Insurance Status and Disparities in Outpatient Care after Traumatic Injuries of the Hand: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The Impact of Neighborhood and Socioeconomic Disparities on Distal Radius Fracture Follow-Up Adherence

BACKGROUND

The aims of this retrospective cohort study were (1) to assess whether the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a novel neighborhood-level socioeconomic disparities metric, is associated with follow-up nonadherence, and (2) to determine the individual-level socioeconomic factors associated with follow-up nonadherence after treatment of distal radius fractures (DRFs).

METHODS

The authors included all patients who underwent nonoperative or operative management of DRFs at an academic level I trauma center between 2019 and 2021. A manual chart review was performed to collect data on ADI, sociodemographic factors, injury characteristics, conservative and surgical interventions, and health care utilization.

RESULTS

There was a significant weak negative Spearman-ranked correlation between ADI state deciles and clinic attendance rates ( rs [220] = -0.144 [95% CI, -0.274 to -0.009]; P = 0.032). Socioeconomic factors associated with significant differences in clinic attendance rates were having a spouse or partner (protective) ( P = 0.007), Medicaid insurance ( P = 0.013), male sex ( P = 0.023), and current smoking ( P = 0.026). Factors associated with differences in no-show rates were having a spouse or partner (odds ratio [OR], 0.326 [95% CI, 0.123 to 0.867]; P = 0.025), Medicaid insurance (OR, 7.78 [95% CI, 2.15 to 28.2]; P = 0.002), male sex (OR, 4.09 [95% CI, 1.72 to 9.74]; P = 0.001), and cigarette use (OR, 5.07 [95% CI, 1.65 to 15.6]; P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

ADI has a weak, negative correlation with clinic attendance rates after DRF treatment. Significant disparities in clinic follow-up adherence exist between patients on the basis of marital status, insurance, sex, and cigarette use.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Risk, III.

Insurance Status Predicts Hand Therapy Adherence following Flexor Tendon Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Many patients are not adherent to hand therapy rehabilitation following surgical repair of traumatic flexor tendon injuries, which can negatively affect surgical outcomes and long-term hand function. The authors aimed to identify the factors that predict patient nonadherence to hand therapy following flexor tendon repair surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 154 patients who underwent surgical repair of flexor tendon injuries at a level I trauma center between January of 2015 and January of 2020. A manual chart review was performed to collect demographic data, insurance status, injury characteristics, and details of the postoperative course, including health care use.

RESULTS

Factors significantly associated with occupational therapy no-shows included Medicaid insurance (OR, 8.35; 95% CI, 2.91 to 24.0; P < 0.001), self-identified Black race (OR, 7.28; 95% CI, 1.78 to 29.7; P = 0.006), and current cigarette smoker status (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.18 to 6.15; P = 0.019). Patients without insurance attended 73.8% of their occupational therapy visits, and patients with Medicaid attended 72.0% of their visits, rates significantly lower than the rate of those with private insurance (90.7%; P = 0.026 and P = 0.001, respectively). Patients with Medicaid were eight times more likely to seek emergency department care postoperatively than patients with private insurance ( P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant disparities in hand therapy adherence following flexor tendon repair surgery exist between patients with different insurance statuses, races, and tobacco use. Understanding these disparities can help providers identify at-risk patients to improve hand therapy use and postoperative outcomes.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Risk, II.

Is Insurance Payer Associated With Hospital Admission of Emergency Department Patients With Mandible Fractures?

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of consensus on the optimal triage pathway for emergency department (ED) patients with mandibular fractures. It remains unclear if patient insurance payers predict hospital admission given potentially competing logistical and health system incentives.

PURPOSE

To generate nationally representative estimates of the frequency of hospital admission and its association with primary insurance payers for ED patients with mandible fractures.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used the 2018 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, the largest all-payer database in the United States, to identify patients with mandible fractures. The database includes a stratified sample with discharge weights to generate nationally representative estimates. Patients with other facial fractures and/or concomitant injuries that independently warranted admission were excluded.

PREDICTOR

The primary predictor variable was primary payer (public, private, self-pay, and other/no charge).

OUTCOME VARIABLE

The primary outcome variable was hospital admission (yes/no).

COVARIATES

Covariates included patient-, medical/injury-, and hospital-related variables.

ANALYSES

Descriptive statistics, along with bivariate and multivariate logistic regression with Bonferroni correction, were used to produce national estimates and identify predictors of admission. P < .01 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The cohort included 27,238 weighted encounters involving isolated mandible fractures, of which 5,345(20%) were admitted. The payers for admitted patients were 46% public, 25% private, 22% self-pay, and 7% no charge/other. In bivariate analyses, public insurance was associated with a higher likelihood of admission than private insurance (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.45), though there was no association in the multivariate model (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.28). In multivariate analysis, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.48), alcohol-related disorder (OR 3.47, 95% CI 2.74 to 4.39), substance-related disorder (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.71), and more mandible fractures (OR 3.08, 95% CI 2.65 to 3.59) were associated with admission. Compared to body fractures, subcondylar (OR 3.83, 95% CI 2.39 to 6.14), angle (OR 3.53, 95% CI 2.84 to 6.09), and symphysis (OR 4.14, 95% CI 2.84 to 6.09) fractures had higher odds of admission. Finally, level I (OR 4.11, 95% CI 2.41 to 6.98) and level II (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.85 to 5.39) trauma centers had higher odds of admission.

CONCLUSIONS

In 2018, 20% of ED patients with isolated mandible fractures were admitted. Several patient and hospital characteristics were predictors of admission. Insurance status was not associated with admission.

Health Disparities in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are linked to poor health care outcomes across the different medical specialties. We conducted a scoping review to understand the existing literature and identify further areas of research to address disparities within hand surgery.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane was conducted. Inclusion criteria were English studies examining health disparities in hand surgery. The following were assessed: the main SDOH, study design/phase/theme, and main disease/injury/procedure. A previously described health disparities research framework was used to determine study phase: detecting (identifying risk factors), understanding (analyzing risk factors), and reducing (assessing interventions). Studies were categorized according to themes outlined at the National Institute of Health and American College of Surgeons: Summit on Surgical Disparities.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 446 articles, with 49 articles included in final analysis. The majority were detecting-type (31/49, 63%) or understanding-type (12/49, 24%) studies, with few reducing-type studies (6/49, 12%). Patient factors (31/49, 63%) and systemic/access factors (16/49, 33%) were the most frequently studied themes, with few investigating clinical care/quality factors (4/49, 8%), clinician factors (3/49, 6%), and postoperative/rehabilitation factors (1/49, 2%). The most commonly studied SDOH include insurance status (13/49, 27%), health literacy (10/49, 20%), and social deprivation (6/49, 12%). Carpal tunnel syndrome (9/49, 18%), upper extremity trauma (9/49, 18%), and amputations (5/49, 10%) were frequently assessed. Most investigations involved retrospective or database designs (29/49, 59%), while few were prospective, cross-sectional, or mixed-methods.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite an encouraging upward trend in health disparities research, existing studies are in the early phases of investigation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Most of the literature focuses on patient factors and systemic/access factors in regard to insurance status. Further work with prospective, cross-sectional, and mixed-method studies is needed to better understand health disparities in hand surgery, which will inform future interventions.

Associations Between Medicaid Expansion and Timely Repair of Cleft Lip and Palate

The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased access to health care for many low-income children. However, the impact of this expansion on the timing of primary cleft lip and palate repair remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether Medicaid expansion improved access to timely cleft lip and palate repair and whether it reduced preexisting ethnoracial disparities. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study analyzed data from 44 pediatric surgical centers across the United States. The results showed that Medicaid expansion was associated with a 9.0 percentage-point increase in delayed cleft lip repairs, resulting in an average delay of 16 days. Non-White patients were disproportionately affected by this delay, experiencing a 14.8 percentage-point increase compared with a 4.9 percentage-point increase for White patients. In contrast, Medicaid expansion had no significant effect on the timing of palate repair or on ethnoracial disparities in palate repair. The study underscores the importance of monitoring unintended consequences of large-scale health system changes, especially those affecting disadvantaged populations. Delayed cleft lip repair can lead to worse outcomes for patients, and the disproportionate impact on non-White patients is concerning. Further research is needed to identify the reasons for this delay and to mitigate its effects. Overall, the study highlights the need for ongoing vigilance to ensure that health care policies and interventions do not inadvertently worsen health disparities.

Access to Reconstructive Hand Surgery in the United States-Investigating the Obstacles: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms that affect access to surgical hand care appear to be complex and multifaceted. This scoping review aims to investigate the available literature describing such mechanisms and provide direction for future investigation.

METHODS

The methodological framework outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews was used to guide this review. In November 2021, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. A narrative summary of the characteristics and key findings of each paper is used to present the data to facilitate the integration of diverse evidence.

RESULTS

Of 471 initial studies, 49 were included in our final analysis. Of these, 33% were cohort studies; 27% reported that underinsured patients are less likely to get an appointment with a hand specialist or to receive treatment. Overburdened emergency departments accounted for the second-most reported reason (16%) for diminished access to surgical hand care. Elective procedure financial incentives, poor emergency surgical hand coverage, distance to treatment, race, and policy were also notably reported across the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

This study describes the vast mechanisms that hinder access to surgical hand care and highlights their complexity. Possible solutions and policy changes that may help improve access have been described.

Role of Health Equity Research and Policy for Diverse Populations Requiring Hand Surgery Care

Health equity requires allocation of resources to eliminate the systematic disparities in health, imposed on marginalized groups, which adversely impact outcomes. A socioecological approach is implemented to elucidate the role of health equity research and policy for underrepresented minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Through investigation of the individual, community, institution, and public policy, we investigate problems and propose solutions to ensure fair and just treatment of all patients requiring hand surgery.

Hepatitis C active viremia over time in an ED-based testing programme: Impact, disparities and surveillance tool

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) surveillance is a critical component of a comprehensive strategy to prevent and control HCV infection and HCV-related chronic liver disease. The emergency department (ED) has been increasingly recognized as a vital partner in HCV testing and linkage. We sought to consider active RNA HCV viremia over time in patients participating in an ED-based testing programme as a measure of local HCV surveillance and as a barometer of ED-testing programme impact. We performed a retrospective analysis of individuals participating in our ED-based HCV testing programme between 2015 and 2021. Chi-square tests were used to compare the demographic characteristics of HCV antibody positive tests with active viremia to those without active viremia. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the trend in active viremia risk over time in the overall study population as well as in key subpopulations of interest. Of 5456 HCV antibody positive individuals, 3102 (56.8%) had active viremia. In the overall study population, we found that the risk of active viremia decreased by 4.8% per year during the study period (RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93-0.97|p < .0001). Baby boomers experienced a 9% decrease in active viremia risk per year over the study period while non-baby boomers only had a 2% decrease in risk per year (p = .0009). Compared with insured patients, uninsured patients had a smaller decrease in risk of active HCV viremia per year (p = .003). No significant differences in the risk of active viremia over time were observed for gender (p = .4694) or by primary care provider status (p = .2208). In conclusion, this ED-based testing and linkage programme demonstrates significantly decreased active HCV viremia over time. It also highlights subpopulations, specifically non-baby boomers and uninsured patients, who may benefit from focused interventions to improve access to and adoption of definitive HCV care.