Expanding comprehensive pregnancy care for Emergency Medicaid recipients: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Medicaid is a restricted benefits program for individuals who have low-income status and who are immigrants. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of 2 strategies of pregnancy coverage for Emergency Medicaid recipients: the federal minimum of covering the delivery only vs extended coverage to 60 days after delivery. STUDY DESIGN: A decision analytical Markov model was developed to evaluate the outcomes and costs of these policies, and the results in a theoretical cohort of 100,000 postpartum Emergency Medicaid recipients were considered. The payor perspective was adopted. Health outcomes and cost-effectiveness over a 1- and 3-year time horizon were investigated. All probabilities, utilities, and costs were obtained from the literature. Our primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the competing strategies. RESULTS: Extending Emergency Medicaid to 60 days after delivery was determined to be a cost-saving strategy. Providing postpartum and contraceptive care resulted in 33,900 additional people receiving effective contraception in the first year and prevented 7290 additional unintended pregnancies. Over 1 year, it resulted in a gain of 1566 quality-adjusted life year at a cost of $10,903 per quality-adjusted life year. By 3 years of policy change, greater improvements were observed in all outcomes, and the expansion of Emergency Medicaid became cost saving and the dominant strategy. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of postpartum care and contraception for immigrant women who have low-income status resulted in lower costs and improved health outcomes.

Analysis of Obstetric Outcomes by Hospital Location, Volume, and Teaching Status Associated With Non-Medically Indicated Induction of Labor at 39 Weeks.

Importance: Non-medically indicated induction of labor has been demonstrated to potentially improve some obstetric outcomes, such as decreasing cesarean birth. It has been reported that rates of cesarean birth and other obstetric outcomes vary among hospitals with different characteristics. Objective: To assess whether obstetric outcomes differ between nulliparous individuals with low-risk pregnancies managed with non-medically indicated induction of labor compared with expectant management in different types of hospitals. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study included non-medically indicated induction of labor at 39 weeks' gestation compared with expectant management of singleton, nonanomalous, births in nulliparous women with low-risk pregnancies in California between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011. The initial analysis of these data was performed in 2021. Outcomes were assessed by 3 hospital characteristics: location (urban vs rural), obstetric volume, and teaching (academic vs community) status. Volume was categorized based on the average number of births per year and grouped into low (<1200 births per year), medium (1200-2399 births per year), and high (≥2400 births per year). Births with previous or planned cesarean delivery were excluded, and non-medically indicated induction of labor was defined as induction of labor without a specific medical indication. Testing with χ2 and multivariable logistic regression analyses was used for statistical comparisons with a cutoff level of P = .01. Exposure: Non-medically indicated induction of labor at 39 weeks' gestation. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was cesarean birth, and numerous secondary perinatal outcomes were also assessed. Results: There were 455 044 births included in this study. When stratified by hospital variables, a number of sociodemographic characteristics were significantly different, such as race and ethnicity, age, body mass index, and insurance type. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of cesarean birth were significantly lower in all settings with induction of labor except for low-volume hospitals, in which there was no significant difference (aOR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.82-1.09). Chorioamnionitis and postpartum hemorrhage were lower with induction of labor among nearly every hospital when stratified by hospital characteristics. Neonatal outcomes were improved in all settings with induction of labor compared with expectant management. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that non-medically indicated induction of labor may be associated with a lower rate of cesarean births and some maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in a range of hospital settings.

Human Milk-Expression Technologies: A Primer for Obstetricians.

Lactation is a powerful tool for improving health trajectories and promoting reproductive justice. Multiple new human milk-expression technologies are available. Although direct feeding is optimal and feasible in many circumstances, understanding human milk-expression technology and counseling patients appropriately represents one of the ways physicians can support patients in meeting their feeding goals. Breast pumps and breast pump accessories may help patients establish and maintain breastfeeding, but these technologies continue to evolve and are not always intuitive. The core components of a pump are the attachment at the breast, valves, tubing, motor, device programming, and reservoir. Whereas closed systems can be used by multiple patients, open systems are single-user and they are not able to be sterilized. Mobile pumps may help support breastfeeding individuals who are unable to remain stationary for the time necessary to express milk. Nonelectric pumps represent an important adjuvant technology. There are a wide variety of pump accessories that may help patients overcome specific breastfeeding challenges. Obstetricians remain uniquely positioned to support patients in achieving their lactation goals, which is enhanced by familiarity with the supportive technologies available.

Stepwise Approach to the Management of Endometriosis-Related Dysmenorrhea: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of sequential medical and surgical therapy for the treatment of endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness model was created to compare three stepwise medical and surgical treatment strategies compared with immediate surgical management for dysmenorrhea using a health care payor perspective. A theoretical study cohort was derived from the estimated number of reproductive age (18-45) women in the United States with endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea. The treatment strategies modeled were: strategy 1) nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) followed by surgery; strategy 2) NSAIDs, then short-acting reversible contraceptives or long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) followed by surgery; strategy 3) NSAIDs, then a short-acting reversible contraceptive or LARC, then a LARC or gonadotropin-releasing hormone modulator followed by surgery; strategy 4) proceeding directly to surgery. Probabilities, utilities, and costs were derived from the literature. Outcomes included cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: In this theoretical cohort of 4,817,894 women with endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea, all medical and surgical treatment strategies were cost effective at a standard willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY gained when compared with surgery alone. Strategy 2 was associated with the lowest cost per QALY gained ($1,155). Requiring a trial of a third medication before surgery would cost an additional $257 million, compared with proceeding to surgery after failing two medical treatments. The probability of improvement with surgery would need to exceed 83% for this to be the preferred first-line approach. CONCLUSION: All sequential medical and surgical management strategies for endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea were cost effective when compared with surgery alone. A trial of hormonal management after NSAIDs, before proceeding to surgery, may provide cost savings. Delaying surgical management in an individual with pain refractory to more than three medications may decrease quality of life and increase cost.

Effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion between 13 and 24 weeks gestation: A retrospective review of case records from accompaniment groups in Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador.

OBJECTIVES: In settings where abortion is legally restricted or inaccessible, grassroots feminist networks provide evidence-based information and support to individuals who self-manage abortions-a model of care known as abortion accompaniment. This study aims to fill a gap in existing evidence about out-of-clinic abortion beyond 12 weeks gestation. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective analysis of anonymized case records from accompaniment groups based in Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador of abortions supported between 13 and 24 weeks gestation. We report on the reproductive histories of individuals who had accompanied abortions, as well as medication regimens, and outcomes. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2018, 316 individuals received accompaniment support for 318 self-managed medication abortions between 13 and 24 weeks gestation. Individuals most commonly used mifepristone-misoprostol (n = 297, 93%), with sublingual misoprostol administration (n = 288, 88%). Medication alone resulted in 241 complete abortions (76%); 37 (12%) individuals underwent manual vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage within the formal health system, and 16 people (5%) required an additional medication abortion attempt at a later date, resulted in ongoing pregnancy, or were lost to follow-up. After accounting for additional interventions or monitoring at a healthcare facility, 302 of 318 (95%) abortion attempts completed overall. We had complete information regarding complications only from Chile (n = 78); of these, 12 (15%) experienced potential complications, including delayed placental expulsion and/or heavy bleeding (n = 5, 6%), high fever (n = 3, 4%), and hypotension, panic attack, or vomiting (n = 3, 4%). No abortions resulted in transfusion or hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Self-managed medication abortion, with accompaniment network support and linkages to the formal health system in the event that complications arise, may be an effective and safe option for abortion beyond the first trimester - particularly in legally restrictive settings. IMPLICATIONS: These results build on an emerging body of evidence suggesting that self-managed medication abortion beyond 12 weeks gestation, conducted with accompaniment support and referrals to formal health care services as needed, can be an effective model of abortion care - and can provide a safe alternative to clandestine surgical procedures.

Ulipristal acetate compared to levonorgestrel emergency contraception among current oral contraceptive users: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of ulipristal acetate (UPA) and levonorgestrel (LNG) emergency contraception (EC) on pregnancy prevention among combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill users with an extended pill-free interval. We accounted for the potential interaction of COCs and obesity on EC efficacy. METHODS: We built a decision-analytic model using TreeAge software to evaluate the optimal oral EC strategy in a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 twenty-five-year-old women midcycle with a prolonged "missed" pill episode (8-14 days). We used a 5-year time horizon and 3% discount rate. From a healthcare perspective, we obtained probabilities, utilities and costs inflated to 2018 dollars from the literature. We set the threshold for cost-effectiveness at a standard $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. We included the following clinical outcomes: number of protected cycles, unintended pregnancies, abortions, deliveries and costs. RESULTS: We found that UPA was the optimal method of oral EC, as it resulted in 720 fewer unintended pregnancies, 736 fewer abortions and 80 fewer deliveries at a total cost savings of $50,323 and 79 additional adjusted life-years. UPA continued to be the optimal strategy even in the case of obesity or COCs impacting UPA efficacy, in which a COC interaction would have to change efficacy of UPA by 160% before LNG was the dominant strategy. CONCLUSION: Our models found that UPA was the dominant choice of oral EC among COC users with a prolonged "missed" pill episode, regardless of body mass index or an adverse interaction of COCs on UPA. IMPLICATIONS: Ulipristal acetate is the dominant choice of oral emergency contraception among combined oral contraceptive users.

Twenty-Week Abortion Bans on Pregnancies With a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of 20-week abortion bans on maternal and consequent neonatal health outcomes and costs in the setting of fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia. METHODS: A decision-analytic model was built using TreeAge software to evaluate the effect of a 20-week ban on abortion in a theoretical cohort of 921 women diagnosed with fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Probabilities, utilities, and costs were derived from the literature. The cohort size was based on the annual rate of prenatal diagnoses of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and live births among the 20 states with bans. The threshold for cost-effectiveness was set at $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Analysis was completed from the maternal perspective. Clinical outcomes included mode of delivery, maternal death, intrauterine fetal death, neonatal death, neurodevelopmental disability, and use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. One-way sensitivity analysis was used on all variables and Monte Carlo simulation was performed. RESULTS: A policy restricting termination was associated with higher costs, at an additional $158,419,623, with decreased quality of life and 674 fewer quality-adjusted life-years. With 20-week bans in place, 60 women would travel out of state to obtain abortions. There would be 158 more live births affected by congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Of these births, 45 neonates would die before 28 days after birth and an additional 37 would have long-term neurodevelopmental disability. CONCLUSION: In this model, bans that limit abortions beyond 20 weeks of gestation were associated with worse health outcomes and increased costs for women with pregnancies complicated by congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The restriction of health care access should be considered in terms of the long-term outcomes and economic effect on individuals and society.

Immediate vs. delayed post-abortal copper T 380A IUD insertion in cases over 12 weeks of gestation.

BACKGROUND: The intrauterine device (IUD) is a safe, effective, well-tolerated form of contraception. Immediate placement after second-trimester abortion could increase high-tier contraception use in women who are at high risk for unintended pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: This randomized controlled trial compared immediate vs. delayed placement of Copper T380A IUD insertion 2-4 weeks after second trimester abortion. The primary outcome analyzed was the percentage of women using a copper T380A IUD 6 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes were percentage of subjects using other high or middle tier contraception, expulsion, infection and repeat pregnancy rates as well as IUD satisfaction. In expectation of a high loss to follow-up at 6 months, 215 subjects were enrolled for a desired sample size of 158 subjects. RESULTS: Contraceptive and pregnancy status at 6 months was known for 159 of 215 subjects. Women randomized to immediate insertion were significantly more likely to have an IUD at 6 months compared to delayed (81.7% vs. 28.4%, p=.003). Relative risk was 11.2 (95% CI 5-26). There were 8 (5.1%) of 159 repeat unintended pregnancies. No women had a repeat pregnancy that had an IUD placed in the operating room. In the as-treated analysis, 64 women in the immediate group received the IUD and 0% had a repeat pregnancy. Of the remaining 95 women, 8 (8.4%) had a repeat pregnancy. This is a statistically significant difference (p=.022). CONCLUSION: Placing the IUD immediately after the procedure significantly increases the likelihood of use of effective contraception following a second-trimester procedure. Women who have an IUD placed immediately after their procedure may also be less likely to have a subsequent unplanned pregnancy.