Parkinson's Disease Progression and Exposure to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune.

BACKGROUND: We recently reported an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in service members who resided at Marine Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when water supplies were contaminated with trichloroethylene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Prior studies suggest that environmental exposures may affect PD phenotype or progression, but this has not been reported for VOCs. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test whether PD progression is faster in individuals exposed to VOCs in water at Camp Lejeune. METHODS: A cohort of 172,128 marines residing at Camp Lejeune between 1975 and 1985 was previously assembled. We identified individuals with PD in Veterans Health Administration and Medicare databases between 2000 and 2021. Using estimates derived by the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, we classified individuals as exposed or unexposed to VOCs in residential water. We used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models to test differences between exposed and unexposed groups in the time from PD diagnosis until psychosis, fracture, fall, or death. RESULTS: Among 270 persons with PD, 177 (65.6%) were exposed to VOCs in residential water. Median cumulative exposure was 4970 µg/L-months, >50-fold the permissible level. Time until psychosis, fracture, and fall were all shorter in the exposed group, with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) exceeding 2: psychosis HR, 2.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99-4.83); fracture HR, 2.44 (95% CI: 0.91-6.55); and fall HR, 2.64 (95% CI: 0.97-7.21). A significant dose response was observed for time to fall (P trend, 0.032). No differences were observed for time until death. CONCLUSIONS: PD progression may be faster in persons exposed to trichloroethylene and other VOCs in water decades earlier. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

United States Veterans' Utilization of Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders Annual Evaluation Services.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate Veterans' engagement in spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D) specialty annual evaluations (AEs). DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective cohort study. SETTING: SCI/D System of Care, United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). PARTICIPANTS: Veterans with SCI/Ds (N=14,662). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Receiving SCI/D AEs during the study period (fiscal years [FY] 2019 and 2020). RESULTS: A total of 14,662 Veterans with SCI/Ds were included in the sample; 32.8% (n=4811) received 2 AEs, 28.8% (n=4219) received 1 AE, and 38.4% (n=5632) received no AEs, with an average of 0.9 AEs per Veteran over the 2-year study timeframe (range, 0-2y). Black Veterans had an 8% higher number of AEs than White Veterans after adjusting for other variables (adjusted relative risk [RR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.12). Veterans who lived ≥240 minutes away from a VA SCI/D System of Care Center had 45% fewer AEs than Veterans who lived within 30 minutes (adjusted RR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.52-0.59). Veterans with more SCI/D specialty visits had 90% more AEs than those with fewer visits (adjusted RR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.78-2.03), whereas Veterans with more outpatient visits in VA primary care had 28% fewer AEs (adjusted RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.69-0.76). Veterans with higher comorbidity scores had 9% more AEs than Veterans with lower scores (adjusted RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.61-0.70). CONCLUSIONS: More than half (62%) of Veterans received ≥1 SCI/D AE during FY19-20. Veterans living closer to a VA SCI/D System of Care Center/Hub had more engagement in SCI/D AEs. Veterans with SCI/Ds who used VA primary care outside of the SCI/D System of Care had fewer AEs. There were no major racial, age-based, or sex disparities in SCI/D AE usage. Our findings suggest the need for targeted intervention efforts to promote AE use among Veterans.

Risk Factors for Development of Incisional Hernia after Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Secondary Analysis of the OVER Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Since the risk of mortality from rupture is elevated, elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is often recommended. Currently, over 80% of elective repairs are carried out using an endovascular approach. While open repair has similar late survival and fewer reintervention outcomes when compared to endovascular repair, incisional hernia is a frequent complication with morbidity and cost implications. The Open versus Endovascular Repair (OVER) trial was the largest randomized trial of endovascular versus open repair of AAA in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors associated with incisional hernia development following AAA repair via secondary analysis of the OVER data. METHODS: This was a multisite trial conducted within the Veterans Affairs health-care system. Study participants (N = 881) were enrolled from 2002 to 2008 and followed until 2011 with additional administrative data collection until 2016. Eligible patients had AAA for which elective repair was planned and randomized 1:1 to either open or endovascular repair. Incisional hernia was a prespecified end point in the OVER protocol, specifically assessed at each protocol follow-up visit. Technical details were extracted from each operative report, repair case report form(s), and adverse event form(s). Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, reported preoperative activity level, and operative details including initial approach, blood loss, and closure methods were analyzed using Bayesian hierarchical Weibull survival regression modeling. RESULTS: Incisional hernias were recorded among 46 participants (5.2%). The average time to hernia diagnosis was 3.5 years. Of the 437 participants randomized to open treatment, 427 received an open repair including crossovers from endovascular treatment assignment. Transperitoneal repair was performed in 81%, running suture in 96%, and absorbable suture in 71% of cases. Randomization to endovascular repair was associated with reduced risk of hernia (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70, 95% credible interval [CI] 0.49-0.94). Higher activity level was associated with increased hernia risk (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.06-1.84). Approach, suture closure techniques, body mass index, diabetes, and smoking status were not associated with increased risk of hernia development. CONCLUSIONS: Incisional hernia is a frequent complication associated with open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm and commonly required reintervention. Endovascular repair was associated with reduced risk of hernia. Patients with increased activity experienced a higher incidence of hernia. However, no other modifiable patient, operative, or technical factors were found to be associated with hernia development.

Emergency department utilization in Veterans with spinal cord injuries & disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency that ED visits are needed, and the most common chief complaints and medications prescribed to Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). METHODS: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) SCI and Disorders (SCI/D) Registry (VHA SCIDR) was used to identify Veterans with SCI/D over a five-year period (fiscal years 2018-2022). The primary outcome was the proportion of Veterans with SCI/D who had visits to the ED during the study period. Secondary outcomes included diagnostic codes and medications prescribed in the ED, and other healthcare encounters. RESULTS: Overall, 18,464 Veterans with SCI/D, including 80,661 patient-years were included. Of these Veterans, 10,234 (55.4%) had at least one ED visit and 8230 (44.6%) did not. ED visits were consistent, ranging from 33.5% to 36.4% annually. The number of in-person healthcare encounters decreased over the study period. The most common ED diagnostic codes were paraplegia or quadriplegia, discharge counseling, UTI, neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder and low back pain. The most common medications prescribed in the ED were analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen, ketorolac), antimicrobials (e.g., ceftriaxone, vancomycin) and ondansetron. Antibiotics were among the most prescribed discharge medications, including ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, cephalexin, and doxycycline. CONCLUSION: This national study of Veterans with SCI/D characterized ED healthcare utilization. Overall, more than half of Veterans with SCI/D required an ED visit during the five-year study period and over one third of Veterans in each fiscal year required an ED visit. Interventions to target prevention of ED visits and subsequent hospitalizations could focus on these areas.

Benchmark findings from a veteran electronic patient-reported outcomes evaluation from a chronic pain management telehealth program.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability and negatively impacts biological/physical, psychological, and social aspects of life resulting in significant pain interference or disability. This project was part of a longitudinal mixed-methods implementation evaluation of the TelePain-Empower Veterans Program (EVP), a non-pharmacological chronic pain intervention. The purpose of this quality management project was to examine electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROs) including primary pain-related (intensity, interference, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia) and secondary outcomes (physical, psychological, acceptance, social) to determine TelePain-EVP effectiveness. Secondary purpose was to examine dosing effects to better understand potential dose relationships between EVP use and ePROs. METHODS: Standardized ePRO measures were examined at week 1 (baseline), week 10 (post-EVP), and week 26 (follow-up). Qualtrics, a cloud-based platform was used to collect ePRO data at each time point. Veterans that completed at-least one survey at any specified time point were categorized as responders (n = 221). Linear-mixed models (LMMs) were fit to assess changes for each primary and secondary ePRO. RESULTS: Participants ranged from 24 to 81 years old; veterans were typically male (65.16%), black or African American (76.47%), married or partnered (41.63%), attended at-least some college or vocational school (67.87%), and reported low back as their primary pain location (29.41%). There was a significant decrease in pain catastrophizing from baseline to post-TelePain-EVP (p < .001). However, pain catastrophizing improvement from baseline was not present at week 26 (p = .116). Pain interference also decreased from baseline to post-treatment (p = .05), but this improvement did not exceed the adjusted significance threshold. Additional pre-post improvements were also observed for certain secondary ePROs: psychological (anxiety, depression), acceptance (activities engagement). Only the activities engagement effect remained 26 weeks from baseline. Mixed results were observed for EVP dose across primary and secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from this evaluation indicate that TelePain-EVP has positive outcomes for certain pain (catastrophizing), psychological (anxiety, depression), and acceptance (activities engagement) for veterans with chronic pain. More TelePain related studies and enterprise-wide evaluations are needed along with comparative and cost effectiveness methods to determine patient benefits and the economic value gained of treatment options such as TelePain-EVP.

Prevalence and feasibility of assessing the frailty phenotype among hemodialysis patients in a dialysis unit.

BACKGROUND: Frailty increases risk of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Frailty assessments could trigger risk reduction interventions if broadly adopted in clinical practice. We aimed to assess the clinical feasibility of frailty assessment among Veteran hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Hemodialysis patients' ≥50 years were recruited from a single dialysis unit between 9/1/2021 and 3/31/2022.Patients who consented underwent a frailty phenotype assessment by clinical staff. Five criteria were assessed: unintentional weight loss, low grip strength, self-reported exhaustion, slow gait speed, and low physical activity. Participants were classified as frail (3-5 points), pre-frail (1-2 points) or non-frail (0 points). Feasibility was determined by the number of eligible participants completing the assessment. RESULTS: Among 82 unique dialysis patients, 45 (52%) completed the assessment, 13 (16%) refused, 18 (23%) were not offered the assessment due to death, transfers, or switch to transplant or peritoneal dialysis, and 6 patients were excluded because they did not meet mobility criteria. Among assessed patients, 40(88%) patients were identified as pre-frail (46.6%) or frail (42.2%). Low grip strength was most common (90%). Those who refused were more likely to have peripheral vascular disease (p = 0.001), low albumin (p = 0.0187), low sodium (p = 0.0422), and ineligible for kidney transplant (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Just over half of eligible hemodialysis patients completed the frailty assessment suggesting difficulty with broad clinical adoption expectations. Among those assessed, frailty and pre-frailty prevalence was high. Given patients who were not tested were clinically high risk, our reported prevalence likely underestimates true frailty prevalence. Providing frailty reduction interventions to all hemodialysis patients could have high impact for this group.

Empower Veterans Program (EVP): a chronic pain management program demonstrates positive outcomes among veterans.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a highly prevalent health condition among veterans. Traditional pharmacological interventions present unique challenges for chronic pain management including prescription opioid addiction and overdose. In alignment with the 2016 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and VA's Stepped Care Model to meet veterans' pain management needs, the Offices of Rural Health and Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMOP) funded an enterprise-wide initiative to implement a Step 3 integrated tele-pain program: Empower Veterans Program (EVP). EVP provides veterans with chronic pain self-care skills using a whole health driven approach to pain management. OBJECTIVES: The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act prompted the strategic approach to offer non-pharmacological options to meet veterans' pain management needs. EVP, a 10-week interdisciplinary group medical appointment, leverages Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindful Movement, and Whole Health to provide veterans with chronic pain self-care skills. This evaluation was conducted to describe participant characteristics, graduation, and satisfaction rates; and assess pre-post patient-reported outcomes (PRO) associated with EVP participation. METHODS: A sample of 639 veterans enrolled in EVP between May, 2015 and December, 2017 provided data to conduct descriptive analyses to assess participant demographics, graduation, and satisfaction rates. PRO data were analyzed using a within-participants pre-post design, and linear mixed-effects models were used to examine pre-post changes in PRO. RESULTS: Of 639 participants, 444 (69.48%) graduated EVP. Participant median program satisfaction rating was 8.41 (Interquartile Range: 8.20-9.20). Results indicate pre-post EVP improvements (Bonferroni-adjusted p < .003) in the three primary pain outcomes (intensity, interference, catastrophizing), and 12 of 17 secondary outcomes, including physical, psychological, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), acceptance, and mindfulness measures. DISCUSSION: Data suggest that EVP has significant positive outcomes in pain, psychological, physical, HRQoL, acceptance, and mindfulness measures for veterans with chronic pain through non-pharmacological means. Future evaluations of intervention dosing effect and long-term effectiveness of the program is needed.

Open versus Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Elective endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm results in lower perioperative mortality than traditional open repair, but after 4 years this survival advantage is not seen; in addition, results of two European trials have shown worse long-term outcomes with endovascular repair than with open repair. Long-term results of a study we conducted more than a decade ago to compare endovascular repair with open repair are unknown. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms to either endovascular repair or open repair of the aneurysm. All the patients were candidates for either procedure. Patients were followed for up to 14 years. RESULTS: A total of 881 patients underwent randomization: 444 were assigned to endovascular repair and 437 to open repair. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A total of 302 patients (68.0%) in the endovascular-repair group and 306 (70.0%) in the open-repair group died (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82 to 1.13). During the first 4 years of follow-up, overall survival appeared to be higher with endovascular repair than with open repair; from year 4 through year 8, overall survival was higher in the open-repair group; and after 8 years, overall survival was once again higher in the endovascular-repair group (hazard ratio for death, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.18). None of these trends were significant. There were 12 aneurysm-related deaths (2.7%) in the endovascular-repair group and 16 (3.7%) in the open-repair group (between-group difference, -1.0 percentage point; 95% CI, -3.3 to 1.4); most deaths occurred during the perioperative period. Aneurysm rupture occurred in 7 patients (1.6%) in the endovascular-repair group, and rupture of a thoracic aneurysm occurred in 1 patient (0.2%) in the open-repair group (between-group difference, 1.3 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.1 to 2.6). Death from chronic obstructive lung disease was just over 50% more common with open repair (5.4% of patients in the endovascular-repair group and 8.2% in the open-repair group died from chronic obstructive lung disease; between-group difference, -2.8 percentage points; 95% CI, -6.2 to 0.5). More patients in the endovascular-repair group underwent secondary procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term overall survival was similar among patients who underwent endovascular repair and those who underwent open repair. A difference between groups was noted in the number of patients who underwent secondary therapeutic procedures. Our results were not consistent with the findings of worse performance of endovascular repair with respect to long-term survival that was seen in the two European trials. (Funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Research and Development; OVER ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00094575.).

Cost-Effectiveness of Individual Placement and Support Compared to Transitional Work Program for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leads to significant disability, unemployment, and substantial healthcare costs. The cost-effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation (VR) interventions is important to consider when determining which services to offer. This study assesses the cost-effectiveness and return on investment of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) compared to transitional work (TW) programs. Employment outcomes from a multisite randomized trial comparing IPS to TW in military veterans with PTSD (n = 541) were linked to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) archival medical record databases to examine the comparative cost-effectiveness and return on investment. Effectiveness was defined as hours worked and income earned in competitive jobs. Costs for VR, mental health, and medical care and income earned from competitive sources were annualized and adjusted to 2019 US dollars. The annualized mean cost per person of outpatient (including vocational services) were $3970 higher for IPS compared to TW ($23,245 vs. $19,276, respectively; P = 0.004). When TW income was included in costs, mean grand total costs per person per year were similar between groups ($29,828 IPS vs. $26,772 TW; P = 0.17). The incremental cost-effectiveness analysis showed that while IPS is more costly, it is also more effective. The return on investment (excluding TW income) was 32.9% for IPS ($9762 mean income/$29,691 mean total costs) and 29.6% for TW ($7326 mean income/$24,781 mean total costs). IPS significantly improves employment outcomes for individuals with PTSD with negligible increase in healthcare costs and yields very good return on investment compared to non-IPS VR services.

Did the Affordable Care Act Decrease Veteran Enrollment in the Veterans Health Administration?

BACKGROUND: Provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided nonelderly individuals, including Veterans, with additional health care coverage options. This may impact enrollment for health care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). National enrollment data was used to: (1) compare characteristics of enrollees at 3 time points in relation to the implementation of ACA insurance provisions (2012); and (2) examine enrollment trends. METHODS: The study population included a 10% sample of Veterans under age 65 who were VHA enrollees between January 2012 and September 2015. Demographic and baseline characteristics were compared between 3 enrollment groups: pre-2012, pre-ACA (2012-2013), and post-ACA (2014-2015). Using an interrupted time series approach, we employed pooled logistic regression to assess trends in new VHA enrollment, overall, and by select enrollee characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 429,833 enrollees were identified. Compared with pre-ACA enrollees, post-ACA enrollees were more likely to be older, have a service-connected disability, live further away from a VHA medical center, but less likely to use primary care within 6 months. The post-ACA quarterly trend in the odds of being a new enrollee was 3% lower (95% confidence interval: 0.96, 0.98) as compared with the pre-ACA trend. This decline was consistent across sex, geography, (all but 1) priority group, and state Medicaid-expansion subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The ACA appears to have contributed to a decline in new VHA enrollment. In addition, the profile of newer enrollees differs from that of pre-ACA enrollees. The VHA must continue to monitor trends in demand in order to continue delivering high-quality, efficient care.

Impact of Patient Portal Use on Duplicate Laboratory Tests in Diabetes Management.

Background: Patients seek care across multiple health care settings. One coordination issue is the unnecessary duplication of laboratory across different health care settings. This analysis examined the association between patient portal use and duplication of laboratory testing among Veterans who are dual users of Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA providers. Materials and Methods: A national sample of Veterans who were newly authenticated users of the portal during fiscal year (FY) 2013 who used Blue Button at least once were compared with a random sample of Veterans who were not registered to use the portal. From these two groups, Veterans who were also Medicare-eligible users in FY2014 were identified. Duplicate testing was defined as receipt of more than five HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) in 1 year. Results: Use of the Blue Button decreased the odds of duplicate HbA1c testing in VA and Medicare-covered facilities across three comparisons: (1) overall between users and nonusers: portal users were less likely to have duplicate testing; (2) pre-post comparison: there was a trend toward lower duplicate testing in both groups across time; and (3) pre-post comparisons accounting for use of the portal: the trend toward lower duplicate testing was greater in Blue Button users. Conclusion: Duplicate HbA1c testing was significantly lower in dual users of VA and Medicare services who used the Blue Button feature of their VA patient portal. Non-VA providers encounter barriers to access of complete information about Veterans who also use VA health care. Provider endorsement of consumer-mediated health information exchange could help further this model of sharing information.

Experiences with the Veterans' Choice Program.

BACKGROUND: To address concerns about Veterans' access to care at US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities, the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act was enacted to facilitate Veterans' access to care in non-VA settings, resulting in the "Veterans Choice Program" (VCP). OBJECTIVES: To assess the characteristics of Veterans who used or planned to use the VCP, reasons for using or planning to use the VCP, and experiences with the VCP. DESIGN: Mixed-methods. SUBJECTS: After sampling Veterans in the Midwest census region receiving care at VA healthcare facilities, we included 4521 Veterans in the analyses. Of these, 60 Veterans participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. APPROACH: Quantitative data were derived from VA's administrative and clinical data and a survey of Veterans including Veteran characteristics and self-reported use of VCP. Associations between Veterans' characteristics and use or planned use of the VCP were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. KEY RESULTS: Veterans with a higher odds of reporting use or intended use of the VCP were women, lived further distances from VA facilities, or had worse health status than other Veterans (P ≤ 0.01). Key themes included positive experiences with the VCP (timeliness of care, location of care, access to services, scheduling improvements, and coverage of services), and negative experiences with the VCP (complicated scheduling processes, inconveniently located appointments, delays securing appointments, billing confusion, and communication breakdowns). DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that Veterans value access to care close to their home and care that addresses the needs of women and Veterans with poor health status. The Mission Act was passed in June 2018 to restructure the VCP and consolidate community care into a single program, continuing VA's commitment to support access to community care into the future.

Receipt of Overlapping Opioid and Benzodiazepine Prescriptions Among Veterans Dually Enrolled in Medicare Part D and the Department of Veterans Affairs: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Overlapping use of opioids and benzodiazepines is associated with increased risk for overdose. Veterans receiving medications concurrently from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare may be at higher risk for such overlap. Objective: To assess the association between dual use of VA and Medicare drug benefits and receipt of overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: VA and Medicare. Participants: All veterans enrolled in VA and Medicare Part D who filled at least 2 opioid prescriptions in 2013 (n = 368 891). Measurements: Outcomes were the proportion of patients with a Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) measure of opioid-benzodiazepine overlap (≥2 filled prescriptions for benzodiazepines with ≥30 days of overlap with opioids) and the proportion of patients with high-dose opioid-benzodiazepine overlap (≥30 days of overlap with a daily opioid dose >120 morphine milligram equivalents). Augmented inverse probability weighting regression was used to compare these measures by prescription drug source: VA only, Medicare only, or VA and Medicare (dual use). Results: Of 368 891 eligible veterans, 18.3% received prescriptions from the VA only, 30.3% from Medicare only, and 51.4% from both VA and Medicare. The proportion with PQA opioid-benzodiazepine overlap was larger for the dual-use group than the VA-only group (23.1% vs. 17.3%; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.27 [95% CI, 1.24 to 1.30]) and Medicare-only group (23.1% vs. 16.5%; aRR, 1.12 [CI, 1.10 to 1.14]). The proportion with high-dose overlap was also larger for the dual-use group than the VA-only group (4.7% vs. 2.3%; aRR, 2.23 [CI, 2.10 to 2.36]) and Medicare-only group (4.7% vs. 2.9%; aRR, 1.06 [CI, 1.02 to 1.11]). Limitation: Data are from 2013 and cannot capture medications purchased without insurance; unmeasured confounding may remain in this cross-sectional study. Conclusion: Among a national cohort of veterans dually enrolled in VA and Medicare, receiving prescriptions from both sources was associated with greater risk for receiving potentially unsafe overlapping prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines. Primary Funding Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Health Care Utilization and Costs of Veterans Evaluated for Traumatic Brain Injury Through Telehealth.

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is prevalent among Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF]) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF]) Veterans. With clinical video telehealth (CVT), Veterans screening positive for potential deployment-related TBI can receive comprehensive TBI evaluations by providers at specialized centers through interactive video communication.Introduction: We examined health care utilization and costs for Veterans during the 12 months before and after being evaluated through CVT versus in-person.Materials and Methods: We examined OEF/OIF Veterans receiving comprehensive evaluations at specialized Veterans Affairs facilities from October 2012 to September 2014. Veterans evaluated through CVT and in-person at the same facilities were included. We used a difference-in-difference analysis with propensity score weighted regression models to examine health care utilization and costs between TBI evaluation groups.Results: There were 554 Veterans with comprehensive evaluations through CVT (380 with and 174 without confirmed TBI) and 7,159 with in-person evaluations (4,899 with and 2,260 without confirmed TBI). Veterans in the in-person group with confirmed TBI had similar increases in outpatient, inpatient, and total health care costs as Veterans who had TBI confirmed through CVT. However, Veterans with a confirmed TBI evaluated in-person had greater increases in rehabilitation and other specialty costs.Discussion: When visits are in-person, Veterans may have opportunities to discuss more issues and concerns, whether TBI-related or not. Thus, providers might make more referrals to rehabilitation and specialty care after in-person visits.Conclusion: Veterans receiving in-person evaluations who were diagnosed with TBI had similar increases in health care costs as Veterans with TBI confirmed through evaluations through CVT.

How Do Patients with Mental Health Diagnoses Use Online Patient Portals? An Observational Analysis from the Veterans Health Administration.

Online patient portals may be effective for engaging patients with mental health conditions in their own health care. This retrospective database analysis reports patient portal use among Veterans with mental health diagnoses. Unadjusted and adjusted odds of portal feature use was calculated using logistic regressions. Having experienced military sexual trauma or having an anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or depression were associated with increased odds of portal use; bipolar, substance use, psychotic and adjustment disorders were associated with decreased odds. Future research should examine factors that influence portal use to understand diagnosis-level differences and improve engagement with such tools.

Physicians' Perspectives Regarding Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Use Within the Department of Veterans Affairs: a Multi-State Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented robust strategies to monitor prescription opioid dispensing, but these strategies have not accounted for opioids prescribed by non-VA providers. State-based prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are a potential tool to identify VA patients' receipt of opioids from non-VA prescribers, and recent legislation requires their use within VA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate VA physicians' perspectives and experiences regarding use of PDMPs to monitor Veterans' receipt of opioids from non-VA prescribers. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two VA primary care physicians who prescribed opioids to 15 or more Veterans in 2015. We sampled physicians from two states with PDMPs (Massachusetts and Illinois) and one without prescriber access to a PDMP at the time of the interviews (Pennsylvania). APPROACH: From February to August 2016, we conducted semi-structured telephone interviews that addressed the following topics regarding PDMPs: overall experiences, barriers to optimal use, and facilitators to improve use. KEY RESULTS: VA physicians broadly supported use of PDMPs or desired access to one, while exhibiting varying patterns of PDMP use dictated by state laws and their clinical judgment. Physicians noted administrative burdens and incomplete or unavailable prescribing data as key barriers to PDMP use. To facilitate use, physicians endorsed (1) linking PDMPs with the VA electronic health record, (2) using templated notes to document PDMP use, and (3) delegating routine PDMP queries to ancillary staff. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the time and administrative burdens associated with their use, VA physicians in our study broadly supported PDMPs. The application of our findings to ongoing PDMP implementation efforts may strengthen PDMP use both within and outside VA and improve the safe prescribing of opioids.

Impact of Dual Use of Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicare Part D Drug Benefits on Potentially Unsafe Opioid Use.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and consequences of receiving prescription opioids from both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare Part D. METHODS: Among US veterans enrolled in both VA and Part D filling 1 or more opioid prescriptions in 2012 (n = 539 473), we calculated 3 opioid safety measures using morphine milligram equivalents (MME): (1) proportion receiving greater than 100 MME for 1 or more days, (2) mean days receiving greater than 100 MME, and (3) proportion receiving greater than 120 MME for 90 consecutive days. We compared these measures by opioid source. RESULTS: Overall, 135 643 (25.1%) veterans received opioids from VA only, 332 630 (61.7%) from Part D only, and 71 200 (13.2%) from both. The dual-use group was more likely than the VA-only group to receive greater than 100 MME for 1 or more days (34.3% vs 10.9%; adjusted risk ratio [ARR] = 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9, 3.1), have more days with greater than 100 MME (42.5 vs 16.9 days; adjusted difference = 16.4 days; 95% CI = 15.7, 17.2), and to receive greater than 120 MME for 90 consecutive days (7.8% vs 3.1%; ARR = 2.2; 95% CI = 2.1, 2.3). CONCLUSIONS: Among veterans dually enrolled in VA and Medicare Part D, dual use of opioids was associated with more than 2 to 3 times the risk of high-dose opioid exposure.

Evaluating the Use of Medicare Part D in the Veteran Population With Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the different sources of medications, the most common drug classes filled, and the characteristics associated with Medicare Part D pharmacy use in veterans with spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D). DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study. SETTING: Outpatient clinics and pharmacies. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans (N=13,442) with SCI/D using Medicare or Veteran Affairs pharmacy benefits. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Characteristics and top 10 most common drug classes were examined in veterans who (1) used VA pharmacies only; (2) used both VA and Medicare Part D pharmacies; or (3) used Part D pharmacies only. Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations between various patient variables and source of medications. Patient level frequencies were used to determine the most common drug classes. RESULTS: A total of 13,442 veterans with SCI/D were analyzed in this study: 11,788 (87.7%) used VA pharmacies only, 1281 (9.5%) used both VA and Part D pharmacies, and 373 (2.8%) used Part D pharmacies only. Veterans older than 50 years were more likely to use Part D pharmacies, whereas those with traumatic injury, or secondary conditions, were less associated with the use of Part D pharmacies. Opioids were the most frequently filled drug class across all groups. Other frequently used drug classes included skeletal muscle relaxants, gastric medications, antidepressants (other category), anticonvulsants, and antilipemics. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 12% of veterans with SCI/D are receiving medication outside the VA system. Polypharmacy in this population of veterans is relatively high, emphasizing the importance of health information exchange between systems for improved care for this medically complex population.

Barriers and strategies for coordinating care among veterans with traumatic brain injury: a mixed methods study of VA polytrauma care team members.

BACKGROUND: Veterans who experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have long-term needs placing a premium on well-coordinated care. This study aimed to (1) identify barriers to care coordination for Veterans with TBI; and (2) describe strategies used by VA polytrauma care team members to coordinate care for Veterans with TBI. METHODS: We utilised a mixed method design, including an online survey of VA polytrauma care team members (N = 236) and subsequent semi-structured interviews (N = 25). Analysis of the survey data was descriptive; interview data was analysed using constant comparative techniques. RESULTS: The most common system-related barriers 25 for access to military records (64%) and insufficient time (58%). The most common patient-related barriers were missed appointments/no shows (87%) and the mental health issues (74%). Strategies reported on the survey to promote coordination reflected the centrality of teamwork and communication, and included promoting multidisciplinary team collaboration (32%) and holding 30 regular meetings (23%). Interview findings were consistent, emphasising the effective functioning of multidisciplinary clinics. CONCLUSION: Polytrauma care team members encounter barriers to care coordination for Veterans with TBI, and have developed strategies in response. Information sharing, provider workload, communication, and patient engagement will be critical to address in future efforts to enhance care coordination in this context.

Survival in patients with Parkinson's disease after deep brain stimulation or medical management.

OBJECTIVE: Deep brain stimulation has been shown to have a significant long-term beneficial effect on motor function. However, whether it affects survival is not clear. In this study, we compared survival rates for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) with those who were medically managed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of Veterans Affairs and Medicare administrative data of veterans with PD who received DBS and were propensity score matched to a cohort of veterans with PD who did not receive DBS between 2007-2013. RESULTS: Veterans with PD who received DBS had a longer survival measured in days than a matched group of veterans who did not undergo DBS (mean = 2291.1 [standard error = 46.4] days [6.3 years] vs 2063.8 [standard error = 47.7] days [5.7 years]; P = .006; hazard ratio = 0.69 [95% confidence interval 0.56-0.85]). Mean age at death was similar for both groups (76.5 [standard deviation = 7.2] vs 75.9 [standard deviation = 8.4] years, P = .67), respectively, and the most common cause of death was PD. CONCLUSIONS: DBS is associated with a modest survival advantage when compared with a matched group of patients who did not undergo DBS. Whether the survival advantage reflects a moderating influence of DBS on PD or on comorbidities that might shorten life or whether differences may be a result of unmeasured differences between groups is not known. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.