Payer database and geospatial analysis to evaluate practice patterns in treating allergy in North Carolina

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to characterize the delivery of allergy care in North Carolina using a large payer charge database and visualization techniques. Study designGeospatial database analysis. SettingNorth Carolina State claims database. Subjects & methodsMedical data from the 2013 FAIR Health National Private Insurance Claims (FH NPIC) database for North Carolina was mined for CPT codes and charges for allergy testing, and for the preparation and provision of allergen immunotherapy. Provider and patient variables were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in allergy care delivery. A visualization strategy complemented the analytic approach. Results162,037 CPT charge entries were analyzed. Allergy-immunology specialists were the most common provider specialty to perform allergy immunotherapy treatments (68.9%, p<0.05). Among other specialties, there were no significant differences between specialists performing immunotherapy when comparing otolaryngology, family practice, and internal medicine (16.3%; 4.6%; 2.6%; p>0.05). Providers with an M.D. degree were the most common provider type. The three most commonly treated diagnoses were allergic rhinitis variants. Females were more likely to receive allergy treatments versus males (55.9% vs. 51.5%; p<0.001), and were more likely to receive allergy testing (65.3% vs. 34.7%: p<0.005). Internal medicine providers charged higher than any other specialist type (p<0.05) for allergy immunotherapy. ConclusionsUsing a large payer database coupled with visualization techniques was an efficient approach to characterizing the state-wide provision patterns of allergy diagnostic and therapy services in North Carolina. This first tier approach to efficiently exploring questions and describing populations is valuable.