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Hogg-Graham R, Waters TM, Clear ER, Pearson K, Benitez JA, Mays GP. Longitudinal Trends in Insurer Participation in Multisector Population Health Activities. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2024; 61:469580241249092. [PMID: 38742676 PMCID: PMC11095183 DOI: 10.1177/00469580241249092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Healthcare organizations increasingly engage in activities to identify and address social determinants of health (SDOH) among their patients to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. While several studies to date have focused on the evolving role of hospitals and physicians in these types of population health activities, much less is known about the role health insurers may play. We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems for the period 2006 to 2018 to examine trends in health insurer participation in population health activities and in the multi-sector collaborative networks that support these activities. We also used a difference-in-differences approach to examine the impact of Medicaid expansion on insurer participation in population health networks. Insurer participation increased in our study period both in the delivery of population health activities and in the integration into collaborative networks that support these activities. Insurers were most likely to participate in activities focusing on community health assessment and policy development. Results from our adjusted difference-in-differences models showed variation in association between insurer participation in population health networks and Medicaid expansion (Table 2). Population health networks in expansion states experienced significant increases insurer participation in assessment (4.48 percentage points, P < .05) and policy and planning (7.66 percentage points, P < .05) activities. Encouraging insurance coverage gains through policy mechanisms like Medicaid expansion may not only improve access to healthcare services but can also act as a driver of insurer integration into population health networks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teresa M. Waters
- Institute for Public and Preventive Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Glen P. Mays
- University of Colorado Anschutz Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Vasan A, Kyle MA, Venkataramani AS, Kenyon CC, Fiks AG. Inequities in Time Spent Coordinating Care for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs. Acad Pediatr 2023; 23:1526-1534. [PMID: 36918094 PMCID: PMC10495536 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the United States, caregivers of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) must navigate complex, inefficient health care and insurance systems to access medical care. We assessed for sociodemographic inequities in time spent coordinating care for CYSHCN and examined the association between time spent coordinating care and forgone medical care. METHODS This cross-sectional study used data from the 2018-2020 National Survey of Children's Health, which included 102,740 children across all 50 states. We described the time spent coordinating care for children with less complex special health care needs (SHCN) (managed through medications) and more complex SHCN (resulting in functional limitations or requiring specialized therapies). We examined race-, ethnicity-, income-, and insurance-based differences in time spent coordinating care among CYSHCN and used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between time spent coordinating care and forgone medical care. RESULTS Over 40% of caregivers of children with more complex SHCN reported spending time coordinating their children's care each week. CYSHCN whose caregivers spent ≥ 5 h/wk on care coordination were disproportionately Hispanic, low-income, and publicly insured or uninsured. Increased time spent coordinating care was associated with an increasing probability of forgone medical care: 6.7% for children whose caregivers spent no weekly time coordinating care versus 9.4% for< 1 hour; 11.4% for 1 to 4 hours; and 15.8% for ≥ 5 hours. CONCLUSIONS Reducing time spent coordinating care and providing additional support to low-income and minoritized caregivers may be beneficial for pediatric payers, policymakers, and health systems aiming to promote equitable access to health care for CYSHCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Vasan
- Department of Pediatrics (A Vasan, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa; PolicyLab and Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness (A Vasan, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pa; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (A Vasan, AS Venkataramani, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
| | - Michael Anne Kyle
- Department of Health Care Policy (MA Kyle), Harvard Medical School and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Mass.
| | - Atheendar S Venkataramani
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (A Vasan, AS Venkataramani, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa; Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy (AS Venkataramani), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Calif.
| | - Chén C Kenyon
- Department of Pediatrics (A Vasan, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa; PolicyLab and Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness (A Vasan, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pa; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (A Vasan, AS Venkataramani, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
| | - Alexander G Fiks
- Department of Pediatrics (A Vasan, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa; PolicyLab and Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness (A Vasan, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pa; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (A Vasan, AS Venkataramani, CC Kenyon, and AG Fiks), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
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Hatoun J, Barrieau DJ, Bryson EA, Bhaumik U, Woods ER. Primary care provider perceptions of an asthma home visiting program. J Asthma 2023; 60:1967-1972. [PMID: 37093899 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2023.2206899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pediatric asthma home visiting programs have improved clinical outcomes, but little is known about how providers perceive these programs. The purpose of this study was to understand how primary care providers and their colleagues in a medical home perceive an asthma home visiting program that is available at no cost to their patients. METHODS After several years of running an asthma home visiting program using community health workers (CHW) in 10 pediatric primary care offices in the South Coast of Massachusetts, we surveyed the providers of patients who had enrolled in the program. An anonymous online survey was developed by the program leaders, the program analytics team, and the CHWs for quality improvement purposes. Survey domains included the perceived utility of various aspects of the program, impact on patients, and interaction with CHWs, as well as demographic information about the providers. RESULTS Of the 24 providers asked to complete the survey from eight primary care practices, 21 completed the survey (88%). Respondents perceived that the most beneficial aspects were environmental assessment (95%), asthma education (91%), and addressing environmental issues (86%). In addition to numerous positive free-text responses, suggestions for improvement were in the areas of referral completion, post-visit communication, and patient identification in the medical record. All respondents would continue to refer to the program. CONCLUSIONS Primary care providers and medical home staff perceived an asthma home visiting program to have high utility, particularly the environmental assessment, asthma education, and mitigation of environmental issues. Additional opportunities for improvement were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Hatoun
- Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Wellesley, MA, USA
- Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel J Barrieau
- Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Wellesley, MA, USA
| | - Emily A Bryson
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Urmi Bhaumik
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Office of Community Health, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Woods
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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DeBoer EM, Morgan WJ, Quiros-Alcala L, Rosenfeld M, Stout JW, Davis SD, Gaffin JM. Defining and Promoting Pediatric Pulmonary Health: Assessing Lung Function and Structure. Pediatrics 2023; 152:e2023062292E. [PMID: 37656029 PMCID: PMC10484309 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-062292e] [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] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lifelong respiratory health is rooted in the structural and functional development of the respiratory system in early life. Exposures and interventions antenatally through childhood can influence lung development into young adulthood, the life stage with the highest achievable lung function. Because early respiratory health sets the stage for adult lung function trajectories and risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, understanding how to promote lung health in children will have far reaching personal and population benefits. To achieve this, it is critical to have accurate and precise measures of structural and functional lung development that track throughout life stages. From this foundation, evaluation of environmental, genetic, metabolic, and immune mechanisms involved in healthy lung development can be investigated. These goals require the involvement of general pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists, patients, and researchers to design and implement studies that are broadly generalizable and applicable to otherwise healthy and chronic disease populations. This National Institutes of Health workshop report details the key gaps and opportunities regarding lung function and structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M. DeBoer
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Wayne J. Morgan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Lesliam Quiros-Alcala
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering, Environmental Health and Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Margaret Rosenfeld
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - James W. Stout
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Stephanie D. Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jonathan M. Gaffin
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Social determinants of health play a major role in healthcare utilization and outcomes in patients with asthma. Continuing to understand how these complex and interwoven relationships interact to impact patient care will be crucial to creating innovative programmes that address these disparities. RECENT FINDINGS The current literature continues to support the association of substandard housing, urban and rural neighbourhoods, and race/ethnicity with poor asthma outcomes. Targeted interventions with community health workers (CHWs), telemedicine and local environmental rectifications can help improve outcomes. SUMMARY The link between social determinants and poor asthma outcomes continues to be supported by recent literature. These factors are both nonmodifiable and consequences of institutionalized racist policies that require innovative ideas, technologic equity and funding for groups most at risk for poorer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre E. Espaillat
- Divisions of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Michelle L. Hernandez
- Allergy & Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
- Children’s Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Allison J. Burbank
- Allergy & Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
- Children’s Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
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Umaretiya PJ, Vinci RJ, Bona K. A Structural Racism Framework to Guide Health Equity Interventions in Pediatric Oncology. Pediatrics 2022; 149:186711. [PMID: 35490282 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-054634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Puja J Umaretiya
- Department of Pediatric Oncology.,Division of Population Sciences.,Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert J Vinci
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.,Boston University School of Medicine Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kira Bona
- Department of Pediatric Oncology.,Division of Population Sciences.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Are primary care and continuity of care associated with asthma-related acute outcomes amongst children? A retrospective population-based study. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:5. [PMID: 35172739 PMCID: PMC8759282 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01605-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Having a primary care provider and a continuous relationship may be important for asthma outcomes. In this study, we sought to determine the association between 1) having a usual provider of primary care (UPC) and asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization in Québec children with asthma and 2) UPC continuity of care and asthma outcomes. METHODS Population-based retrospective cohort study using Québec provincial health administrative data, including children 2-16 years old with asthma (N = 39, 341). Exposures and outcomes were measured from 2010-2011 and 2012-2013, respectively. Primary exposure was UPC stratified by the main primary care models in Quebec (team-based Family Medicine Groups, family physicians not in Family Medicine Groups, pediatricians, or no assigned UPC). For those with an assigned UPC the secondary exposure was continuity of care, measured by the UPC Index (high, medium, low). Four multivariate logistic regression models examined associations between exposures and outcomes (ED visits and hospitalizations). RESULTS Overall, 17.4% of children had no assigned UPC. Compared to no assigned UPC, having a UPC was associated with decreased asthma-related ED visits (pediatrician Odds Ratio (OR): 0.80, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [0.73, 0.88]; Family Medicine Groups OR: 0.84, 95% CI [0.75,0.93]; non-Family Medicine Groups OR: 0.92, 95% CI [0.83, 1.02]) and hospital admissions (pediatrician OR: 0.66, 95% CI [0.58, 0.75]; Family Medicine Groups OR: 0.82, 95% CI [0.72, 0.93]; non-Family Medicine Groups OR: 0.76, 95% CI [0.67, 0.87]). Children followed by a pediatrician were more likely to have high continuity of care. Continuity of care was not significantly associated with asthma-related ED visits. Compared to low continuity, medium and high continuity of care decreased asthma-related hospital admissions, but none of these associations were significant. CONCLUSION Having a UPC was associated with reduced asthma-related ED visits and hospital admissions. However, continuity of care was not significantly associated with outcomes. The current study provides ongoing evidence for the importance of primary care in children with asthma.
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Woods ER, Sommer SJ, Bryson EA, Shreeve KM, Graham D, Nethersole S, Bhaumik U. Improved 10-year cost savings for patients served by the Boston Children's Hospital Community Asthma Initiative. J Asthma 2021; 59:2258-2266. [PMID: 34904928 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.2010746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide a 10-year follow-up of asthma cost-savings for patients served by the Community Asthma Initiative (CAI) group compared to a coarsely cost-matched comparison group from similar neighborhoods (comparison group). METHODS CAI provided home visits and case management services for patients identified through emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Asthma costs for the two groups were extracted from the hospital administrative database for ED visits and hospitalizations for one year before and 10 years of follow-up. To eliminate cost differences at intake, a coarse cost-matching was implemented by randomly selecting comparison patients with similar costs to CAI patients (N = 208 pairs). The difference in cost-reduction between CAI and comparison patients was used to compute the adjusted Return on Investment (aROI). RESULTS There were no significant differences between CAI and comparison groups, including baseline age (5.9 years [SD 2.9] v. 4.4 [SD 3.1]); Hispanic (46.2% v. 35.1%) and Black (43.9% v. 53.0%) race/ethnicity; and public insurance (71.2% v. 68.8%). The cost reduction difference for CAI was significant at one year (P = 0.0001) and two years (P = 0.03), but did not reach the level of significance for years 3-10. The CAI group had a greater cumulative cost reduction of $5,321 (P = 0.08, not significant). Average program cost per patient was $2,636. CAI broke-even after 3 years (aROI = 1.04) and yielded an adjusted ROI of 1.99 at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS The greater reduction in cumulative cost for CAI patients suggested a shift in trajectory at 10 years of follow-up, resulting in a positive aROI after three years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Woods
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan J Sommer
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily A Bryson
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kyra M Shreeve
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dionne Graham
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Program for Patient Quality and Safety, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shari Nethersole
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Office of Community Health, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Urmi Bhaumik
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Office of Community Health, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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