Effectiveness of centralized text message reminders on human papillomavirus immunization coverage for publicly insured adolescents.

PURPOSE: We evaluated a managed care organization (MCO)-generated text message reminder-recall system designed to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of text reminder-recall for parents of 3,812 publicly insured adolescents aged 11-16 years with no prior HPV vaccinations who were enrolled in a single MCO and were patients at one of 39 primary care practices. We determined the rate of HPV receipt for intervention versus control with the Kaplan-Meier failure function and determined hazard ratios using a clustered stratified Cox model, clustering on primary care provider and stratified on practice. We examined results for all subjects, and for those with a valid phone number, stratified by age group (11-13 years and 14-16 years) and gender. A post hoc analysis included all subjects and controlled for age and gender. RESULTS: HPV dose 1 vaccination rates were not significantly different when all participants were included, but for the subset of parents (54%) able to receive messages, HPV dose 1 rates were 13% for the control group and 16% for the intervention group; hazard ratio, 1.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.6; p = .04), when controlling for age and gender. There were no significant findings in the analysis stratified by age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: MCO-based text reminders are feasible and have a modest effect on HPV dose 1 vaccination rates for those parents able to receive text messages with valid phone numbers in the MCO database. Future studies should examine a similar intervention for those parents who already accepted the first HPV vaccine dose.

A randomized trial of the effect of centralized reminder/recall on immunizations and preventive care visits for adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a managed care-based patient reminder/recall system on immunization rates and preventive care visits among low-income adolescents. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial between December 2009 and December 2010 that assigned adolescents aged 11-17 years to one of three groups: mailed letter, telephone reminders, or control. Publicly insured youths (n = 4115) were identified in 37 participating primary care practices. The main outcome measures were immunization rates for routine vaccines (meningococcus, pertussis, HPV) and preventive visit rates at study end. RESULTS: Intervention and control groups were similar at baseline for demographics, immunization rates, and preventive visits. Among adolescents who were behind at the start, immunization rates at study end increased by 21% for mailed (P < .01 vs control), 17% for telephone (P < .05), and 13% for control groups. The proportion of adolescents with a preventive visit (within 12 months) was: mailed (65%; P < .01), telephone (63%; P < .05), and controls (59%). The number needed to treat for an additional fully vaccinated adolescent was 14 for mailed and 25 for telephone reminders; for an additional preventive visit, it was 17 and 29. The intervention cost $18.78 (mailed) or $16.68 (phone) per adolescent per year to deliver. The cost per additional adolescent fully vaccinated was $463.99 for mailed and $714.98 for telephone; the cost per additional adolescent receiving a preventive visit was $324.75 and $487.03. CONCLUSIONS: Managed care-based mail or telephone reminder/recall improved adolescent immunizations and preventive visits, with modest costs and modest impact.

Reduction in neonatal intensive care unit admission rates in a Medicaid managed care program.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal intensive care unit admission rates are an important birth outcome indicator for Medicaid managed care organizations. OBJECTIVES: To reduce neonatal intensive care unit admission rates by at least 15% and to maintain that reduction through implementation of a quality improvement program. STUDY DESIGN: The organization performed a longitudinal population-based review of its birth outcomes from 1997 through 2003, focusing on neonatal intensive care unit admission rates. The return-on-investment evaluation reflected attributable incremental program costs and resultant savings. METHODS: Interventions included enhanced identification and stratification of high-risk women with the use of a health risk assessment form; outreach through nursing care coordination offering home visits, transportation, support services, social work services, and connection with other community-based organizations; and implementation of a strong informatics structure. RESULTS: Neonatal intensive care unit admission rates decreased from 107.6 per 1000 births in 1998 to 56.7 per 1000 births in 2003. The return on investment from the incremental program enhancements was just over dollars 2 per dollars 1 expended. CONCLUSION: A program that identifies its high-risk pregnant enrollees in a timely fashion, provides outreach using a strong nursing care coordination and social work emphasis, and has an enhanced informatics structure can significantly affect birth outcomes for a Medicaid managed care population.