scholarly journals Transgender Medicare Beneficiaries and Chronic Conditions: Exploring Fee-for-Service Claims Data

LGBT Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 404-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina N. Dragon ◽  
Paul Guerino ◽  
Erin Ewald ◽  
Alison M. Laffan
2020 ◽  
pp. 107755871990121
Author(s):  
Tamra Keeney ◽  
Nina R. Joyce ◽  
David J. Meyers ◽  
Vincent Mor ◽  
Emmanuelle Belanger

Although administrative claims data can be used to identify high-need (HN) Medicare beneficiaries, persistence in HN status among beneficiaries and subsequent variation in outcomes are unknown. We use national-level claims data to classify Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries as HN annually among beneficiaries continuously enrolled between 2013 and 2015. To examine persistence of HN status over time, we categorize longitudinal patterns in HN status into being never, newly, transiently, and persistently HN and examine differences in patients’ demographic characteristics and outcomes. Among survivors, 23% of beneficiaries were HN at any time—4% persistently HN, 13% transiently HN, and 6% newly HN. While beneficiaries who were persistently HN had higher mortality, utilization, and expenditures, classification as HN at any time was associated with poor outcomes. These findings demonstrate longitudinal variability of HN status among FFS beneficiaries and reveal the pervasiveness of poor outcomes associated with even transitory HN status over time.


2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 775-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan S. Huang ◽  
Hilary Placzek ◽  
James Livingston ◽  
Allen Ma ◽  
Fallon Onufrak ◽  
...  

Objective.To evaluate whether longitudinal insurer claims data allow reliable identification of elevated hospital surgical site infection (SSI) rates.Design.We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in US hospitals performing at least 80 procedures in 2005. Hospitals were assigned to deciles by using case mix–adjusted probabilities of having an SSI-related inpatient or outpatient claim code within 60 days of surgery. We then reviewed medical records of randomly selected patients to assess whether chart-confirmed SSI risk was higher in hospitals in the worst deciles compared with the best deciles.Participants.Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who underwent CABG in these hospitals in 2005.Results.We evaluated 114,673 patients who underwent CABG in 671 hospitals. In the best decile, 7.8% (958/12,307) of patients had an SSI-related code, compared with 24.8% (2,747/11,068) in the worst decile (P<.001). Medical record review confirmed SSI in 40% (388/980) of those with SSI-related codes. In the best decile, the chart-confirmed annual SSI rate was 3.2%, compared with 9.4% in the worst decile, with an adjusted odds ratio of SSI of 2.7 (confidence interval, 2.2–3.3; P<.001) for CABG performed in a worst-decile hospital compared with a best-decile hospital.Conclusions.Claims data can identify groups of hospitals with unusually high or low post-CABG SSI rates. Assessment of claims is more reproducible and efficient than current surveillance methods. This example of secondary use of routinely recorded electronic health information to assess quality of care can identify hospitals that may benefit from prevention programs.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngran Kim ◽  
Trudy Krause ◽  
Edip Gurol ◽  
Louise D McCullough ◽  
Farhaan S Vahidy

Introductions: Underutilization of oral anticoagulation (OAC) drugs among atrial fibrillation (AF) patients has been reported. We provide contemporary trends for utilization of warfarin and novel OACs (NOACs) among Medicare beneficiaries with AF in Texas. Methods: Using Texas Medicare Fee-for-Service claims data for 2014-2017, AF patients were identified if they had at least one inpatient or two outpatient claims with a diagnosis of AF using ICD 9/10 codes. AF patients having any medical claims with ICD 9/10 or CPT codes indicating vulvar stenosis or the presence of valve replacement were excluded. OACs included warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban and the use of a drug was assumed if the prescription was filled. The percentage of patients on OAC among AF patients, who were enrolled in Medicare Part D in the measurement year were reported with 95% CI and p-value for trends both overall and by CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score and renal function. Results: Of 216,602 AF patients, 57% did not receive any OAC during any measurement year. Overall OAC utilization increased from 35.8% (35.4-36.2) in 2014 to 41.6 % (41.3-41.8) in 2017 (p <0.001). This increase was driven by NOAC use which increased from 18.6% (18.3-18.9) in 2014 to 29.3% (29.0-29.5) in 2017 (p <0.001) while the proportion of warfarin users decreased from 17.2% (16.9-17.5) in 2014 to 12.3% (12.1-12.5) in 2017 (p <0.001). Increasing trends for NOAC use and decreasing trends for warfarin were observed regardless of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores and levels of renal function. Conclusions: The OAC use has been increasing but about 6 out of 10 AF patients do not receive OAC despite high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores. Targeted strategies are required to address OAC underutilization among AF patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 18-18
Author(s):  
Maricruz Rivera-Hernandez ◽  
Aaron Castillo ◽  
Amal Trivedi

Abstract Medicare enrollment among people with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) has reached an all-time high with about 12% of beneficiaries having an ADRD diagnosis. The federal government has special interest in providing healthcare alternatives for Medicare beneficiaries. However, limited studies have focused on understanding disenrollment from fee-for-service, especially among those with high-needs. In this study we identified predictors of disenrollment among beneficiaries with ADRD. We used the 2017-2018 Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File to determine enrollment, sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and healthcare utilization. We included all fee-for-service beneficiaries enrolled in 2017 who survived the first quarter of 2018. Our primary outcome was disenrollment from fee-for-service between 2017 and 2018. Regression models included age, sex, race/ethnicity, dually eligibility to Medicare and Medicaid, chronic and disabling conditions (categorized by quartiles), total health care costs including outpatient, inpatient, post-acute care and other costs (categorized by quartiles) and county fixed-effects. There were 1,797,047 beneficiaries enrolled in fee-for-service with an ADRD diagnosis. Stronger predictors of disenrollment included race/ethnicity and dual eligibility. Disenrollment rates were 7.9% (95% CI, 7.2 – 8.5) among African Americans, 6.6 (95% CI, 6.2 – 7.0) among Hispanics and 4.3 (95% CI, 4.2 – 4.3) among Whites. Duals were 1.9% (95% CI, 1.4 – 2.3) more likely to disenroll from fee-for-service to Medicare Advantage (MA). The inclusion of MA special need plans and additional benefits for those with ADRD and complex chronic conditions may be valuable for those beneficiaries with ADRD, and who may not have Medigap coverage when enrolling in fee-for-service.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 797-797
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Garcia Morales ◽  
Nicholas Reed

Abstract Sensory impairment is prevalent among older adults and may increase risk for delirium via mechanisms including sensory deprivation and poor communication which may result in confusion and agitation. In the Medicare Current Beneficiary Study (MCBS), delirium was measured using a validated algorithm of claims data. Sensory impairment was defined as any self-reported trouble hearing or seeing, with the use of aids, and was categorized as no impairment, hearing impairment only (HI), vision impairment only (VI), and dual sensory impairment (DSI). Among, 3,240 hospitalized participants in 2016-2017, 346 (10.7%) experienced delirium. In a model adjusted for socio-demographic and health characteristics, those with HI only, VI only, and DSI had 0.84 (95% CI: 0.6-1.3), 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.7), and 1.5 (95% CI 1.0-2.1) times the odds of experiencing delirium compared to those without sensory impairment. Future research should focus on mechanisms underlying association and determine the impact of treatment of sensory loss.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
G L Dunietz ◽  
R D Chervin ◽  
J F Burke ◽  
A S Conceicao ◽  
T J Braley

Abstract Study Objectives To examine associations between PAP therapy, adherence and incident diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia not-otherwise-specified (DNOS) in older adults. Methods This retrospective study utilized Medicare 5% fee-for-service claims data of 53,321 beneficiaries, aged 65+, with an OSA diagnosis prior to 2011. Study participants were evaluated using ICD-9 codes for neurocognitive syndromes [AD(n=1,057), DNOS(n=378), and MCI(n=443)] that were newly-identified between 2011-2013. PAP treatment was defined as presence of ≥1 durable medical equipment (HCPCS) code for PAP supplies. PAP adherence was defined as ≥2 HCPCS codes for PAP equipment, separated by≥1 month. Logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic and health characteristics, were used to estimate associations between PAP treatment or adherence and new AD, DNOS, and MCI diagnoses. Results In this sample of Medicare beneficiaries with OSA, 59% were men, 90% were non-Hispanic whites and 62% were younger than 75y. The majority (78%) of beneficiaries with OSA were prescribed PAP (treated), and 74% showed evidence of adherent PAP use. In adjusted models, PAP treatment was associated with lower odds of incident diagnoses of AD and DNOS (OR=0.78, 95% CI:0.69-0.89; and OR=0.69, 95% CI:0.55-0.85). Lower odds of MCI, approaching statistical significance, were also observed among PAP users (OR=0.82, 95% CI:0.66-1.02). PAP adherence was associated with lower odds of incident diagnoses of AD (OR=0.65, 95% CI:0.56-0.76). Conclusions PAP treatment and adherence are independently associated with lower odds of incident AD diagnoses in older adults. Results suggest that treatment of OSA may reduce risk of subsequent dementia.


Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. heartjnl-2021-319951
Author(s):  
Patrick M Hyland ◽  
Jiaman Xu ◽  
Changyu Shen ◽  
Lawrence J Markson ◽  
Warren J Manning ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo identify potential race, sex and age disparities in performance of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) over several decades.MethodsTTE reports from five academic and community sites within a single integrated healthcare system were linked to 100% Medicare fee-for-service claims from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2017. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted rates of TTE utilisation after the index TTE according to baseline age, sex, race and comorbidities among individuals with ≥2 TTEs. Non-white race was defined as black, Asian, North American Native, Hispanic or other categories using Medicare-assigned race categories.ResultsA total of 15 870 individuals (50.1% female, mean 72.2±12.7 years) underwent a total of 63 535 TTEs (range 2–55/person) over a median (IQR) follow-up time of 4.9 (2.4–8.5) years. After the index TTE, the median TTE use was 0.72 TTEs/person/year (IQR 0.43–1.33; range 0.12–26.76). TTE use was lower in older individuals (relative risk (RR) for 10-year increase in age, 0.91, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.92, p<0.001), women (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99, p<0.001) and non-white individuals (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.97, p<0.001). Black women in particular had the lowest relative use of TTE (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.95, p<0.001). The only clinical conditions associated with increased TTE use after multivariable adjustment were heart failure (RR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.08, p=0.04) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.10, p=0.04).ConclusionsAmong Medicare beneficiaries with multiple TTEs in a single large healthcare system, the median TTE use after the index TTE was 0.72 TTEs/person/year, although this varied widely. Adjusted for comorbidities, female sex, non-white race and advancing age were associated with decreased TTE utilisation.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuntao Wu ◽  
Andrew Koren ◽  
Jane Thammakhoune ◽  
Jasmanda Wu ◽  
Hayet Kechemir ◽  
...  

Background: When using inpatient claims data to identify hospitalizations in supplemental Medicare beneficiaries, e.g., in the MarketScan database, there is a concern that the coverage of hospitalizations in such inpatient claims may be incomplete. However, whether hospitalizations are covered by inpatient claims or not, they incur professional charges that are recorded in the professional claims data in the MarketScan Medicare database. In the context of identifying hospitalizations that might be related to heart failure (HF) in dronedarone users, we compared different approaches to identify such hospitalizations. Objective: To assess the impact of using professional claims in addition to inpatient claims on identifying hospitalizations that might be related to HF. Methods: A total of 20,834 dronedarone users who were supplemental Medicare beneficiaries between July 2009 (launch date in US) and December 2012 were identified in the MarketScan database. The hospitalizations that might be related to HF within 30 days prior to initiating dronedarone were identified by searching (1) inpatient claims and (2) both inpatient and professional claims using related ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for HF and Current Procedural Terminology codes for hospitalizations. Results: A total of 1,162 patients who had HF hospitalizations within 30 days prior to initiating dronedarone were identified by searching inpatient claims between July 2009 and December 2012. Supplementing with professional claims identified an additional 177 patients who had HF hospitalizations, increasing the total number to 1,339. Therefore, 13.2% (177/1,399) of the patients who had HF hospitalizations could only be identified in professional claims. Thus, the prevalence of hospitalizations that might be related to HF within 30 days prior to initiating dronedarone was 5.6% (1,162/20,834; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.3 - 5.9%) when hospitalizations were identified using inpatient claims alone. Adding professional claims in the search algorithm, the prevalence of HF hospitalizations was 6.4% (1,339/20,834, 95% CI: 6.1 - 6.8%). Conclusions: Using professional claims, in addition to inpatient claims, can improve the identification of hospitalizations that might be related to HF.


Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith H Lichtman ◽  
Michael R Jones ◽  
Alice J Sheffet ◽  
George Howard ◽  
Yun Wang ◽  
...  

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the leading procedure for carotid stenosis, yet national data on trends in rates and outcomes are limited. We determined CEA rates among Medicare beneficiaries and evaluated mortality and readmission over 8 years. Methods: We used Medicare fee-for-service data to identify beneficiaries aged ≥65y who had their first CEA (ICD-9 38.12) from 2003-2010 and calculated annual rates per 100,000 person-years (PY). We fit mixed models to assess trends in patient-level outcomes, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and symptomatic status. We also evaluated hospital-level trends by calculating risk-standardized mortality (RSMR) and readmission (RSRR) rates. A spatial mixed model adjusted for age, sex, and race was fit to calculate county-specific risk-standardized CEA rates in 2003-2004. Results: There were 505,966 unique CEA hospitalizations. The annual number of CEA discharges decreased from 81,604 in 2003 to 47,597 in 2010 (42% decrease), though the patient characteristics remained largely similar. The national CEA rate was 283 per 100,000 PY in 2003, and there was considerable geographic variability (Figure A). This rate decreased each year to a low of 172 per 100,000 PY in 2010. The rate of stroke or death within 30 days decreased from 3.2 to 2.7%, with a significant adjusted annual reduction of 3% (Figure B). Annual reductions in other short- and long-term outcomes were similar, ranging from 2-3%. The median hospital-level 30-day RSMR decreased over time from 0.99 to 0.57%, while the variation between hospitals increased (interquartile range of 0.7-1.67 percentage points). The 30-day RSRR decreased from 11.0 to 10.1%, but there was more homogeneity across hospitals and years. Conclusions: CEA use among Medicare patients decreased dramatically from 2003-2010, while mortality and readmission outcomes improved. The relative importance of biological and sociological mechanisms for these trends merits further study.


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