The association between managed care enrollments and potentially preventable hospitalization among adult Medicaid recipients in Florida

Impact of Statewide Mandatory Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Programs on Hospital Obstetric Outcomes

The state of Florida implemented mandatory managed care for Medicaid enrollees via the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program in April of 2014. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the implementation of the SMMC program on the access to care and quality of maternal care for Medicaid enrollees, as measured by several hospital obstetric outcomes. The primary data source for this retrospective observational study was the Hospital Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) all-payer State ED (SED) visit and State Inpatient Databases (SIDs) from 2010 to 2017. The primary health outcomes for obstetric care were primary cesarean, preterm birth, postpartum preventable ED visits, postpartum preventable readmissions, and vaginal delivery after cesarean (VBAC) rates. Using difference-in-differences (DID) estimation, selected health outcomes were examined for Florida residents with Medicaid beneficiaries (treatment) and the commercially insured population (comparison), before and after the implementation of SMMC. Improvement in disparities for racial/ethnic minority Medicaid enrollees was estimated relative to whites, compared to the relative change among commercially insured patients. From the DID estimation, the findings showed that SMMC is statistically significantly associated with a higher reduction in primary cesarean rates, preterm births, preventable postpartum ED visits, and readmissions among Medicaid beneficiaries relative to their commercially insured counterparts. However, this study did not find any significant reduction in racial/ethnic disparities in obstetric outcomes. In general, this study highlights the impact of SMMC implementation on obstetric outcomes in Florida and provides important insights and potential scope for improvement in obstetric care quality and associated racial/ethnic disparities.

Is enrollment in a Medicaid health maintenance organization associated with less preventable hospitalizations?

Introduction

The objective of this study is to compare the performance of Medicaid health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid regarding the prevalence of potentially preventable hospitalizations, a recognized measure of outpatient care quality.

Methods

This study used nationally representative data on non-institutionalized Medicaid recipients, ages 18–64, from the 2003–2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Separate analyses are conducted for recipients insured through both Medicaid and Medicare (“dual eligibles”) and recipients whose only health insurance is Medicaid (“non-duals”). In each group the occurrence of potentially preventable hospitalizations is measured, and then survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression models are fit to quantify the relationship between Medicaid HMO status and the occurrence of such stays. The possibility of selection bias into HMOs is considered and explicitly addressed in model estimation using propensity score methods.

Results

Adjusting for covariates and confounders dual eligible enrolled in Medicaid managed care are more likely to have a potentially preventable hospitalization relative to those covered under FFS Medicaid (survey weighted logit model OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 0.98–3.03; propensity score weighted logit model OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.06–3.28). In contrast, the odds ratios did not differ among non-duals in Medicaid HMOs versus FFS Medicaid.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that, at least for dual eligibles, the quality of outpatient care in Medicaid HMOs may be worse than under FFS Medicaid. Better and more streamlined clinical preventive approaches for this high risk and vulnerable population might be required in Medicaid HMOs.

Associations between structures and resources of primary care at the district level and health outcomes: a case study of diabetes mellitus care in Thailand

Background

The structural factors of primary care potentially influence its performance and quality. This study investigated the association between structural factors, including available primary care resources and health outcomes, by using diabetes-related ambulatory care sensitive conditions hospitalizations under the Universal Coverage Scheme in Thailand.

Methods

A 2-year panel study used secondary data compiled at the district level. Administrative claim data from 838 districts during the 2014–2015 fiscal years from the National Health Security Office were used to analyze overall diabetes mellitus (DM) hospitalizations and its three subgroups: hospitalizations for uncontrolled diabetes, short-term complications, and long-term complications. Primary care structural data were obtained from the Ministry of Public Health. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the influence of structural factors on the age-standardized DM hospitalization ratio.

Results

A higher overall DM and uncontrolled diabetes hospitalization ratio was related to an increasing concentration of outpatient utilization (using the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index) (overall DM; beta [standard error, SE]=0.003 [0.001], 95% CI 0.000, 0.006) and decreasing physician density and bed supply (overall DM; beta [SE]=−1.350 [0.674], 95% CI −2.671, −0.028), beta [SE]=−0.023 [0.011], 95% CI −0.045, −0.001, respectively). Hospitalizations for short-term complications increased with a decrease in health care facility density, whereas hospitalizations for long-term complications increased as that density increased. Rurality was strongly associated with higher hospitalization ratios for all DM hospitalizations except short-term complications.

Conclusions

This study identified structural factors associated with health outcomes, many of which can be changed through reorganization at the district level.

Intra-urban differences in rates of admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in Brazil's Center-West region

Admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) represent a useful indicator of assess to and the effectiveness of primary health care. This article examined rates of admissions for ACSCs and the main causes of admissions in intra-urban areas of the municipality of Goiânia, capital of the State of Goiás. An ecological study was conducted to determine rates of admissions in Goiânia's seven health districts between 2008 and 2013 using data from Hospital Admission Authorization forms obtained from the municipality's Hospital Information System. Admissions were georeferenced throughout the seven health districts. Age-adjusted rates of admissions for ACSCs were calculated and the most common causes of admissions were identified for each age group. A 95% confidence interval was calculated as a measure of precision of the rates. The average overall rate of admissions for ACSCs was 155.5 per 10,000 population. Rates were highest in the Southern District and lowest in the Southwest District. Rates were highest in the youngest and oldest age groups. The Northwest District showed the highest rates in nine groups of causes, notably chronic non-communicable diseases among adults. Our findings showed that there are major differences in rates across health districts, pointing to shortfalls in primary health coverage, quality problems and an inadequate care model in districts with high coverage.

Affordable Care Act and healthcare delivery: A comparison of California and Florida hospitals and emergency departments

Importance

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has expanded access to health insurance for millions of Americans, but the impact of Medicaid expansion on healthcare delivery and utilization remains uncertain.

Objective

To determine the early impact of the Medicaid expansion component of ACA on hospital and ED utilization in California, a state that implemented the Medicaid expansion component of ACA and Florida, a state that did not.

Design

Analyze all ED encounters and hospitalizations in California and Florida from 2009 to 2014 and evaluate trends by payer and diagnostic category. Data were collected from State Inpatient Databases, State Emergency Department Databases and the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

Setting

Hospital and ED encounters.

Participants

Population-based study of California and Florida state residents.

Exposure

Implementation of Medicaid expansion component of ACA in California in 2014.

Main outcomes or measures

Changes in ED visits and hospitalizations by payer, percentage of patients hospitalized after an ED encounter, top diagnostic categories for ED and hospital encounters.

Results

In California, Medicaid ED visits increased 33% after Medicaid expansion implementation and self-pay visits decreased by 25% compared with a 5.7% increase in the rate of Medicaid patient ED visits and a 5.1% decrease in rate of self-pay patient visits in Florida. In addition, California experienced a 15.4% increase in Medicaid inpatient stays and a 25% decrease in self pay stays. Trends in the percentage of patients admitted to the hospital from the ED were notable; a 5.4% decrease in hospital admissions originating from the ED in California, and a 2.1% decrease in Florida from 2013 to 2014.

Conclusions and relevance

We observed a significant shift in payer for ED visits and hospitalizations after Medicaid expansion in California without a significant change in top diagnoses or overall rate of these ED visits and hospitalizations. There appears to be a shift in reimbursement burden from patients and hospitals to the government without a dramatic shift in patterns of ED or hospital utilization.

Mandatory Statewide Medicaid Managed Care in Florida and Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of implementation of the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program in Florida on access to and quality of primary care for Medicaid enrollees, measured by hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs).

DATA SOURCES

We examine inpatient data obtained from the Agency for Health Care Administration for 285 hospitals in Florida from January 2010 to June 2015. The analysis includes 3,645,515 discharges for Florida residents between the ages 18 and 64 with a primary payer of Medicaid or private insurance.

STUDY DESIGN

We use a difference-in-differences approach, comparing the change in the incidence of ACSC-related inpatient visits among Medicaid patients before and after the implementation of SMMC, relative to the change among the privately insured.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

After implementation of SMMC, Medicaid patients experienced a 0.35 percentage point slower growth in overall ACSC-related inpatient visits, and a 0.21 percentage point slower growth in chronic ACSC-related inpatient visits. The effects were significant in counties with above median Medicaid managed care penetration rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing mandatory managed care in Medicaid in Florida leads to slower growth in inpatient visits for conditions that can potentially be prevented with improved access to outpatient care.

Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalizations among Medicaid Beneficiaries with Chronic Conditions

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the relationship between ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations (ACSH) and patient-level and county-level variables.

METHODS

Utilizing a retrospective cohort approach, multi-state Medicaid claims data from 2007-2008 was used to examine ACSH at baseline and follow-up periods. The study cohort consisted of adult, non-elderly Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic physical conditions, who were continuously enrolled in fee-for-service programs, not enrolled in Medicare, and did not die during the study period (N=7,021). The dependent variable, ACSH, was calculated in the follow-up year using an algorithm from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality algorithm. Patient-level (demographic, health status, continuity of care) and county-level (density of healthcare providers and facilities, socio-economic characteristics, local economic conditions) factors were included as independent variables. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between ACSH and independent variables.

RESULTS

In this study population, 8.2% had an ACSH. African-Americans were more likely to have an ACSH [AOR=1.55, 95% CI 1.16, 2.07] than Caucasians. Adults with schizophrenia were more likely to have an ACSH, compared to those without schizophrenia [AOR=1.54, 95% CI 1.16, 2.04]. Residents in counties with a higher number of community mental health centers [AOR=0.88, 95% CI 0.80, 0.97] and rural health centers [AOR=0.98, 95% CI 0.95, 0.99] were less likely to have an ASCH.

CONCLUSIONS

Programs and interventions designed to reduce the risk of ACSH may be needed to target specific population subgroups and improve healthcare infrastructure.