Can Reducing Implant Costs Increase Revenue for Surgically Treated Ankle Fractures: Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing for 1-Year Episode of Care

2021 ◽  
pp. 193864002110624
Author(s):  
Will Freking ◽  
Bandele Okelana ◽  
Arthur Only ◽  
Logan McMillan ◽  
Kendra Kibble ◽  
...  

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether decision-making regarding implant selection affects the reimbursement margins for the surgical fixation of ankle fractures. Methods: All ankle fractures treated between 2010 and 2017 within a single-insurer database were identified via Current Procedural Terminology codes by review of electronic medical record. Implant cost was determined via the implant record cross-referenced with the single contract institutional charge master database. The Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) technique was used to determine the costs of care during all activities throughout the 1-year episode of care. Statistical analysis consisted of multiple linear regression and goodness-of-fit analyses. Results: In all, 249 patients met inclusion criteria. Implant costs ranged from $173 to $3944, averaging $1342 ± $751. The TDABC-estimated cost of care ranged from $1416 to $9185, averaging $3869 ± $1384. Finally, the total reimbursed cost of care ranged between $1335 and $65 645, averaging $13 954 ± $9445. The implant costs occupied an estimated 34.7% of the TDABC-estimated cost of care per surgical encounter. Implant cost, as a percentage of the overall TDABC, was estimated as 36.2% in the inpatient setting and 33% in the outpatient setting, which was the second highest percentage behind surgical costs in both settings. We found a significant increase in net revenue of $1.93 for each dollar saved on implants in the outpatient setting, whereas the increase in net revenue per dollar saved of $1.03 approached significance in the inpatient setting. Conclusion: There is a direct relationship between intraoperative decision-making, as evidenced by implant choices, and the revenue generated by surgical fixation of ankle fractures. Intraoperative decision-making that is cognitive of implant cost can facilitate adoption of institutional cost containment measures and prompt increased healthcare value. Level of Evidence: Level III: Retrospective cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011420S0022
Author(s):  
Will Freking ◽  
Bandele Okelana ◽  
Logan J. McMillan ◽  
Kendra Kibble ◽  
Harsh R. Parikh ◽  
...  

Category: Ankle; Trauma; Other Introduction/Purpose: Implant selection may provide an opportunity to reduce costs and improve value in healthcare, but most orthopaedic surgeons are unfamiliar with the cost of surgical implants. Large variation has been reported in the overall cost of the surgical treatment of ankle fractures, largely due to variations in implant selection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between implant selection and the Reimbursed Cost of Care (RCC) over the total cost-of-care over the entire care episode. Methods: A single payer database was queried for isolated ankle fractures from 2010-2017. Patient characteristics, implant cost, RCC and total cost of care for one-year episodes were collected. Total cost of care was determined via Time Driven Activity Based Costing (TDABC). Analysis consisted of multivariable linear regression and goodness-of-fit tests. The relative proportion of the implant cost to the RCC was defined as Ic/RCC. Results: Construct costs (Inpatient: $1563.30 vs Outpatient: $1143.00; p<0.01)TDABC cost of care (Inpatient: $3670.90 vs Outpatient: $2941.90; p<0.01)RCC (Inpatient: $17350.00 vs Outpatient: $10895.80; p<0.01) were all significantly lower for the outpatient setting. Construct costs constituted an estimated 38.8% of the total TDABC cost and 14.5% of the RCC. The difference between RCC and implant costs presented a significant negative trend with the total construct costs for outpatient procedures (B=-$1.54; p=0.03), but non-significant for inpatient (B=-$0.37;p=0.79). Conclusion: This study investigated the effect of implant cost on the total cost of care in surgically treated ankle fractures. We found an overall higher reimbursed cost of care (RCC) in the outpatient setting and a higher TDABC cost of care in the inpatient setting, reinforcing the trend towards outpatient surgical management. Implant selection proved not only a significant portion of the overall cost of care, but a driver of overall revenue.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215145932095900
Author(s):  
Lauren Casnovsky ◽  
Breanna L Blaschke ◽  
Harsh R Parikh ◽  
Ilexa Flagstad ◽  
Kelsey Wise ◽  
...  

Introduction: Geriatric intertrochanteric (IT) femur fractures are a common and costly injury, expected to increase in incidence as the population ages. Understanding cost drivers will be essential for risk adjustments, and the surgeon’s choice of implant may be an opportunity to reduce the overall cost of care. This study was purposed to identify the relationship between implant type and inpatient cost of care for isolated geriatric IT fractures. Methods: A retrospective review of IT fractures from 2013-2017 was performed at an academic level I trauma center. Construct type and AO/OTA fracture classifications were obtained radiographically, and patient variables were collected via the electronic medical record (EMR). The total cost of care was obtained via time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC). Multivariable linear regression and goodness-of-fit analyses were used to determine correlation between implant costs, inpatient cost of care, construct type, patient characteristics, and injury characteristics. Results: Implant costs ranged from $765.17 to $5,045.62, averaging $2,699, and were highest among OTA 31-A3 fracture patterns (p < 0.01). Implant cost had a positive linear association with overall inpatient cost of care (p < 0.01), but remained highly variable (r2 = 0.16). Total cost of care ranged from $9,129.18 to $64,210.70, averaging $19,822, and patients receiving a sliding hip screw (SHS) had the lowest mean total cost of care at $17,077, followed by short and long intramedullary nails ($19,314 and $21,372, respectively). When construct type and fracture pattern were compared to total cost, 31-A1 fracture pattern treated with SHS had significantly lower cost than 31-A2 and 31-A3 and less variation in cost. Conclusion: The cost of care for IT fractures is poorly understood and difficult to determine. With alternative payment models on the horizon, implant selection should be utilized as an opportunity to decrease costs and increase the value of care provided to patients. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level IV.


Author(s):  
Laura Anselmi ◽  
Yiu-Shing Lau ◽  
Matt Sutton ◽  
Anna Everton ◽  
Rob Shaw ◽  
...  

AbstractRisk-adjustment models are used to predict the cost of care for patients based on their observable characteristics, and to derive efficient and equitable budgets based on weighted capitation. Markers based on past care contacts can improve model fit, but their coefficients may be affected by provider variations in diagnostic, treatment and reporting quality. This is problematic when distinguishing need and supply influences on costs is required.We examine the extent of this bias in the national formula for mental health care using administrative records for 43.7 million adults registered with 7746 GP practices in England in 2015. We also illustrate a method to control for provider effects.A linear regression containing a rich set of individual, GP practice and area characteristics, and fixed effects for local health organisations, had goodness-of-fit equal to R2 = 0.007 at person level and R2 = 0.720 at GP practice level. The addition of past care markers changed substantially the coefficients on the other variables and increased the goodness-of-fit to R2 = 0.275 at person level and R2 = 0.815 at GP practice level. The further inclusion of provider effects affected the coefficients on GP practice and area variables and on local health organisation fixed effects, increasing goodness-of-fit at GP practice level to R2 = 0.848.With adequate supply controls, it is possible to estimate coefficients on past care markers that are stable and unbiased. Nonetheless, inconsistent reporting may affect need predictions and penalise populations served by underreporting providers.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A Barboza ◽  
Erwin Chiquete ◽  
Antonio Arauz ◽  
Jonathan Colín ◽  
Alejandro Quiroz-Compean ◽  
...  

Background and purpose: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) not always implies a good prognosis. There is a need for robust and simple classification systems of severity after CVT that help in clinical decision-making. Methods: We studied 467 patients (81.6% women, median age: 29 years, interquartile range: 22-38 years) with CVT who were hospitalized from 1980 to 2014 in two third-level referral hospitals. Bivariate analyses were performed to select variables associated with 30-day mortality to integrate a further multivariate analysis. The resultant model was evaluated with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test for goodness of fit, and on Cox proportional hazards model for reliability of the effect size. After the scale was configured, security and validity were tested for 30-day mortality and modified Rankin scale (mRS) >2. The prognostic performance was compared with that of the CVT risk score (CVT-RS, 0-6 points) as the reference system. Results: The 30-day case fatality rate was 8.7%. The CVT grading scale (CVT-GS, 0-9 points) was integrated by stupor/coma (4 points), parenchymal lesion >6 cm (2 points), mixed (superficial and deep systems) CVT (1 point), meningeal syndrome (1 point) and seizures (1 point). CVT-GS was categorized into mild (0-3 points, 1.1% mortality), moderate (4-6 points, 19.6% mortality) and severe (7-9 points, 61.4% mortality). For 30-day mortality prediction, as compared with CVT-RS (cut-off 4 points), CVT-GS (cut-off 5 points) was globally better in sensitivity (85% vs 37%), specificity (90% vs 95%), positive predictive value (44% vs 40%), negative predictive value (98% vs 94%), and accuracy (94% vs 80%). For 30-day mRS >2 the performance of CVT-GS over CVT-RS was comparably improved. Conclusion: The CVT-GS is a simple and reliable score for predicting outcome that may help in clinical decision-making and that could be used to stratify patients recruited into clinical trials.


Author(s):  
Catiele Antunes ◽  
Elinor Zhou ◽  
Jad Abimansour ◽  
Daniella Assis ◽  
Olaya I. Brewer Gutierrez ◽  
...  

High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) is frequently used in the outpatient setting, but its role in the inpatient setting is unknown. We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent inpatient or outpatient HRM. Few differences were noted between groups and 28% of inpatients had an additional intervention. Tolerance of oral diet and diabetes were associated with a lower likelihood of additional intervention. Ultimately, the inpatient HRM group had unique characteristics and few subsequent interventions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz Bartkowski ◽  
Stephan Bartke

What drives farmers’ decision-making? To inform effective, efficient, and legitimate governance of agricultural soils, it is important to understand the behaviour of those who manage the fields. This article contributes to the assessment and development of innovative soil governance instruments by outlining a comprehensive understanding of the determinants of farmers’ behaviour and decision-making. Our analysis synthesises empirical literature from different disciplines spanning the last four decades on various farm-level decision-making problems. Based on a conceptual framework that links objective characteristics of the farm and the farmer with behavioural characteristics, social-institutional environment, economic constraints, and decision characteristics, empirical findings from 87 European studies are presented and discussed. We point out that economic constraints and incentives are very important, but that other factors also have significant effects, in particular pro-environmental attitudes, goodness of fit, and past experience. Conversely, we find mixed results for demographic factors and symbolic capital. A number of potentially highly relevant yet understudied factors for soil governance are identified, including adoption of technologies, advisory services, bureaucratic load, risk aversion and social capital, social norms, and peer orientation. Our results emphasise the importance of a broad behavioural perspective to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and legitimacy of soil governance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 581-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susie Q Lew ◽  
Neal Sikka ◽  
Clinton Thompson ◽  
Manya Magnus

IntroductionPeritoneal dialysis is a home-based therapy for individuals with end-stage renal disease. Telehealth, and in particular – remote monitoring, is making inroads in managing this cohort.MethodsWe examined whether daily remote biometric monitoring (RBM) of blood pressure and weight among peritoneal dialysis patients was associated with changes in hospitalization rate and hospital length of stay, as well as outpatient, inpatient and overall cost of care.ResultsOutpatient visit claim payment amounts (in US dollars derived from CMS data) decreased post-intervention relative to pre-intervention for those at age 18-54 years. For certain subgroups, non- or nearly-significant changes were found among female and Black participants. There was no change in inpatient costs post-intervention relative to pre-intervention for females and while the overall visit claim payment amounts increased in the outpatient setting slightly (US$511.41 (1990.30) vs. US$652.61 (2319.02), p = 0.0783) and decreased in the inpatient setting (US$10,835.30 (6488.66) vs. US$10,678.88 (15,308.17), p = 0.4588), these differences were not statistically significant. Overall cost was lower if RBM was used for assessment of blood pressure and/or weight (US$–734.51, p < 0.05). Use of RBM collected weight was associated with fewer hospitalizations (adjusted odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.33–0.89) and fewer days hospitalized (adjusted odds ratio 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.26–0.81). Use of RBM collected blood pressure was associated with increased days of hospitalization and increased odds of hospitalization.ConclusionsRBM offers a powerful opportunity to provide care to those receiving home therapies such as peritoneal dialysis. RBM may be associated with reduction in both inpatient and outpatient costs for specific sub-groups receiving peritoneal dialysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P Chidester ◽  
Sandeep R Das ◽  
Rebecca Vigen

Introduction: Out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) are a significant barrier to care and drive suboptimal medical therapy in ASCVD. Despite this, there is minimal attention paid to these costs in post-graduate education. To define a potential knowledge gap, we surveyed trainee understanding of OOPC. Methods: We surveyed Internal Medicine residents at a large academic program comprised of a large county safety-net hospital, a VA, and a private tertiary care hospital, about knowledge and practices surrounding patient OOPC. Residents rotate on services at all sites and the vast majority have primary care clinic at the county or VA hospital. Participants answered questions considering their most recent inpatient panel and their clinic patient panel. Familiarity was ranked on a 5-point Likert scale, and for the purposes of presentation, was divided into “Poor” and “Moderate or Better”. Non-parametric analysis was used to test differences between outpatients v inpatients and by year of training. Results: Of 159 residents, 106 (67%) responded. Familiarity with patient insurance status was moderate or better in 135 of 159 (85%). Moderate or better understanding of costs associated with medications (52% [83 of 159]), testing (19% [30 of 159]) and clinic visits (30% [48 of 159]) was less common. Respondents had higher familiarity with OOPC for clinic patients compared with their most recent inpatient panel: clinic visits (39% v 21% [62 v 33 of 159 p < 0.005]), testing (25.7% v 12.4% [41 v 20 of 159 p = 0.002]), and medications (62% v 42% [99 v 67 of 159 p <0.005]) Knowledge of cost of care was not an often-considered factor in decision making (27% “Often” or “Always” [43 of 159]). There was no significant difference in response by year of training. Discussion: Our survey demonstrates that trainee familiarity with OOPC was low overall but modestly higher for established clinic patients, perhaps reflecting longitudinal experience with them or the heterogeneity of admitted patient funding status. Familiarity with patient OOPC was not an often-considered factor in decision making and did not significantly improve over years of training. This suggests an important gap in trainee education. Teaching greater familiarity with patient OOPC during residency can increase awareness of the financial realities of patients, enabling more patient-centered care.


Chest Imaging ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Walker

Upper and middle lobe atelectasis discusses the radiographic and computed tomography (CT) manifestations of upper and middle lobe atelectasis. The most common radiographic signs of right upper lobe atelectasis include upward and medial displacement of the minor fissure, superior displacement of adjacent structures such as the hilum and main bronchus, and ipsilateral shift of the mediastinal structures. The S sign of Golden results from a centrally obstructing lung cancer as the cause of the atelectasis and manifests as a reverse S configuration of the minor fissure outlined by atelectatic lung and central mass. Left upper lobe atelectasis manifests with a veil-like opacity on frontal radiography with leftward shift of upper mediastinal structures such as the trachea and upward shift of the left main bronchus and left hemidiaphragm. The Luftsichel sign or air crescent sign may be seen and represents the hyperexpanded superior segment of the left lower lobe outlining the transverse aortic arch. Lobar atelectasis in the inpatient setting is most commonly secondary to an obstructing mucus plug. Lobar atelectasis in the outpatient setting is often a heralding sign of a centrally obstructing lung cancer and should be further evaluated with contrast-enhanced CT and/or bronchoscopy.


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