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Yoon J, Gujral K, Dismuke-Greer C, Scott JY, Jiang H. Growth of Community Outpatient Care in the Veterans Affairs System After the MISSION Act. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:2233-2240. [PMID: 38724741 PMCID: PMC11347504 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-08787-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018 authorized a major expansion of purchased care in the community for Veterans experiencing access barriers in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. OBJECTIVE To estimate changes in primary care, mental health, and emergency/urgent care visits in the VA and community fiscal years (FY) 2018-2021 and differences between rural and urban clinics. DESIGN A national, longitudinal study of VA clinics and outpatient utilization. Clinic-level analysis was conducted to estimate changes in number and proportion of clinic visits provided in the community associated with the MISSION Act adjusting for clinic characteristics and underlying time trends. PARTICIPANTS In total, 1050 VA clinics and 6.6 million Veterans assigned to primary care. MAIN MEASURES Number of primary care, mental health, and emergency/urgent care visits provided in the VA and community and the proportion provided in the community. KEY RESULTS Nationally, community primary care visits increased by 107% (50,611 to 104,923), community mental health visits increased by 167% (100,701 to 268,976), and community emergency/urgent care visits increased by 129% (142,262 to 325,407) from the first quarter of 2018 to last quarter of 2021. In adjusted analysis, after MISSION Act implementation, there was an increase in community visits as a proportion of total clinic visits for emergency/urgent care and mental health but not primary care. Rural clinics had larger increases in the proportion of community visits for primary care and emergency/urgent care than urban clinics. CONCLUSIONS After the MISSION Act, more outpatient care shifted to the community for emergency/urgent care and mental health care but not primary care. Community care utilization increased more in rural compared to urban clinics for primary care and emergency/urgent care. These findings highlight the challenges and importance of maintaining provider networks in rural areas to ensure access to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Yoon
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
- UCSF School of Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Kritee Gujral
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Clara Dismuke-Greer
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Y Scott
- Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Hao Jiang
- Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
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Gezer F, Howard KA, Litwin AH, Martin NK, Rennert L. Identification of factors associated with opioid-related and hepatitis C virus-related hospitalisations at the ZIP code area level in the USA: an ecological and modelling study. Lancet Public Health 2024; 9:e354-e364. [PMID: 38821682 PMCID: PMC11163979 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid overdose and related diseases remain a growing public health crisis in the USA. Identifying sociostructural and other contextual factors associated with adverse health outcomes is needed to improve prediction models to inform policy and interventions. We aimed to identify high-risk communities for targeted delivery of screening and prevention interventions for opioid use disorder and hepatitis C virus (HCV). METHODS In this ecological and modelling study, we fit mixed-effects negative binomial regression models to identify factors associated with, and predict, opioid-related and HCV-related hospitalisations for ZIP code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in South Carolina, USA. All individuals aged 18 years or older living in South Carolina from Jan 1, 2016, to Dec 31, 2021, were included. Data on opioid-related and HCV-related hospitalisations, as well as data on additional individual-level variables, were collected from medical claims records, which were obtained from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Demographic and socioeconomic variables were obtained from the United States Census Bureau (American Community Survey, 2021) with additional structural health-care barrier data obtained from South Carolina's Center for Rural and Primary Health Care, and the American Hospital Directory. FINDINGS Between Jan 1, 2016, and Dec 31, 2021, 41 691 individuals were hospitalised for opioid misuse and 26 860 were hospitalised for HCV. There were a median of 80 (IQR 24-213) opioid-related hospitalisations and 61 (21-196) HCV-related hospitalisations per ZCTA. A standard deviation increase in ZCTA-level uninsured rate (relative risk 1·24 [95% CI 1·17-1·31]), poverty rate (1·24 [1·17-1·31]), mortality (1·18 [1·12-1·25]), and social vulnerability index (1·17 [1·10-1·24]) was significantly associated with increased combined opioid-related and HCV-related hospitalisation rates. A standard deviation increase in ZCTA-level income (0·79 [0·75-0·84]) and unemployment rate (0·87 [0·82-0·93]) was significantly associated with decreased combined opioid-related and HCV-related hospitalisations. Using 2016-20 hospitalisations as training data, our models predicted ZCTA-level opioid-related hospitalisations in 2021 with a median of 80·4% (IQR 66·8-91·1) accuracy and HCV-related hospitalisations in 2021 with a median of 75·2% (61·2-87·7) accuracy. Several underserved high-risk ZCTAs were identified for delivery of targeted interventions. INTERPRETATION Our results suggest that individuals from economically disadvantaged and medically under-resourced communities are more likely to have an opioid-related or HCV-related hospitalisation. In conjunction with hospitalisation forecasts, our results could be used to identify and prioritise high-risk, underserved communities for delivery of field-level interventions. FUNDING South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Library of Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Gezer
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA; Center for Public Health Modeling and Response, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Kerry A Howard
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA; Center for Public Health Modeling and Response, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Alain H Litwin
- Clemson University School of Health Research, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA; Prisma Health-Upstate, Greenville, SC, USA; University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, SC, USA
| | - Natasha K Martin
- Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lior Rennert
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA; Center for Public Health Modeling and Response, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
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Shannon EM, Steers WN, Washington DL. Investigation of the role of perceived access to primary care in mediating and moderating racial and ethnic disparities in chronic disease control in the veterans health administration. Health Serv Res 2024; 59:e14260. [PMID: 37974469 PMCID: PMC10771907 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14260] [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: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the role of patient-perceived access to primary care in mediating and moderating racial and ethnic disparities in hypertension control and diabetes control among Veterans Health Administration (VA) users. DATA SOURCE AND STUDY SETTING We performed a secondary analysis of national VA user administrative data for fiscal years 2016-2019. STUDY DESIGN Our primary exposure was race or ethnicity and primary outcomes were binary indicators of hypertension control (<140/90 mmHg) and diabetes control (HgbA1c < 9%) among patients with known disease. We used the inverse odds-weighting method to test for mediation and logistic regression with race and ethnicity-by-perceived access interaction product terms to test moderation. All models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, rurality, education, self-rated physical and mental health, and comorbidities. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS We included VA users with hypertension and diabetes control data from the External Peer Review Program who had contemporaneously completed the Survey of Healthcare Experience of Patients-Patient-Centered Medical Home. Hypertension (34,233 patients) and diabetes (23,039 patients) samples were analyzed separately. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS After adjustment, Black patients had significantly lower rates of hypertension control than White patients (75.5% vs. 78.8%, p < 0.01); both Black (81.8%) and Hispanic (80.4%) patients had significantly lower rates of diabetes control than White patients (85.9%, p < 0.01 for both differences). Perceived access was lower among Black, Multi-Race and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders compared to White patients in both samples. There was no evidence that perceived access mediated or moderated associations between Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, and hypertension or diabetes control. CONCLUSIONS We observed disparities in hypertension and diabetes control among minoritized patients. There was no evidence that patients' perception of access to primary care mediated or moderated these disparities. Reducing racial and ethnic disparities within VA in hypertension and diabetes control may require interventions beyond those focused on improving patient access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Michael Shannon
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & PolicyVA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services ResearchUCLA David Geffen School of MedicineLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - W. Neil Steers
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & PolicyVA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Donna L. Washington
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & PolicyVA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services ResearchUCLA David Geffen School of MedicineLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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Rao M, Greene L, Nelson K, Maciejewski ML, Zulman DM. Associations Between Social Risks and Primary Care Utilization Among Medically Complex Veterans. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:3339-3347. [PMID: 37369890 PMCID: PMC10682359 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08269-2] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social risks contribute to poor health outcomes, especially for patients with complex medical needs. These same risks may impact access to primary care services. OBJECTIVE To study associations between social risks and primary care utilization among patients with medical complexity. DESIGN Prospective cohort study of respondents to a 2018 mailed survey, followed up to 2 years after survey completion. PARTICIPANTS Nationally representative sample of 10,000 primary care patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, with high (≥ 75th percentile) 1-year risk of hospitalization or death. MAIN MEASURES Survey-based exposures were low social support, no family member/friend involved in health care, unemployment, transportation problem, food insecurity, medication insecurity, financial strain, low medical literacy, and less than high school graduate. Electronic health record-based outcomes were number of primary care provider (PCP) encounters, number of primary care team encounters (PCP, nurse, clinical pharmacist, and social worker), and having ≥ 1 social work encounter. KEY RESULTS Among 4680 respondents, mean age was 70.3, 93.7% were male, 71.8% White non-Hispanic, and 15.8% Black non-Hispanic. Unemployment was associated with fewer PCP and primary care team encounters (incident rate ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.65-0.91; p = 0.002 and 0.75, 0.59-0.95; p = 0.02, respectively), and low medical literacy was associated with more primary care team encounters (1.17, 1.05-1.32; p = 0.006). Among those with one or more social risks, 18.4% had ≥ 1 social work encounter. Low medical literacy (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.45-2.61; p < 0.001), transportation problem (1.42, 1.10-1.83; p = 0.007), and low social support (1.31, 1.06-1.63; p = 0.01) were associated with higher odds of ≥ 1 social work encounter. CONCLUSIONS We found few differences in PCP and primary care team utilization among medically complex VA patients by social risk. However, social work use was low, despite its central role in addressing social risks. More work is needed to understand barriers to social work utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuree Rao
- Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
- General Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Liberty Greene
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Karin Nelson
- Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- General Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew L Maciejewski
- Durham Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Donna M Zulman
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Tsui J, Hirsch JA, Bayer FJ, Quinn JW, Cahill J, Siscovick D, Lovasi GS. Patterns in Geographic Access to Health Care Facilities Across Neighborhoods in the United States Based on Data From the National Establishment Time-Series Between 2000 and 2014. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e205105. [PMID: 32412637 PMCID: PMC7229525 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.5105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The association between proximity to health care facilities and improved disease management and population health has been documented, but little is known about small-area health care environments and how the presence of health care facilities has changed over time during recent health system and policy change. OBJECTIVE To examine geographic access to health care facilities across neighborhoods in the United States over a 15-year period. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Using longitudinal business data from the National Establishment Time-Series, this cross-sectional study examined the presence of and change in ambulatory care facilities and pharmacies and drugstores in census tracts (CTs) throughout the continental United States between 2000 and 2014. Between January and April 2019, multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate associations between health care facility presence and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics over time. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Change in health care facility presence was measured as never present, lost, gained, or always present between 2000 and 2014. Neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics (ie, CTs) and their change over time were measured from US Census reports (2000 and 2010) and the American Community Survey (2008-2012). RESULTS Among 72 246 included CTs, the percentage of non-US-born residents, residents 75 years or older, poverty status, and population density increased, and 8.1% of CTs showed a change in the racial/ethnic composition of an area from predominantly non-Hispanic (NH) white to other racial/ethnic composition categories between 2000 and 2010. The presence of ambulatory care facilities increased from a mean (SD) of 7.7 (15.9) per CT in 2000 to 13.0 (22.9) per CT in 2014, and the presence of pharmacies and drugstores increased from a mean (SD) of 0.6 (1.0) per CT in 2000 to 0.9 (1.4) per CT in 2014. Census tracts with predominantly NH black individuals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.37; 95% CI, 2.03-2.77), Hispanic/Latino individuals (aOR 1.30; 95% CI, 1.00-1.69), and racially/ethnically mixed individuals (aOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.33-1.77) in 2000 had higher odds of losing health care facilities between 2000 and 2014 compared with CTs with predominantly NH white individuals, after controlling for other neighborhood characteristics. Census tracts of geographic areas with higher levels of poverty in 2000 also had higher odds of losing health care facilities between 2000 and 2014 (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05-1.19). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Differential change was found in the presence of health care facilities across neighborhoods over time, indicating the need to monitor and address the spatial distribution of health care resources within the context of population health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Tsui
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
- Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
- Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
| | - Jana A. Hirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Felicia J. Bayer
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - James W. Quinn
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Jesse Cahill
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - David Siscovick
- Research, Evaluation & Policy, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Gina S. Lovasi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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6
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Wong NJ, Chien LC, Alamgir H. Geospatial Analysis of Refugee Access to Primary Care Physicians in San Antonio, Texas. J Immigr Minor Health 2019; 21:1349-1355. [PMID: 30613915 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-00854-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated refugee access to primary care physicians (PCP) in San Antonio, Texas. Catholic Charities of San Antonio (CCSA) is the primary agency responsible for connecting refugees to a PCP. Data on refugees were collected from CCSA between May to September 2013 (N = 547). PCPs information was accessed at the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) website. The 2SFCA method was used in geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze the ratio of healthcare providers relative to refugees within varying walking distances. The highest concentration of accessibility was at 20 min distance in the Medical Center area. The highest concentration of accessibility at all walking distances were also in the Medical Center area. The univariate and multivariate analyses did not result in significant findings for the association between demographic variables and the accessibility scores. These findings recommend building new and more relationships with healthcare providers where PCPs access is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J Wong
- University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio Campus, TX, USA
| | - Lung-Chang Chien
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics program, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Box 453064, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Hasanat Alamgir
- Department of Public Health, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
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7
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Hanchate AD, Frakt AB, Kressin NR, Trivedi A, Linsky A, Abdulkerim H, Stolzmann KL, Mohr DC, Pizer SD. External Determinants of Veterans' Utilization of VA Health Care. Health Serv Res 2018; 53:4224-4247. [PMID: 30062781 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.13011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Veterans' utilization of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care is likely influenced by community factors external to the VA, including Medicaid eligibility and unemployment, although such factors are rarely considered in models predicting such utilization. We measured the sensitivity of VA utilization to changes in such community factors (hereafter, "external determinants"), including the 2014 Medicaid expansion following the Affordable Care Act. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING We merged VA health care enrollment and utilization data with area-level data on Medicaid policy, unemployment, employer-sponsored insurance, housing prices, and non-VA physician availability (2008-2014). STUDY DESIGN For veterans aged 18-64 and ≥65, we estimated the sensitivity of annual individual VA health care utilization, measured by the cost ($) of care received, to changes in external determinants using longitudinal regression models controlling for individual fixed effects. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS All external determinants were associated with small but significant changes in VA health care utilization. In states that expanded Medicaid in 2014, this expansion was associated with 9.1 percent ($826 million) reduction in VA utilization among those aged 18-64; sizable changes occurred in all services used (inpatient, outpatient, and prescription drugs). CONCLUSIONS Changes in alternative insurance coverage and other external determinants may affect VA health care spending. Policy makers should consider these factors in allocating VA resources to meet local demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amresh D Hanchate
- Health/care Disparities Research Program, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA.,Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Austin B Frakt
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA.,Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.,Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Nancy R Kressin
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Amal Trivedi
- Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI.,Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Amy Linsky
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA.,Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - David C Mohr
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA.,Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Steven D Pizer
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA.,Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Acierno R, Knapp R, Tuerk P, Gilmore AK, Lejuez C, Ruggiero K, Muzzy W, Egede L, Hernandez-Tejada MA, Foa EB. A non-inferiority trial of Prolonged Exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder: In person versus home-based telehealth. Behav Res Ther 2016; 89:57-65. [PMID: 27894058 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
This is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate non-inferiority of Prolonged Exposure (PE) delivered via home-based telehealth (HBT) compared to standard in-person (IP) PE. One-hundred thirty two Veterans recruited from a Southeastern Veterans Affairs Medical Center and affiliated University who met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomized to receive PE via HBT or PE via IP. Results indicated that PE-HBT was non-inferior to PE-IP in terms of reducing PTSD scores at post-treatment, 3 and 6 month follow-up. However, non-inferiority hypotheses for depression were only supported at 6 month follow-up. HBT has great potential to reduce patient burden associated with receiving treatment in terms of travel time, travel cost, lost work, and stigma without sacrificing efficacy. These findings indicate that telehealth treatment delivered directly into patients' homes may dramatically increase the reach of this evidence-based therapy for PTSD without diminishing effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Acierno
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Rebecca Knapp
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Peter Tuerk
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Amanda K Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Carl Lejuez
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Kenneth Ruggiero
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Wendy Muzzy
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Leonard Egede
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Melba A Hernandez-Tejada
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Edna B Foa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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9
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Nayar P, Yu F, Apenteng B. Improving Care for Rural Veterans: Are High Dual Users Different? J Rural Health 2013; 30:139-45. [DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Preethy Nayar
- College of Public Health; University of Nebraska Medical Center; Omaha Nebraska
| | - Fang Yu
- College of Public Health; University of Nebraska Medical Center; Omaha Nebraska
| | - Bettye Apenteng
- College of Public Health; University of Nebraska Medical Center; Omaha Nebraska
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10
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Kehle SM, Greer N, Rutks I, Wilt T. Interventions to improve veterans' access to care: a systematic review of the literature. J Gen Intern Med 2011; 26 Suppl 2:689-96. [PMID: 21989623 PMCID: PMC3191217 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-011-1849-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To conduct a systematic review to address the following key questions: (1) what interventions have been successful in improving access for veterans with reduced health care access? (2) Have interventions that have improved health care access led to improvements in process and clinical outcomes? DATA SOURCES OVID MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS English language articles published in peer-reviewed journals from 1990 to June 2010. All interventions designed to improve access to health care for US veterans that reported the impact of the intervention on perceived (e.g., satisfaction with access) or objective (e.g., travel time, wait time) access were included. APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: Investigators abstracted data on study design, study quality, intervention, and impact of the intervention on access, process outcomes, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS Nineteen articles (16 unique studies) met the inclusion criteria. While there were a small number of studies in support of any one intervention, all showed a positive impact on either perceived or objective measures of access. Implementation of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (n = 5 articles), use of Telemedicine (n = 5 articles), and Primary Care Mental Health Integration (n = 6 articles) improved access. All 16 unique studies reported process outcomes, most often satisfaction with care and utilization. Four studies reported clinical outcomes; three found no differences. LIMITATIONS Included studies were largely of poor to fair methodological quality. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS Interventions can improve access to health care for veterans. Increased access was consistently linked to increased primary care utilization. There was a lack of data regarding the link between access and clinical outcomes; however, the limited data suggest that increased access may not improve clinical outcomes. Future research should focus on the quality and appropriateness of care and clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Kehle
- Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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11
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Distance to healthcare services is a known barrier to access. However, the degree to which distance is a barrier is not well described. Distance may impact different patients in different ways and be mediated by the context of medical need. OBJECTIVE Identify factors related to distance that impede access to care for rural veterans. APPROACH Mixed-methods approach including surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups at 15 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care clinics in 8 Midwestern states. Survey data were compiled and interviews transcribed and coded for thematic content. PARTICIPANTS Surveys were completed by 96 patients and 88 providers/staff. In-depth interviews were completed by 42 patients and 64 providers/staff. A total of 7 focus groups were convened consisting of providers and staff. KEY RESULTS Distance was identified by patients, providers, and staff as the most important barrier for rural veterans seeking healthcare. In-depth interviews revealed specific examples of barriers to care such as long travel for common diagnostic services, routine specialty care, and emergency services. Patient factors compounding the impact of these barriers were health status, functional impairment, travel cost, and work or family obligations. Providers and staff reported challenges to healthcare delivery due to distance. CONCLUSIONS Distance as a barrier to healthcare was not uniformly defined. Rather, its importance was relative to the health status and resources of patients, complexity of service provided, and urgency of service needed. Improved transportation, flexible fee-based services, more structured communication mechanisms, and integration with community resources will improve access to care and overall health status for rural veterans.
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Abstract
Many e-health technologies are available to promote virtual patient-provider communication outside the context of face-to-face clinical encounters. Current digital communication modalities include cell phones, smartphones, interactive voice response, text messages, e-mails, clinic-based interactive video, home-based web-cams, mobile smartphone two-way cameras, personal monitoring devices, kiosks, dashboards, personal health records, web-based portals, social networking sites, secure chat rooms, and on-line forums. Improvements in digital access could drastically diminish the geographical, temporal, and cultural access problems faced by many patients. Conversely, a growing digital divide could create greater access disparities for some populations. As the paradigm of healthcare delivery evolves towards greater reliance on non-encounter-based digital communications between patients and their care teams, it is critical that our theoretical conceptualization of access undergoes a concurrent paradigm shift to make it more relevant for the digital age. The traditional conceptualizations and indicators of access are not well adapted to measure access to health services that are delivered digitally outside the context of face-to-face encounters with providers. This paper provides an overview of digital "encounterless" utilization, discusses the weaknesses of traditional conceptual frameworks of access, presents a new access framework, provides recommendations for how to measure access in the new framework, and discusses future directions for research on access.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Fortney
- Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D), Center for Mental Health and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114, USA.
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Pizer SD, Prentice JC. Time is money: outpatient waiting times and health insurance choices of elderly veterans in the United States. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2011; 30:626-636. [PMID: 21641062 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2011.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2010] [Revised: 05/01/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Growth in the number of days between an appointment request and the actual appointment reduces demand. Although such waiting times are relatively low in the US, current policy initiatives could cause them to increase. We estimate multiple-equation models of physician utilization and insurance plan choice for Medicare-eligible veterans. We find that a 10% increase in VA waiting times increases demand for Medigap insurance by 5%, implying that a representative patient would be indifferent between waiting an average of 5 more days for VA appointments and paying $300 more in annual premium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Pizer
- US Department of Veterans Affairs & Boston University, Health Care Financing & Economics, 150 South Huntington Ave., Mail Stop 152H, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
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Liu CF, Chapko MK, Perkins MW, Fortney J, Maciejewski ML. The impact of contract primary care on health care expenditures and quality of care. Med Care Res Rev 2008; 65:300-14. [PMID: 18227237 DOI: 10.1177/1077558707313034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established community-based outpatient clinics to improve veterans' access to primary care. This article compares VA use and expenditures among primary care users at 76 VA-staffed community clinics (n = 17,060) and 32 non-VA contract community clinics receiving capitation (n = 6,842) using VA administrative databases. It estimates utilization using negative binomial models and expenditures using generalized linear one-part or two-part models. Contract community clinic patients are less likely to use all types of outpatient services than VA-staffed community clinic patients but had similar quality of care. For patients seeking care, contract community clinic patients had similar specialty care expenditures but lower primary care, outpatient, and overall expenditures. Results suggest that capitated contract clinics did not shift costs to specialty care and appeared to be an economically efficient mechanism for improving veterans' access to primary care while meeting VA quality of care standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Fen Liu
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington
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16
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Maciejewski ML, Perkins M, Li YF, Chapko M, Fortney JC, Liu CF. Utilization and expenditures of veterans obtaining primary care in community clinics and VA medical centers: an observational cohort study. BMC Health Serv Res 2007; 7:56. [PMID: 17442115 PMCID: PMC1855054 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-7-56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2006] [Accepted: 04/18/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To compare VA inpatient and outpatient utilization and expenditures of veterans seeking primary care in community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) and VA medical centers (VAMCs) in fiscal years 2000 (FY00) and 2001. Methods The sample included 25,092 patients who obtained primary care exclusively from 108 CBOCs in FY00, 26,936 patients who obtained primary care exclusively from 72 affiliated VAMCs in FY00, and 11,450 "crossover" patients who obtained primary care in CBOCs and VAMCs in FY00. VA utilization and expenditure data were drawn from the VA's system-wide cost accounting system. Veteran demographic characteristics and a 1999 Diagnostic Cost Group risk score were obtained from VA administrative files. Outpatient utilization (primary care, specialty care, mental health, pharmacy, radiology and laboratory) and inpatient utilization were estimated using count data models and expenditures were estimated using one-part or two-part models. The second part of two-part models was estimated using generalized linear regressions. Results CBOC patients had a slightly more primary care visits per year than VAMC patients (p < 0.0001), but lower primary care costs (-$71, p < 0.0001). CBOC patients had lower odds of one or more specialty, mental health, ancillary visits and hospital stays per year, and fewer numbers of visits and stays if they had any and lower specialty, mental health, ancillary and inpatient expenditures (all, p < 0.0001). As a result, CBOC patients had lower total outpatient and overall expenditures than VAMC patients (p < 0.0001). Conclusion CBOCs provided veterans improved access to primary care and other services, but expenditures were contained because CBOC patients who sought health care had fewer visits and hospital stays than comparable VAMC patients. These results suggest a more complex pattern of health care utilization and expenditures by CBOC patients than has been found in prior studies. This study also illustrates that CBOCs continue to be a critical primary care and mental health access point for veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Maciejewski
- Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mark Perkins
- Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yu-Fang Li
- Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
- School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael Chapko
- Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John C Fortney
- Health Services Research and Development, Center for Mental Health and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, USA
- Division of Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Chuan-Fen Liu
- Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Estimating the VA total health care cost using a semi-parametric heteroscedastic two-part model. HEALTH SERVICES AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s10742-006-0007-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Fortney JC, Steffick DE, Burgess JF, Maciejewski ML, Petersen LA. Are primary care services a substitute or complement for specialty and inpatient services? Health Serv Res 2005; 40:1422-42. [PMID: 16174141 PMCID: PMC1361207 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2005.00424.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether strategies designed to increase members' use of primary care services result in decreases (substitution) or increases (complementation) in the use and cost of other types of health services. STUDY SETTING Encounter and cost data were extracted from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data sources for the period 1995-1999. This timeframe captures the VA's natural experiment of increasing geographic access to primary care by establishing new satellite primary care clinics, known as Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). STUDY DESIGN We exploited this natural experiment to estimate the substitutability of primary care for other health services and its impact on cost. Hypotheses were tested using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, which was potentially subject to endogeneity bias. Endogeneity bias was assessed using a Hausman test. Endogeneity bias was accounted for by using instrumental variables analysis, which capitalized on the establishment of CBOCs to provide an exogenous identifier (change in travel distance to primary care). DATA COLLECTION Demographic, encounter, and cost data were collected for all veterans using VA health services who resided in the catchment areas of new CBOCs and for a matched group of veterans residing outside CBOC catchment areas. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Change in distance to primary care was a significant and substantial predictor of change in primary care visits. OLS analyses indicated that an increase in primary care service use was associated with increases in the use of all specialty outpatient services and inpatient services, as well as increases in inpatient and outpatient costs. Hausman tests confirmed that OLS results for specialty mental health encounters and mental health admissions were unbiased, but that results for specialty medical encounters, physical health admissions, and outpatient costs were biased. Instrumental variables analyses indicated that an increase in primary care encounters was associated with a decrease in specialty medical encounters and was not associated with an increase in physical health admissions, or outpatient costs. CONCLUSIONS Results provide evidence that health systems can implement strategies to encourage their members to use more primary care services without driving up physical health costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Fortney
- VA HSR&D CeMHOR (152/NLR), Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114, USA
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