Impact of Fee For Service on the Efficiency and Survival of Seguro Popular's Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Mexico.

PURPOSE: Cost containment and efficiency in the provision of health care are primary concerns for health systems that aim to provide affordable, high-quality care. Between 2005 and 2015, Seguro Poplar's Fund against Catastrophic Expenditures (FPGC) funded ALL treatment in Mexico. Before January 1, 2011, FPGC reimbursed a fixed amount per patient according to risk. In 2011, the per capita reimbursement method changed to fee for service. We used this natural experiment to estimate the impact of the reimbursement policy change on average expenditure and quality of care for ALL treatment in Mexico. METHODS: We used nationwide reimbursement data from the Seguro Poplar's FPGC from 2005 to 2015. We created a patient cohort to assess 3-year survival and estimate the average reimbursement before and after the fee-for-service policy. We examined survival and expenditure impacts, controlling for patients' and providers' characteristics, including sex, risk (standard and high), the volume of patients served, type of institution (federally funded v other), and level of care. To quantify the impact, we used a regression discontinuity approach. RESULTS: The average reimbursement for standard-risk patients in the 3-year survival cohort was $16,512 US dollars (USD; 95% CI, 16,042 to 17,032) before 2011 and $10,205 USD (95% CI, 4,659 to 12,541) under the fee-for-service reimbursement scheme after 2011. The average annual reimbursement per patient decreased by 136% among high-risk patients. The reduction was also significant for the standard-risk cohort, although the magnitude was substantially smaller (34%). CONCLUSION: As Mexico's government is currently restructuring the health system, our study provides evidence of the efficiency and effectiveness of the funding mechanism in the Mexican context. It also serves as a proof of concept for using administrative data to evaluate economic performance and quality of care of publicly funded health programs.

Comparing financing models for supplementary healthcare in appendectomy: activity-based costing (fee-for-service) vs. diagnosis related group remuneration (bundled payment) - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: In Brazil, healthcare services traditionally follow a fee-for-service (FFS) payment system, in which each medical procedure incurs a separate charge. An alternative reimbursement with the aim of reducing costs is diagnosis related group (DRG) remuneration, in which all patient care is covered by a fixed amount. This work aimed to perform a systematic review followed by meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of the Budled Payment for Care Improvement (BPCI) versus FFS. METHODS: Our work was performed following the items of the PRISMA report. We included only observational trials, and the primary outcome assessed was the effectiveness of FFS and DRG in appendectomy considering complications. We also assessed the costs and length of hospital stay. Meta-analysis was performed with Rev Man version 5.4. RESULTS: Out of 735 initially identified articles, six met the eligibility criteria. We demonstrated a shorter hospital stay associated with the DRG model (mean difference = 0.39; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI - 0.38-0.40; p < 0.00001; I2 = 0%), however the hospital readmission rate was higher in this model (odds ratio = 1.57; 95%CI 1.02-2.44, p = 0.04; I2 = 90%). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a potential decrease in the length of stay for appendectomy patients using the DRG approach. However, no significant differences were observed in other outcomes analysis between the two approaches.

Diabetes Care Among Older Adults Enrolled in Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare Fee-For-Service Plans: The Diabetes Collaborative Registry.

OBJECTIVE: Medicare Advantage (MA), Medicare's managed care program, is quickly expanding, yet little is known about diabetes care quality delivered under MA compared with traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years old enrolled in the Diabetes Collaborative Registry from 2014 to 2019 with type 2 diabetes treated with one or more antihyperglycemic therapies. Quality measures, cardiometabolic risk factor control, and antihyperglycemic prescription patterns were compared between Medicare plan groups, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: Among 345,911 Medicare beneficiaries, 229,598 (66%) were enrolled in FFS and 116,313 (34%) in MA plans (for ≥1 month). MA beneficiaries were more likely to receive ACE inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers for coronary artery disease, tobacco cessation counseling, and screening for retinopathy, foot care, and kidney disease (adjusted P ≤ 0.001 for all). MA beneficiaries had modestly but significantly higher systolic blood pressure (+0.2 mmHg), LDL cholesterol (+2.6 mg/dL), and HbA1c (+0.1%) (adjusted P < 0.01 for all). MA beneficiaries were independently less likely to receive glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (6.9% vs. 9.0%; adjusted odds ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.77-0.84) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (5.4% vs. 6.7%; adjusted odds ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.87-0.95). When integrating Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-linked data from 2014 to 2017 and more recent unlinked data from the Diabetes Collaborative Registry through 2019 (total N = 411,465), these therapeutic differences persisted, including among subgroups with established cardiovascular and kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: While MA plans enable greater access to preventive care, this may not translate to improved intermediate health outcomes. MA beneficiaries are also less likely to receive newer antihyperglycemic therapies with proven outcome benefits in high-risk individuals. Long-term health outcomes under various Medicare plans requires surveillance.

Posthospital Nursing Home Utilization and Quality Indicators Among Medicare Beneficiaries in Puerto Rico: Comparison With the United States.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to contribute to the literature regarding post-acute nursing home utilization and quality indicators among Medicare beneficiaries in Puerto Rico compared with the US mainland. DESIGN: Medicare data from 2015 to 2017 was used to identify new discharges to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) using the Minimum Data Set and the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Post-acute care patients admitted to SNFs in Puerto Rico and the United States. METHODS: Our final cohort included 4,732,222 beneficiaries from Puerto Rico and the United States enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service or Medicare Advantage programs admitted to an SNF (N = 15,197) following an acute hospital stay. We compared demographic, clinical, and facility-level characteristics among patients in Puerto Rico and the United States. We also described 2 quality indicators among these groups: (1) 30-day rehospitalization rates and (2) successful discharge from the facility to the community. RESULTS: Medicare patients in Puerto Rico were physically and cognitively healthier than patients in the United States. Puerto Ricans were also more likely to be admitted to lower quality nursing homes than US patients (2.5 vs 3.4). Finally, Puerto Ricans had higher rates of successful discharge to the community [17.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.0-22.3], but higher 30-day rehospitalization rates compared with US patients (11.2, 95% CI 6.2-16.3). These differences were consistent even when comparing these quality outcomes among Puerto Ricans to US Hispanics only. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: SNFs in the United States and Puerto Rico are now receiving financial penalties for high readmission rates. Currently, Medicare does not measure readmission rates for Medicare Advantage patients-even though some states, including Puerto Rico, have a high proportion of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. As Medicare Advantage enrollment continues to increase, our results highlight the importance of measuring performance among Medicare Advantage patients and assessing disparities in quality of post-acute care among patients in Puerto Rico and the United States.

Patient Experiences of Integrated Care in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations and Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Fee-for-Service.

BACKGROUND: Health insurance design can influence the extent to which clinical care is well-coordinated. Through alternative payment models, Medicare Advantage (MA) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have the potential to improve integration relative to traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare. OBJECTIVE: To characterize patient experiences of integrated care within Medicare and identify whether MA or ACO beneficiaries perceive greater integration than FFS beneficiaries. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the 2015 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. SUBJECTS: Nationally representative sample of 11,978 Medicare beneficiaries. MEASURES: Main outcomes included 8 previously derived domains of patient-perceived integrated care (PPIC), measured on a scale of 1-4. RESULTS: The final sample was 55% female with a mean (SD) age of 71.1 (11.3). In unadjusted analyses, we observed considerable variation across PPIC domains in the full sample, but little variation across subsamples defined by coverage type within a given PPIC domain. In linear models adjusting for a rich set of patient characteristics, we observe no significant benefits of ACOs nor MA relative to FFS, a finding which is robust to alternative specifications and adjustment for multiple comparisons. We similarly observed no benefits in subgroup analyses restricted to states with relatively high market penetration of ACOs or MA. CONCLUSIONS: Despite characteristics of ACOs and MA that theoretically promote integrated care, we find that PPIC is largely similar across coverage types in Medicare.

[Characterization and analysis of the basic elements of health payment mechanisms and their most frequent types]. / Caracterización y análisis de los elementos básicos de los mecanismos de pago en salud y tipologías más frecuentes.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare systems are developed in imperfect scenarios, in which there are constant failures (uncertainty, information asymmetry, agency relationship problem, and supply-induced demand). These failures, based on the imperfection of the sector, determine the relationships and incentives between the actors. It is within this context that payment mechanisms regulate aspects of the system behavior and incentives, acting as instruments for the purchasing of health care from providers, mediated by health insurance on behalf of users. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the basic elements of most frequent payment mechanisms to help providers in their relationship with payers. METHODS: A review of the evidence was conducted in PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, and strategic snowball selection. Payment mechanisms consist of three classical microeconomics variables, fixed or variable: price, quantity, and expense. Time dimensions are used to analyze their attributes and effects. Different mechanisms emerge from the combination of these variables. RESULTS: Among the most used are: Fee-For-Service, Global Budget, Bundled Payments, Diagnosis-Related Groups, Per-capita, Performance Pay, and Risk-Sharing Agreements. A fourth has also gained importance: Financial Risk. CONCLUSIONS: Payment mechanisms are essential to link health efforts with clinical practice. They make it possible to regulate relationships between insurers, providers, and users, which, depending on the architecture of the mechanism, can become beneficial or hinder the fulfillment of the objectives of the health system.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los sistemas de salud se desarrollan en ámbitos complejos y con fallas constantes (incertidumbre, asimetría de información, problema de relación de agencia e inducción de demanda). Estas fallas determinan las relaciones e incentivos entre los actores y se basan en la imperfección del sector. Frente a ello, los mecanismos de pago regulan aspectos del comportamiento e incentivos del sistema, participando como instrumentos de compra de atenciones de salud a prestadores, mediados por los seguros de salud en representación de los usuarios. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar los elementos básicos de las tipologías más frecuentes de los mecanismos de pago con el propósito de para apoyar la labor de los prestadores en su relación con pagadores. MÉTODOS: Se condujo una revisión dirigida de la evidencia en PubMed, Google, Google Scholar y selección estratégica en bola de nieve. Los mecanismos de pago están conformados por tres variables microeconómicas clásicas fijas o variables: precio, cantidad y gasto; y dimensiones temporales utilizadas para analizar sus atributos y efectos. De la combinación de estas variables surgen distintos mecanismos. RESULTADOS: Entre los más utilizados se describen: pago por servicio, presupuesto global, Bundled Payments, grupos relacionados de diagnóstico, per cápita, pago por desempeño y acuerdos de riesgo compartido. Dentro de sus variables ha cobrado importancia una cuarta, el riesgo financiero. CONCLUSIONES: Los mecanismos de pago resultan esenciales para concatenar esfuerzos sanitarios con la práctica clínica. Permiten regular relaciones entre seguros, prestadores y usuarios. Dependiendo de la arquitectura del mecanismo, estas pueden tornarse beneficiosas o entorpecer el cumplimiento de los objetivos del sistema sanitario.

Association Between a National Insurer's Pay-for-Performance Program for Oncology and Changes in Prescribing of Evidence-Based Cancer Drugs and Spending.

PURPOSE: Cancer drug prescribing by medical oncologists accounts for the greatest variation in practice and the largest portion of spending on cancer care. We evaluated the association between a national commercial insurer's ongoing pay-for-performance (P4P) program for oncology and changes in the prescribing of evidence-based cancer drugs and spending. METHODS: We conducted an observational difference-in-differences study using administrative claims data covering 6.7% of US adults. We leveraged the geographically staggered, time-varying rollout of the P4P program to simulate a stepped-wedge study design. We included patients age 18 years or older with breast, colon, or lung cancer who were prescribed cancer drug regimens by 1,867 participating oncologists between 2013 and 2017. The exposure was a time-varying dichotomous variable equal to 1 for patients who were prescribed a cancer drug regimen after the P4P program was offered. The primary outcome was whether a patient's drug regimen was a program-endorsed, evidence-based regimen. We also evaluated spending over a 6-month episode period. RESULTS: The P4P program was associated with an increase in evidence-based regimen prescribing from 57.1% of patients in the preintervention period to 62.2% in the intervention period, for a difference of +5.1 percentage point (95% CI, 3.0 percentage points to 7.2 percentage points; P < .001). The P4P program was also associated with a differential $3,339 (95% CI, $1,121 to $5,557; P = .003) increase in cancer drug spending and a differential $253 (95% CI, $100 to $406; P = .001) increase in patient out-of-pocket spending, but no significant changes in total health care spending ($2,772; 95% CI, -$181 to $5,725; P = .07) over the 6-month episode period. CONCLUSION: P4P programs may be effective in increasing evidence-based cancer drug prescribing, but may not yield cost savings.

Caracterización y análisis de los elementos básicos de los mecanismos de pago en salud y tipologías más frecuentes / Characterization and analysis of the basic elements of health payment mechanisms and their most frequent types

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los sistemas de salud se desarrollan en ámbitos complejos y con fallas constantes (incertidumbre, asimetría de información, problema de relación de agencia e inducción de demanda). Estas fallas determinan las relaciones e incentivos entre los actores y se basan en la imperfección del sector. Frente a ello, los mecanismos de pago regulan aspectos del comportamiento e incentivos del sistema, participando como instrumentos de compra de atenciones de salud a prestadores, mediados por los seguros de salud en representación de los usuarios. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar los elementos básicos de las tipologías más frecuentes de los mecanismos de pago con el propósito de para apoyar la labor de los prestadores en su relación con pagadores. MÉTODOS: Se condujo una revisión dirigida de la evidencia en PubMed, Google, Google Scholar y selección estratégica en bola de nieve. Los mecanismos de pago están conformados por tres variables microeconómicas clásicas fijas o variables: precio, cantidad y gasto; y dimensiones temporales utilizadas para analizar sus atributos y efectos. De la combinación de estas variables surgen distintos mecanismos. RESULTADOS: Entre los más utilizados se describen: pago por servicio, presupuesto global, Bundled Payments, grupos relacionados de diagnóstico, per cápita, pago por desempeño y acuerdos de riesgo compartido. Dentro de sus variables ha cobrado importancia una cuarta, el riesgo financiero. CONCLUSIONES: Los mecanismos de pago resultan esenciales para concatenar esfuerzos sanitarios con la práctica clínica. Permiten regular relaciones entre seguros, prestadores y usuarios. Dependiendo de la arquitectura del mecanismo, estas pueden tornarse beneficiosas o entorpecer el cumplimiento de los objetivos del sistema sanitario.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare systems are developed in imperfect scenarios, in which there are constant failures (uncertainty, information asymmetry, agency relationship problem, and supply-induced demand). These failures, based on the imperfection of the sector, determine the relationships and incentives between the actors. It is within this context that payment mechanisms regulate aspects of the system behavior and incentives, acting as instruments for the purchasing of health care from providers, mediated by health insurance on behalf of users. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the basic elements of most frequent payment mechanisms to help providers in their relationship with payers. METHODS: A review of the evidence was conducted in PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, and strategic snowball selection. Payment mechanisms consist of three classical microeconomics variables, fixed or variable: price, quantity, and expense. Time dimensions are used to analyze their attributes and effects. Different mechanisms emerge from the combination of these variables. RESULTS: Among the most used are: Fee-For-Service, Global Budget, Bundled Payments, Diagnosis-Related Groups, Per-capita, Performance Pay, and Risk-Sharing Agreements. A fourth has also gained importance: Financial Risk. CONCLUSIONS: Payment mechanisms are essential to link health efforts with clinical practice. They make it possible to regulate relationships between insurers, providers, and users, which, depending on the architecture of the mechanism, can become beneficial or hinder the fulfillment of the objectives of the health system.

Differences in Health Care Utilization, Process of Diabetes Care, Care Satisfaction, and Health Status in Patients With Diabetes in Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine differences in health care utilization, process of diabetes care, care satisfaction, and health status for Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries with and without diabetes. METHODS: Using the 2010-2016 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, we identified MA and TM beneficiaries with and without diabetes. To address the endogenous plan choice between MA and TM, we used an instrumental variable approach. Using marginal effects, we estimated differences in the outcomes between MA and TM beneficiaries with and without diabetes. RESULTS: Our instrumental variable analysis showed that compared with TM beneficiaries with diabetes, MA beneficiaries with diabetes had less annual health care utilization, including -22.4 medical provider visits [95% confidence interval (CI): -23.6 to -21.1] and -3.4 outpatient hospital visits (95% CI: -3.8 to -3.0). A significant difference between MA and TM beneficiaries without diabetes was only observed in medical provider visits and the difference was greater among beneficiaries with diabetes than beneficiaries without diabetes (-12.5 medical provider visits; 95% CI: -15.9 to -9.2). While we did not detect significant differences in 5 measures of the process of diabetes care between MA and TM beneficiaries with diabetes, there were inconsistent results in the other 3 measures. There were no or marginal differences in care satisfaction and health status between MA and TM beneficiaries with and without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: MA enrollment was associated with lower health care utilization without compromising care satisfaction and health status, particularly for beneficiaries with diabetes. MA may have a more efficient care delivery system for beneficiaries with diabetes.

Advances in Value-Based Healthcare by the Application of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing for Inpatient Management: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Implementation of value-based initiatives depends on cost-assessment methods that can provide high-quality cost information. Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) is increasingly being used to solve the cost-information gap. This study aimed to review the use of the TDABC methodology in real-world settings and to estimate its impact on the value-based healthcare concept for inpatient management. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted by screening PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, including all studies up to August 2019. The use of TDABC for inpatient management was the main eligibility criterion. A qualitative approach was used to analyze the different methodological aspects of TDABC and its effective contribution to the implementation of value-based initiatives. RESULTS: A total of 1066 studies were retrieved, and 26 full-text articles were selected for review. Only studies focused on surgical inpatient conditions were identified. Most of the studies reported the types of activities on a macrolevel. Professional and structural cost variables were usually assessed. Eighteen studies reported that TDABC contributed to value-based initiatives, especially cost-saving findings. TDABC was satisfactorily applied to achieve value-based contributions in all the studies that used the method for this purpose. CONCLUSIONS: TDABC could be a strategy for increasing cost accuracy in real-world settings, and the method could help in the transition from fee-for-service to value-based systems. The results could provide a clearer idea of the costs, help with resource allocation and waste reduction, and might support clinicians and managers in increasing value in a more accurate and transparent way.

[A scoping review of the payment mechanisms in childbirth of country members and non-members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development]. / Revisión sistemática exploratoria de los mecanismos de pago en la atención del parto en países pertenecientes y no pertenecientes a la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico.

Introduction: Payment mechanisms serve to put into operation the function of purchasing in health. Payment mechanisms impact the decisions that healthcare providers make. Given this, we are interested in knowing how they affect the generalized increase of C-section rates globally. Objective: The objective of this review is to describe existing payment mechanisms for childbirth in countries members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and non-members. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following the five methodological steps of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search was conducted by researchers independently, achieving inter-reliability among raters (kappa index, 0.96). We searched electronic databases, grey literature, and governmental and non-governmental websites. We screened on three levels and included documents published in the last ten years, in English and Spanish. Results were analyzed considering the function of the reimbursement mechanism and its effects on providers, payers, and beneficiaries. Results: Evidence from 34 countries was obtained (50% OECD members). Sixty-four percent of countries report the use of more than one payment mechanism for childbirth. Diagnosis-Related Groups (47.6%), Pay-for-performance (23.3%), Fee-for-service (16.6%) and Fixed-prospective systems (13.3%) are among the most frequently used mechanisms. Conclusion: Countries use payment mechanism architecture to improve maternal-perinatal health indicators. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the best combination of mechanisms that improve the provision of health care and welfare of the population in the field of sexual and reproductive health.

Introducción: Los mecanismos de pago corresponden a la operacionalización de la función de compra en salud, incentivando comportamientos en los proveedores de servicios sanitarios. Resulta pertinente preguntarse cómo afectan la vía de resolución del parto, considerando el aumento generalizado en índices de cesárea a nivel global. Objetivo: Describir los mecanismos de pago existentes para la atención del parto en países miembros y no miembros de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico. Métodos: Revisión sistemática exploratoria (scoping review). Se adoptaron los cinco pasos metodológicos del Joanna Briggs Institute. La búsqueda se realizó por las investigadoras de forma independiente, logrando la confiabilidad interevaluador (κ 0,96) en bases de datos electrónicas, otras fuentes de información, sitios web gubernamentales y no gubernamentales. Se tamizó en tres niveles, considerando literatura no mayor a 10 años de anti-güedad, idioma inglés y español. Se analizaron los resultados considerando el funcionamiento del mecanismo de pago y sus efectos en prestado-res, seguros y beneficiarias. Resultados: Se obtuvo evidencia de 34 países (50% pertenecientes a la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico). El 64% con uso de más de un mecanismo de pago para el parto. Entre los mecanismos más utilizados están: grupos relacionados de diagnósticos (47,6%), pago por resultados (23,3%), pago por servicios (16,6%) y pago fijo prospectivo (13,3%). Conclusión: Los países recurren a la arquitectura de los mecanismos de pago para mejorar indicadores en salud materno-perinatales. Es necesario explorar cuál sería la mejor combinación de mecanismos que mejora la provisión de atenciones de salud y bienestar de la población, en el campo de la salud sexual y reproductiva.

Revisión sistemática exploratoria de los mecanismos de pago en la atención del parto en países pertenecientes y no pertenecientes a la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico / A scoping review of the payment mechanisms in childbirth of country members and non-members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

INTRODUCCIÓN Los mecanismos de pago corresponden a la operacionalización de la función de compra en salud, incentivando comportamientos en los proveedores de servicios sanitarios. Resulta pertinente preguntarse cómo afectan la vía de resolución del parto, considerando el aumento generalizado en índices de cesárea a nivel global. OBJETIVO: Describir los mecanismos de pago existentes para la atención del parto en países miembros y no miembros de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico. MÉTODOS: Revisión sistemática exploratoria (scoping review). Se adoptaron los cinco pasos metodológicos del Joanna Briggs Institute. La búsqueda se realizó por las investigadoras de forma independiente, logrando la confiabilidad interevaluador (κ 0,96) en bases de datos electrónicas, otras fuentes de información, sitios web gubernamentales y no gubernamentales. Se tamizó en tres niveles, considerando literatura no mayor a 10 años de antigüedad, idioma inglés y español. Se analizaron los resultados considerando el funcionamiento del mecanismo de pago y sus efectos en prestado-res, seguros y beneficiarias. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo evidencia de 34 países (50% pertenecientes a la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico). El 64% con uso de más de un mecanismo de pago para el parto. Entre los mecanismos más utilizados están: grupos relacionados de diagnósticos (47,6%), pago por resultados (23,3%), pago por servicios (16,6%) y pago fijo prospectivo (13,3%). CONCLUSIÓN: Los países recurren a la arquitectura de los mecanismos de pago para mejorar indicadores en salud materno-perinatales. Es necesario explorar cuál sería la mejor combinación de mecanismos que mejora la provisión de atenciones de salud y bienestar de la población, en el campo de la salud sexual y reproductiva.

INTRODUCTION: Payment mechanisms serve to put into operation the function of purchasing in health. Payment mechanisms impact the decisions that healthcare providers make. Given this, we are interested in knowing how they affect the generalized increase of C-section rates globally. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to describe existing payment mechanisms for childbirth in countries members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and non-members. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review following the five methodological steps of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search was conducted by researchers independently, achieving inter-reliability among raters (kappa index, 0.96). We searched electronic databases, grey literature, and governmental and non-governmental websites. We screened on three levels and included documents published in the last ten years, in English and Spanish. RESULTS: were analyzed considering the function of the reimbursement mechanism and its effects on providers, payers, and beneficiaries. Results Evidence from 34 countries was obtained (50% OECD members). Sixty-four percent of countries report the use of more than one payment mechanism for childbirth. Diagnosis-Related Groups (47.6%), Pay-for-performance (23.3%), Fee-for-service (16.6%) and Fixed-prospective systems (13.3%) are among the most frequently used mechanisms. CONCLUSION: Countries use payment mechanism architecture to improve maternal-perinatal health indicators. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the best combination of mechanisms that improve the provision of health care and welfare of the population in the field of sexual and reproductive health.

Dispositivo estructurado de intervenciones psicosociales en atención primaria: serie de casos retrospectiva / Structured psychosocial interventions in primary care: retrospective case series

Antecedentes: Más allá del pago por cápita, desde 2009 el Plan de Salud del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires reconoció a los médicos de familia el pago por prestación de intervenciones psicosociales de cuarenta minutos de duración realizadas para promover el bienestar y la autonomía de sus pacientes. Objetivos: Describir los problemas que motivaron estas intervenciones y las redefiniciones diagnósticas que realizaron estos profesionales. Métodos: Fueron revisadas las fichas estructuradas de registro de 482 intervenciones psicosociales realizadas durante 2011 y codificadas mediante la Clasificación Internacional de la Atención Primaria (CIAP-2). Resultados: Los motivos de consulta más frecuentes fueron los sentimientos depresivos y/o de ansiedad (33,25 %), problemas familiares y/o vinculados a crisis vitales (16 %), dolor (9,56 %) y cansancio (2,91 %). Entre las redefiniciones diagnósticas predominaron las crisis vitales (15,45 %), los problemas de la relación conyugal o con hijos (14,61 %), y los trastornos depresivos y/o de ansiedad (27 %). Conclusiones: nuestro modelo de trabajo contribuyó a que en una gran proporción de pacientes que había consultado por dolor u otros síntomas generales, detectáramos, abordáramos y documentáramos el proceso de atención de problemas de la esfera psicosocial, que suele ser subregistrado con el abordaje biomédico clásico. (AU)

Background: Beyond capitation payment, since 2009 Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires Health Maintenance Organization incorporated "structured primary care psychosocial interventions" as a fee for service practice. They last 40 minutes and are undertaken by family physicians with the aim of improving the wellbeing of their patients and helping them to strengtheningtheir autonomy. Objectives: To identify chief complaints and problems (re)definitions carried out by family physicians. Methodology: 482 medical records written during 2011 were reviewed and coded according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2). Results: Most frequent chief complaints were depressive and/or anxious feelings (33.25 %), family problems and/or phasesof adult life problems (16 %), pain (9.56 %) and fatigue (2.91 %). Most common problem (re)definitions were life events(15.45 %), followed by marital or childrelated problems (14.61 %), and depressive and/or anxiety disorders (27 %). Conclusions: Our working model enabled us to identify, address and document psychosocial problems which are often underreported within the classical biomedical approach in a large proportion of patients whose chief complaint were painor other general symptoms. (AU)

Development, Value, and Implications of a Comprehensive Primary Care Payment Calculator for Family Medicine Report From Family Medicine for America's Health Payment Tactic Team.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fee for service (FFS), the dominant payment model for primary care in the United States, compensates physicians based on volume. There are many initiatives exploring alternative payment models that prioritize value over volume. The Family Medicine for America's Health (FMAHealth) Payment Team has developed a comprehensive primary care payment (CPCP) model to support the move from activity- and volume-based payment to performance-based payment for value. METHODS: In 2016-2017, the FMAHealth Payment Team performed a comprehensive study of the current state of primary care payment models in the United States. This study explored the features, motivations, successes, and failures of a wide variety of payment arrangements. RESULTS: The results of this work have informed a definition of comprehensive primary care payment (CPCP) as well as a CPCP calculator. This quantitative methodology calculates a base rate and includes modifiers that recognize the importance of infrastructure and resources that have been found to be successful in innovative models. The modifiers also incorporate adjustments for chronic disease burden, social determinants of health, quality, and utilization. CONCLUSIONS: The calculator and CPCP methodology offer a potential roadmap for transitioning from volume to value and details how to calculate such an adjustable comprehensive payment. This has impact and interest for all levels of the health care system and is intended for use by practices of all types as well as health systems, employers, and payers.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Mortality Among Medicare Beneficiaries in the FL - PR CR eSD Study.

Background Racial/ethnic disparities in acute stroke care may impact stroke outcomes. We compared outcomes by race/ethnicity among elderly Medicare beneficiaries in hospitals participating in the FL-PR CReSD (Florida-Puerto Rico Collaboration to Reduce Stroke Disparities) registry with those in hospitals not participating in any quality improvement programs (non- QI ) in Florida and Puerto Rico (PR). Methods and Results The population included fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ in Florida and PR , discharged with primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke ( International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM], codes 433, 434, 436) in 2010-2013. We used mixed logistic models to assess racial/ethnic differences in outcomes (in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality, and 30-day readmission) for CR e SD and non- QI hospitals, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. The study included 62 CR e SD hospitals (N=44 013, 84% white, 9% black, 4% Florida Hispanic, 1% PR Hispanic) and 113 non- QI hospitals (N=14 422, 78% white, 7% black, 5% Florida Hispanic, 8% PR Hispanic). For patients treated at CR e SD hospitals, there were no differences in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality by race/ethnicity; blacks had lower 30-day mortality versus whites (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.97), but higher 30-day readmission (hazard ratio, 1.09; 1.00-1.18) and 1-year mortality (odds ratio, 1.13; 1.04-1.23); Florida Hispanics had lower 30-day readmission (hazard ratio, 0.87; 0.78-0.98). PR Hispanic and black stroke patients treated at non- QI hospitals had higher risk-adjusted in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year mortality, but similar 30-day readmission versus whites treated in non- QI hospitals. Conclusions Disparities in outcomes were less common in CR e SD than non- QI hospitals, suggesting the benefits of quality improvement programs, particularly those focusing on racial/ethnic disparities.

Impacto del incentivo por recupero de costos en la producción o en la registración de la producción del sistema provincial de salud de Tucumán / Impact of the incentive for recovering costs in the production or registration of the production of the provincial health system of Tucumán

INTRODUCCIÓN A partir de abril de 2014, el Sistema Provincial de Salud (SI.PRO.SA) de Tucumán implementó un programa de estímulos económicos para todos los agentes asistenciales y no asistenciales que prestaban servicios en sus efectores sanitarios públicos, vinculado con el recupero de costos hospitalarios. Un objetivo del programa consistió en generar una estructura de incentivos para incrementar la cantidad de las prestaciones sanitarias brindadas y mejorar su registración. OBJETIVOS Analizar si el SI.PRO.SA logró estimular la producción o la registración de la producción a partir de la implementación del incentivo al personal por recupero de costos. Esto implicó un análisis comparativo entre distintos momentos de atención del sistema. MÉTODOS El estudio se centró en la medición de la producción registrada, nivel de facturación y cobranzas, y participación de la cobranza de recupero por obra social durante varios períodos de tiempo: antes de la implementación del programa, durante la primera experiencia piloto y en las siguientes dos experiencias. Posteriormente y a pesar de no haberse programado de dicha forma, se aprovechó información hasta el primer trimestre de 2016 para hacerla comparable con el primer trimestre de 2014. RESULTADOS A lo largo de los períodos analizados se observaron importantes incrementos en la cobranza que logró el sistema por recupero de costos y, por lo tanto, en el pago del incentivo por recupero de costos. Se observaron asimismo, en general, incrementos en la producción. DISCUSIÓN Si bien el incentivo por recupero de costos no es en sí la única variable de incremento de producción ni la más importante, contribuyó a mejorar la registración de la producción.

The Unintended Impact of the Removal of Total Knee Arthroplasty From the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Inpatient-Only List.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was removed from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Inpatient-Only (IPO) list starting January 1, 2018. Many hospitals responded by instructing surgeons to schedule all TKAs as outpatient procedures, and some local Medicare Advantage contractors began to expect outpatient status for all or most TKA cases. This activity and ensuing confusion has caused considerable unintended disruption for surgeons, hospitals, and patients. The purpose of this study was to gauge the impact on providers and patients. METHODS: Active members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons were sent a 9-question survey asking if the surgeon's hospital was treating all patients undergoing TKA as outpatients and if Medicare Advantage administrators and commercial payers were treating all or most the same. Questions also inquired about the impact on surgeon practices and their patients. RESULTS: Seven hundred thirty members (26%) responded; of which, 59.5% reported that their hospitals have instructed them that all Medicare TKAs should be scheduled as outpatient procedures; 40.5% have been asked to use proscribed documentation to justify that change; 30.4% reported that their patients have incurred added personal cost secondary to their surgical procedure being billed as an outpatient procedure; and 76.1% report that this issue has become an administrative burden. CONCLUSION: The CMS clearly stated its expectation in the 2018 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule that the great majority of Medicare fee-for-service TKA patients would continue to be treated as inpatients. Nonetheless, many hospitals have decided to schedule all TKA cases as outpatients due to the 2-midnight rule despite a moratorium on recovery audits. It is the position of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons that the CMS needs to provide more specific expectations concerning the needed language justifying admission or exempt TKA from the 2-midnight rule to mitigate the unintended confusion demonstrated by hospitals and some payers that has resulted from the removal of TKA from the Inpatient-Only list.

Effect of Hospital and Post-Acute Care Provider Participation in Accountable Care Organizations on Patient Outcomes and Medicare Spending.

OBJECTIVE: To test for differences in patient outcomes when hospital and post-acute care (PAC) providers participate in accountable care organizations (ACOs). DATA/SETTING: Using Medicare claims, we examined changes in readmission, Medicare spending, and length of stay among patients admitted to ACO-participating hospitals and PAC providers. DESIGN: We compared changes in outcomes among patients discharged from ACO-participating hospitals/PACs before and after participation to changes among patients discharged from non-participating hospitals/PACs over the same time period. RESULTS: Patients discharged from an ACO-participating hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) had lower readmission rates (-1.7 percentage points, p-value = .03) than before ACO participation and non-participants; and lower per-discharge Medicare spending (-$940, p-value = .001), and length of stay (-3.1 days, p-value <.001) in SNF. Effects among ACO-participating hospitals without a co-participating SNF were smaller. Patients discharged from an ACO-participating hospital and home health agency had lower Medicare per-discharge spending (-$209; p-value = .06) and length of stay (-1.6 days, p-value <.001) for home health compared to before ACO participation and non-participants. Discharge from an ACO-participating hospital and inpatient rehabilitation facility did not impact patient outcomes or spending. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital and SNF participation in an ACO was associated with lower readmission rates, Medicare spending on SNF, and SNF length of stay. These results lend support to the ACO payment model.