Factors Associated with Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services in a Medicaid Managed Care Pediatric Population.

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services is a Medicaid benefit for children that addresses their health problems before they become advanced, debilitating, and expensive. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of pediatric beneficiaries (newborn to younger than 21 years) enrolled in a Medicaid managed care organization to examine the factors associated with EPSDT screening services completion. We obtained 2018 administrative claims data for beneficiaries continuously enrolled for a minimum of 90 days (n=156,108). Completion of EPSDT screening services among our Medicaid managed care beneficiaries was low. Those having more emergency department visits and hospitalizations, having family medicine practitioners as primary care physicians, belonging to the racial/ethnic group Asian/Pacific Islander/Hawaiian/Alaskan Native/Native American, and 18 to younger than 21 years age group were less likely than others to complete EPSDT services. Our results provide information on segments of pediatric beneficiaries that can be targeted to increase EPSDT screening services completion.

Health care utilization among beneficiaries with diabetes from federally qualified health centers: Analysis from a Medicaid managed care organization.

We examined health care utilization among federally qualified health center (FQHCs) users from a Medicaid managed care organization based on 2016 administrative claims data (n = 8,402). FQHC users had fewer primary care visits (Adjusted Incidence Rate Ratios (aIRR): 0.82; 95% CI: 0.76-0.88) compared with non-FQHC users. Statistically significant differences were not observed in emergency department visits (aIRR: 1.19; 95% CI: 0.98-1.46) and hospitalizations (aIRR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.80-1.34). FQHCs provide comprehensive primary care to Medicaid managed care beneficiaries with diabetes in fewer PCP visits. Results provide evidence to health policy experts and MCOs to increase provider network contracting with FQHCs.

Diabetes Self-Management Among Individuals With Diabetes and Physical Disabilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine diabetes self-management behavior among individuals who have diabetes living with and without physical limitations. METHODS: Pooled cross-sectional data (2011-2016) from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used. Dependent variables were utilization of dilated eye exams, foot checks, at least 1 dental checkup annually, treating diabetes with oral medication, treating diabetes with insulin injections, and engagement in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week. The independent variable was diabetes with physical limitations compared with diabetes without physical limitations. The study controlled for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Findings indicate that individuals with diabetes and physical limitations were less likely to engage in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week, have at least 1 annual dental checkup, and treat their diabetes orally with medication. CONCLUSIONS: Self-management behavior was poor among individuals with diabetes and physical limitations. Environmental barriers may partially contribute to reasons why individuals with diabetes and physical limitations do not engage in diabetes self-management behaviors that would assist them in mitigating diabetes complications. Other reasons could be the lack of equipment accessibility or adaptability and cultural competence among providers treating/caring for individuals with physical limitations.

Is type of practice setting associated with physician's cultural competency training? Analysis from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

This study examined whether type of physician practice settings was associated with cultural competency training for newly hired physicians. We used data from the 2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey Supplement on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services for Office-based Physician Survey. The survey contains a sample of 397 office-based physician responses completed during the period from August to December 2016 (weighted n = 293306). The outcome variable was whether cultural competency training was required for newly hired physicians. The primary predictor variable was type of physician practice settings. We used logistic regression to analyze the association between physician practice settings and cultural competency training for newly hired physicians adjusting for covariates. About 71% physicians belonged to solo or group practice settings. Among these, only 10.4% required cultural competency training for newly hired physicians. Among other practice settings, 34.8% required the training. Results from logistic regression showed that newly hired physicians in solo or group practices (adjusted odds ratio: 0.22; 95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.44) were less likely to have cultural competency training compared to those in other settings. Practice settings are associated with cultural competency training. Cultural competency training across all practice settings may contribute toward improving patient-physician communication, reducing health disparities, and increasing patient satisfaction.

Diabetes Standard of Care Among Individuals Who Have Diabetes With and Without Cognitive Limitation Disabilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine diabetes standard of care among individuals who have diabetes with and without cognitive limitation disabilities (CLDs). Individuals with CLDs are more likely to develop diabetes and less likely to participate in diabetes standard of care services compared to those without CLDs. METHODS: We used pooled cross-sectional data (2011-2016) from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (HC-MEPS). Dependent variables were utilization of dilated eye exams, foot checks, A1C blood tests, and engagement in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week. Our independent variable was diabetes with CLDs vs diabetes without CLDs. We controlled for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Findings suggest that individuals with diabetes and CLDs were less likely to engage in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week compared to individuals without CLDs. For other diabetes care services, individuals with CLDs are as likely to participate in health services utilization as those without CLDs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports research that indicates individuals with diabetes and CLDs were less likely to participate in physical exercise compared to individuals without CLDs. Conversely, individuals with diabetes and CLDs were just as likely to receive a dilated eye exam, have their feet checked, and have their A1C checked as individuals without CLDs, which is a very encouraging finding.

Urgent Care Center and Emergency Department Utilization for Non-Emergent Health Conditions: Analysis of Managed Care Beneficiaries.

The objective was to identify predictors of utilization for urgent care centers (UCCs), emergency departments (EDs), or for both services for non-emergent health conditions among beneficiaries from a managed care organization (MCO) who resided within a 10-mile radius of UCCs. A cross-sectional design was used to analyze 2016 administrative claims data from an MCO that contracted with a UCC with 12 locations (n = 20,107). Outcome variables were number of visits to UCC, ED, or both. The MCO used the New York University ED algorithm to identify non-emergent health conditions. The Behavioral Model of Health Care Utilization was used as a conceptual framework to identify predictors in the model; age, sex, race/ethnicity, distance to UCC from residence, type of insurance, primary care physician visits, inpatient admissions, chronic conditions, morbid obesity, and smoking behavior. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the association between outcomes and predictors. About 22.7% were UCC users, 66.8% were ED users, and 10.5% used both. African Americans (incident rate ratio [IRR] = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.98] were less likely to use UCCs and more likely to use the ED (IRR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.07-1.13). Beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions were more likely to use the ED than UCCs. Distance was not a predictor of UCC or ED usage. Utilization of UCC was low for non-emergent health conditions. African Americans and individuals with multiple chronic conditions preferred the ED to UCC for non-emergent health conditions. This study implies that MCO beneficiaries, especially the African American population, need to be informed about UCC locations and services provided.

Trends and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination.

Even though pneumococcal vaccination recommendations have been in existence since 1983, vaccination rates are low in the United States. This study analyzed 5-year trends in pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination uptake across racial/ethnic groups of individuals aged ≥65 years and high-risk individuals aged 19-64 years. Further, it examined factors that may explain the association between race/ethnicity and vaccination uptake. The 2011-2015 annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data were used to determine trends. The Behavioral Model of Health Care Utilization was used to identify covariates in the model. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the association between race/ethnicity and vaccination uptake from 2015 BRFSS. Overall, from 2011 to 2015, vaccination uptake increased moderately from 69% to 71% among those aged ≥65 years, and from 21% to 24% for high-risk individuals aged 19-64 years. Among those aged ≥65 years (n = 99,403), African Americans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.21-1.52) and Hispanics (AOR: 2.13, 95%CI: 1.85-2.46) were more likely to be vaccinated than Whites. Among the younger population (n = 177,976), African Americans (AOR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.79-0.92) and Asians (AOR: 0.73, 95%CI: 0.63-0.84) were less likely to be vaccinated than Whites. Over the 5 years there were no significant increases in vaccination uptake. The rates are far below the Healthy People 2020 goals. Reverse disparities were observed in the older group. In younger group, minorities were less likely to get vaccinated. As gaps still exist, this study implies tailored interventions based on race/ethnicity to promote vaccination uptake among both groups.

Healthcare Providers' Recommendations for Physical Activity among US Arthritis Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis by Race/Ethnicity.

INTRODUCTION: We examined racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare providers' recommendations for physical activity among individuals with arthritis and evaluated this association among groups of individuals who adhered to physical activity guidelines and those who did not. METHODS: With a cross-sectional design based on Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we analyzed individuals with self-reported physician-diagnosed arthritis, ≥18 years of age (n = 83,376). Outcome variable was healthcare providers' recommendations for physical activity. Race/ethnicity was categorized as African American, Hispanic, and White. Associations were examined using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: African Americans (Adjusted OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.55-0.79) and Hispanics (Adjusted OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.56-0.83) were less likely to receive providers' recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Although the importance of physical activity to improve health outcomes for adults with arthritis, as well as providers' influence on individuals' behavior change, is well established, providers are less likely to recommend physical activity to minorities. Further studies are required to identify the causes for this quality-of-care issue.

Acupuncture Use in the United States: Who, Where, Why, and at What Price?

Despite the increase in acupuncture uses and greater than ever before interest of funding agencies to fund biomedical research in acupuncture, little is known about the profile of acupuncture users. We examined who these individuals are, where they reside, why they use acupuncture, and what price they pay. The increased use and high costs associated with each acupuncture visit poses questions to health care insurers regarding its coverage. Profiling will help conventional providers identify the segment of the population who are more likely to use acupuncture and educate them on the possible risks and benefits of using it with conventional medicine.

Disparities in use of gynecologic oncologists for women with ovarian cancer in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine disparities in utilization of gynecologic oncologists (GOs) across race and other sociodemographic factors for women with ovarian cancer. DATA SOURCES: Obtained SEER-Medicare linked dataset for 4,233 non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic African American, Hispanic of any race, and Non-Hispanic Asian women aged ≥ 66 years old diagnosed with ovarian cancer during 2000-2002 from 17 SEER registries. Physician specialty was identified by linking data to the AMA master file using Unique Physician Identification Numbers. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective claims data analysis for 1999-2006. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between GO utilization and race/ethnicity in the initial, continuing, and final phases of care. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: GO use decreased from the initial to final phase of care (51.4-28.8 percent). No racial/ethnic differences were found overall and by phase of cancer care. Women >70 years old and those with unstaged disease were less likely to receive GO care compared to their counterparts. GO use was lower in some SEER registries compared to the Atlanta registry. CONCLUSIONS: GO use for the initial ovarian cancer treatment or for longer term care was low but not different across racial/ethnic groups. Future research should identify factors that affect GO utilization and understand why use of these specialists remains low.