with 4 to 10 chronic conditions were more than twice as likely to have problems paying medical bills as those with 0 or 1 condition.Conclusions and relevanceThe findings of this study suggest that unaffordability of medical care is common among Medicare enrollees, especially those with lower incomes, or worse health, or who qualify for Medicare based on disability. Policy reforms, such as caps on patient spending, are needed to reduce Medical cost burdens on the most vulnerable enrollees.

Project description:Importance:Enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) has been increasing and has reached one-third of total Medicare enrollment. Because of data limitations, direct comparison of inpatient rehabilitation services between MA and traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries has been very scarce. Subgroups of elderly individuals admitted to inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) may experience different care outcomes by insurance types. Objective:To measure the differences in length of stay and health outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation services between TM and MA beneficiaries in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants:This multiyear cross-sectional study used the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation to assess rehabilitation services received by elderly (aged >65 years) Medicare beneficiaries in IRFs between 2007 and 2016 for stroke, hip fracture, and joint replacement. Generalized linear models were used to assess whether an association existed between Medicare insurance type and IRF care outcomes. Models were adjusted for demographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and facility characteristics. Data were analyzed from September 2018 to August 2019. Exposures:Medicare insurance plan type, TM or MA. Main Outcomes and Measures:Inpatient length of stay in IRFs, functional improvements, and possibility of returning to the community after discharge. Results:The sample included a total of 1 028 470 patients (634 619 women [61.7%]; mean [SD] age, 78.23 [7.26] years): 473 017 patients admitted for stroke, 323 029 patients admitted for hip fracture, and 232 424 patients admitted for joint replacement. Individuals enrolled in MA plans were younger than TM beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 76.96 [7.02] vs 77.95 [7.26] years for stroke, 79.92 [6.93] vs 80.85 [6.87] years for hip fracture, and 74.79 [6.58] vs 75.88 [6.80] years for joint replacement) and were more likely to be black (17 086 [25.5%] vs 54 648 [17.9%] beneficiaries) or Hispanic (14 496 [28.5%] vs 24 377 [8.3%] beneficiaries). The MA beneficiaries accounted for 21.8% (103 204 of 473 017) of admissions for stroke, 11.5% (37 160 of 323 029) of admissions for hip fracture, and 11.8% (27 314 of 232 424) of admissions for joint replacement. The MA beneficiaries had shorter mean lengths of stay than did TM beneficiaries for both stroke (0.11 day; 95% CI, -0.15 to -0.07 day; 1.15% shorter) and hip fracture (0.17 day; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.13 day; 0.85% shorter). The MA beneficiaries also had higher possibilities of returning to the community than did TM beneficiaries, by 3.0% (95% CI, 2.6%-3.4%) for stroke and 5.0% (95% CI, 4.4%-5.6%) for hip fracture. The shorter length of stay and better ultimate outcomes were achieved without substantially compromising the intermediate functional improvements. Facility type (freestanding vs within an acute care hospital) and patient alternative payment sources other than Medicare (none vs other) partially explained the differences between insurance types. Conclusions and Relevance:This study suggests that MA enrollees experience shorter length of stay and better outcomes for postacute care than do TM beneficiaries in IRFs. The magnitude of the differences depends on treatment deferability, patient sociodemographic subgroups, and facility characteristics.

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Project description:BackgroundTo assess the interaction of breast cancer, HIV infection, Medicare disability status, cancer stage and its implications for outcomes, after accounting for competing risks among female, fee-for-service Medicare enrollees.MethodsWe used data from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) -Medicare (2000-2013). From primary female breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2011, we identified those with HIV infection. We used Generalized Linear Model for phase-specific incremental cost of HIV, Cox regression for association between HIV and all-cause mortality, and Fine and Gray competing risk models to assess hazard of breast cancer-specific mortality by HIV status. We also studied this association for subgroups of cancer stage and disability status.FindingsOf 164,080 eligible cases of breast cancer, 176 had HIV infection. Compared to HIV-uninfected patients, HIV infected patients had 16% higher cost in initial phase, and 80% higher cost in interim stage of care, and at least two times higher mortality (all-cause and breast cancer-specific), after accounting for competing risk. Among disabled enrollees, HIV-infected patients had higher risk of all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality, compared to HIV-uninfected patients.InterpretationFemale fee-for-service Medicare enrollees with breast cancer experience higher initial and interim phase cost and worse survival in the presence of HIV. This association was also significant among disabled Medicare enrollees. Medicare is the single largest source of federal financing for HIV care. Burden on Medicare will grow exponentially due to higher proportion of disabled among HIV-infected enrollees, longer survival among HIV- infected persons, increased HIV incidence in older adults, and increased age related risk of breast cancer. Future research can identify the pathways via which HIV infection affects cost and mortality, and develop integrated strategies for effective management of concomitant breast cancer and HIV and inform survivorship guidelines.FundingNational Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Grant # R21AG34870-1A1.

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Project description:ImportanceThe rising incidence of mental illness in the US underscores the need for timely access to psychiatric care, especially for vulnerable populations such as older adults and individuals with mental and physical disabilities who receive Medicare.ObjectiveTo assess changes in the number and proportion of active psychiatrists providing professional services to traditional Medicare Part B enrollees from 2014 to 2022.Design, setting, and participantsThis repeated cross-sectional study of Medicare Part B enrollees used publicly available data (for January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2022) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Kaiser Family Foundation. Data from all traditional Medicare Part B enrollees in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were analyzed.Main outcomes and measuresPrimary outcomes included changes in (1) the proportion of active psychiatrists billing traditional Medicare and (2) the number of psychiatrists providing care relative to the number of Medicare Part B enrollees nationally, regionally, and by state.ResultsThe study population comprised 291 748 472 Medicare Part B enrollee-years (33 042 936 in 2014: 5 800 903 [17.6%] eligible due to disability alone and 27 242 030 [82.4%] eligible due to age). From 2014 to 2022, the number of Medicare Part B enrollees decreased by 3 497 942 enrollee-years (10.6%), while the number of psychiatrists submitting more than 10 claims to Medicare Part B decreased by 3772 (16.8%). The nationwide proportion of professionally active psychiatrists submitting claims to Medicare Part B for professional services during this period declined from 22 409 of 50 416 (44.4%) in 2014 to 18 637 of 56 492 (33.0%) in 2022 (P < .001 on univariable regression). From 2014 to 2022, state-level changes in Medicare Part B-serving psychiatrists per enrollee ranged from a 31.7% increase in Alabama (from 36.5 to 48.1 psychiatrists per 100 000 enrollees) to a 67.8% decrease in Wyoming (from 42.9 to 13.8 psychiatrists per 100 000 enrollees). Every state and district assessed saw a decrease in the percentage of active psychiatrists who billed Medicare Part B for professional services over the study period.Conclusions and relevanceIn this study of Medicare Part B acceptance among active US psychiatrists, declining acceptance of Medicare Part B for professional services among psychiatrists was observed nationally and across all states. During a time of psychiatrist workforce growth, the number of psychiatrists accepting traditional Medicare decreased, indicating potential challenges in providing equitable access to psychiatric care.

Dataset Information

Association of Inpatient Continuity of Care With Complications and Length of Stay Among Hospitalized Medicare Enrollees.

Importance

Objective

Design, setting, and participants

Exposures

Main outcomes and measures

Results

Conclusions and relevance

Publications

Association of Inpatient Continuity of Care With Complications and Length of Stay Among Hospitalized Medicare Enrollees.

Similar Datasets

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