Skilled Nursing Facilities Modify the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Hospital Readmissions but Not Health Outcomes Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110131
Author(s):  
Leah R. Abrams ◽  
Geoffrey J. Hoffman

Objectives: Despite detrimental effects of depressive symptoms on self-care and health, hospital discharge practices and the benefits of different discharge settings are poorly understood in the context of depression. Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 23,485 hospitalizations from Medicare claims linked to the Health and Retirement Study (2000–2014). Results: Respondents with depressive symptoms were no more likely to be referred to home health, whereas the probability of discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) went up a half percentage point with each increasing symptom, even after adjusting for family support and health. Rehabilitation in SNFs, compared to routine discharges home, reduced the positive association between depressive symptoms and 30-day hospital readmissions (OR = 0.95, p = 0.029) but did not prevent 30-day falls, 1-year falls, or 1-year mortality associated with depressive symptoms. Discussion: Depressive symptoms were associated with discharges to SNFs, but SNFs do not appear to address depressive symptoms to enhance functioning and survival.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel A Prusynski ◽  
Allison M Gustavson ◽  
Siddhi R Shrivastav ◽  
Tracy M Mroz

Abstract Objective Exponential increases in rehabilitation intensity in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) motivated recent changes in Medicare reimbursement policies, which remove financial incentives for providing more minutes of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Yet there is concern that SNFs will reduce therapy provision and patients will experience worse outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize current evidence on the relationship between therapy intensity and patient outcomes in SNFs. Methods PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, and COCHRANE databases were searched. English-language studies published in the United States between 1998 and February 14, 2020, examining the relationship between therapy intensity and community discharge, hospital readmission, length of stay (LOS), and functional improvement for short-stay SNF patients were considered. Data extraction and risk of bias were performed using the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Classification of Evidence scale for causation questions. AAN criteria were used to assess confidence in the evidence for each outcome. Results Eight observational studies met inclusion criteria. There was moderate evidence that higher intensity therapy was associated with higher rates of community discharge and shorter LOS. One study provided very low-level evidence of associations between higher intensity therapy and lower hospital readmissions after total hip and knee replacement. There was low-level evidence indicating higher intensity therapy is associated with improvements in function. Conclusions This systematic review concludes, with moderate confidence, that higher intensity therapy in SNFs leads to higher community discharge rates and shorter LOS. Future research should improve quality of evidence on functional improvement and hospital readmissions. Impact This systematic review demonstrates that patients in SNFs may benefit from higher intensity therapy. Because new policies no longer incentivize intensive therapy, patient outcomes should be closely monitored to ensure patients in SNFs receive high-quality care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S498-S499
Author(s):  
Andrea E Daddato ◽  
Cynthia Drake ◽  
Edward A Miller ◽  
Pamela Nadash ◽  
Denise Tyler ◽  
...  

Abstract In recent years, Medicare Advantage (MA) plan enrollment has increased, a trend that is expected to continue. Many skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) rely on MA managed care insurer referrals to maintain their census in a market with high competition for post-acute care patients. This study used semi-structured interviews to describe the relationship between MA plans and SNFs from the perspective of key decision-makers in SNFs. Twenty-three interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from 11 Denver Metropolitan area SNFs. A combined purposive-snowball sampling approach was used to identify and recruit select staff from the participating facilities. Interviews focused on the relationship between MA plans and SNFs, including mechanisms of control, power dynamics, and preferences for MA versus Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare patients. Key findings included: 1) challenges SNF staff had navigating MA plans’ case management processes, a key mechanism used by MA plans to influence the behavior of SNF decision-makers; 2) MA plans exercising power over beneficiaries’ length of stay, potentially leading to early discharge and heightened risk for rehospitalization; 3) SNF preference for admitting Medicare FFS over MA patients due to higher rates of Medicare FFS reimbursement and greater control over patient care. SNFs are increasingly reliant on MA plans for patient referrals and revenue. The themes suggest that this growing reliance may place SNFs at odds with MA plans on how best to manage overall patient care. It is therefore important that future research investigate how MA plans’ influence over care affects patient outcomes in SNFs and other post-acute settings.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupam Chandra ◽  
Paul Takahashi ◽  
Gregory J Hanson ◽  
Amelia Sneve ◽  
Parvez Rahman ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S645-S645
Author(s):  
Andrea E Daddato ◽  
Edward A Miller ◽  
Pamela Nadash ◽  
Denise Tyler ◽  
Rebecca S Boxer

Abstract Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of potentially preventable hospital readmissions for Medicare beneficiaries from skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). This research seeks to determine if a HF patient’s insurance type (Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) vs. Medicare Advantage (MA)) influences their risk for readmission within 30 days of hospital discharge to a SNF. MA beneficiaries receive benefits through managed care plans with restricted networks, but typically expanded benefits. This research is particularly timely in light of CMS’ new penalties under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) directed at SNFs for 30-day rehospitalizations. Outcomes data on readmissions from a randomized controlled trial of HF Disease Management in SNFs conducted from 2014-2017 were used to evaluate the risk of readmission. Patients with HF receiving SNF care were enrolled and followed for 30 days from SNF admission. Patients were recruited from 29 primarily for-profit (93%) SNFs that contracted with an average of 4.07 (±5.48) MA plans. Of the 340 study participants followed, 62% had FFS Medicare coverage (n=212) and 38% had MA (n=128). In total, 23% (n=79) of patients experienced at least one readmission within 30 days of hospital discharge. FFS patients had a higher risk of rehospitalization within 30 days of hospital discharge than MA patients (25% vs. 20%), but the association between insurance type and rehospitalization was not statistically significant (p-value=0.177). Findings suggest that insurance type may be an important risk factor for rehospitalizations for patients with HF from SNF; however, a larger sample will need to confirm this relationship.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1591-1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. McHugh ◽  
Andrew Foster ◽  
Vincent Mor ◽  
Renée R. Shield ◽  
Amal N. Trivedi ◽  
...  

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