Trends in Geographic Disparities in Access to Ambulatory Surgery Centers in New York, 2010 to 2018

Insurance-Based Differences in Treatment Patterns for Uterine Fibroids

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to examine whether Medicaid versus commercial insurance and reimbursement are associated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) utilization rates for uterine fibroid treatment.

METHODS

This retrospective (October 2015 to September 2023) study of women aged 30 to 59 years who underwent procedures for the treatment of uterine fibroids (hysterectomy, myomectomy, or UAE) was based on the Inovalon Insights dataset for those with Medicaid or commercial insurance. Differences in the receipt of UAE versus hysterectomy or myomectomy by insurance type and relative reimbursement were assessed using logistic regression controlling for patient characteristics and geographic differences in treatment patterns. For women with either hysterectomy or myomectomy, differences in the receipt of these procedures laparoscopically or not were assessed by insurance type and relative reimbursement controlling for patient characteristics and geographic differences in treatment patterns.

RESULTS

Medicaid compared with commercial insurance was associated with 38% higher odds of UAE (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-1.42). States with higher Medicaid reimbursement for hysterectomy were associated with lower odds for UAE (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.98). For women with hysterectomy or myomectomy, those with Medicaid versus commercial insurance had 20% lower odds (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.79-0.82) of undergoing the procedure laparoscopically.

CONCLUSIONS

Women insured by Medicaid versus commercial insurance were more likely to undergo the less invasive UAE procedure. Conversely, Medicaid patients who underwent hysterectomy or myomectomy were less likely to undergo the procedure laparoscopically. Both results are consistent with the notion that insurance status may influence both physician referral patterns and treatment options available to patients.

Patients With a History of Lumbar Fusion Have a Greater Risk of Revision Arthroscopy and Conversion to Total Hip Arthroplasty After Primary Hip Arthroscopy

PURPOSE

To characterize the risk of revision hip arthroscopy or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) among patients with a history of lumbar fusion undergoing primary hip arthroscopy.

METHODS

We used the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, an administrative database including all ambulatory and inpatient surgery encounters in New York, to identify all patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement between 2010 and 2020. Patients with previous lumbar fusion were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision, coding definitions. Patients with and without previous fusion were matched in a 1:5 ratio according to age and comorbidity burden. The number of levels fused was defined in the following fashion: (1) no fusion, (2) 1-2 levels, or (3) ≥3 levels. Patients were followed for 2 years to evaluate the rate of revision hip arthroscopy or conversion to THA. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to measure the association between number of levels fused and revision hip arthroscopy or conversion to THA.

RESULTS

Between 2010 and 2020, there were 23,277 patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy in New York state. Of these, 348 (1.4%) had a previous lumbar fusion. After matching for age and comorbidities, the composite rate of revision hip arthroscopy or conversion to THA was greater in patients with previous lumbar fusion compared with patients without (16.5% vs 8.5%; P < .001). This risk increased with the number of levels fused (1-2 levels: 15.1%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval 1.3-2.6; vs ≥3 levels: 26.3%; adjusted odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval 1.7-7.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a history of lumbar fusion had significantly greater rates of revision hip arthroscopy and conversion to THA compared with patients without previous fusion. The risk of revision hip arthroscopy or conversion to THA was increased approximately 2-fold in patients with 1 to 2 levels fused and 3-fold in patients with 3 or more levels fused.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, prognostic retrospective matched comparative case series.

Postoperative racial disparities following spine surgery are less pronounced in the outpatient setting

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Racial disparities in spine surgery have been thoroughly documented in the inpatient (IP) setting. However, despite an increasing proportion of procedures being performed as same-day surgeries, whether similar differences have developed in the outpatient (OP) setting remains to be elucidated.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate racial differences in postoperative outcomes between Black and White patients following OP and IP lumbar and cervical spine surgery.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

Retrospective cohort study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Patients who underwent IP or OP microdiscectomy, laminectomy, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), or cervical disc replacement (CDR) between 2017 and 2021.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Thirty-day rates of serious and minor adverse events, readmission, reoperation, nonhome discharge, and mortality.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients who underwent IP or OP microdiscectomy, laminectomy, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), or cervical disc replacement (CDR) between 2017 and 2021 was conducted using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Disparities between Black and White patients in (1) adverse event rates, (2) readmission rates, (3) reoperation rates, (4) nonhome discharge rates, (5) mortality rates, (6) operative times, and (7) hospital LOS between Black and White patients were measured and compared between IP and OP surgical settings. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for potential effects of baseline demographic and clinical differences.

RESULTS

Of 81,696 total surgeries, 49,351 (60.4%) were performed as IP and 32,345 (39.6%) were performed as OP procedures. White patients accounted for a greater proportion of IP (88.2% vs 11.8%) and OP (92.7% vs 7.3%) procedures than Black patients. Following IP surgery, Black patients experienced greater odds of serious (OR 1.214, 95% CI 1.077-1.370, p=.002) and minor adverse events (OR 1.377, 95% CI 1.113-1.705, p=.003), readmission (OR 1.284, 95% CI 1.130-1.459, p<.001), reoperation (OR 1.194, 95% CI 1.013-1.407, p=.035), and nonhome discharge (OR 2.304, 95% CI 2.101-2.528, p<.001) after baseline adjustment. Disparities were less prominent in the OP setting, as Black patients exhibited greater odds of readmission (OR 1.341, 95% CI 1.036-1.735, p=.026) but were no more likely than White patients to experience adverse events, reoperation, individual complications, nonhome discharge, or death (p>.050 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Racial inequality in postoperative complications following spine surgery is evident, however disparities in complication rates are relatively less following OP compared to IP procedures. Further work may be beneficial in elucidating the causes of these differences to better understand and mitigate overall racial disparities within the inpatient setting. These decreased differences may also provide promising indication that progress towards reducing inequality is possible as spine care transitions to the OP setting.

Potential US Health Care Savings Based on Clinician Views of Feasible Site-of-Care Shifts

Importance

Shifting care to alternative sites when clinically appropriate may be associated with reduced US health care spending, improved access, and, in some cases, improved care outcomes.

Objective

To fill 2 main gaps in the current literature on site-of-care shifts: (1) understanding the clinician perspective on appropriateness of alternative care sites, given the central role they play in referrals and patient trust and (2) considering all potential sites where care could shift and calculating net savings potential.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this survey study, physicians (MDs and DOs), nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists, radiology and imaging technicians, and psychologists were surveyed from September 17 to November 22, 2021, about potential shifts of care from the hospital setting to alternative sites. Participants were selected by the survey firm Intellisurvey to provide broad representation across all specialties of interest. A minimum of 34 clinicians responded to each question. Data were analyzed from April 2022 through October 2023.

Exposure

More than 5000 individual diagnostic and procedural codes were reviewed and sorted into 312 distinct care activities by an expert panel of physicians. Survey respondents were then provided with the 2019 claims-based distribution across sites of care for each care activity and were asked, "based on your clinical judgment, what portion of [care activity] could safely occur in each of the following sites of care, without compromising clinical outcomes?"

Main Outcomes and Measures

Based on clinician-reported distributions, the total potential shift of volume from hospital-based settings to alternative sites and the associated net savings were estimated.

Results

Survey respondents included 1069 practicing clinicians (386 female [36.1%]; mean [SD] years since residency of physicians, 21.0 [9.7] years; mean [SD] age of nonphysicians, 45.3 [9.4] years) across specialties, all of whom practiced more than 20 clinical hours per week. There were 794 physicians (74.3%), and the remaining 275 respondents were midlevel professionals, such as physician assistants. Among 312 care activities surveyed, respondents indicated that 10.3 percentage points (95% CI, 10.0-10.5 percentage points) of commercial and 10.9 percentage points (95% CI, 10.7-11.1 percentage points) of Medicare volume currently taking place in hospital-based settings could shift to alternative sites with today's technology without compromising clinical outcomes. Across the entire US health care system, these shifts could be associated with a reduction in overall health care consumption spending ($3 562 339 000 000 000) by approximately $113.8 billion ($113 767 446 087 174 [3.2%]) to $147.7 billion ($147 661 672 284 263 [4.1%]) annually.

Conclusions and relevance

In this study, a substantial net savings opportunity was estimated. However, realizing this potential will require ongoing alignment among organizations, clinicians, and policymakers to overcome barriers to these shifts.

Trends in Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repairs and Reconstructions and an Analysis Between Low- and High-Volume Surgical Centers: A 10-Year Study in New York State

Background

Elbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) is the gold standard for operative treatment of UCL tears, with renewed interest in UCL repairs.

Purpose

To (1) assess trends in rates of UCLR and UCL repair and (2) identify predictors of complications by demographic, socioeconomic, or surgical center volume factors.

Study Design

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods

Patients who underwent UCLR or UCL repair at New York State health care facilities between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively identified; concomitant ulnar nerve procedures among the cohort were also identified. Surgical center volumes were classified as low (<99th percentile) or high (≥99th percentile). Patient information, neighborhood socioeconomic status quantified using the Area Deprivation Index, and complications within 90 days were recorded. Poisson regression analysis was used to compare trends in UCLR versus UCL repair. Multivariable regression was used to determine whether center volume, demographic, or socioeconomic variables were independent predictors of complications.

Results

A total of 1448 UCL surgeries were performed, with 388 (26.8%) concomitant ulnar nerve procedures. UCLR (1084 procedures; 74.9%) was performed more commonly than UCL repair (364 procedures; 25.1%), with patients undergoing UCL repair more likely to be older, female, and not privately ensured and having undergone a concomitant ulnar nerve procedure (all P < .001). With each year, there was an increased incidence rate ratio for UCL repair versus UCLR (β = 1.12 [95% CI, 1.02-1.23]; P = .022). The authors identified 2 high-volume centers (720 UCL procedures; 49.7%) and 131 low-volume centers (728 UCL procedures; 50.3%). Patients undergoing UCL procedures at high-volume centers were more likely to be younger and male and receive workers' compensation (all P < .001). UCL repair and ulnar nerve-related procedures were both more commonly performed at low-volume centers (P < .001). There were no significant differences in 3-month infection, ulnar neuritis, instability, arthrofibrosis, heterotopic ossification, or all-cause complication rates between low- and high-volume centers. The only significant predictor for all-cause complication was Medicaid insurance (OR, 2.91 [95% CI, 1.20-6.33]; P = .011).

Conclusion

A rising incidence of UCL repair compared with UCLR was found in New York State, especially among female patients, older patients, and nonprivate payers. There were no differences in 3-month complication rates between high- and low-volume centers, and Medicaid insurance status was a predictor for overall complications within 90 days of operation.

Increased 90-Day Readmissions and Complications Following Hip Arthroscopy in Centers With Low Surgical Volume in New York State

PURPOSE

To (1) classify surgical centers in New York State by volume of hip arthroscopies performed, (2) calculate rates of readmissions and complications by center volume, and (3) identify socioeconomic predictive factors for readmissions and complications following hip arthroscopy.

METHODS

Patients who underwent hip arthroscopy at New York State health care facilities from 2010 to 2020 were retrospectively identified using the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database. Hip arthroscopic procedures were identified using the following Current Procedural Terminology codes. Surgical center volumes were classified into 3 categories: low (<85th percentile), medium (85th-95th percentile), and high (>95th percentile). Incidence of readmissions and complications within 90 days was abstracted from SPARCS. Neighborhood socioeconomic status was quantified using the U.S. Area Deprivation Index. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine whether center volume and other socioeconomic variables were independent predictors of outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 50,252 patients who underwent hip arthroscopy were identified in SPARCS from 2010 to 2020. Of these patients, 13,861 (27.6%) underwent surgery at low-volume centers, 11,757 (23.4%) at medium-volume centers, and 24,634 (49.0%) at high-volume centers. Minorities, publicly insured patients, and patients from lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods made up a larger proportion of cases seen by low-volume centers versus high-volume centers (P < .001). Patients in the low-volume group experienced significantly greater 90-day rates of readmissions (P < .001) and all-cause complications (P < .001) than the other groups. Furthermore, high-volume centers were independently associated with lower odds of readmission (odds ratio 0.57, P < .001) and all-cause complications (odds ratio 0.73, P < .001) versus low-volume centers.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-volume surgical centers are associated with increased readmission and complication rates following hip arthroscopy, independent of other socioeconomic factors such as age, sex, race, insurance status, and neighborhood socioeconomic status.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.

Improving Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Outpatient Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Driven by Increasing Utilization of Ambulatory Surgical Centers in New York State

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess trends in disparities in utilization of hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) for outpatient ACDF (OP-ACDF) between White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients from 2015 to 2018 in New York State.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Racial and ethnic disparities within the field of spine surgery have been thoroughly documented. To date, it remains unknown how these disparities have evolved in the outpatient setting alongside the rapid emergence of ASCs and whether restrictive patterns of access to these outpatient centers exist by race and ethnicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review from 2015 to 2018 using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) New York State Ambulatory Database. Differences in utilization rates for OP-ACDF were assessed and trended over time by race and ethnicity for both HOPDs and freestanding ASCs. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between utilization rates for OP-ACDF and race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2018, Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients were less likely to undergo OP-ACDF compared with White patients in New York State. However, the magnitude of these disparities lessened over time, as Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients had greater relative increases in utilization of HOPDs and ASCs for ACDF when compared with White patients ( Ptrend <0.001). The magnitude of the increase in freestanding ASC utilization was such that minority patients had higher ACDF utilization rates in freestanding ASCs by 2018 ( P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We found evidence of improving racial disparities in the relative utilization of outpatient ACDF in New York State. The increase in access to outpatient ACDF appeared to be driven by an increasing number of patients undergoing ACDF in freestanding ASCs in large metropolitan areas. These improving disparities are encouraging and contrast previously documented inequalities in inpatient spine surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.