Chronic Physical and Mental Health Conditions Associated With Employment Status in Veterans.

Introduction: Veterans commonly experience both poor health and employment difficulty. However, the research examining potential relationships between chronic physical and mental health conditions and employment in veterans has important limitations. This study examines those potential relationships using large-scale, nationally representative data. The authors' hypothesis was that veterans experiencing these conditions would be less likely to be employed than veterans without the conditions and, further, that there may be differences in these relationships when comparing male veterans with female veterans. Methods: The study team conducted a pooled cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative data from the 2004-2019 administrations of the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, which had items addressing health conditions, employment, and military experience. The authors assessed the relationship between health conditions and employment using multivariate logistic regression. Control variables included demographics, SES, family size, and survey year. Results: Veterans experiencing diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, emphysema, arthritis, serious hearing loss, poor self-reported mental health, poor self-reported health, depression, or psychological distress were less likely to be employed than veterans without those conditions, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Veterans with diabetes had 25% lesser odds of being employed than veterans without the condition (95% CI=0.65, 0.85). Veterans with increased likelihood of depression had 35% lesser odds of being employed than veterans without depression (95% CI=0.52, 0.81). Conclusions: This study adds evidence to the understanding of the role of chronic health conditions in employment status of veterans. The results support arguments for programs that aid veterans with both their health and their employment.

Trial of the Patient-Centered 2 × 24-Hour Predischarge Opioid Consumption Opioid Prescribing Guideline.

This diagnostic/prognostic study evaluates the 2 × 24-hour predischarge opioid consumption guideline for opioid prescribing.

The Impact of Modest Price Increases and Single Cigar Restrictions on Youth Cigar Use.

INTRODUCTION: In 2011, Boston restricted cigar sales to packages of at least 4 cigars unless sold at a minimum of $2.50 per cigar. Nearly 200 localities in Massachusetts have since adopted policies establishing minimum pack quantities of 2-5 or minimum prices of $2.50-5.00 per cigar. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of these policies on youth cigar use. METHODS: Biennial data from 1999 to 2019 were obtained from the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey and analyzed in 2023. Final analytic samples included 15,674 youth for the Boston analyses and 35,674 youth for the statewide analyses. For Boston, change in use was examined from prepolicy (1999-2011) to postpolicy (2012-2019). For statewide analyses, the percentage of the state covered by a policy was estimated. Multivariable logistic regressions examined the impact of cigar policies on cigar and cigarette use. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and stratified by sex and race. RESULTS: Policy enactment was associated with significant decreases in the odds of cigar use in Boston (AOR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.17-0.47) and statewide (AOR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.98-0.99), with similar findings for cigarette use. Results were consistent among males and females statewide but only among males in Boston. By race statewide and in Boston, odds of cigar use decreased significantly among White, Black, and Hispanic youth, but not youth of other races. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate small increases in the quantity and price of cigar packs could discourage young people from purchasing and using cigars, providing significant benefits for local tobacco control efforts.

The impact of cigar pack size and pricing policies on youth and adult cigar use in the US.

BACKGROUND: Over 250 US localities have adopted cigar pack quantity and price policies. No empirical studies exist on their impact on tobacco use. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was used to assess the impact of cigar policies on cigar and cigarette use among (1) Minnesota youth (n=569,528, triennially 2007-2019); (2) New York youth (n=111,236, annually 2000-2020), (3) New York adults (n=62,295, annually 2003-2019), and (4) District of Columbia (DC) adults (n=5027, annually 2015-2019). We estimated the county-level policy coverage for 15 local policies in Minnesota. Differences-in-differences approach was used to compare the policy in NYC with the rest of the state (no policy). We examined changes in DC use before and after policy implementation. Analyses adjust for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: In Minnesota, youth in counties with a greater proportion of the population covered by a policy had lower odds of cigar use (AOR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.38-0.69). Similarly, adult cigar use in DC declined following policy enactment (AOR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.46-0.93). Cigarette use also decreased in both Minnesota and DC following policy enactment. However, in New York, the NYC policy did not have a significant impact on cigar use among youth (AOR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.47-1.93) or adults (AOR: 1.98; 95% CI: 0.85-1.37) in NYC compared to the rest of the state. The only significant effect in NYC was reduced odds for adult cigarette use (AOR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.68-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest regulating cigar packaging could decrease cigar consumption without increasing cigarette consumption, but effects may differ across jurisdictions.

How Does the Effect of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model Vary Based on Surgical Volume and Costs of Care?

BACKGROUND: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation revised the comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) program, a mandatory 90-day bundled payment for lower extremity joint replacement, in December 2017, retaining 34 of the original 67 metropolitan statistical areas with higher volume and historic episode payments. OBJECTIVES: We describe differences in costs, quality, and patient selection between hospitals that continued to participate compared with those that withdrew from CJR before and after the implementation of CJR. RESEARCH DESIGN: We used a triple difference approach to compare the magnitude of the policy effect for elective admissions between hospitals that were retained in the CJR revision or not, before and after the implementation of CJR, and compared with hospitals in nonparticipant metropolitan statistical areas. SUBJECTS: 694,275 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing elective lower extremity joint replacement from January 1, 2013 to August 31, 2017. MEASURES: The treatment effect heterogeneity of CJR. RESULTS: Hospitals retained in the CJR policy revision had a greater reduction in 90-day episode-of-care cost compared with those that were allowed to discontinue (-$846, 95% CI: -$1,338, -$435) and had greater cost reductions in the more recent year (2017). We also found evidence that retained CJR hospitals disproportionately reduced treating patients who were older than 85 years. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals that continued to participate in CJR after the policy revision achieved a greater cost reduction. However, the cost reductions were partly attributed to avoiding potential higher - cost patients, suggesting that a bundled payment policy might induce disparities in care delivery.

Naloxone co-prescriptions for surgery patients prescribed opioids: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Surgeon-prescribed opioids contribute to 11% of prescription drug overdoses in the United States (US). With prescription opioids involved in 24% of all opioid-related overdose deaths in 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends naloxone co-prescribing to patients at high-risk of overdose and death as a harm reduction strategy. We sought to 1) examine naloxone co-prescribing rates to surgical patients (using common post-surgical prescribing amounts) and those with potential risk factors for opioid-related overdoses or adverse events, and 2) identify the factors associated with patients receiving naloxone co-prescriptions. Methods: We conducted a single-institution, retrospective study using the electronic medical records of all patients undergoing surgery at an academic institution between August 2020 and May 2021. We included post-surgical adults prescribed opioids that were sent to a pharmacy in our health system. The primary outcome was the percentage of co-prescribed naloxone in patients prescribed opioids. Results: The overall naloxone co-prescription rate was low (1.7%). Only 14.6% of patients prescribed ≥350 morphine milligram equivalents (MME, equivalent to 46.7 oxycodone 5 mg tablets) and 8.6% of patients using illicit drugs were co-prescribed naloxone. On multivariable analysis, patients who were prescribed >350 MME, used illicit drugs or tobacco, underwent an elective or emergent general surgery procedure, self-identified as Hispanic, or had ASA scores of 2-4 were more likely to receive a naloxone co-prescription. Conclusions: Naloxone co-prescribing after surgery remains low, even for high-risk patients. Harm reduction strategies such as naloxone, safe storage, and disposal of leftover opioids could reduce surgeons' iatrogenic contributions to the worsening US opioid crisis.

Patient-reported outcomes following cemented versus cementless primary total knee arthroplasty: a comparative analysis based on propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: Existing studies of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) based on fixation methods (cemented vs cementless) are limited to single centers with small sample sizes. Using multicentered data,, we compared baseline and early post-operative global and condition-specific PROs between patients undergoing cemented versus cementless TKA. METHODS: With PROs prospectively collected through Comparative Effectiveness Pulmonary Embolism Prevention After Hip and Knee Replacement (PEPPER) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02810704), we examined pre- and post-operative (1, 3, and 6-months) outcomes in 5,961 patients undergoing primary TKA enrolled by 28 medical centers between December 2016 and August 2021. Outcomes included the short-form of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-Jr.), the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health (PROMIS-PH), and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). To minimize selection bias, we performed a 1-to-1 propensity score matched analysis to assess relative pre- to post-operative change in outcomes within and between cemented and cementless TKA groups. RESULTS: With greater than 90% follow-up, significant pre to- post-operative improvements were observed in both groups. At 6 months, the cemented TKA group achieved a 3.3 point (55% of the Minimum Clinically Important Difference) greater improvement in the mean KOOS-Jr. (95%CI: 0.36, 6.30; P = 0.028) than did the cementless group with no significant between-group differences in PROMIS-PH and NPRS. CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of primary TKAs, patients with cemented fixation reported early incremental benefit in KOOS-Jr. over those with cementless TKA. Future studies are warranted to capture longer follow-up of PROs.

Increased Complications and Cost Associated With Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture: Evaluation of 576,119 Medicare Patients Treated With Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and femoral neck fractures (FNFs) in the geriatric population is well established. We compare perioperative complications and cost of THA for treatment of OA to hemiarthroplasty (HA) and THA for treatment of FNF. METHODS: Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services were used to identify all patients 65 years and older undergoing primary hip arthroplasty between 2013 and 2017. Patients were divided into 3 cohorts: THA for OA (n = 326,313), HA for FNF (n = 223,811), and THA for FNF (n = 25,995). Generalized regressions were used to compare group mortality, 90-day readmission, thromboembolic events, and 90-day episode costs, controlling for age, gender, race, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Compared to patients treated for OA, FNF patients were older and had significantly more comorbidities (all P < .001). Even among the youngest age group (65-69 years) without comorbidities, FNF was associated with a greater risk of mortality at 90 days (THA-FNF odds ratio [OR] 9.3, HA-FNF OR 27.0, P < .001), 1 year (THA-FNF OR 7.8, HA-FNF OR 19.0, P < .001) and 5 years (THA-FNF hazard ratio 4.5, HA-FNF hazard ratio 10.0, P < .001). The average 90-day direct cost was $12,479 and $14,036 greater among THA and HA for FNF respectively compared to THA for OA (all P < .001). CONCLUSION: Among Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hip arthroplasty patients, those with an FNF had significantly higher rates of mortality, thromboembolic events, readmission, and greater direct cost. Reimbursement models for arthroplasty should account for the distinctly different perioperative complication and resource utilization for FNF patients.

Patient selection in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model.

OBJECTIVE: To understand whether the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) program induces participating hospitals to (1) preferentially select lower risk patients, (2) reduce 90-day episode-of-care costs, (3) improve quality of care, and (4) achieve greater cost reduction during its second year, when downside financial risk was applied. DATA SOURCES: We identified beneficiaries of age 65 years or older undergoing hip or knee joint replacement in the 100% sample of Medicare fee-for-service inpatient (Part A) claims from January 1, 2013 to August 31, 2017. Cases were linked to subsequent outpatient, Part B, home health agency, and skilled nursing facility claims, as well as publicly available participation status for CJR. STUDY DESIGN: We estimated the effect of CJR for hospitals in the 67 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) selected to participate in CJR (785 hospitals), compared to those in 104 non-CJR MSAs (962 hospitals; maintaining fee-for-service). A difference-in-differences approach was used to detect patient selection, as well as to compare 90-day episode-of-care costs and quality of care between CJR and non-CJR hospitals over the first two performance years. DATA COLLECTION: We excluded 172 hospitals from our analysis due to their preexisting BPCI participation. We focused on elective admissions in the main analysis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: While reductions in 90-day episode-of-care costs were greater among CJR hospitals (-$902, 95% CI: -$1305, -$499), largely driven by a 16.8% (p < 0.01) decline in 90-day spending in skilled nursing facilities, CJR hospitals significantly reduced the 90-day readmission rate (-3.9%; p < 0.05) and preferentially avoided patients aged 85 years or older (-5.9%; p < 0.01) and Black (-7.0%; p < 0.01). Cost reduction was greater in 2017 than in 2016, corresponding to the start of downside risk. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in CJR was associated with a modest cost reduction and a reduction in 90-day readmission rates; however, we also observed evidence of preferential avoidance of older patients perceived as being higher risk among CJR hospitals.

Is Discretionary Care Associated with Safety Among Medicare Beneficiaries Undergoing Spine Surgery?

BACKGROUND: Spine surgery and its corresponding costs have increased in recent years and are variable across geographic regions. Discretionary care is the component of spending variation that is independent of illness severity, age, and regional pricing. It is unknown whether greater discretionary care is associated with improved safety for patients undergoing spine surgery, as we would expect from value-based health care. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of 5 spine surgery cohorts based on Medicare claims from 2013 to 2017. Patients were grouped into quintiles based on the Dartmouth Atlas End-of-Life Inpatient Care Index (EOL), reflecting regional spending variation attributed to discretionary care. Multivariable regression examined the association between discretionary care and safety measures while controlling for age, sex, race, comorbidity, and hospital features. RESULTS: We observed a threefold to fourfold variation in 90-day episode-of-care cost across regions, depending on the cohort. Spine-specific spending was correlated with EOL quintile, confirming that spending variation is due more to discretionary care than it is to pricing, age, or illness severity. Greater spending across EOL quintiles was not associated with improved safety, and, in fact, was associated with poorer safety in some cohorts. For example, all-cause readmission was greater in the high-spending EOL quintile relative to the low-spending EOL quintile among the "fusion, except cervical" cohort (14.2% vs. 13.1%; OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.20), the "complex fusion" cohort (28.0% vs. 25.4%; OR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.30), and the "cervical fusion" cohort (15.0% vs. 13.6%; OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.20). CONCLUSIONS: Wide variation in spending was not explained by differences in illness severity, age, or pricing, and increased discretionary care did not enhance safety. These findings point to inefficient use of health-care resources, a potential focus of reform. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic and Decision Analysis Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.