Understanding VA's Use of and Relationships With Community Care Providers Under the MISSION Act.

BACKGROUND: Congress has enacted 2 major pieces of legislation to improve access to care for Veterans within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As a result, the VA has undergone a major transformation in the way that care is delivered to Veterans with an increased reliance on community-based provider networks. No studies have examined the relationship between VA and contracted community providers. This study examines VA facility directors' perspectives on their successes and challenges building relationships with community providers within the VA Community Care Network (CCN). OBJECTIVES: To understand who VA facilities partner with for community care, highlight areas of greatest need for partnerships in various regions, and identify challenges of working with community providers in the new CCN contract. RESEARCH DESIGN: We conducted a national survey with VA facility directors to explore needs, challenges, and expectations with the CCN. RESULTS: The most common care referred to community providers included physical therapy, chiropractic, orthopedic, ophthalmology, and acupuncture. Open-ended responses focused on 3 topics: (1) Challenges in working with community providers, (2) Strategies to maintain strong relationships with community providers, and (3) Re-engagement with community providers who no longer provide care for Veterans. CONCLUSIONS: VA faces challenges engaging with community providers given problems with timely reimbursement of community providers, low (Medicare) reimbursement rates, and confusing VA rules related to prior authorizations and bundled services. It will be critical to identify strategies to successfully initiate and sustain relationships with community providers.

National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plans: Bridging the Cardiac Surgery Gap.

Six billion people worldwide lack access to safe, timely, and affordable cardiac surgical care when needed, despite cardiovascular diseases remaining the world's leading cause of mortality. The large surgical backlog of rheumatic heart disease, stable and high incidence of congenital heart disease, and growing burden of ischemic heart disease around the world calls for urgent scaling of cardiovascular services beyond mere prevention. National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plans are being developed by countries as holistic health systems interventions to increase access to surgical care, but to date, limited to no attention has been given to the inclusion of cardiovascular care.

Differences in realized access to healthcare among newly arrived refugees in Germany: results from a natural quasi-experiment.

BACKGROUND: Germany has a statutory health insurance (SHI) that covers nearly the entire population and most of the health services provided. Newly arrived refugees whose asylum claim is still being processed are initially excluded from the SHI. Instead, their entitlements are restricted and parallel access models have been implemented. We assessed differences in realized access of healthcare services between these access models. METHODS: In Germany's largest federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia, two different access models have been implemented in the 396 municipalities: the healthcare voucher (HcV) model and the electronic health card (eHC) model. As refugees are quasi-randomly assigned to municipalities, we were able to realize a natural quasi-experiment including all newly assigned refugees from six municipalities (three for each model) in 2016 and 2017. Using claims data, we compared the standardized incidence rates (SIR) of specialist services use, emergency services use, and hospitalization due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) between both models. We indirectly standardized utilization patterns first for age and then for the sex. RESULTS: SIRs of emergency use were higher in municipalities with HcV (ranging from 1.41 to 2.63) compared to emergency rates in municipalities with eHC (ranging from 1.40 to 1.71) and differed significantly from the expected rates derived from official health reporting. SIRs of emergency and specialist use in municipalities with eHC converged with the expected rates over time. There were no significant differences in standardized hospitalization rates for ACSC. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the eHC model is slightly better able to provide refugees with SHI-like access to specialist services and goes along with lower utilization of emergency services compared to the HcV model. No difference between the models was found for hospitalizations due to ACSC. Results might be slightly biased due to incompletely documented service use and due to (self-) selection on the level of municipalities with municipalities interested in facilitating access showing more interest in joining the project.

HIV policy in Italy and recommendations across the HIV care continuum.

The HIV epidemic has not yet ended, and there are ever more challenges: the recent Italian National Plan of Interventions against HIV and AIDS (Piano Nazionale di Interventi Contro HIV e AIDS (PNAIDS) 2017-2019) was hailed for its comprehensiveness. Its likelihood of success across the HIV care continuum was therefore assessed. Awareness interventions are sporadic and continue to miss high risk populations; if effectively implemented, the prescriptive detail in PNAIDS may help address this. Combined prevention needs greater focus and investment. However, there has been recent progress: free anonymous testing is available at multiple settings although improvements to provide access to key vulnerable populations are needed. Clinical management is available to a high standard across the country, with some areas for improvement in ensuring equality of access. Long-term management of people living with HIV is often effective, but discrepancies exist across regions and settings of care. It is recommended to enable implementation of PNAIDS as a matter of urgency, develop integrated awareness and testing interventions for STIs and HIV, make condoms free for high-risk populations, and develop a network of multidisciplinary services for long-term holistic care of people living with HIV.

Providing quality abortion care: Findings from a study of six states in India.

OBJECTIVE: Although abortion has been legal in India since 1971, but very little research has been done so far on the issue of the quality of abortion services. To fill this gap, this paper examines whether the quality of abortion services provided in the country is in line with the WHO's recommendations. STUDY DESIGN: We analyse a cross-sectional health facilities survey conducted in six Indian states, representing different sociocultural and geographical regions, as part of a study done in 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of facilities offering different abortion methods, type of anaesthesia given, audio-visual privacy level, compliance with the law by obtaining woman's consent only, imposing the requirement of adopting a contraceptive method as a precondition to receive abortion. RESULTS: Except for the state of Madhya Pradesh, fewer than half of the facilities in the other states offer safe abortion services. Fewer than half of the facilities offer the WHO recommended manual vacuum aspiration method. Only 6-26% facilities across the states seek the woman's consent alone for providing abortion. About 8-26% facilities across the states also require that women adopt some method of contraception before receiving abortion. CONCLUSION: To provide comprehensive quality abortion care, India needs to expand the provider base by including doctors from the Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy streams as also nurses and auxiliary midwives after providing them necessary skills. Medical and nursing colleges and training institutions should expand their curriculum by offering an in-service short-term training on vacuum aspiration (VA) and medical methods of abortion.

Economic evaluation of an active search system to monitor the outcomes of health-related claims.

OBJECTIVE: Economic evaluation of a scientific advisory program with the Public Defenders Office to mitigate the impacts of the judicialization on health in the municipality, as well as the implementation of an active follow-up program to monitor health outcomes arising from court demands. METHODS: A two-step study, the first documental, retrospective, with data collection of lawsuits in the region of Barbalha (CE), Brazil, from 2013 to 2018, and the second stage, prospective and intervention, through mediation between the citizen and the Public Defenders Office, aiming to reduce the occurrence of the judicialization, and the monitoring of the health outcomes of the processes. The study adopted the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards protocol for economic health assessments. The data obtained from the processes were grouped and treated for characterization of the scenario. A comparison of the profile of the lawsuits in the period of 12 months before and after the installation of the program to delimit a complete fiscal cycle was carried out. RESULTS: The advisory service promoted a decrease of 40% (p=0.01) in lawsuits. There was a 31% reduction in court costs (p=0.003), with medicines accounting for 33% of this amount. There was a decrease in inputs outside the Sistema Único de Saúde lists (27%; p=0.003), however there was no statistical difference among several demanding groups, suggesting an equanimous approach. CONCLUSION: Data from the initial survey were comparable to those reported in Brazil regarding the profile of judicial demands. In view of the scenario, the proposal proved feasible as a means to mitigate the costs of the judicialization through mediation. Finally, the initiative can serve as a model for adoption by municipalities that have characteristics similar to those presented in this study.

Patient access to oral nutritional supplements: Which policies count?

OBJECTIVES: Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) represent a cost-effective method for treating malnutrition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of public policies on patient access to ONS, using the Italian regionalized health care system as a case study, subsequently compared with the centralized British National Health Service. METHODS: Regional policies in the nine largest Italian regions and British policies were gathered through a literature review; interviews with officers responsible for clinical nutrition policies at the regional level in Italy were also conducted. Total ONS regional sales in Italy were gathered from industry sources. RESULTS: Regulation by Italian regions focused on patient access and local prescribing issues (facilities and specialists allowed to prescribe reimbursed ONS, clinical pathways for malnutrition or disease-related malnutrition, length of prescriptions, and distribution of ONS). British policies focused on organizational issues (clinical governance through multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Teams, Nutrition Steering Committees and Clinical Commissioning Groups), education and referral by health care professionals. Neither per capita reimbursed ONS expenditure nor the proportion covered by public funds seem dependent on policies implemented at the regional level in Italy. There is no cutting-edge evidence that British policies produced broader diffusion of ONS, but they appear to have standardized their use within a more homogenous framework. CONCLUSION: As no clear relation between regional policies and variation in patient access to ONS emerges in Italy, national policies should be encouraged to enhance awareness of malnutrition among health care professionals and encourage the diffusion of multidisciplinary nutrition teams in health care organizations.

[The perspective of migrants on access to health care in the context of austerity policies in Andalusia (Spain)]. / La perspectiva de personas migrantes sobre el acceso a la atención sanitaria en el contexto de políticas de austeridad en Andalucía.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an assessment of migrant people regarding their access to the health system following entry into force of Royal Decree-Law 16/2012 along with the impact of economic cuts on such access. METHOD: Qualitative phenomenological study with semi-structured interviews, conducted in Andalusia (Spain), in two phases (2009-2010 and 2012-2013), with 36 participants. The sample was segmented by length of stay, nationality and area of residence. The nationalities of origin are Bolivia, Morocco and Romania. RESULTS: Elements facilitating access in both periods: regular administrative situation, possession of Individual Health Card, knowledge of the language, social networks and information. The results show differences in access to health care for migrants before and after the enforcement of the RDL 16/2012, within austerity policies. In the second period, access barriers such as waiting times or incompatibility of schedules are aggravated and the socio-economic and administrative conditions of participants worsen. CONCLUSIONS: The design of policies, economic and regulatory health care, should take into account barriers and facilitators of access as fundamental main points of health protection for migrants and, therefore, for the general population.

Legal demands of the tiotropium bromide for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their financial impact for the State of Paraná, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the legal demands of tiotropium bromide to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: We included secondary data from the pharmaceutical care management systems made available by the Paraná State Drug Center. RESULTS: Public interest civil action and ordinary procedures, among others, were the most common used by the patients to obtain the medicine. Two Health Centers in Paraná (Londrina and Umuarama) concentrated more than 50% of the actions. The most common specialty of physicians who prescribed (33.8%) was pulmonology. There is a small financial impact of tiotropium bromide on general costs with medicines of the Paraná State Drug Center. However, a significant individual financial impact was observed because one unit of the medicine represents 38% of the Brazilian minimum wage. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the need of incorporating this medicine in the class of long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator in the Brazilian public health system.

Legal demands of the tiotropium bromide for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their financial impact for the State of Paraná, Brazil / Demandas judiciais do uso de brometo tiotrópio para o tratamento da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e o impacto financeiro para o Estado do Paraná, Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the legal demands of tiotropium bromide to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods We included secondary data from the pharmaceutical care management systems made available by the Paraná State Drug Center. Results Public interest civil action and ordinary procedures, among others, were the most common used by the patients to obtain the medicine. Two Health Centers in Paraná (Londrina and Umuarama) concentrated more than 50% of the actions. The most common specialty of physicians who prescribed (33.8%) was pulmonology. There is a small financial impact of tiotropium bromide on general costs with medicines of the Paraná State Drug Center. However, a significant individual financial impact was observed because one unit of the medicine represents 38% of the Brazilian minimum wage. Conclusion Our study highlights the need of incorporating this medicine in the class of long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator in the Brazilian public health system.

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar as demandas judiciais do brometo de tiotrópio para tratar a doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. Métodos Foram considerados dados secundários dos sistemas gerenciais de assistência farmacêutica, disponibilizados pelo Centro de Medicamentos do Paraná. Resultados Ações civis públicas e ações ordinárias, de procedimento comum, entre outras, foram as mais praticadas pelos pacientes para obter o medicamento. Duas Regionais de Saúde do Paraná (Londrina e Umuarama) concentraram mais de 50% das ações. Quanto à especialidade dos médicos prescritores, 33,8% eram pneumologistas. Verificou-se discreto impacto financeiro do brometo de tiotrópio nos gastos gerais com medicamentos pelo Centro de Medicamentos do Paraná. Entretanto, também houve relevante impacto financeiro individual, pois uma unidade do medicamento consome 38% do salário mínimo. Conclusão O estudo aponta para a necessidade de incorporação deste medicamento da classe broncodilatadores anticolinérgicos de longa duração, no Sistema Único de Saúde.

Economic evaluation of an active search system to monitor the outcomes of health-related claims / Avaliação econômica de um sistema de busca ativa para monitoramento de desfechos em demandas de saúde judicializadas

ABSTRACT Objective: Economic evaluation of a scientific advisory program with the Public Defenders Office to mitigate the impacts of the judicialization on health in the municipality, as well as the implementation of an active follow-up program to monitor health outcomes arising from court demands. Methods: A two-step study, the first documental, retrospective, with data collection of lawsuits in the region of Barbalha (CE), Brazil, from 2013 to 2018, and the second stage, prospective and intervention, through mediation between the citizen and the Public Defenders Office, aiming to reduce the occurrence of the judicialization, and the monitoring of the health outcomes of the processes. The study adopted the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards protocol for economic health assessments. The data obtained from the processes were grouped and treated for characterization of the scenario. A comparison of the profile of the lawsuits in the period of 12 months before and after the installation of the program to delimit a complete fiscal cycle was carried out. Results: The advisory service promoted a decrease of 40% (p=0.01) in lawsuits. There was a 31% reduction in court costs (p=0.003), with medicines accounting for 33% of this amount. There was a decrease in inputs outside the Sistema Único de Saúde lists (27%; p=0.003), however there was no statistical difference among several demanding groups, suggesting an equanimous approach. Conclusion: Data from the initial survey were comparable to those reported in Brazil regarding the profile of judicial demands. In view of the scenario, the proposal proved feasible as a means to mitigate the costs of the judicialization through mediation. Finally, the initiative can serve as a model for adoption by municipalities that have characteristics similar to those presented in this study.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliação econômica de um programa de aconselhamento científico junto à defensoria pública para minimizar o impacto da judicialização da saúde no município, bem como da implementação de um programa de pesquisa ativa para monitorar os desfechos em saúde provenientes de demandas judiciais. Métodos: Estudo conduzido em duas etapas. A primeira foi documental, retrospectiva, e composta por dados coletados de processos judiciais de 2013 a 2018 da região de Barbalha, no estado do Ceará. A segunda etapa foi prospectiva e de intervenção, conduzida por meio da mediação entre o cidadão e a defensoria pública, com o objetivo de reduzir a ocorrência da judicialização e monitorar os resultados dos processos de saúde. O estudo adotou o protocolo para avaliações econômicas em saúde Roteiro para Relato de Estudos de Avaliação Econômica. Os dados obtidos foram agrupados e tratados para caracterização do cenário. Comparou-se o perfil dos processos no período de 12 meses antes e após a instalação do programa para delimitar ciclo fiscal completo. Resultados: O serviço de consultoria promoveu redução de 40% (p=0,01) nas ações judiciais. Além disso, observou-se redução de 31% nos custos judiciais (p=0,003) com a medicação sendo responsável por 33% desse valor. Observou-se redução no uso de insumos não constantes nas listas do Sistema Único de Saúde (27%; p=0,003), contudo, sem diferença estatística entre os grupos. Conclusão: Os dados desta pesquisa foram comparáveis aos já relatados em pesquisas brasileiras quanto ao perfil de demandas. A proposta mostrou-se viável como meio de mitigar os custos da judicialização por meio da mediação. Essa iniciativa pode servir como modelo para os municípios que possuem características similares às apresentadas em nosso estudo.

Ensuring HIV care to undocumented migrants in Israel: a public-private partnership case study.

BACKGROUND: Undocumented migrants in Israel, mostly originating from HIV endemic countries, are not covered by Israel's universal healthcare coverage. We initiated a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to handle this public health and humanitarian challenge. The PPP venture included the Ministry of Health (MoH), pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, and specialized HIV clinics, the Israeli HIV Medical Society (from the Israel Medical Association), and non-governmental organizations. This study describes the national policy process in conceptualizing and implementing access to HIV services for undocumented migrants through a PPP, and analyzes the preliminary results. METHODS: This case study describes the process of creating a temporary Public-Private Partnership to provide HIV care for undocumented migrants based on institutional records of the Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS (DTA) and memories and reflections from partners. This case was analyzed according to the OECD-DAC criteria for development assistance (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact). Demographic and serological data of patients referred between 2014 to 2018 were collected to monitor progress. and analyze preliminary medical and biological outcomes. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ministry of Health. RESULTS: Creating a policy to extend HIV care to undocumented migrants was a 15 year process that confronted several challenges within Israeli and international discourse, particularly concerning governmental response to the migration crisis. The use of a PPP model involving numerous stakeholders provided a solid, local feasibility demonstration that extending HIV care as a matter of policy would have positive implications for public health in Israel. During the first 2 years of the program (2014-2015), the MoH funded medical follow-up and the pharmaceutical companies provided antiretroviral treatment (ART) free of charge for only 100 patients at any given time, in addition to ART provided by the MoH for pregnant women. Since 2016, the MoH has fully covered this service and integrated it within the Israeli health system; this constitutes the major success of the PPP program. As of December 2018, the national program has monitored 350 patients and treated 316 (90.3%). The most prevalent disease present upon referral was Tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this study documents the first example of a successful PPP with government partnership in a high-income country to address undocumented migrants' lack of access to health services in general and HIV care in particular. In light of the intensification of North-South migration, this Israeli case study could be useful for other countries facing similar challenges. It also has lessons within Israel, as the country grapples with other health problems among uninsured communities.

Estrategia nacional de redes integradas de servicios de salud de Guatemala, ENRISSG / National strategy of integrated health services networks of Guatemala, ENRISSG

(Acuerdo ministerial No. 246-2019) Este documento propone un marco conceptual y operativo para entender las RISS desde la perspectiva y realidad de Guatemala, brinda los lineamientos orientadores y las acciones estratégicas para que los actores y prestadores de salud de un distrito o departamento se articulen en redes, optimicen las capacidades instaladas, garanticen la continuidad de la atención y consoliden vínculos interinstitucionales e intersectoriales que permitan abordajes integrales para mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas, las familias y las comunidades. La Estrategia de RISS se promueve como uno de los mecanismos para reducir la fragmentación de los sistemas de salud y como una de las principales expresiones operativas del enfoque de la APS en el proceso de atención integral, integrada y continua a las personas; contribuyendo a hacer una realidad varios de sus elementos más esenciales, tales como la cobertura y el acceso universal; la atención integral, integrada y continua; el cuidado apropiado, y la organización y gestión de los servicios de salud. El objetivo general del acuerdo ministerial que la avala es lograr acceso y cobertura de la salud, a través de la implementación de la Estrategia de Redes integradas, basada en la atención primaria de la salud, que permita una atención de salud equitativa, integral, integrada, continua y de calidad con en el derecho de la salud. Es de aplicación obligatoria para todas las dependencias que organicen e implementen redes integradas de servicios de salud a nivel de la república y permitirá orientar a los gerentes y los equipos multidisciplinarios, interinstitucionales e intersectoriales de un territorio definido, con lineamientos y acciones para el reordenamiento, articulación, coordinación, fortalecimiento y funcionamiento de los servicios de salud en red, fomentando la planificación, implementación, monitoreo, evaluación y rendición de cuentas.

Unique challenges for health equity in Latin America: situating the roles of priority-setting and judicial enforcement.

Overcoming continuing polarization regarding judicial enforcement of health rights in Latin America requires clarifying divergent normative and political premises, addressing the lack of reliable empirical data, and establishing the conditions for fruitful inter-sectoral, inter-disciplinary dialogue.

Recommendations for the Evaluation of Cross-System Care Coordination from the VA State-of-the-art Working Group on VA/Non-VA Care.

In response to widespread concerns regarding Veterans' access to VA care, Congress enacted the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, which required VA to establish the Veterans Choice Program (VCP). Since the inception of VCP, more than two million Veterans have received care from community providers, representing approximately 25% of Veterans enrolled in VA care. However, expanded access to non-VA care has created challenges in care coordination between VA and community health systems. In March 2018, the VA Health Services Research & Development Service hosted a VA State of the Art conference (SOTA) focused on care coordination. The SOTA convened VA researchers, program directors, clinicians, and policy makers to identify knowledge gaps regarding care coordination within the VA and between VA and community systems of care. This article provides a summary and synthesis of relevant literature and provides recommendations generated from the SOTA about how to evaluate cross-system care coordination. Care coordination is typically evaluated using health outcomes including hospital readmissions and death; however, in cross-system evaluations of care coordination, measures such as access, cost, Veteran/patient and provider satisfaction (including with cross-system communication), comparable quality metrics, context (urban vs. rural), and patient complexity (medical and mental health conditions) need to be included to fully evaluate care coordination effectiveness. Future research should examine the role of multiple individuals coordinating VA and non-VA care, and how these coordinators work together to optimize coordination.

[Bioethical issues on the access to drugs in the practice of ophthalmology in Colombia]. / Cuestiones bioéticas relacionadas con el acceso a medicamentos en el ejercicio de la oftalmología en Colombia.

Ophthalmology is a high-cost specialty in terms of medical, surgical and technological innovation and treatment. It is worrisome that in some countries patients are affected in their visual health, and therefore in their quality of life because they do not have the necessary resources for timely access to medications, medical appointments or surgical procedures. We searched in four electronic databases (ScienceDirect, MEDLINE/PubMed, ClinicalKey and SciELO), as well as in books on bioethics and Colombian laws, for articles related to bioethical issues and access to medicines in the exercise of ophthalmology. We reflect on the problem of access to ophthalmological drugs, with particular interest on how to apply the principles of bioethics on the clinical practice of patients with ophthalmological conditions. Ethical considerations are approached from the principles of Beauchamp and Childress, especially regarding the principle of justice, in order to provide health professionals in this field with arguments for medical and ethical decisions that benefit the healthcare and access to medicines for patients with ophthalmological conditions.

La oftalmología se constituye como una especialidad de alto costo en lo que respecta a tratamiento médico, quirúrgico y de innovación tecnológica. Es preocupante que en algunos países los pacientes se vean afectados en su salud visual, y por ende en su calidad de vida, por no contar con los recursos necesarios para un acceso oportuno a medicamentos, citas médicas o procedimientos quirúrgicos. A partir de la búsqueda de artículos relacionados con cuestiones bioéticas y el acceso a medicamentos en el ejercicio de la oftalmología en cuatro bases de datos electrónicas (ScienceDirect, MEDLINE/PubMed, ClinicalKey y SciELO ), así como en libros de bioética y leyes de la jurisdicción colombiana, realizamos una reflexión sobre el problema del acceso a los medicamentos oftalmológicos, centrándonos en el interés por la aplicación de la bioética en la práctica clínica y en el acceso a medicamentos de los pacientes con patologías oftalmológicas. Las consideraciones éticas se abordan desde una mirada del modelo principialista de Beauchamp y Childress, en especial considerando el principio de justicia, de modo que brinde a los profesionales de la salud en este campo, argumentos para la toma de decisiones médicas y éticas que beneficien la atención y el acceso a medicamentos de los pacientes con patologías oftalmológicas.