Practice Transformation in the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative and Emergency Department Use.

To provide insight on how ambulatory care practices can reduce emergency department (ED) visits, we studied changes in Medicare ED visits for primary and specialty care practices in the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative. We compared practices that transformed more vs less during the 6-year period ending in 2021 (3,773 practices). Using data from a practice transformation assessment tool completed at multiple intervals, we found improvement in the transformation score was associated with reduced ED visits by 6% and 4% for primary and specialty care practices, respectively, 3 to 4 years after first assessment. Transformation in 5 of 8 domains contributed to reduced ED visits.

The impact of nurse practitioner regulations on population access to care.

BACKGROUND: By 2025, experts estimate a significant shortage of primary care providers in the United States, and expansion of the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce may reduce this burden. However, barriers imposed by state NP regulations could reduce access to primary care. PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to examine the association between three levels of NP state practice regulation (independent, minimum restrictive, and most restrictive) and the proportion of the population with a greater than 30-min travel time to a primary care provider using geocoding. METHODS: Logistic regression models were conducted to calculate the adjusted odds of having a greater than 30-min drive time. FINDINGS: Compared with the most restrictive NP states, states with independent practice had 19.2% lower odds (p = .001) of a greater than 30-min drive to the closest primary care provider. DISCUSSION: Allowing NPs full autonomy to practice may be a relatively simple policy mechanism for states to improve access to primary care.

Retrospective analysis of outcomes following inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement in a managed care population.

The role of inferior vena cava filter (IVC) filters for prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE) is controversial. This study evaluated outcomes of IVC filter placement in a managed care population. This retrospective cohort study evaluated data for individuals with Humana healthcare coverage 2013-2014. The study population included 435 recipients of prophylactic IVC filters, 4376 recipients of therapeutic filters, and two control groups, each matched to filter recipients. Patients were followed for up to 2 years. Post-index anticoagulant use, mortality, filter removal, device-related complications, and all-cause utilization. Adjusted regression analyses showed a positive association between filter placement and anticoagulant use at 3 months: odds ratio (ORs) 3.403 (95% CI 1.912-6.059), prophylactic; OR, 1.356 (95% CI 1.164-1.58), therapeutic. Filters were removed in 15.67% of prophylactic and 5.69% of therapeutic filter cases. Complication rates were higher with prophylactic procedures than with therapeutic procedures and typically exceeded 2% in the prophylactic group. Each form of filter placement was associated with increases in all-cause hospitalization (regression coefficient 0.295 [95% CI 0.093-0.498], prophylactic; 0.673 [95% CI 0.547-0.798], therapeutic) and readmissions (OR 2.444 [95% CI 1.298-4.602], prophylactic; 2.074 [95% CI 1.644-2.616], therapeutic). IVC filter placement in this managed care population was associated with increased use of anticoagulants and greater healthcare utilization compared to controls, low rates of retrieval, and notable rates of device-related complications, with effects especially pronounced in assessments of prophylactic filters. These findings underscore the need for appropriate use of IVC filters.

Determinants of hospital fall rate trajectory groups: a longitudinal assessment of nurse staffing and organizational characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Patient falls in acute care hospitals represent a significant patient safety concern. Although cross-sectional studies have shown that fall rates vary widely between acute care hospitals, it is not clear whether hospital fall rates remain consistent over time. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether hospitals can be categorized into fall rate trajectory groups over time and to identify nurse staffing and hospital characteristics associated with hospital fall rate trajectory groups. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: We conducted a 54-month (July 2006-December 2010) longitudinal study of U.S. acute care general hospitals participating in the National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators (2007). We used latent class growth modeling to categorize hospitals into groups based on their long-term fall rates. Nurse staffing and hospital characteristics associated with membership in the highest hospital fall rate group were identified using logistic regression. FINDINGS: A sample of 1,529 hospitals (mean fall rate of 3.65 per 1,000 patient days) contributed data to the analysis. Latent class growth modeling findings classified hospital into three groups based on fall rate trajectories: consistently high (mean fall rate of 4.96 per 1,000 patient days), consistently medium (mean fall rate of 3.63 per 1,000 patient days), and consistently low (mean fall rate of 2.50 per 1,000 patient days). Hospitals with higher total nurse staffing (odds ratio [OR] = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.85, 0.99]), Magnet status (OR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.35, 0.70]), and bed size greater than 300 beds (OR = 0.70, 95% CI [0.51, 0.94]) were significantly less likely to be categorized in the "consistently high" fall rate group. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Over this 54-month period, hospitals were categorized into three groups based on long-term fall rates. Hospital-level factors differed among these three groups. This suggests that there may be hospitals in which "best practices" for fall prevention might be identified. In addition, administrators may be able to reduce fall rates by maintaining greater nurse staffing ratios as well as fostering an environment consistent with that of Magnet hospitals.

The effects of nurse staffing on hospital financial performance: competitive versus less competitive markets.

BACKGROUND: Hospitals facing financial uncertainty have sought to reduce nurse staffing as a way to increase profitability. However, nurse staffing has been found to be important in terms of quality of patient care and nursing-related outcomes. Nurse staffing can provide a competitive advantage to hospitals and as a result of better financial performance, particularly in more competitive markets. PURPOSE: In this study, we build on the Resource-Based View of the Firm to determine the effect of nurse staffing on total profit margin in more competitive and less competitive hospital markets in Florida. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: By combining a Florida statewide nursing survey with the American Hospital Association Annual Survey and the Area Resource File, three separate multivariate linear regression models were conducted to determine the effect of nurse staffing on financial performance while accounting for market competitiveness. The analysis was limited to acute care hospitals. FINDINGS: Nurse staffing levels had a positive association with financial performance (ß = 3.3, p = .02) in competitive hospital markets, but no significant association was found in less competitive hospital markets. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Hospitals in more competitive hospital markets should reconsider reducing nursing staff, as these cost-cutting measures may be inefficient and negatively affect financial performance.

Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative Boosted Participation in Medicare Alternative Payment Models.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS's) Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPi) was the largest national-scale practice transformation model. We analyzed the effect of TCPi on new enrollment into Medicare Alternative Payment Models (APMs) through January 2020 (3 months after program end), using 6958 physician practices enrolled in TCPi and a closely matched comparison group of 6958 practices. More TCPi practices enrolled in Medicare APMs and Medicare Advanced APMs relative to comparison practices overall and in subgroups, including rural, small, and specialty practices. Results suggest that large-scale technical assistance can boost participation in Medicare APMs for a diverse set of practices.

Adherence, Persistence, and Health Care Costs for Patients Receiving Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are among the newer, yet more established, classes of diabetes medications. OBJECTIVE: To compare adherence, persistence, and health care costs among patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors. METHODS: Claims were extracted from Humana Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) or commercial plans for patients aged > 18 years with ≥ 1 prescription filled for a DPP-4 inhibitor between July 1, 2011, and March 31, 2013. The first prescription claim for a DPP-4 inhibitor established the index date and index medication; 12-month pre-index and post-index data were analyzed. The Diabetes Complications Severity Index (DCSI) was used to assess a level of baseline diabetes-related comorbidities. Adherence (proportion of days covered [PDC] ≥ 80%) and persistence (< 31-day gap) measures were compared before and after, adjusting for DCSI, pre-index insulin, age, and gender. Post-index costs (in 2013 U.S. dollars) were compared using general linear modeling (GLM) to adjust for pre-index costs, DCSI, pre-index insulin, age, and gender. RESULTS: Based on study criteria, 22,860 patients with MAPD coverage (17,292 sitagliptin, 4,282 saxagliptin, and 1,286 linagliptin) and 3,229 patients with commercial coverage (2,368 sitagliptin, 643 saxagliptin, and 218 linagliptin) were included. For MAPD patients, the mean age was 70-72 years, and females represented 50%-52% of patients. For commercial patients, mean age was 55-56 years, and females represented 44% of patients. Clinical indicators for patients on linagliptin showed a higher comorbidity level than sitagliptin or saxagliptin cohorts (MAPD DCSI 3.0 vs 2.4 and 2.2, P < 0.001; commercial DCSI 1.2 vs. 0.9 and 0.9, P < 0.001); a higher use of pre-index insulin (MAPD 22% vs. 15% and 14%, P < 0.001; commercial 18% vs. 11% and 10%, P = 0.003); and higher mean pre-index costs (MAPD $14,448 vs. $11,818 and $10,399, P < 0.001; commercial $13,868 vs. $9,357 and $8,223, P = 0.016). For the MAPD cohort, the unadjusted PDC was lower for linagliptin patients (67%) compared with saxagliptin (72%) or sitagliptin (72%) patients (P < 0.001). Significant differences were still seen when adjusted for covariates. Linagliptin patients were more likely to be nonpersistent (73%) than those on saxagliptin (65%) or sitagliptin (67%; P < 0.01 for adjusted and unadjusted comparisons). For the commercial population, there were no significant differences in mean PDC between the 3 groups (linagliptin 70%, saxagliptin 72%, and sitagliptin 74%; P = 0.096). Dichotomized comparisons of nonpersistence were significantly different (linagliptin 65%, saxagliptin 62%, and sitagliptin 57%; P = 0.010), although upon adjustment using a Cox proportional hazard model, no significant differences were found. When controlling for other factors, post-index adjusted health care costs were similar between the medication cohorts (MAPD: sitagliptin = $13,913, saxagliptin = $13,651, and linagliptin = $13,859; commercial: sitagliptin = $11,677, saxagliptin = $12,059, and linagliptin = $11,163; all P > 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: For MAPD and commercial populations, baseline patient demographics were similar between the 3 DPP-4 inhibitor groups, but the linagliptin group may have had more complex patients (higher pre-index costs, higher DCSI, and more use of insulin). For the MAPD population, patients on linagliptin were less adherent and persistent than patients taking sitagliptin or saxagliptin for all unadjusted and adjusted comparisons. For the commercial population, which was notably smaller, these differences were in the same direction, but not all were statistically significant. When controlling for baseline factors, 12-month post-index direct medical health care costs were similar between index DPP-4 inhibitors. DISCLOSURES: No external funding was provided for this research. The project was done as part of internal work by Humana employees. Rascati received no compensation. None of the authors have any financial disclosures or conflicts of interests to report. Worley and Everhart are employees of Comprehensive Health Insights, a subsidiary of Humana, and Meah is an employee of Humana. Discussion of the adherence and persistence data was presented as a poster at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus Conference, October 2015. Cost data were presented as a poster at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 18th Annual European Congress, November 2015. Study concept and design were contributed by Rascati, Worley, and Meah, along with Everhart. Rascati took the lead in data collection, assisted by Meah, and data interpretation was performed by all the authors. The manuscript was written primarily by Rascati, along with Worley, Everhart, and Meah, and revised by Rascati, Everhart, and Worley, with assistance from Meah.