Abstract 11771: Validity of an Administrative Claims-Based Measure of Low-Value Carotid Revascularization

Abstract

Introduction: Low value care is defined as care where harms or costs outweigh benefits. Researchers, payers, and policymakers commonly use administrative claims data to identify low-value care, but the validity of many claims-based algorithms has not been assessed. Research Question: What is the validity of a commonly-used claims-based algorithm to identify low-value carotid artery revascularization (CAR) procedures, compared to a reference standard of chart review? Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries attributed to a large accountable care organization. We used administrative claims data linked to electronic health record data and identified all CAR procedures (endarterectomy or stenting) from 01/01/2020-12/31/2021. We excluded patients without claims history in the year prior to CAR. Using methods previously described by policymakers and researchers, we classified CAR as low-value by claims if patients did not have diagnosis codes for stroke, transient ischemic attack, or other neurologic symptoms such as vision changes or hemiplegia in the year prior to CAR. We then reviewed linked electronic health records to determine if cases were misclassified by the claims-based measure. Per recent guidelines, we classified CAR as low-value by chart review if it was performed in patients with less than 50% symptomatic stenosis or greater than 80% asymptomatic stenosis. Results: A total of 127 CAR cases (mean age 77 years; 63% men; 87% white) with complete electronic health record data were identified, and 48 (38%) were classified as low-value by the claims-based algorithm. Only 11 of the 48 cases classified as low-value by claims were confirmed to be low-value by chart review. The positive predictive value of the claims-based algorithm was 23%. Conclusions: A commonly-used claims-based measure to identify low-value CAR procedures had poor accuracy with a positive predictive value of 23%. Using administrative claims to identify low-value CAR procedures might overestimate the number of procedures considered to be low-value. This has implications for the current system of quality reporting, particularly when quality is tied to financial incentives.