Rates Of Acute Care Utilization Research Articles

30-Month Impact of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder on Acute Care Utilization in Rural Communities.

To assess both the short- and longer-term impact of offering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD, ie, methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone) on rates of all-cause emergency department (ED) visits and acute inpatient admissions (IP) over a 30-month period among Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder (OUD) residing in rural communities. A quasi-experimental retrospective analysis of longitudinal Medicaid claims data among continuously enrolled adult patients with OUD residing in 71 predominantly rural counties in the United States between 2018 and 2020. A cohort of patients receiving MOUD treatment was compared against a contemporaneous propensity score-matched comparison group consisting of those who received no MOUD during the period. The sample included 5370 patients with OUD in each group. At the index period (ie, the month in which any MOUD was used for the first time), buprenorphine was the most commonly used MOUD (82% of the MOUD treatment group). By the eighth month since the index period, MOUD use dropped below 60% among the MOUD treatment group. Over the 30-month post-MOUD period, MOUD treatment was associated with 24% (112 vs 148 per 1000 per month) and 52% (21 vs 44) lower rates of ED visit and IP admission rates, respectively (P < 0.001), relative to the comparison group. Moreover, the reductions persisted well after the 18th month period. Receipt of MOUD was associated with both immediate- and long-term lower rates in acute care utilization rates among adult Medicaid beneficiaries with OUD residing in rural communities despite significant treatment discontinuation.

The impact of recreational cannabis legalization on cannabis-related acute care events among adults with schizophrenia.

Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of cannabis use disorder and may be uniquely affected by the legalization of recreational cannabis. This study examined whether cannabis legalization led to changes in acute care utilization among patients with schizophrenia. Using linked health administrative data, we included adult patients with schizophrenia in Ontario from October 2015 to May 2021 (n = 121,061). We examined the differences in cannabis, psychosis, and mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits over three periods: pre-legalization, legalization of flowers and herbs (phase 1), and legalization of edibles, extracts, and topicals (phase 2) using interrupted time-series methods. Our study found that phase 1 was associated with decreases in cannabis-related, mental health-related, and cannabis + psychosis-related ED visits among the patients with schizophrenia. Notably, an immediate 25.8% (95% CI 13.8-37.6%) decrease in cannabis-related ED visits was observed in men, and an immediate 18.5% decrease in mental health-related ED visits (95% CI 6.0-31.2%) in women. These decreases were also shown in the comparative ITS models, demonstrating that the changes observed were distinct from trends in the general population. However, phase 2 was not associated with any significant changes. Despite higher baseline rates of acute care utilization among patients with schizophrenia, cannabis legalization was associated with significant reductions, particularly during phase 1. Our findings suggest that regulatory measures accompanying legalization could enhance the quality and safety of cannabis products, potentially leading to fewer adverse health outcomes in vulnerable patient populations. Further research is needed to optimize healthcare responses for this vulnerable population.

Association between lifetime criminal legal involvement and acute healthcare utilization in middle-aged and older US adults, 2015-2019.

Five decades into the era of mass incarceration, a growing number of older adults have experienced criminal legal involvement (CLI) in their lifetime. Studies have shown that prior incarceration is associated with substantial disease burden, but little is known about the distinct needs and utilization patterns of middle-aged and older adults with lifetime CLI compared to those without. Using a nationally representative data set, we tested the association between lifetime CLI exposure and use of acute care services among middle-aged and older adults. Our sample included 44,007 US adults (25,074 middle-aged-50-64 years; 18,709 older- ≥65 years) who participated in the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2015-2019). The data is publicly available. Our independent variable was lifetime CLI. Using separate negative binomial regression models for middle-aged and older adults, we tested the association between lifetime CLI and acute healthcare utilization (ED visits and nights spent inpatient) controlling for relevant sociodemographic covariates. For middle-aged respondents, 19.1% reported lifetime CLI; for older adults, the rate of exposure was 9.6%. In multivariate models, CLI was associated with increased ED visits in middle-aged adults (IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.06-1.31) but not older adults (IRR 0.99, 95% CI 0.85-1.16). CLI was associated with increased nights hospitalized in both groups (middle-aged: IRR 1.33, 95% CI 1.08-1.62; older adults: IRR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01, 1.57). Middle-aged and older adults with lifetime CLI experience higher rates of acute care utilization than their peers with no lifetime CLI, even after adjustment for confounders. As the cohort of adults from the era of mass incarceration ages, understanding the mechanisms by which lifetime CLI impacts health outcomes is crucial in designing interventions to improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary acute healthcare utilization.

Enhanced Primary Care for Severe Mental Illness Reduces Inpatient Admission and Emergency Room Utilization Rates.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of premature mortality among patients with severe mental illness (SMI). Effective care delivery models are needed to address this mortality gap. This study examines the impact of an enhanced primary care (PC) program that specializes in the treatment of patients with SMI, called Medicine in Psychiatry Service-Primary Care (MIPS-PC). Using multipayer claims data in Western New York from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021, patients with SMI and CVD were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. National Provider Identification numbers of MIPS-PC providers were then used to identify those patients who were treated by MIPS-PC during the period. These MIPS-PC-treated patients were compared against a cohort of one-to-one propensity score matched contemporaneous comparison group (ie, patients receiving PC from providers unaffiliated with MIPS-PC). A difference-in-difference approach was used to identify the treatment effects of MIPS-PC on all-cause emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization rates. The MIPS-PC group was associated with a downtrend in the acute care utilization rates over a 3-year period following the index date (ie, date of first MIPS-PC or other PC provider encounter), specifically a lower hospitalization rate in the first year since the index date (25%; P < 0.001). ED visit rate reduction was significant in the third-year period (18%; P = 0.021). In summary, MIPS-PC treatment is associated with a decreasing trend in acute care utilization. Prospective studies are needed to validate this effect of enhanced PC in patients with SMI and CVD.

International comparison of hospitalizations and emergency department visits related to mental health conditions across high-income countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To explore variation in rates of acute care utilization for mental health conditions, including hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits, across high-income countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrative patient-level data between 2017 and 2020 of eight high-income countries: Canada, England, Finland, France, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States (US). Multi-country retrospective observational study using a federated data approach that evaluated age-sex standardized rates of hospitalizations and ED visits for mental health conditions. There was significant variation in rates of acute mental health care utilization across countries. Among the subset of four countries with both hospitalization and ED data, the US had the highest pre-COVID-19 combined average annual acute care rate of 1613 episodes/100,000 people (95% CI: 1428, 1797). Finland had the lowest rate of 776 (686, 866). When examining hospitalization rates only, France had the highest rate of inpatient hospitalizations of 988/100,000 (95% CI 858, 1118) while Spain had the lowest at 87/100,000 (95% CI 76, 99). For ED rates for mental health conditions, the US had the highest rate of 958/100,000 (95% CI 861, 1055) while France had the lowest rate with 241/100,000 (95% CI 216, 265). Notable shifts coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were observed including a substitution of care setting in the US from ED to inpatient care, and overall declines in acute care utilization in Canada and France. The study underscores the importance of understanding and addressing variation in acute care utilization for mental health conditions, including the differential effect of COVID-19, across different health care systems. Further research is needed to elucidate the extent to which factors such as workforce capacity, access barriers, financial incentives, COVID-19 preparedness, and community-based care may contribute to these variations. Approximately one billion people globally live with a mental health condition, with significant consequences for individuals and societies. Rates of mental health diagnoses vary across high-income countries, with substantial differences in access to effective care. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges globally, with varying impacts across countries. This study provides a comprehensive international comparison of hospitalization and emergency department visit rates for mental health conditions across eight high-income countries. It highlights significant variations in acute care utilization patterns, particularly in countries that are more likely to care for people with mental health conditions in emergency departments rather than inpatient facilities The study identifies temporal and cross-country differences in acute care management of mental health conditions coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract PS14-02: Real-world analysis comparing Black and White patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522

Abstract Abstract Title: Real-world analysis comparing Black and White patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 Background: KEYNOTE-522 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial which resulted in the FDA approval of pembrolizumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Despite the significant improvement in pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival rates across all patients, the landmark trial included only 4.5% Black patients. It is essential to assess outcomes in representative treatment populations. We assessed real-world toxicity and treatment outcomes across Black and White patients who received standard-of-care treatment per KEYNOTE-522. Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, we examined patients with early-stage TNBC who received planned treatment per KEYNOTE-522 as standard-of-care (SOC) therapy. 16 sites were included in the analysis. IRB approval was obtained from each participating site. Number and length of treatment delays, treatment-related toxicities (both chemotherapy and immune-related) of all grades, and pCR rate were collected from the electronic medical record of each participating site, and deidentified data were shared for central analysis. Results: Of the 577 patients who initiated treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, 534 patients were included in this analysis with 105 patients who self-identified as Black (19.7%) and 429 who self-identified as White (80.3%). There were no statistically significant differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups. White women were more likely to have grade 3+ immune-related adverse events (irAEs) compared to Black women (33.8% vs 20.9%, P=0.011). There was no significant difference across Black and White patients with respect to grade 3+ chemotherapy-related adverse events. Out of the 444 patients who have completed surgery, no difference in pCR rate was observed between Black and White women (45/86 52.3% vs 200/358 55.9%) (p = 0.6). The authors also saw no difference in the rates of hospitalizations between Black and White women (39% vs 36% p = 0.5), and rates of acute care utilization (38% vs 38% p = 0.9). Conclusions: We report safety and efficacy across Black and White women in a real-world analysis of patients who received treatment per KEYNOTE-522. Notably, White patients had a significantly higher frequency of grade 3+ irAEs, although the reason for this finding is unclear based on this analysis. Black patients had similar pCR rates and rates of treatment-related hospitalizations compared to White patients. Assessment of outcomes and toxicity by race in clinical trials and real-world analyses are critical in drug development. Citation Format: Mara Hofherr, Andrew Davis, Spenser January, Emily Owen, Farah Raheem, Lida A. Mina, Suganya Arunachalam Karikalan, Lauren Lyons, Meredith Watson Rose, Katherine Madden, Jerline Hsin, Aimee Keegan, Wai Yu, Shawna Kraft, Allison Schepers, Emily Armgardt, Douglas Mazewski, Alison Svoboda, Kayla Harwood, Jodi Taraba, Yonatan Resnick, Shelly Hummert, Lisa Grate, Sidney Keisner, Jacob Hobbs, Todd Davis, Kristin Bastian, Dawn Minikel, Wiliam Adler, Traci White, Avneek Singh Sandu, Fouad Boulbol, Kelsey Finch, Katherine Clifton. Real-world analysis comparing Black and White patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS14-02.

Impact of Neighborhood Opportunity on Missed Clinic Visits and Acute Care Utilization in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex inherited blood disorder associated with high acute healthcare utilization, further complicated by psychosocial and socioeconomic factors. Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a known impact on healthcare access and health outcomes, particularly in minoritized communities. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a composite measure of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage. The Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) is a validated approach for estimating multi-dimensional SDOH leading to inequitable distribution of opportunity across neighborhoods. Both have been associated with acute care utilization in pediatric populations other than SCD. We hypothesize that ADI and COI will be associated with acute care utilization and care access in SCD, as well. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from the electronic medical record between September 2021 and July 2023 for patients followed at a Midwestern Pediatric SCD Clinic who completed a Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) at an annual comprehensive visit. The PAT is a validated quantitative caregiver survey used to screen for psychosocial risk factors and resiliency, with subcategories such as social support, child problems, structure/resources, and family beliefs. Number of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and missed clinic visits were collected from the time the PAT was completed up to 1 year after (or the end of the data collection period). The area deprivation index (ADI) and childhood opportunity index (COI) were determined utilizing census block data for the patient at the time the PAT was completed. Descriptive statistics were performed on all data above, as well as t-tests and chi square tests for univariate analyses. Results: One hundred seventy-four unique patients completed a PAT during the study period. The median age of the child with SCD was 11.5 years (range 4-22 years), with the majority having Hb SS disease (61%). Eighty-nine percent had a primary care provider documented and 75% had public insurance. The median state ADI (6) and COI (2) for the cohort demonstrated significant neighborhood disadvantage/SDOH for all patients (See Figure). Ninety-two unique patients had 239 ED encounters. Fifty-eight unique patients accounted for 149 hospitalizations. Forty-seven percent of those hospitalized had a PAT in the Targeted or Clinical range (i.e. increased psychosocial stressors) compared to 30% of those who had not been hospitalized ( p=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between ADI or COI and number of ED encounters or hospitalizations. However, patients who missed 1 or more SCD visits (n=79) had a higher median state ADI than those who did not miss a visit (8 vs 6, p=0.009). Median state COI was also lower in this group than those who did not miss a visit (1 vs 2, p=0.008). Forty-eight percent of those who missed 1 or more SCD visit had a PAT in the Targeted or Clinical category versus 27% of those who did not miss any ( p=0.009). Conclusion: While those with significant SDOH and neighborhood disadvantage did not have higher rates of acute care utilization in this cohort, there was a significant contribution to missed preventative SCD care visits, further emphasizing the need for psychosocial support and resources as essential elements to SCD programs, as well as alternative forms of care delivery, such as telemedicine, to improve access to SCD specialists. Further studies are needed to understand the impact comprehensive resources such as these may have on care burden, as well as disease outcomes.

Implementing a Structured Health Care Transition (HCT) Process for Sickle Cell Disease Using Quality Improvement: Results from the Sickle Cell Trevor Thompson Transition Project HCT Learning Collaborative

Ensuring consistent healthcare during transition is challenging for sickle cell disease (SCD). Emerging adults with SCD (EASCD) experience triple the mortality rates and double the acute care utilization rates compared to younger and older ages. The transition period is also plagued by reduced quality of life (QOL) with increased missed school days per year and worse standardized test scores. The Sickle Cell Trevor Thompson Transition (ST3P-UP) study aimed to improve acute care utilization and QOL for EASCD by standardizing the transition process while engaging the community as an equal partner. A prior regional stakeholder needs assessment identified care standardization, establishing individual emergency care plans (ECPs), and community engagement as critical success factors for improved access to and engagement in care during transition. The ST3P-UP SCD health hare transition (HCT) learning collaborative engaged 14 pediatric and adult paired sites that included a partner community-based organization (CBO) using the concept of a site “Triad” as the critical framework of each sites transition team. The collaborative aim statement established at a kickoff meeting was “ to improve the health of EASCD by implementing an education-based transition program in pediatric and adult SCD clinics to be accomplished by 24 months, using the Model for Improvement and the Got Transition Six Core Elements of Transition (6CE) model. ” Using the 6CE framework established by Got Transition® and the Model for Improvement QI methodology, we established a SCD HCT Process Measurement Tool (PMT) and 2 outcome measures for the transition learning collaborative namely: transition readiness assessment (RA), and an individualized emergency care plan (ECP). Monthly virtual meetings provided coaching on HCT recommendations, use of Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and practical guidance on implementing the 6CE. Sites were given a change package that included provider and patient education materials, resources to establish and strengthen a QI team, transition billing and coding resources etc.) to improve their transition processes. Implementation of 6CE was measured across 14 clinical sites, each comprised of both pediatric and adult clinics, who cared for 1625 EASCD aged 16-25. Clinical programs varied: 12 urban, 2 rural; 12 academic, 2 non-academic; 6 small, 8 large. The HCT-PMT assessed 6CE implementation adherence using iterative QI strategies at baseline (2018) and every six months thereafter for 54mo (2022). Pre-post results were compared for the overall group and by practice size. All 14 sites made substantial progress towards implementing a structured HCT process within 24 months. Overall HCT-PMT scores improved by 402% by the end of the 54mo collaborative (19.4 ± 14.1 to 97.4 ± 5.2). PMT scores improved significantly by 312% (24 to 99) for pediatrics and 539% (15 to 96 for adult sites. Pediatric PMT scores were higher at each assessment interval vs. adult scores, however adult sites achieved a higher degree of improvement. Smaller sites achieved a higher degree of improvement vs. large sites. Large site PMT scores improved 362% (21 to 97); small site PMT scores improved 444% (18 to 98). Additionally, sites demonstrated substantial improvements with having current ECPs for EASCD annually (completed and reviewed within the past year). At baseline, only 20% of pediatric and 3% of adult EASCD had a current ECP; only 38% of pediatric and 20% of adult EASCD had a current RA. Run charts demonstrated significant improvement with implementing the ECP measure. Pediatric sites had significant and sustained improvement in adherence to the ECP measure for &amp;gt;6mo. Adult sites started with a lower baseline score. Although they met their goal of showing process capability, they have not yet demonstrated sustained improvement. By Dec. 2022, site adherence with current ECP improved to 84% and 70% for pediatric and adult sites respectively. Adherence with current RA also improved to 76% and 70% for pediatric and adult sites respectively. All 14 sites showed significant improvement with implementing a structured HCT process aligned with the 6CE using QI confirming its feasibility in establishing a standardized and measurable transition process that can be applied to various chronic conditions.

Psychosis among individuals with methamphetamine use disorder is associated with elevated rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits across an academic health care system

IntroductionMethamphetamine (MA) is increasingly available in the United States and manufactured with increasing potency. Although psychosis is a known harm related to MA use, we know little about the clinical outcomes and prognosis of individuals who use MA and experience psychosis. Some evidence exists that psychosis among people who use methamphetamine leads to a high utilization of emergency and acute inpatient services, but the extent of this use is unclear. MethodsUsing an electronic health record (EHR) database, this study assessed acute care visits of individuals receiving diagnostic codes of the following disorders: methamphetamine use disorder with undifferentiated psychosis (MUDp), schizophrenia (MUDs) and no history of psychosis (MUD) in addition to individuals without MUD diagnosis but with diagnoses of either undifferentiated psychosis (Psy) or schizophrenia (Scz) from 2006 to 2019. The study explored potential clinical risk factors associated with rate of acute care visits. ResultsReceiving diagnoses of psychotic disorders and MUD were both associated with high rates of acute care utilization. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was highest in the MUDp group 6.30 (95% CI: 5.73, 6.93) followed by the MUDs group 4.03 (95% CI: 3.87, 4.20), the Psy group 3.77 (95% CI: 3.45, 4.11), the Scz group 3.11 (95% CI: 2.99, 3.23), and the MUD group 2.17 (95% CI: 2.09, 2.25). Receiving another SUD diagnosis was identified as a risk factor for acute care visits in the MUDp group, and mood and anxiety disorder diagnoses were a risk factor in the MUDs group. ConclusionsIn a general health care system, individuals receiving diagnoses of MUD and co-occurring psychotic disorders were observed to have particularly high rates of acute care service utilization, suggesting a high degree of disease burden and the need for development of targeted treatment interventions with both MUD and psychosis.

Comparison of Health Care Utilization by Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries With Complex Care Needs

Medicare beneficiaries with co-occurring chronic conditions and complex care needs experience high rates of acute care utilization and poor outcomes. These patterns are well described among traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries, but less is known about outcomes among Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries. Compared with TM, MA plans have additional levers to potentially address beneficiary needs, such as network design, care management, supplemental benefits, and value-based contracting. To compare health care utilization for MA and TM beneficiaries with complex care needs. This cross-sectional study analyzed beneficiaries enrolled in MA and TM using claims data from a large, national MA insurer and a random 5% sample of TM beneficiaries. Beneficiaries were segmented into the following cohorts: frail elderly, major complex chronic, and minor complex chronic. Regression models estimated the association between MA enrollment and health care utilization in 2018, using inverse probability of treatment weighting to balance the MA and TM cohorts on observable characteristics. The study period was January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2018. All analyses were conducted from December 2020 to August 2022. Enrollment in MA vs TM. Hospital stays (inpatient admissions and observation stays), emergency department (ED) visits, and 30-day readmissions. Among a study population of 1 844 326 Medicare beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 75.6 [7.1] years; 1 021 479 [55.4%] women; 1 524 458 [82.7%] White; 223 377 [12.1%] with Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility), 1 177 896 (63.9%) were enrolled in MA and 666 430 (36.1%) in TM. Beneficiary distribution across cohorts was as follows: frail elderly, 116 047 with MA (10.0% of the MA sample) and 104 036 with TM (15.6% of the TM sample); major complex chronic, 320 954 (27.2%) and 158 811 (23.8%), respectively; and minor complex chronic, 740 895 (62.9%) and 403 583 (60.6%), respectively. Beneficiaries enrolled in MA had lower rates of hospital stays, ED visits, and 30-day readmissions. The largest relative differences were observed for hospital stays, which ranged from -9.3% (95% CI, -10.9% to -7.7%) for the frail elderly cohort to -11.9% (95% CI, -13.2% to -10.7%) for the major complex chronic cohort. In this cross-sectional study of Medicare beneficiaries with complex care needs, those enrolled in MA had lower rates of hospital stays, ED visits, and 30-day readmissions than similar beneficiaries enrolled in TM, suggesting that managed care activities in MA may influence the nature and quality of care provided to these beneficiaries.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Acute Care Utilization Among Patients With Glomerular Disease

The effects of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and disease severity on acute care utilization in patients with glomerular disease are unknown. Prospective cohort study. 1,456 adults and 768 children with biopsy-proven glomerular disease enrolled in the Cure Glomerulonephropathy (CureGN) cohort. Race and ethnicity as a participant-reported social factor. Acute care utilization defined as hospitalizations or emergency department visits. Multivariable recurrent event proportional rate models were used to estimate associations between race and ethnicity and acute care utilization. Black or Hispanic participants had lower SES and more severe glomerular disease than White or Asian participants. Acute care utilization rates were 45.6, 29.5, 25.8, and 19.2 per 100 person-years in Black, Hispanic, White, and Asian adults, respectively, and 55.8, 42.5, 40.8, and 13.0, respectively, for children. Compared with the White race (reference group), Black race was significantly associated with acute care utilization in adults (rate ratio [RR], 1.76 [95% CI, 1.37-2.27]), although this finding was attenuated after multivariable adjustment (RR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.03-1.68]). Black race was not significantly associated with acute care utilization in children; Asian race was significantly associated with lower acute care utilization in children (RR, 0.32 [95% CI 0.14-0.70]); no significant associations between Hispanic ethnicity and acute care utilization were identified. We used proxies for SES and lacked direct information on income, household unemployment, or disability. Significant differences in acute care utilization rates were observed across racial and ethnic groups in persons with prevalent glomerular disease, although many of these difference were explained by differences in SES and disease severity. Measures to combat socioeconomic disadvantage in Black patients and to more effectively prevent and treat glomerular disease are needed to reduce disparities in acute care utilization, improve patient wellbeing, and reduce health care costs.

Association Between Self-reported Health-Related Social Needs and Acute Care Utilization Among Older Adults Enrolled in Medicare Advantage

There is increased focus on identifying and addressing health-related social needs (HRSNs). Understanding how different HRSNs relate to different health outcomes can inform targeted, evidence-based policies, investments, and innovations to address HRSNs. To examine the association between self-reported HRSNs and acute care utilization among older adults enrolled in Medicare Advantage. This cross-sectional study used data from a large, national survey of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries to identify the presence of HRSNs. Survey data were linked to medical claims, and regression models were used to estimate the association between HRSNs and rates of acute care utilization from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. Self-reported HRSNs, including food insecurity, financial strain, loneliness, unreliable transportation, utility insecurity, housing insecurity, and poor housing quality. All-cause hospital stays (inpatient admissions and observation stays), avoidable hospital stays, all-cause emergency department (ED) visits, avoidable ED visits, and 30-day readmissions. Among a final study population of 56 155 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 74.0 [5.8] years; 32 779 [58.4%] women; 44 278 [78.8%] White; and 7634 [13.6%] dual eligible for Medicaid), 27 676 (49.3%) reported 1 or more HRSNs. Health-related social needs were associated with statistically significantly higher rates of all utilization measures, with the largest association observed for avoidable hospital stays (incident rate ratio for any HRSN, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.35-1.74; P < .001). Compared with beneficiaries without HRSNs, beneficiaries with an HRSN had a 53.3% higher rate of avoidable hospitalization (incident rate ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.35-1.74; P < .001). Financial strain and unreliable transportation were each independently associated with increased rates of hospital stays (marginal effects of 26.5 [95% CI, 14.2-38.9] and 51.2 [95% CI, 30.7-71.8] hospital stays per 1000 beneficiaries, respectively). All HRSNs, except for utility insecurity, were independently associated with increased rates of ED visits. Unreliable transportation had the largest association with increased hospital stays and ED visits, with marginal effects of 51.2 (95% CI, 30.7-71.8) and 95.5 (95% CI, 65.3-125.8) ED visits per 1000 beneficiaries, respectively. Only unreliable transportation and financial strain were associated with increased rates of 30-day readmissions, with marginal effects of 3.3% (95% CI, 2.0%-4.0%) and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.2%-0.6%), respectively. In this cross-sectional study of older adults enrolled in Medicare Advantage, self-reported HRSNs were common and associated with statistically significantly increased rates of acute care utilization, with variation in which HRSNs were associated with different utilization measures. These findings provide evidence of the unique association between certain HRSNs and different types of acute care utilization, which could help refine the development and targeting of efforts to address HRSNs.

Disparities in health care use among low-salary and high-salary employees.

To examine how health care utilization and spending vary for low-income employees compared with high-income employees enrolled in an employer-sponsored high-deductible health plan (HDHP). We use commercial medical claims data and administrative human resource data from a large employer between 2014 and 2018. We link the administrative data, which include details on salary and other benefit choices, to each employee in each year with medical claims. Our variables of interest include medical spending and utilization outcomes grouped into different care settings. Using multivariate regressions, we estimate the association between salary buckets and health care utilization and spending, controlling for demographic characteristics, comorbidities of employees, human resource health plan benefits, and geography. Employees earning less than $75,000 show lower rates of utilization and spending on preventive measures, such as outpatient visits and prescription drugs, while having higher rates of utilization of preventable and avoidable emergency department visits and inpatient stays, resulting in lower overall health care spending among lower-salary employees. Low-salary employees enrolled in HDHPs have higher rates of acute care utilization and spending but lower rates of primary care spending compared with high-salary employees. Results suggest that HDHPs discourage routine physician-patient care among low-salary employees.

Transition Navigator Intervention Improves Transition Readiness to Adult Care for Youth With Sickle Cell Disease.

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience high rates of acute care utilization and increased morbidity. At this high-risk time, they also face the need to transition from pediatric to adult services, which, if poorly coordinated, adds to heightened morbidity and acute care utilization. The study objective was to characterize the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term efficacy of a protocolized transition navigator (TN) intervention in AYA with SCD. We developed a protocolized TN intervention that used ecological assessment and motivational interviewing to assess transition readiness, identify goals, and remove barriers to transition, and to provide disease and pain management education and skills to AYAs with SCD. Ninety-three percent (56/60) of enrolled individuals completed the intervention. Participation in the TN program was associated with significant improvement in mean transition readiness scores (3.58-4.15, P < .0001), disease knowledge scale (8.91-10.13, P < .0001), Adolescent Medication Barriers Scale (40.05-35.39, P = .003) and confidence in both disease (22.5-23.96, P = .048) and pain management (25.07-26.61, P = .003) for youth with SCD. The TN intervention was acceptable to youth with SCD, feasible to implement at an urban academic medical center, and addressed barriers to transition identified by the youth. Longer-term assessment is needed to determine if the TN intervention improved successful transfer to and retention in adult care.

Real-world outcomes with extended-release buprenorphine (XR-BUP) in a low threshold bridge clinic: A retrospective case series

BackgroundIn clinical trial settings, extended-release buprenorphine (XR-BUP) is noninferior to sublingual buprenorphine and may offer some advantages. However, real-world experiences of XR-BUP are limited and outcomes are unknown for low-threshold clinics with high-risk populations. Practical guidance is lacking on overcoming treatment challenges, such as inability for some to stabilize on sublingual (SL) BUP for seven days prior to XR-BUP and ongoing craving/withdrawal symptoms during treatment. MethodsRetrospective case series of a convenience sample of 40 serial adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) treated with XR-BUP from Massachusetts General Hospital bridge clinic from February 1, 2019, to July 31, 2019. ResultsPatients were mostly male (67.5%), non-Hispanic white (97.5%), unstably housed (77.5%), and average age of 32.1 years old. The average SL BUP dose prior to XR-BUP was 18.6 mg (standard deviation [SD] = 5; range 8–32) for an average treatment duration of 105 days (SD = 191; range 1–810). Ten (25%) patients received SL BUP for fewer than the seven recommended days (mean = 3.7, SD = 1.4, range = 1–6). Standard induction dosing was administered to 30%, empiric high-dose XR-BUP (300 mg monthly) was administered to 25%, and 55% were treated with supplemental SL BUP ranging from 4 to24mg, daily or as needed, for varying time periods. At the end of data collection, 65% remained on XR-BUP, 30% discontinued XR-BUP, and one patient was lost to follow-up. Acute care utilization rates were similar between patients who continued XR-BUP versus discontinued at 18.5% and 16.6%, respectively (χ2 = 0.02, p-value = 0.89). Toxicology was negative for other opioids in 65% of patients throughout treatment. There were no reports of overdose, withdrawal after use of opioids, or precipitated withdrawal after subsequent XR-BUP. Patients' most cited reason for discontinuing XR-BUP was a preference for SL BUP. ConclusionThis real-world evaluation of XR-BUP in a low-threshold clinic found that treatment was feasible, well tolerated, and outcomes were good, with most individuals choosing to continue treatment and a majority with no evidence of ongoing opioid use or precipitated withdrawal.

745-P: Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH): Attending to the Social Determinants of Health

Objective: Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) is a community-based, family-focused intervention for youth with T1D and is associated with improved glycemic control and lower rates of acute care utilization. This study examines whether NICH is associated with changes in preventative outpatient attendance, with specific attention to the role of social determinants of health (SDoH) as potential moderators. Methods: Youth in NICH with T1D were included if they had SDoH and electronic health record (EHR) data available (n=52). Retrospective EHR review included outpatient attendance (endocrinology, primary care) for the years prior to and following NICH initiation and social risk endorsement (e.g., food and housing security). Youth mean age was 14.5 years; 59% were female; and 77% were non-Hispanic Caucasian. Results: More than half of NICH families (52%) endorsed food insecurity, with 49% and 40% reporting housing insecurity and unreliable transportation, respectively. Prior to NICH services, minority youth and those experiencing food insecurity attended significantly fewer preventative outpatient appointments (p&amp;lt;.05). There were no significant differences in total number of outpatient visits attended while in NICH for the overall sample; however, following NICH initiation, minority youth demonstrated a significant increase in attendance, from 2.4 to 4.9 per year, and a significantly larger increase in attendance when compared to youth of majority race (p=.01). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine the impact of NICH on preventative care access. There were no significant differences in total number of appointments attended while in NICH, which is unsurprising given that families are already attending additional weekly home sessions during program participation. However, minority youth seem to particularly benefit from NICH services, demonstrating more equitable access to preventative outpatient care during program involvement. Disclosure A. Cantu: None. D.V. Wagner: None. C. Jenisch: None. H. Luzod: None. H. Gottfried-Lee: None. M.A. Harris: None. Funding JDRF; The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Implementation and Effect of a Pharmacist-to-Pharmacist Transitions of Care Initiative on Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions.

One of the most vulnerable times in a patient's encounter with a health care system is during transitions of care (TOC), defined by the Joint Commission as the movement of a patient from one health care provider or setting to another. The use of a clinical pharmacist as a member of the care transitions team has received focused attention and shown improved benefit. To determine the effect of a large-scale pharmacist-to-pharmacist TOC model where inpatient clinical pharmacists identify patients during a hospital stay, provide evidence-based care and education, and then coordinate follow-up with an outpatient clinical pharmacist who provided comprehensive medication management (CMM) under a scope of practice. This was a multisite, single health care system, quasi-experimental, matched interrupted time series design study conducted at an integrated Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Patients admitted with a primary or secondary diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) were included for enrollment. Clinical pharmacists rounding on inpatient medical teams provided evidence-based recommendations to optimize medications while coordinating follow-up by an outpatient clinical pharmacy specialist within 10 days of discharge for CMM. The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the effect on the composite all-cause 30-day acute care utilization rate (emergency department [ED] visit or hospital readmission) for patients discharged with a primary or secondary diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and HF compared with a comparator group of patients with similar discharge diagnosis before implementation of the TOC program. 484 patients (242 in each group, with 366 heart failure, 66 COPD, 10 hypertension, and 42 diabetes) were included for analysis. For the primary outcome of composite 30-day, all-cause acute care utilization rates, no statistically significant difference was identified, with 26.9% of patients in the intervention group and 28.9% in the historical group readmitted or seen in the ED within 30 days of discharge (P = 0.6852). Outcomes for the HF index acute care utilization rate (i.e., admission for the same disease state discharged with), including 30-day index readmissions (P = 0.0014), 30-day index ED visits (P = 0.0047), and 90-day index readmissions for HF (P < 0.0001) were significantly reduced. Our study is one of the first to identify at-risk patients using rounding clinical pharmacists in the acute care arena and coordination of care systematically with a clinical pharmacy specialist practicing under a scope of practice targeted for CMM. Although the overall primary endpoint was not met, a reduction in acute care utilization rates for HF at 30 and 90 days can be achieved. No outside funding supported this research. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Effect of Age on Healthcare Utilization in Patients with Sickle Cell

Background: The median life expectancy of patients with sickle cell disease surpassed 40 years of age in the last two decades. While sickle cell patients overall are known to have high utilization of health services due to vaso-occlusive pain crises (VOC), few studies have focused on the impact of age on utilization pattern. Due to this, our understanding of the patient population is frequently skewed based on data on younger patients. This study examines the utilization of healthcare in patients in two groups: below 40 years of age, and 40 years and over. We also examined the impact on these two cohorts of a home-based primary care program. Methods: All patients were enrolled in a home-based primary care program in which their primary care doctor visited their home every 4-6 weeks. Health utilization data were collected retrospectively, through chart review for one year prior to joining the home-based primary care program, and prospectively for one year after joining the program. Primary care appointments, reported crises, Sickle Cell Day Hospital visits, ED visits, admissions, 30-day readmissions, and total admission days were recorded. Results: A total of 30 patients was enrolled in the study, and 58 years of data were collected. There were 16 patients between 18 and 39, and 14 patients aged 40 and over. 50% of the 40 and over age group was SS genotype and 50% SC compared to only one patient in the below 40 population had genotype SC. The groups were not significantly different regarding gender distribution (57% female in the 40 and over population vs 50% female in the below 40 population). The 40 and over population had on average more comorbidities per patient. The 40 and over population had significantly more primary care visits every year both before and after the start of the home visits compared to the below 40 population,. The 40 and over population, also had significantly lower overall rates of acute care utilization than the patients under 40: number of crises, ED visits, admissions, 30-day readmissions, and total hospital admission days. When comparing pre and post home visiting within the 40 and older population, there was an increase in primary care visits and a decrease in in reported crises, ED visits, admissions and readmissions. There was no change in these parameters in the 18-39 year old patient group. Discussion: As sickle cell patients age, they are more likely to have cumulative co-morbidities due to their sickle cell disease. Despite their more advanced age and their increase in co-morbid conditions, patients 40 and above were shown in our study to have fewer ED visits and admissions than younger patients, and to further reduce ED visits and admissions when provided with home-based primary care. The younger group had higher utilization at baseline, and did not show improvement when receiving home-based primary care. The reduced acute care utilization in the older group could be due to increased use of primary care, which was further enhanced by enrollment in the home-based primary care program; better adherence to medical treatment; more skill and experience in disease self-management; better social support; or fewer vaso-occlusive crises despite a higher number of co-morbid conditions. The higher prevalence of SC disease in the older cohort is a possible confounder. Those patients with higher utilization at a younger age may be higher risk of mortality, thereby leading to a survivor effect in the older population. Research in the general medical population has shown that home-based primary care reduces acute care utilization in high-utilizing patients with multiple chronic conditions, but more research is needed on the impact in sickle cell patients. Conclusion: This is the first study, to our knowledge, of the impact of home-based primary care on adults with sickle cell disease. In this study, sickle cell patients aged 40 and under showed overall more acute care utilization than those over age 40. The older population had an increase in primary care visits, and overall a significant decrease in healthcare utilization after enrollment in the home visiting program. We did not see a significant decrease in utilization in the younger population with home visits. Disclosures Desai: Global Blood Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Ironwood: Other: Adjudication Board; University of Pittsburgh: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Potomac: Speakers Bureau.

Increased acute care utilization in a prospective cohort of adults with sickle cell disease

AbstractThe ESCAPED (Examining Sickle Cell Acute Pain in the Emergency vs Day Hospital) trial is an ongoing prospective study comparing outcomes of people with sickle cell disease (SCD) seeking care for acute pain management in either an emergency department or specialty infusion clinic. The objective of this paper is to describe the baseline characteristics and health care utilization of patients in the trial. This is a multicenter study across 4 US cities that enrolled all adults with SCD living within 60 miles (96.6 km) of a study site who were expected to have acute care utilization over the study period. Twenty-one percent of participants had no acute care visits in the first 12 months of follow-up. Using negative binomial regression, we describe subject characteristics that predict acute care utilization. Three hundred ninety-one subjects have completed 12 months of follow-up with a mean age of 34.5 years (standard deviation, 11.4), 60% are female. Fifty-four percent of subjects with hemoglobin SS disease and 46% with hemoglobin SC disease had 3 or more acute visits over the study period. The prevalence of chronic pain in this cohort was 68%. Predictors of higher rates of acute care utilization included being unemployed, having chronic pain, being on chronic transfusion therapy, having a history of stroke, and being on disability or on Medicaid. This is the first prospective cohort in the modern era, and it demonstrates much higher rates of acute care utilization than reported in the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease.

Genetic variants of GCH1 associate with chronic and acute crisis pain in African Americans with sickle cell disease

The multidimensional nature of pain in sickle cell disease (SCD) has rendered its therapeutic management extremely challenging. In this study, we explored the role of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of candidate gene GCH1 in SCD pain. Composite pain index (CPI) scores and acute care utilization rates were used as phenotype markers. Rs8007267 was associated with chronic pain (additive model: B = -3.76, p = 0.037; dominant model: B = -5.61, p = 0.021) and rs3783641 (additive model: incident rate ratio [IRR] = 1.37, p = 0.024; recessive model: IRR = 1.81, p = 0.018) with utilization rate. These associations persisted when subjects with HbSS and HbSβ° genotype only were analyzed. We also identified two haploblocks (rs10483639[G>C]-rs752688[C>T]-rs4411417[T>C] and rs3783641[T>A]-rs8007267[T>C]) with SNPs in high linkage disequilibrium. Of these, haplotype T-C of haploblock rs3783641-rs8007267 showed significant association with rate of utilization (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, p = 0.001). Our study indicates potential contribution of GCH1 polymorphisms to the variability of pain in African Americans with SCD.