Leveraging Value-Based Payment Models to Reduce Health Inequities in Radiology

AbstractGiven a national push toward bundled payment models, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence as well as the effect of smoking on early inpatient complications and cost following elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the United States across multiple years. Using the nationwide inpatient sample, all primary elective TKA admissions were identified from 2012 to 2014. Patients were stratified by smoking status through a secondary diagnosis of “tobacco use disorder.” Patient characteristics as well as prevalence, costs, and incidence of complications were compared. There was a significant increase in the rate of smoking in TKA from 17.9% in 2012 to 19.2% in 2014 (p < 0.0001). The highest rate was seen in patients < 45 years of age (27.3%). Hospital resource usage was significantly higher for smokers, with a length of stay of 3.3 versus 2.9 days (p < 0.0001), and hospital costs of $16,752 versus $15,653 (p < 0.0001). A multivariable logistic model adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities showed that smokers had an increased odds ratio for myocardial infarction (5.72), cardiac arrest (4.59), stroke (4.42), inpatient mortality (4.21), pneumonia (4.01), acute renal failure (2.95), deep vein thrombosis (2.74), urinary tract infection (2.43), transfusion (1.38) and sepsis (0.65) (all p < 0.0001). Smoking is common among patients undergoing elective TKA, and its prevalence continues to rise. Smoking is associated with higher hospital costs as well as higher rates of immediate inpatient complications. These findings are critical for risk stratification, improving of bundled payment models as well as patient education, and optimization prior to surgery to reduce costs and complications.

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Data Disaggregation: A Research Tool to Identify Health Inequities

Journal of Pediatric Health Care ◽

10.1016/j.pedhc.2020.12.002 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kristin H. Gigli

Keyword(s):

Health Inequities ◽

Research Tool ◽

Data Disaggregation

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The Utilisation of Payment Models Across the HIV Continuum of Care: Systematic Review of Evidence

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-021-03329-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tiago Rua ◽

Daniela Brandão ◽

Vanessa Nicolau ◽

Ana Escoval

Keyword(s):

Positive Impact ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Relative Magnitude ◽

Hiv Care ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Continuum Of Care ◽

Clinical Conditions ◽

Study Designs ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Payment Models

AbstractThe increasing chronicity and multimorbidities associated with people living with HIV have posed important challenges to health systems across the world. In this context, payment models hold the potential to improve care across a spectrum of clinical conditions. This study aims to systematically review the evidence of HIV performance-based payments models. Literature searches were conducted in March 2020 using multiple databases and manual searches of relevant papers. Papers were limited to any study design that considers the real-world utilisation of performance-based payment models applied to the HIV domain. A total of 23 full-text papers were included. Due to the heterogeneity of study designs, the multiple types of interventions and its implementation across distinct areas of HIV care, direct comparisons between studies were deemed unsuitable. Most evidence focused on healthcare users (83%), seeking to directly affect patients' behaviour based on principles of behavioural economics. Despite the variability between interventions, the implementation of performance-based payment models led to either a neutral or positive impact throughout the HIV care continuum. Moreover, this improvement was likely to be cost-effective or, at least, did not compromise the healthcare system’s financial sustainability. However, more research is needed to assess the durability of incentives and its appropriate relative magnitude.

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Prior Admissions as a Risk Factor for Readmission in Patients Surgically Treated for Femur Fractures: Implications for a Potential Hip Fracture Bundle

Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/2151459321996169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215145932199616

Author(s):

Robert Erlichman ◽

Nicholas Kolodychuk ◽

Joseph N. Gabra ◽

Harshitha Dudipala ◽

Brook Maxhimer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Hip Fracture ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Hip Fractures ◽

Surgical Procedure ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Fracture Care ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Payment Models

Introduction: Hip fractures are a significant economic burden to our healthcare system. As there have been efforts made to create an alternative payment model for hip fracture care, it will be imperative to risk-stratify reimbursement for these medically comorbid patients. We hypothesized that patients readmitted to the hospital within 90 days would be more likely to have a recent previous hospital admission, prior to their injury. Patients with a recent prior admission could therefore be considered higher risk for readmission and increased cost. Methods: A retrospective chart review identified 598 patients who underwent surgical fixation of a hip or femur fracture. Data on readmissions within 90 days of surgical procedure and previous admissions in the year prior to injury resulting in surgical procedure were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine if recent prior admission had increased risk of 90-day readmission. A subgroup analysis of geriatric hip fractures and of readmitted patients were also performed. Results: Having a prior admission within one year was significantly associated (p < 0.0001) for 90-day readmission. Specifically, logistic regression analysis revealed that a prior admission was significantly associated with 90-day readmission with an odds ratio of 7.2 (95% CI: 4.8-10.9). Discussion: This patient population has a high rate of prior hospital admissions, and these prior admissions were predictive of 90-day readmission. Alternative payment models that include penalties for readmissions or fail to apply robust risk stratification may unjustly penalize hospital systems which care for more medically complex patients. Conclusions: Hip fracture patients with a recent prior admission to the hospital are at an increased risk for 90-day readmission. This information should be considered as alternative payment models are developed for hip fracture care.

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Identifying Mobile Health Technology Experiences and Preferences of Low-Income Pregnant Women with Diabetes

Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology ◽

10.1177/1932296821993175 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 193229682199317

Author(s):

Karolina Leziak ◽

Eleanor Birch ◽

Jenise Jackson ◽

Angelina Strohbach ◽

Charlotte Niznik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Mobile Health ◽

Low Income ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Health Inequities ◽

Comparison Method ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

Self Management ◽

Postpartum Women ◽

Design Elements

Background: Rapid expansion of mobile technology has resulted in the development of many mobile health (“mHealth”) platforms for health monitoring and support. However, applicability, desirability, and extent of tailoring of these platforms for pregnant women, particularly in populations who experience the greatest health inequities—such as women with diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or those with greater socioeconomic barriers—remains unknown. The objective is to understand low-income pregnant women’s experiences and preferences for mHealth tools to support DM health and improve DM self-management during pregnancy. Methods: Low-income pregnant and postpartum women were included in individual interviews or focus groups; women with type 2 DM, gestational DM, or no DM were included. Analysis was performed with the constant comparison method. Results: In this population of 45 ( N=37 with DM) low-income, largely minority, pregnant and postpartum women, 100% reported access to smartphones and prior experience with apps. Interest in mHealth to support health and engagement during pregnancy was high. Preferences for general mHealth features included education that reduces uncertainty, support communities, visualizing progress, convenient access to information, and support for better management of pregnancy-related tasks. Preferred design elements included personalization, interactive features, and integrated graphics. Women with DM expressed multiple additional DM-specific needs, including support tools for DM self-management and self-regulation tasks. Conclusion: Pregnant and postpartum women, especially those with DM, desire mHealth technology to support engagement and to adapt lifestyle guidelines and treatment requirements for a healthy pregnancy. Further work to develop mHealth interventions tailored for target populations remains a key step in reducing health inequities and promoting access to evidence-based perinatal health interventions.

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Development of a checklist to guide equity considerations in health technology assessment

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s0266462320002275 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 37 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Benkhalti ◽

Manuel Espinoza ◽

Richard Cookson ◽

Vivian Welch ◽

Peter Tugwell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Translation ◽

Health Technology Assessment ◽

Priority Setting ◽

Technology Assessment ◽

Literature Search ◽

Health Inequities ◽

Health Technology ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Added Value ◽

Pilot Test

Abstract Objectives Health technology assessment (HTA) can impact health inequities by informing healthcare priority-setting decisions. This paper presents a novel checklist to guide HTA practitioners looking to include equity considerations in their work: the equity checklist for HTA (ECHTA). The list is pragmatically organized according to the generic HTA phases and can be consulted at each step. Methods A first set of items was based on the framework for equity in HTA developed by Culyer and Bombard. After rewording and reorganizing according to five HTA phases, they were complemented by elements emerging from a literature search. Consultations with method experts, decision makers, and stakeholders further refined the items. Further feedback was sought during a presentation of the tool at an international HTA conference. Lastly, the checklist was piloted through all five stages of an HTA. Results ECHTA proposes elements to be considered at each one of the five HTA phases: Scoping, Evaluation, Recommendations and Conclusions, Knowledge Translation and Implementation, and Reassessment. More than a simple checklist, the tool provides details and examples that guide the evaluators through an analysis in each phase. A pilot test is also presented, which demonstrates the ECHTA's usability and added value. Conclusions ECHTA provides guidance for HTA evaluators wishing to ensure that their conclusions do not contribute to inequalities in health. Several points to build upon the current checklist will be addressed by a working group of experts, and further feedback is welcome from evaluators who have used the tool.

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