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Yoon J, Chow A, Jiang H, Wong E, Chang ET. Comparing Quality, Costs, and Outcomes of VA and Community Primary Care for Patients with Diabetes. J Gen Intern Med 2024:10.1007/s11606-024-08968-4. [PMID: 39103601 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-08968-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act expanded access to independent community providers outside the Veterans Health Administration (VA). Little is known how quality, costs, and outcomes of primary care received in the community compare to that of the VA. OBJECTIVE To compare quality, costs, and outcomes of community and VA-provided primary care for patients with diabetes over a 12-month episode. DESIGN A cross-sectional study using VA administrative data and community care claims. Adjusted analyses were conducted using inverse probability weighted regression adjustment to balance patient characteristics. PARTICIPANTS Veterans with diabetes receiving primary care in the VA or community. MAIN MEASURES Quality measures included receipt of hemoglobin A1C tests, eye exams, microalbumin urine tests, and flu shots. Outcomes were measured by hospitalizations for an ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC). Costs were measured for VA and community outpatient care, inpatient care, and prescription drugs. KEY RESULTS There were 652,648 VA patients and 3650 community care patients. VA patients were less likely to be White, had shorter mean drive time to VA primary care, and were less likely to be rural than community care patients. In adjusted analyses, community care patients had significantly lower probability of receiving a hemoglobin A1C test, eye exam, microalbumin urine test, and flu shot compared to the VA group. There was no difference in probability of an ACSC hospitalization. Community care patients had higher mean total costs ($1741 [95% CI, $431, $3052]), driven by higher inpatient and prescription drug costs but lower emergency care costs than VA patients. CONCLUSION Patients receiving community primary care had worse diabetes quality and higher costs than patients receiving VA primary care. There was no difference in health outcomes. Care provided by an integrated delivery system may have advantages in quality and value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Yoon
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
- Department of General Internal Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Adam Chow
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Hao Jiang
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Emily Wong
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Evelyn T Chang
- Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy (CSHIIP), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, VHA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Eck CS, Ho V, Jiang C, Petersen LA. Determinants of referral network size for screening colonoscopies in the Veterans Health Administration after the implementation of the MISSION Act. Health Serv Res 2024; 59:e14239. [PMID: 37750017 PMCID: PMC10771900 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To measure key characteristics of the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Community Care (CC) referral network for screening colonoscopy and identify market and institutional factors associated with network size. DATA SOURCES VHA electronic health records, CC claim data, and National Plan and Provider Enumeration System. STUDY DESIGN In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we measure the size of the VHA's CC referral networks over time and by VHA parent facility (n = 137). We used a multivariable linear regression to identify factors associated with network size at the market-year level. Network size was measured as the number of physicians who performed at least one VHA-purchased screening colonoscopy per 1000 enrollees at baseline. DATA EXTRACTION Data were extracted for all Veterans (n = 102,119) who underwent a screening colonoscopy purchased by the VHA from a non-VHA physician from 2018 to 2021. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS From 2018 to 2021, median network volume of screening colonoscopies per 1000 enrollees grew from 1.6 (IQR: 0.6, 4.6) to 3.6 (IQR: 1.6, 6.6). The median network size grew from 0.63 (IQR: 0.30, 1.26) to 0.92 (IQR: 0.57, 1.63). Finally, the median procedures per physician increased from 2.5 (IQR: 1.6, 4.2) to 3.2 (IQR: 2.4, 4.7). After adjusting for baseline market characteristics, volume of screening colonoscopies was positively related to network size (β = 0.15, 95% CI: [0.10, 0.20]), negatively related to procedures per physician (β = -0.12, 95% CI: [-0.18, -0.05]), and positively associated with the percent of rural enrollees (β = 0.01, 95% CI: [0.00, 0.01]). CONCLUSIONS VHA facilities with a higher volume of VHA-purchased screening colonoscopies and more rural enrollees had more non-VHA physicians providing care. Geographic variation in referral networks may also explain differences in the effects of the MISSION Act on access to care and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase S. Eck
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical CenterHoustonTexasUSA
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt)HoustonTexasUSA
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Vivian Ho
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
- Department of EconomicsRice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
- Baker Institute for Public PolicyRice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Cheng Jiang
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical CenterHoustonTexasUSA
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt)HoustonTexasUSA
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Laura A. Petersen
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical CenterHoustonTexasUSA
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt)HoustonTexasUSA
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
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Erickson BA, Hoffman RM, Wachsmuth J, Packiam VT, Vaughan-Sarrazin MS. Location and Types of Treatment for Prostate Cancer After the Veterans Choice Program Implementation. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2338326. [PMID: 37856123 PMCID: PMC10587787 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.38326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance The Veterans Choice Program (VCP) was implemented in 2014 to help veterans gain broader access to specialized care outside of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities by providing them with purchased community care (CC). Objective To describe the prevalence and patterns in VCP-funded purchased CC after the implementation of the VCP among veterans with prostate cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used VHA administrative data on veterans with prostate cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2018. These veterans were regular VHA primary care users. Analyses were performed from March to July 2023. Exposures Driving distance (in miles) from residence to nearest VHA tertiary care facility. The location (VHA or purchased CC) in which treatment decisions were made was ascertained by considering 3 factors: (1) location of the diagnostic biopsy, (2) location of most of the postdiagnostic prostate-specific antigen laboratory testing, and (3) location of most of the postdiagnostic urological care encounters. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was receipt of definitive treatment and proportion of purchased CC by treatment type (radical prostatectomy [RP], radiotherapy [RT], or active surveillance) and by distance to nearest VHA tertiary care facility. Quality was evaluated based on receipt of definitive treatment for Gleason grade group 1 prostate cancer (low risk/limited treatment benefit by guidelines). Results The cohort included 45 029 veterans (mean [SD] age, 67.1 [6.9] years) with newly diagnosed prostate cancer; of these patients, 28 866 (64.1%) underwent definitive treatment. Overall, 56.8% of patients received definitive treatment from the purchased CC setting, representing 37.5% of all RP care and 66.7% of all RT care received during the study period. Most patients who received active surveillance management (92.5%) remained within the VHA. Receipt of definitive treatment increased over the study period (from 5830 patients in 2015 to 9304 in 2018), with increased purchased CC for patients living farthest from VHA tertiary care facilities. The likelihood of receiving definitive treatment of Gleason grade group 1 prostate cancer was higher in the purchased CC setting (adjusted relative risk ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.65-1.93). Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that the percentage of veterans receiving definitive treatment in VCP-funded purchased CC settings increased significantly over the study period. Increased access, however, may come at the cost of low care quality (overtreatment) for low-risk prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley A. Erickson
- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Urology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Richard M. Hoffman
- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Jason Wachsmuth
- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Vignesh T. Packiam
- Department of Urology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Mary S. Vaughan-Sarrazin
- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
- VHA Office of Rural Health, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City, Iowa
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Price ME, Gordon S, Emmitt C, Ndugga N, Kabdiyeva A, Mull H, Pizer S, Garrido MM. Growth of community-based immunotherapy treatment in the Veterans Health Administration. Cancer Med 2023; 12:18110-18119. [PMID: 37519258 PMCID: PMC10524003 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The MISSION and CHOICE Acts expanded the Veterans Health Administration's (VA) capacity to purchase immunotherapy services for VA patients from community-based providers. Our objective was to identify predictors of community-based immunotherapy treatment, and assess differences in cost and utilization across community treatment settings METHODS: We examined claims for 21,257 patients who started immunotherapy treatment between 2015 and 2020. We assessed growth in VA community-based immunotherapy care, predictors of community-based immunotherapy treatment using multivariable logistic regression based on patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. We compared utilization and costs among those who received community-based immunotherapy services in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) versus physician office settings (POs). RESULTS The proportion of community-based immunotherapy in the VA increased from 5.3% in 2015 to 32.1% in 2020, with total annual costs of immunotherapy growing from $6.1 million to $187 million. Older, married, and rural patients and those with more comorbidities were more likely than younger, single, or urban patients to be treated in the community. Black patients were more likely to be treated in the VA. Respiratory Cancer was the most common cancer type in both settings. Among community immunotherapy patients, we observed no meaningful differences in the number of units administered, the unit drug costs, or the cost per immunotherapy visit between POs and HOPDs. CONCLUSION Drug costs did not differ widely across HOPDs and POs among VA patients who receive community-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Gordon
- VA Boston Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Caroline Emmitt
- VA Boston Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Nambi Ndugga
- VA Boston Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Hillary Mull
- VA Boston Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Boston University School of MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Steven Pizer
- VA Boston Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Melissa M. Garrido
- VA Boston Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Patzel M, Barnes C, Ramalingam N, Gunn R, Kenzie ES, Ono SS, Davis MM. Jumping Through Hoops: Community Care Clinician and Staff Experiences Providing Primary Care to Rural Veterans. J Gen Intern Med 2023:10.1007/s11606-023-08126-2. [PMID: 37340259 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08126-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2019 VA Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act, or MISSION Act, aimed to improve rural veteran access to care by expanding coverage for services in the community. Increased access to clinicians outside the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) could benefit rural veterans, who often face obstacles obtaining VA care. This solution, however, relies on clinics willing to navigate VA administrative processes. OBJECTIVE To investigate the experiences rural, non-VA clinicians and staff have while providing care to rural veterans and inform challenges and opportunities for high-quality, equitable care access and delivery. DESIGN Phenomenological qualitative study. PARTICIPANTS Non-VA-affiliated primary care clinicians and staff in the Pacific Northwest. APPROACH Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of eligible clinicians and staff between May and August 2020; data analyzed using thematic analysis. KEY RESULTS We interviewed 13 clinicians and staff and identified four themes and multiple challenges related to providing care for rural veterans: (1) Confusion, variability and delays for VA administrative processes, (2) clarifying responsibility for dual-user veteran care, (3) accessing and sharing medical records outside the VA, and (4) negotiating communication pathways between systems and clinicians. Informants reported using workarounds to combat challenges, including using trial and error to gain expertise in VA system navigation, relying on veterans to act as intermediaries to coordinate their care, and depending on individual VA employees to support provider-to-provider communication and share system knowledge. Informants expressed concerns that dual-user veterans were more likely to have duplication or gaps in services. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the need to reduce the bureaucratic burden of interacting with the VA. Further work is needed to tailor structures to address challenges rural community providers experience and to identify strategies to reduce care fragmentation across VA and non-VA providers and encourage long-term commitment to care for veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Patzel
- Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code: L222, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
| | - Chrystal Barnes
- Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code: L222, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - NithyaPriya Ramalingam
- Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code: L222, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | | | - Erin S Kenzie
- Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code: L222, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Sarah S Ono
- Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health, Veteran Rural Health Resources Center, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Melinda M Davis
- Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code: L222, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Department of Family Medicine and OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Mull HJ, Kabdiyeva A, Ndugga N, Gordon SH, Garrido MM, Pizer SD. What is the role of selection bias in quality comparisons between the Veterans Health Administration and community care? Example of elective hernia surgery. Health Serv Res 2023; 58:654-662. [PMID: 36477645 PMCID: PMC10154155 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between community care (CC) treatment and a postoperative surgical complication in elective hernia surgery among Veterans using multiple approaches to control for potential selection bias. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data sources included Corporate Data Warehouse (VHA encounters and patient data), the Program Integrity Tool and Fee tables (CC encounters), the Planning Systems Support Group (geographic information), and the Paid file (VHA primary care providers). STUDY DESIGN Prior works suggest patient outcomes are better in VHA than in CC settings; however, these studies may not have appropriately accounted for the selection of higher-risk cases into CC. We estimated (1) a naïve logistic regression model to calculate the effect of CC setting on the probability of a complication, controlling for facility fixed effects and patient and procedure characteristics, and (2) a 2-stage model using the hernia patient's primary care provider's 1-year prior CC referral rate as the instrument. DATA COLLECTION We identified patients residing ≤40 miles from a VHA surgical facility with elective VHA or CC hernia surgery from 2018 to 2019. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Of 7991 hernia surgeries, 772 (9.7%) were in CC. The overall complication rate was 4.2%; 286/7219 (4.0%) among VHA surgeries versus 51/5772 (6.6%, p < 0.05) in CC. We observed a 2.8 percentage point increase in the probability of postoperative complication given CC surgery (95% confidence interval: 0.7, 4.8) in the naïve model. After accounting for the VHA provider's historical rate of CC referral, we no longer observed a relationship between surgery setting and risk of postoperative complication. CONCLUSIONS After accounting for the selection of higher-risk patients to CC settings, we found no difference in hernia surgery postoperative complications between CC and VHA. Future VHA and non-VHA comparisons should account for unobserved as well as observed differences in patients seen in each setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary J. Mull
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR)VA Boston Healthcare SystemBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of SurgeryBoston University School of MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Aigerim Kabdiyeva
- Partnered Evidence‐based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC)Department of Veterans AffairsBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Nambi Ndugga
- Partnered Evidence‐based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC)Department of Veterans AffairsBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sarah H. Gordon
- Department of Health LawPolicy and Management, Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Melissa M. Garrido
- Partnered Evidence‐based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC)Department of Veterans AffairsBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Health LawPolicy and Management, Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Steven D. Pizer
- Partnered Evidence‐based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC)Department of Veterans AffairsBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Health LawPolicy and Management, Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Itani KMF, Rosen AK. Association of Expanded Health Care Options for Community Care With Veterans' Surgical Outcomes. JAMA Surg 2022; 157:1123-1124. [PMID: 36223140 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.4986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kamal M F Itani
- Department of Surgery, VA Boston Health Care System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Surgery, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Amy K Rosen
- Department of Surgery, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Health Care System, Boston, Massachusetts
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