scholarly journals Post-Acute Care for Medicare Beneficiaries in Accountable Care Organizations

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 19-19
Author(s):  
Erin Colligan ◽  
Brittany Branand
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Accountable Care Organizations ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Accountable Care ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Transitions In Care ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Acute Care

Abstract Post-acute care (PAC) is a component of health-care utilization and spending that is subject to the discretion of providers. Prior research has demonstrated that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) recognize PAC as a logical target for increased efficiency and cost savings. As part of the evaluation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Next Generation ACO (NGACO) Model, we investigated NGACOs’ approaches to PAC services and the impact of these efforts on utilization and cost using a mixed-methods study design. We conducted interviews and surveys with NGACO leadership and providers and performed a difference-in-differences analysis of utilization and spending based on Medicare claims data. We found that NGACOs focused specifically on establishing partnerships with skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to facilitate transitions in care by establishing new channels of communication, sharing performance data, embedding staff in SNFs, and (in some cases) sharing financial risk. We observed a statistically significant decrease in SNF spending, a trend toward fewer SNF days, and statistically significantly lower expenditures for other PAC settings (e.g., inpatient rehabilitation and long-term acute care facilities). These findings suggest that NGACOs have contributed to improving transitions in care and diverting beneficiaries from intensive PAC settings. Nonetheless, the reduction in PAC spending alone did not translate to a decline in total cost of care. Future ACOs may need to expand their focus to the inpatient utilization and spending that precedes PAC in order to impact total cost of care.

Abstract WP356: Unbundling Care Transitions and Cost After Stroke: Results From the BPCI-Advanced Program

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geri Sanfillippo ◽  
Brian Olkowski ◽  
Hermann Christian Schumacher ◽  
David Dafilou ◽  
Colleen Bowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Resource Utilization ◽  
Care Coordination ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Early Supported Discharge ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Acute Care

Introduction: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services bundled payment for care improvement advanced (BPCI-A) program incentivizes providers to better coordinate care, reduce expenses, and improve quality. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of improving post-acute care coordination after stroke on quality and resource utilization in the BPCI-A program. Methods: Capital Health collaborated with post-acute providers to improve communication, identify criteria for early supported discharge to the community, expedite home health and outpatient services, reduce readmissions, and initiate advanced care planning. The redesigned post-acute care coordination program was implemented at Capital Health’s primary and comprehensive stroke center. Quality outcomes and resource utilization measures for patients enrolled in the BCPI-A program were compared to BPCI-A eligible patients prior to program implementation. Results: Forty-three patients enrolled in the BCPI-A program were compared to 77 patients eligible for enrollment. Clinical and demographic characteristics were similar (p>.05). After program implementation, 21.5% fewer patients were discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (p=.024) and 14% more patients were discharged to inpatient hospice (p<.001). On average, post-acute cost decreased $16,608 per patient (p=.007) resulting in a $16,820 reduction in the 90-day cost per episode (p=.011). The 90-day hospital readmission rate decreased insignificantly by 14.1% from 23.4% to 9.3% (p=.056). Hospital cost, hospital length of stay and the 90-day mortality rate were unchanged (p>.05). Conclusion: The coordination of post-acute services facilitates care transitions after stroke. The identification of patients meeting criteria for early supported discharge to the community or admission to inpatient hospice helped reduce post-acute cost without increasing 90-day readmission or mortality.

Effects of rising drug costs on efforts to control overall cost at a large academic cancer center.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2-2
Author(s):  
Kerin B. Adelson ◽  
Maureen Canavan ◽  
Susanna N. Supalla ◽  
Tannaz Sedghi ◽  
Basit Chaudhry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Drug Costs ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Pharmaceutical Pricing ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Cost ◽  
Post Acute Care

2 Background: Value-based payment programs like the Oncology Care Model (OCM) have focused efforts to reduce costly acute care use through improvements in access and coordination rather than targeting the exponential rise in pharmaceutical pricing. We assessed how participation in OCM affected total cost of cancer care at a large academic cancer center. Methods: Using Medicare claims for Yale-Smilow Cancer Hospital, an NCI-designated cancer center with an academic hub and 10 community practices, we identified episodes for chemotherapy initiated during a historical period (pre-OCM, 2012-2015) and performance period (post-OCM, 2016-2017) following OCM criteria to identify total cost of care. We reported frequency of utilization categories, the mean cost per episode, the proportion of total cost attributed to each utilization category and compared pre- and post-participation periods. Results: There were 8,843 episodes during the historical period and 6,679 episodes during the performance period. The mean total cost per episode increased from $28,645 to $32,666, but this was less than the Medicare-defined expected increase (target price). Between the two periods, the percentage of total episodes decreased for emergency department (ED) use from 36% to 33%, inpatient care from 33% to 29%, and post-acute care from 28% to 25% (p < 0.01). Mean costs of drugs per episode increased by 27% between periods, and from 52% to 58% of total cost of care (p < 0.01). While mean cost per episode for ED, inpatient, and post-acute care remained stable, the mean cost per episode for antineoplastics increased 39% from $10,676 to $14,843. Conclusions: After implementing OCM, we beat the Medicare target largely by decreasing acute care use and stabilizing the cost of hospitalizations and ED; however, actual cost increased largely due to pharmaceutical spending. Because drug costs were the largest proportion of overall cost of care, future value-based models must address the rising cost of pharmaceuticals. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Racial Differences in Post-Acute Utilization After Hip Fracture in Medicare Beneficiaries With ADRD

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 59-59
Author(s):  
Indrakshi Roy ◽  
Amol Karmarkar ◽  
Amit Kumar ◽  
Meghan Warren ◽  
Patricia Pohl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hip Fracture ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Acute Care Utilization ◽  
Post Acute Care

Abstract BACKGROUND: The incidence of hip fracture in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is 2.7 times higher than it is in those without ADRD. Care complexity, including extensive post-acute rehabilitation, increases substantially in patients with ADRD after hip fracture. However, there are no standardized post-acute care utilization models for patients with ADRD after hip fracture. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge on how post-acute utilization varies by race/ethnicity, in this population. OBJECTIVES: To investigate racial differences in post-acute care utilization following hip fracture related hospitalization in patients with ADRD. METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted on 120,179 older adults with ADRD with incident hip fracture, using 100% Medicare data (2016-2017). The primary outcome was post-acute discharge dispositions (skilled nursing facility [SNF], inpatient rehabilitation facility [IRF], and Home Health Care [HHC]) across various racial groups. Multinomial logistic regression examined the association between race and post-acute discharge dispositions after accounting for patient-level covariates. RESULTS: Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, minority racial groups have significantly lower odds of being discharged to SNF, IRF, or HHC, as compared to home. Adjusted odds ratio for Hispanics discharged to SNF was 0.28 (CI=0.24-0.31), to IRF was 0.46 (CI=0.39-0.52) and HHC was 0.64 (95% CI =0.54-0.75), as compared to home. CONCLUSION: ADRD patients have higher risk of hip fracture. Findings from this study will provide insight on how to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in post-acute care utilization in vulnerable populations and improve quality of care and health outcomes.

scholarly journals Accountable Care Organizations and Post-Acute Care: A Focus on Preferred SNF Networks

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Kennedy ◽  
Valerie A. Lewis ◽  
Souma Kundu ◽  
Julien Mousqués ◽  
Carrie H. Colla
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Accountable Care Organizations ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Accountable Care ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Post Acute Care

Due to high magnitude and variation in spending on post-acute care, accountable care organizations (ACOs) are focusing on transforming management of hospital discharge through relationships with preferred skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Using a mixed-methods design, we examined survey data from 366 respondents to the National Survey of ACOs along with 16 semi-structured interviews with ACOs who performed well on cost and quality measures. Survey data revealed that over half of ACOs had no formal relationship with SNFs; however, the majority of ACO interviewees had formed preferred SNF networks. Common elements of networks included a comprehensive focus on care transitions beginning at hospital admission, embedded ACO staff across settings, solutions to support information sharing, and jointly established care protocols. Misaligned incentives, unclear regulations, and a lack of integrated health records remained challenges, yet preferred networks are beginning to transform the ACO post-acute care landscape.

Abstract WP311: Early Lessons Learned in the Stroke Bundled Payment Experience

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ermak ◽  
Raymond Reichwein ◽  
Kathy Morrison ◽  
Alicia Richardson ◽  
Travis M Lehman
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Case Review ◽  
Target Price ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Prohibitive Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Acute Care

Introduction: The Bundled Payments for Care improvement (BPCI) initiative was launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2014. Our organization contracted for Model 2, making us responsible for all costs associated with index hospital stay plus 90 days post discharge for straight Medicare patients. It was anticipated that we would find opportunity for reduction in readmission rates, which would lead to reduced cost of care. Analysis of Q1 & Q2 2014 data revealed other opportunities. First, cases coded as non-traumatic Subdural Hematoma (SDH) - regardless of readmission - accounted for significant financial deficit. Second, 67% of patients utilized Post-Acute Care (PAC - SNF, acute rehab, home health) at least once and 54% utilized a second PAC. All patients discharged to acute rehab who then transitioned to SNF exceeded the target price for the bundle. Methods: A case review of SDH episodes revealed that many were traumatic but not documented as such. A summary of these cases was presented to providers with recommendations for appropriate wording to ensure appropriate coding. Education was also provided to coders related to BPCI regarding the impact of clarifying traumatic cause of SDH. Protocols for post-acute management were developed with partners in acute rehab & SNF’s in the region and gain-sharing agreements were developed. Partner facilities reviewed each bundled stroke patient for opportunities to reduce post-acute care LOS. Results: Analysis of Q3 2015 demonstrated that the number of SDH cases in the bundle dropped significantly, improving the financial picture six-fold. A reduction in SNF LOS of 25% was appreciated. Conclusion: Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States and post-acute care for a 90 day episode carries a prohibitive cost. Accurate documentation and partnering with post-acute facilities does improve the financial position. Ultimately though, post-acute care - not readmissions - is the major driving force for dollars spent in Stroke BPCI.

scholarly journals Impact of Multidisciplinary Stroke Post-Acute Care on Cost and Functional Status: A Prospective Study Based on Propensity Score Matching

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Chong-Chi Chiu ◽  
Jhi-Joung Wang ◽  
Chao-Ming Hung ◽  
Hsiu-Fen Lin ◽  
Hong-Hsi Hsien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Propensity Score ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Propensity Score Matching ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Medical Cost ◽  
Economic Burden ◽  
Stroke Rehabilitation ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Acute Care

Few papers discuss how the economic burden of patients with stroke receiving rehabilitation courses is related to post-acute care (PAC) programs. This is the first study to explore the economic burden of stroke patients receiving PAC rehabilitation and to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary PAC programs on cost and functional status simultaneously. A total of 910 patients with stroke between March 2014 and October 2018 were separated into a PAC group (at two medical centers) and a non-PAC group (at three regional hospitals and one district hospital) by using propensity score matching (1:1). A cost–illness approach was employed to identify the cost categories for analysis in this study according to various perspectives. Total direct medical cost in the per-diem-based PAC cohort was statistically lower than that in the fee-for-service-based non-PAC cohort (p < 0.001) and annual per-patient economic burden of stroke patients receiving PAC rehabilitation is approximately US $354.3 million (in 2019, NT $30.5 = US $1). Additionally, the PAC cohort had statistical improvement in functional status vis-à-vis the non-PAC cohort and total score of each functional status before rehabilitation and was also statistically significant with its total score after one-year rehabilitation training (p < 0.001). Early stroke rehabilitation is important for restoring health, confidence, and safe-care abilities in these patients. Compared to the current stroke rehabilitation system, PAC rehabilitation shortened the waiting time for transfer to the rehabilitation ward and it was indicated as an efficient policy for treatment of stroke in saving medical cost and improving functional status.

scholarly journals Post-acute care use patterns among Hospital Service Areas by older adults in the United States: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianna M. Dean ◽  
Kimberly Hreha ◽  
Ickpyo Hong ◽  
Chih-Ying Li ◽  
Daniel Jupiter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Service Area ◽  
Hospital Service ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Service Areas ◽  
Post Acute Care

Abstract Background Despite the success of stroke rehabilitation services, differences in service utilization exist. Some patients with stroke may travel across regions to receive necessary care prescribed by their physician. It is unknown how availability and combinations of post-acute care facilities in local healthcare markets influence use patterns. We present the distribution of skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care hospital services across Hospital Service Areas among a national stroke cohort, and we describe drivers of post-acute care service use. Methods We extracted data from 2013 to 2014 of a national stroke cohort using Medicare beneficiaries (174,498 total records across 3232 Hospital Service Areas). Patients’ ZIP code of residence was linked to the facility ZIP code where care was received. If the patient did not live in the Hospital Service Area where they received care, they were considered a “traveler”. We performed multivariable logistic regression to regress traveling status on the care combinations available where the patient lived. Results Although 73.4% of all Hospital Service Areas were skilled nursing-only, only 23.5% of all patients received care in skilled nursing-only Hospital Service Areas; 40.8% of all patients received care in Hospital Service Areas with only inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing, which represented only 18.2% of all Hospital Service Areas. Thirty-five percent of patients traveled to a different Hospital Service Area from where they lived. Regarding “travelers,” for those living in a skilled nursing-only Hospital Service Area, 49.9% traveled for care to Hospital Service Areas with only inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing. Patients living in skilled nursing-only Hospital Service Areas had more than five times higher odds of traveling compared to those living in Hospital Service Areas with all three facilities. Conclusions Geographically, the vast majority of Hospital Service Areas in the United States that provided rehabilitation services for stroke survivors were skilled nursing-only. However, only about one-third lived in skilled nursing-only Hospital Service Areas; over 35% traveled to receive care. Geographic variation exists in post-acute care; this study provides a foundation to better quantify its drivers. This study presents previously undescribed drivers of variation in post-acute care service utilization among Medicare beneficiaries—the “traveler effect”.

The Association of Antibiotic (ATB) exposure prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment on early emergency room and hospitalization utilization: A population-based study.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 304-304
Author(s):  
Lawson Eng ◽  
Rinku Sutradhar ◽  
Yue Niu ◽  
Ning Liu ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Room ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Dose Effect ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Comorbidity Score ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Acute Care Utilization ◽  
The Impact

304 Background: ICIs are becoming a common therapeutic option for many solid tumors. Prior studies have shown that ATB exposure can negatively impact ICI outcomes through gut microbiome changes leading to poorer overall survival; however, less is known about the potential impact of ATB exposure on toxicities from ICI. We undertook a population-based retrospective cohort study in patients receiving ICIs to evaluate the impact of ATB exposure on early acute care use, defined as emergency department visit or hospitalization, within 30 days of initiation of ICI therapy. Methods: Administrative data was utilized to identify a cohort of cancer patients > 65 years of age receiving ICIs from June 2012 to October 2018 in Ontario, Canada. We linked databases deterministically to obtain socio-demographic and clinical co-variates, ATB prescription claims and acute care utilization. Patients were censored if they died within 30 days of initiating ICI therapy. The impact of ATB exposure within 60 days prior to starting ICI on early acute care use was evaluated using multi-variable logistic regression models, adjusted for age, gender, rurality, recent hospitalization within 60 days prior to starting ICI and comorbidity score. Results: Among 2737 patients (median age 73 years), 43% received Nivolumab, 41% Pembrolizumab and 13% Ipilimumab, most commonly for lung cancer (53%) or melanoma (34%). Of these patients, 19% had ATB within 60 days prior to ICI with a median ATB treatment duration of 9 days (SD = 13). 647 (25%) patients had an acute care episode within 30 days of starting ICIs; 182 (7%) patients passed away within 30 days without acute care use and were censored from further analyses. Any ATB exposure within 60 days prior to ICI was associated with greater likelihood of acute care use (aOR = 1.34 95% CI [1.07-1.67] p = 0.01). A dose effect was seen based on weeks of ATB exposure within 60 days prior to ICI (aOR = 1.12 per week [1.04-1.21] p = 0.004) and early acute care use. ATB class analysis identified that exposure to penicillins (aOR = 1.54 [1.11-2.15] p = 0.01) and fluoroquinolones (aOR = 1.55 [1.11-2.17] p = 0.01) within 60 days of starting ICIs were associated with a greater likelihood of acute care use, while there was no significant association between cephalosporin exposure and early acute care use (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Exposure to ATBs, specifically fluoroquinolones and penicillins, prior to ICI therapy is associated with greater likelihood of hospitalization or emergency room visits within 30 days after initiation of ICIs, even after adjustment for relevant co-variates including age, comorbidity score and recent hospitalization prior to ICI initiation. Further studies are required to better understand the mechanisms of recent ATB exposure on early acute care use among patients receiving ICIs.

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