Plan Enrollment Research Articles

Changes in healthcare costs and utilization for Medicaid recipients who received supportive housing through a payer-community-based housing partnership.

To evaluate healthcare cost and utilization changes among Medicaid and dually eligible participants of a supportive housing program implemented by a managed care organization and community-based organization. Healthcare claims were reviewed retrospectively for 80 program participants in one urban Pennsylvania county between 1/1/2018 and 9/28/2023 who had ≥6 months of claims data in both pre- and post-housing periods. Eligibility included age >18 years, Medicaid/Special Needs Plan enrollment, and housing need. Due to limited housing units, potential participants were prioritized by medical need and history of unplanned care. Healthcare cost and utilization were compared during pre- (i.e., 12 months before housing initiation) and post-periods (i.e., 12 months after housing initiation). Compared to the pre-period, significantly lower medical (-40.4%, p = 0.004), emergency department (-62.7%, p = 0.02), and total (-33.3%, p = 0.02) costs of care were observed in the post-period. Significantly lower primary care (-50.0%, p = 0.0003), specialist (-31.3%, p = 0.02), and emergency department (-50.0%, p = 0.03) utilization were also observed. Healthcare cost and utilization among medically complex individuals were lower with supportive housing. Future evaluations with randomized designs can address the potential causal impact of supportive housing as a healthcare intervention on specific outcomes.

Real-World HbA1c Changes Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Initiating Treatment With a 1.0 Mg Weekly Dose of Semaglutide for Diabetes.

Background: Medical management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex because of the chronic nature of the disease and its associated comorbidities. Injectable once-weekly semaglutide for diabetes (OW sema T2D) is a type of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist approved for the treatment of patients with T2DM. Objectives: To describe patient characteristics and HbA1c changes for patients prescribed 1.0 mg maintenance dose OW sema T2D. Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients with T2DM with a pre-index glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of at least 7%, initiating treatment with OW sema T2D between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, and prescribed a 1.0 mg maintenance dose. Patients were identified in the Optum Research Database and were included if they had continuous health plan enrollment for at least 12 months prior to (pre-index) and at least 12 months following (post-index) the date of the first OW sema T2D claim (index). Dose at initiation and prescriber specialty were captured. Change in HbA1c between the latest post-index and pre-index HbA1c measurement was calculated among all patients and among those with at least 90 days of continuous treatment (persistent patients). Results: A total of 2168 patients were included in this study. On average, patients were taking 13.5 different classes of medications. The majority of patients had lipid metabolism disorder (90.8%), hypertension (86.6%), diabetes with complications (86.8%), or other nutritional/endocrine/metabolic disorders (72.5%). The mean HbA1c reduction was 1.2% (P < .001). Patients persistent with OW sema T2D (n =1280) had a mean HbA1c reduction of 1.4% (P < .001). The mean (SD) days covered with a 1.0 mg maintenance dose was 236.1 (94.1) days. Discussion: Despite being medically complex, the patients in this real-world study experienced significant reductions in HbA1c following initiation of OW sema T2D. Conclusions: A 1.0 mg maintenance dose of OW sema T2D is an effective treatment for T2DM in the real world.

Medicare Advantage Plans With High Numbers Of Veterans: Enrollment, Utilization, And Potential Wasteful Spending.

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are increasingly enrolling veterans. Because MA plans receive full capitated payments regardless of whether or not veterans use Medicare services, the federal government can incur substantial duplicative, wasteful spending if veterans in MA plans predominantly seek care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. The recent growth of MA plans that disproportionately enroll veterans could further exacerbate such wasteful spending. Using national data, we found that veterans increasingly enrolled in MA between 2016 and 2022, including in a growing number of MA plans in which 20percent or more of the enrollees were veterans. Notably, about one in five VHA enrollees in these high-veteran MA plans did not incur any Medicare services paid by MA within a given year-a rate 2.5 times that of VHA enrollees in other MA plans and 5.7 times that of the general MA population. Meanwhile, VHA enrollees in high-veteran MA plans were significantly more likely to receive VHA-funded care. In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services paid more than $1.32billion to MA plans for VHA enrollees who did not use any Medicare services, with 19.1percent going to high-veteran MA plans.

Comparison of two modeling approaches for the identification of predictors of complications in children with cerebral palsy following spine surgery

BackgroundChildren with non-ambulatory cerebral palsy (CP) frequently develop progressive neuromuscular scoliosis and require surgical intervention. Due to their comorbidities, they are at high risk for developing peri- and post-operative complications. The objectives of this study were to compare stepwise and LASSO variable selection techniques for consistency in identifying predictors when modelling these post-operative complications and to identify potential predictors of respiratory complications and infections following spine surgery among children with CP.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, a large administrative claims database was queried to identify children who met the following criteria: 1) ≤ 25 years old, 2) diagnosis of CP, 3) underwent surgery during the study period, 4) had ≥ 12-months pre-operative, and 5) ≥ 3-months post-operative continuous health plan enrollment. Outcome measures included the development of a post-operative respiratory complication (e.g., pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, atelectasis, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema) or an infection (e.g., surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, meningitis, peritonitis, sepsis, or septicemia) within 3 months of surgery. Codes were used to identify CP, surgical procedures, medical comorbidities and the development of post-operative respiratory complications and infections. Two approaches to variable selection, stepwise and LASSO, were compared to determine which potential predictors of respiratory complications and infection development would be identified using each approach.ResultsThe sample included 220 children. During the 3-month follow-up, 21.8% (n = 48) developed a respiratory complication and 12.7% (n = 28) developed an infection. The prevalence of 11 variables including age, sex and 9 comorbidities were initially considered to be potential predictors based on the intended outcome of interest. Model discrimination utilizing LASSO for variable selection was slightly improved over the stepwise regression approach. LASSO resulted in retention of additional comorbidities that may have meaningful associations to consider for future studies, including gastrointestinal issues, bladder dysfunction, epilepsy, anemia and coagulation deficiency.ConclusionsPotential predictors of the development of post-operative complications were identified in this study and while identified predictors were similar using stepwise and LASSO regression approaches, model discrimination was slightly improved with LASSO. Findings will be used to inform future research processes determining which variables to consider for developing risk prediction models.

Incidence of lymphedema among adults with cerebral palsy.

Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive condition but is understudied among adults with cerebral palsy (CP). To compare the 2-year incidence of lymphedema between adults with versus without CP before and after accounting for multimorbidity, cancer diagnosis/treatment, and lymph node/channel surgery. Retrospective cohort study. Nationwide commercial claims data from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2017. Adults ≥18 years old with and without CP with at least 12 months of continuous health plan enrollment, defined as the baseline period, were included for analysis. The 12-month baseline period was used to establish information on preexisting lymphedema (for exclusion), presence of cancer, including radiation treatment and lymph node surgery, and the Whitney Comorbidity Index (WCI). Not applicable. The 2-year incidence rate (IR) and IR ratio (IRR) of lymphedema were evaluated. Cox regression estimated the hazard ratio (HR) of 2-year lymphedema after adjusting for age, gender, WCI, cancer diagnosis/treatment, and lymph node/channel surgery. The 2-year IR of lymphedema was 5.73 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.59-6.88) for adults with CP (n = 9922) and 1.81 (95% CI = 1.79-1.83) for adults without CP (n = 12,932,288); the IRR was 3.17 (95% CI = 2.59-3.87) and the adjusted HR was 2.43 (95% CI = 1.98-2.98). There was evidence of effect modification by gender, age, and WCI score. All HRs were elevated, but men with versus without CP had higher HRs than women with versus without CP; HRs for adults with versus without CP were higher for younger participants and those with lower WCI scores. Adults with CP had a higher 2-year rate of lymphedema compared with those without CP. Men with CP had a disproportionately higher rate than women with CP when compared with their gender-based reference cohorts without CP.

Annual Wellness Visits and Early Dementia Diagnosis Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Early recognition of cognitive impairment is key to optimal dementia care. No previous research has examined the probability of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) at 5-year follow-up among older adult Medicare beneficiaries by receipt of an annual wellness visit (AWV). To assess the association of incident AWV with the first ADRD or MCI diagnosis among older adults with Medicare fee-for-service benefits. This retrospective population-based cohort study used 100% Texas fee-for-service Medicare data from 2015 to 2022. Participants comprised 549 516 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged 68 years or older in 2018, with complete Medicare fee-for-service Parts A and B and no Medicare Advantage plan enrollment for 2015 to 2018. Medicare AWVs. The first MCI or ADRD diagnosis (reported as MCI or ADRD diagnosis, MCI diagnosis, and ADRD diagnosis) from the AWV index date in 2018 through December 31, 2022. In this cohort study of 549 516 Medicare beneficiaries with no diagnosis of MCI or ADRD in 2015 to 2017 (mean [SD] age, 76.7 [6.6] years; 289 932 women [52.8%]), 66 433 (12.1%) had an incident AWV in 2018. Annual wellness visit recipients were more likely than those who did not receive an AWV to be female, to be non-Hispanic White (followed by Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and other), to have more education, to reside in a metropolitan area, to have more comorbidities, and to have a primary care professional in the 12 months before the AWV index date. After propensity score matching, AWV receipt was associated with a 21% increase in MCI diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.16-1.27]) and a 4% increase in ADRD diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.02-1.06]). The increase in MCI diagnosis associated with AWV was larger when the AWV was censored or treated as a time-dependent covariate in the follow-up period. These findings indicate that AWV recipients had a timelier first MCI diagnosis than those who did not receive an AWV, but first ADRD diagnosis differed little. This study suggests that the Medicare AWV health policy may increase MCI identification, prompting more specialized care.

Nationwide Availability of and Enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans With Exclusively Aligned Enrollment

In 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services designated a new category of dual-eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs) with exclusively aligned enrollment (receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits through the same plan or affiliated plans within the same organization). To assess the availability of and enrollment in D-SNPs with exclusively aligned enrollment and to compare the characteristics of beneficiaries enrolled in D-SNPs with exclusively aligned enrollment available vs beneficiaries without such enrollment available. Full-benefit beneficiaries enrolled in D-SNPs for 6 months or longer in 2021 or 2022. Availability of and beneficiary enrollment in D-SNPs were assessed by year and county for D-SNPs with exclusively aligned enrollment available vs D-SNPs without exclusively aligned enrollment available. The D-SNP enrollees residing in counties with aligned plans available were compared based on demographic, social, health, and area characteristics vs D-SNP enrollees in counties without such plans available. Comparisons were also made based on beneficiaries who enrolled in the aligned D-SNPs vs those who did not enroll (were enrolled in unaligned D-SNPs). The data analyses were conducted from October 1, 2023, to August 2, 2024. Availability of aligned D-SNPs and beneficiary residence by county; enrollment in exclusively aligned D-SNPs vs unaligned D-SNPs; and beneficiary demographic, social, health, and area characteristics. Of 2 197 732 beneficiaries enrolled in D-SNPs in 2021, 881 736 (40.1%) were living in counties with aligned enrollment available and 251 305 (11.4%) enrolled. Of 2 689 045 beneficiaries enrolled in D-SNPs in 2022, 1 047 223 (38.9%) were living in counties with aligned enrollment available and 318 906 (11.9%) enrolled. Beneficiaries enrolled in D-SNPs residing in counties without aligned enrollment available were more likely to live in rural or micropolitan areas (21.9%) vs beneficiaries in counties with aligned enrollment available (8.1%) (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.38 [95% CI, 0.38-0.38]), be entitled to disability (44.4% vs 27.3%, respectively; SMD, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.36-0.36]), or be Black individuals (27.4% vs 21.4%; SMD, 0.14 [95% CI, 0.14-0.14]); were less likely to be Hispanic individuals (15.4% vs 33.7%; SMD, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.45-0.45]) or Asian or Pacific Islander individuals (6.1% vs 12.2%; SMD, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.22-0.22]); and lived in zip codes with a higher area deprivation index (mean, 66.8 [SD, 26.4] vs mean, 43.2 [SD, 29.0]; SMD, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.86-0.86]). Beneficiaries enrolled in aligned D-SNPs were more likely to be receiving long-term institutionalized care vs beneficiaries in nonaligned D-SNPs (4.3% vs 1.0%, respectively; SMD, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.24-0.25]) or have dementia or Alzheimer disease (9.2% vs 5.9%; SMD, 0.13 [95% CI, 0.13-0.13]). This study found that availability of and enrollment in D-SNPs with exclusively aligned enrollment are increasing, but the overall proportion enrolled remains low. Further reforms are needed to promote aligned enrollment.

Cost-Associated Unmet Dental, Vision, And Hearing Needs Among Low-Income Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries.

Medicare Advantage (MA) supplemental benefits offered at no or low premiums are a key value proposition for low-income beneficiaries. Despite nearly $20billion in rebate payments to MA plans for funding supplemental benefits, their quality or enrollee access is not monitored. Using 2018-19 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data linked to MA plan data, we found that regardless of plan benefit generosity, low-income beneficiaries were more likely to report dental, vision, and hearing unmet needs because of cost. Enrollment in plans with higher corresponding-year (that is, the same year as unmet need measurement) star ratings was associated with lower dental unmet need. Income-related disparities in dental unmet needs were lower in the highest-rated plans. However, prior-year star ratings that determined plan payments were not associated with unmet needs or disparities in those needs. Policy makers should consider monitoring supplemental benefits for equity and access, and they should assess the value added by quality bonus payments to high-rated plans for beneficiaries' access.

Implementation Of New Mexico's 'No Behavioral Health Cost Sharing' Law: A Qualitative Study.

Out-of-pocket spending is a long-standing challenge for privately insured people. New Mexico passed the first US law prohibiting private insurers from applying cost sharing to behavioral health treatment, effective January1, 2022. We examined the perceptions of key informants, including clinicians, insurers, and state officials, about implementing the No Behavioral Health Cost Sharing law to explore how it might affect downstream outcomes such as spending and access. The law was viewed favorably and implemented without much difficulty. Clinicians noted widespread positive impacts, particularly for those needing intensive treatment. However, they worried about workforce capacity and the exclusion of people covered under self-insured employer plans, which are exempt from state regulation under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974. Insurers found the law to be in alignment with their organizational goals, but they expressed concern about the administrative burden caused by increased reviews of claims, and some were monitoring for unintended consequences (for example, waste and fraud) that could lead to increased premiums. Engagement strategies were needed to inform eligible members and facilitate enrollment in eligible plans. The law provides a potential model for states to improve access to behavioral health care, but impacts may be limited by factors such as workforce, awareness, and federal ERISA constraints.

Abstract C129: Adapting to disruption?: Changes in colorectal cancer screening modalities and disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Research Objective: At-home colorectal cancer screening methods, such as Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT), offered a safer, convenient alternative to in-clinic procedures like colonoscopies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Racial and ethnic minorities were more likely to use these tests prior to the pandemic, but it is unclear whether disparities in colorectal cancer screening changed because of the pandemic. We examined rates of colorectal cancer screening before and after shutdown periods across race/ethnicity, age, and income among health plan enrollees in the United States to inform screening catch-up strategies after COVID-19 disruptions. Study Design: We conducted a retrospective analysis of cancer screening claims from Optum Clinformatics Data Mart among enrollees from 2019-2021. Monthly screening volume was calculated for a three-year period, with January 2019-February 2020 as the pre-pandemic period, and July 2020-December 2021 as the post-pandemic period. We conducted an event study to calculate group-level monthly predicted probabilities of screening using a linear probability model with group interactions by month, controlling for demographic variables and comorbidities. Additionally, we used difference-in-difference (DD) regressions including group interacted with a post-pandemic dummy. The pandemic closure period months were excluded from our DD analysis. Eligible enrollees included those ages 40-75 with continuous enrollment 12 months prior to screening index month. Colorectal cancer screening claims included codes for colonoscopies and other endoscopic procedures as well as FIT and FOBT tests. Results: 2,576,760 health plan enrollees were included. Colonoscopy rates did not change significantly between the pre-COVID period and post-COVID period, however FIT test screening rates dropped from an average of 0.66% of age-eligible enrollees screened per month in the pre-pandemic period to 0.58%. Our difference-in-difference results suggested Hispanic-NH White disparities in FIT tests widened. For colonoscopy, Hispanic-NH White and Asian-White disparities widened, while Black-White disparities decreased. Conclusions: Despite the promise that in-home FIT testing would substitute for colonoscopy during the pandemic, we saw a much larger decline in FIT testing rates during the pandemic than for colonoscopy and increasing disparities. This study highlights the need for targeted strategies to address screening disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Hispanic and NH-Asian populations. Citation Format: Cameron M. Kaplan, Willow Pastard, John Thacker, Todd Schneberk, Chun Nok Lam, Sarah Axeen, Jennifer Tsui. Adapting to disruption?: Changes in colorectal cancer screening modalities and disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C129.

Abstract B007: Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in over- and under-screening of cervical cancer among a national sample of commercially insured individuals

Abstract In the United States (US), disparities in cervical cancer screening uptake persist by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). However, few have examined how race/ethnicity and SES contribute to specific guideline adherence patterns, which can exacerbate existing disparities. We investigated the impact of race/ethnicity and SES (education and household net worth [HHN]) on the probability of over- and under-screening. Optum Clinformatics Data Mart from 2012-2021 was used to identify average-risk females aged 30-64 and ≥1 cervical cancer screening with continuous health plan enrollment and no history of hysterectomy/cervical cancer. Over- and under-screening were defined as intervals between the index and subsequent screening which were shorter and longer than the interval recommended by the 2012 US Preventive Services Task Force guideline, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of race/ethnicity (Non-Hispanic [NH]-White, NH-Asian, Hispanic, NH-Black) and SES including HHN (&amp;lt;$250,000, $250,000-$500,000, &amp;gt;$500,000) and education level (&amp;lt;Bachelor’s Degree, &amp;gt;Bachelor’s Degree) with over- and under-screening. We tested for interactions between race/ethnicity and SES. Of the 686,884 eligible patients, 72.8% were NH-White, 71.4% had &amp;lt;Bachelor's Degree and 43.3% had HHN &amp;lt;$250,000. Only 7.2% were guideline adherent, 30.7% were under-screened, and 62.1% were over-screened. After regression adjustment, the odds of under-screening were higher among NH-Asian (OR, 1.2; 95%CI, 1.1- 1.2), NH-Black (OR, 1.1; 95%CI, 1.0-1.1), and Hispanic (OR, 1.2; 95%CI, 1.1-1.2) vs NH-White, &amp;lt;Bachelor’s degree (OR, 1.1; 95%CI, 1.0-1.1) vs &amp;gt;Bachelor’s degree, and HHN &amp;lt;$250,000 (OR, 1.3 95%CI, 1.2-1.3) and $250,000-$499,000 (OR, 1.1; 95%CI, 1.0-1.1) vs &amp;gt;$500,000. Odds of over-screening were higher among NH-Black (OR, 1.3; 95%CI, 1.2-1.3), and Hispanic (OR, 1.2; 95%CI, 1.1-1.2) vs NH-White, and lower among &amp;lt;Bachelor’s degree (OR, 0.9; 95%CI, 0.8-0.9) vs &amp;gt;Bachelor’s degree, and HHN &amp;lt;$250,000 (OR, 0.9; 95%CI, 0.9-1.0) and $250,000-$499,000 (OR, 0.9; 95%CI, 0.9-1.0) vs &amp;gt;$500,000. For under-screening, the interaction between race/ethnicity and HHN was significant, and the predicted probability (PP) increased with higher HHN among Hispanic but not in other groups (p&amp;lt;0.01). For over-screening, the interaction between race/ethnicity and HHN was significant and the PP increased with higher HHN among Hispanic and NH-White but decreased for NH-Black and NH-Asian. The interaction between race/ethnicity and education was significant and the PP increased with higher education among Hispanic and NH-White but decreased among NH-Black and NH-Asian. Even within a commercially insured population, we observed that the majority of patients received non-guideline adherent screening and SES contributed to disparities differently among racial/ethnic groups. Findings indicate the need to tailor interventions and policies for subpopulations experiencing over- and under-screening to address the overall screening quality and disparities in outcomes. Citation Format: Michelle B. Shin, Sarah Axeen, Jennifer Tsui. Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in over- and under-screening of cervical cancer among a national sample of commercially insured individuals [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B007.

County-Level Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Plans Offering Expanded Supplemental Benefits

Since 2019 and 2020, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have been able to offer supplemental benefits that address long-term services and supports (LTSS) and social determinants of health (SDOH). To examine the temporal trends and geographic variation in enrollment in MA plans offering LTSS and SDOH benefits. This cross-sectional study used publicly available data to examine changes in beneficiary enrollment and plan offerings of LTSS and SDOH benefits from the benefits data from the second quarter of each year and other data from April of each year except 2024, for which the first quarter was the latest for benefits data and January the latest for other data at the time of analysis. Multivariable linear regression models for each type of benefit were used to investigate associations between county characteristics and enrollment in 2024. Analyses were stratified for (1) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) that exclusively enroll dual-eligible beneficiaries and (2) non-D-SNPs. The percentage of MA enrollees in plans offering LTSS or SDOH benefits at the county level. This study included 2 631 697 D-SNP and 20 114 506 non-D-SNP enrollees in 2020, which increased to 5 494 426 and 25 561 455, respectively, in 2024. From 2020 to 2024, the percentage of D-SNP enrollees in plans offering SDOH benefits increased from 9% to 46%, whereas the percentage fluctuated between 23% and 39% for LTSS benefits. There was an increase in non-D-SNP enrollees with LTSS (from 9% to 22%) and SDOH (from 4% to 20%) benefits from 2020 to 2023, which decreased in 2024. In 2024, the most offered LTSS benefit was in-home support services, and the most offered SDOH benefit was food and produce. The percentage of enrollees with these benefits varied across counties in 2024. In multivariable linear regression models, among D-SNPs, enrollment in plans offering any SDOH benefits was higher in counties with greater MA penetration (coefficient, 5.0 percentage points [pp] per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.1-7.9 pp), in urban counties (coefficient, 7.2 pp vs rural counties; 95% CI, 3.8-10.6 pp), in counties with greater enrollment in fully integrated D-SNPs (coefficient, 3.0 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.2-3.9 pp), and in counties in states with approved Medicaid home- and community-based services waivers for individuals 65 years or older or those with disabilities (coefficient, 10.8 pp; 95% CI, 4.0-17.6 pp). Enrollment in D-SNPs offering LTSS benefits was also higher in counties with greater MA penetration (coefficient, 5.9 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.4-9.5 pp), urban vs rural counties (coefficient, 4.6 pp; 95% CI, 1.1-8.1 pp), and counties with greater enrollment in fully integrated D-SNPs (coefficient, 3.0 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9 pp) in addition to counties with greater social vulnerability scores (coefficient, 1.4 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 0.3-2.5 pp). In this cross-sectional study of MA plans and enrollees, an increase in enrollment was most consistent in D-SNPs offering SDOH benefits compared with LTSS benefits and in D-SNPs compared with non-D-SNPs. Geographic variation in enrollment patterns highlights potential gaps in access to LTSS and SDOH benefits for rural MA beneficiaries and dual-eligible enrollees living in counties with lower enrollment in fully integrated D-SNPs and states with more limited Medicaid home- and community-based services coverage.

Racial disparities in treatment patterns, healthcare resource use, and outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension in the United States

Objective This retrospective study using claims data compared demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and clinical outcomes in Black and White patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the United States. Methods Patients (aged ≥18 years) had ≥1 pharmacy claim for PAH medication, ≥6 months’ continuous healthcare plan enrollment, ≥1 inpatient/outpatient medical claim with a pulmonary hypertension diagnosis ≤6 months before first PAH medication, and race recorded. Results This analysis included 836 Black and 2896 White patients. Black patients were younger, with lower levels of education and annual household income, and higher comorbidity scores versus White patients. Only ∼14% of Black and White patients received index combination therapy. Lower adherence to index treatment was observed in Black patients. Although adjusted regression analysis in the overall population showed no differences in outcomes between groups, Black patients <65 years were 36% less likely to receive index combination therapy (odds ratio [OR] 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41–0.99), and 46% less likely to adhere to index treatment (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.33–0.90). Other disparities included 24% higher all-cause health care resource utilization, 75% higher all-cause costs, and higher risk of clinical composite outcome. Social determinants of health (education, income, health insurance plan) partially mediated these race effects. Conclusions Differences in demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns between Black and White patients with PAH were observed. Disparities between Black and White patients <65 years were only partially mediated through social determinants of health variables, suggesting other factors may be involved.

Patients' Reasons for Using Out-of-Network Mental and General Medical Health Providers.

The authors sought to assess why patients use out-of-network health care providers and whether patients' reasons differ for mental and general medical health providers. In a national Internet survey of commercial plan enrollees (N=713) who used an out-of-network provider, participants indicated whether 12 reasons were "important" (vs. "not applicable" or "not important") in their decision to see an out-of-network provider. Reasons for using out-of-network care were multifactorial. Six reasons were similarly important, including the three most-cited reasons: convenient location (66% vs. 69% for mental vs. general medical health, respectively), higher quality (65% vs. 69%), and affordability (70% vs. 71%). Reasons more commonly cited for using out-of-network mental health care were that in-network providers were not taking new patients (34% vs. 24%), confidentiality (33% vs. 19%), cultural competence (33% vs. 23%), and inaccurate in-network provider directories (30% vs. 22%). The most common reasons for using out-of-network care were cited with similar frequency for both mental health and general medical health providers.

The impacts of supplemental benefits on Medicare Advantage plan composition.

In 2019 and 2020, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans received historic flexibility to begin to address members' nonmedical and social needs through a set of primarily health-related benefits (PHRBs) and Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCIs). We aimed to evaluate the impact of adoption on the number and composition of new MA plan enrollees. A difference-in-differences design of retrospective Medicare enrollment data linked to publicly available plan and county-level data. We linked individual-level Medicare enrollment data to publicly available, plan-level MA benefit, crosswalk, and penetration files from 2016 to 2020. We compared the number of new enrollees and the proportion of new enrollees who were Black, Hispanic, younger than 65 years, partially and fully Medicare and Medicaid dual eligible, and disabled in plans that adopted a PHRB or SSBCI vs a set of matched control plans that did not. In fully adjusted models, PHRB adoption was associated with a 2.2% decrease in the proportion of fully dual-eligible new members (95% CI, -4.0% to -0.5%). SSBCI adoption was associated with a 2.3% decrease in the proportion of new members younger than 65 years (95% CI,-3.6% to -0.9%). After accounting for multiple comparisons, these results were no longer statisticallysignificant. We determined that supplemental benefit adoption was not associated with demographic shifts in MA plan enrollment.

Time to diagnosis among young patients with cancer.

Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with diagnostic delays in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancers are poorly understood. Using the Optum Labs Data Warehouse's de-identified claims data for commercial health plan enrollees, we identified children (0-14years) and adolescents/young adults (AYAs) (15-39years) diagnosed with one of 10 common cancers from 2001 to 2017, who were continuously enrolled for 6months preceding diagnosis. Time to diagnosis was calculated as days between first medical encounter with possible cancer symptoms and cancer diagnosis date. Median times from first symptom to diagnosis were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression identified sociodemographic factors associated with longer time (>3months) to cancer diagnosis (from symptom onset). Of 47,296 patients, 87% presented prior to diagnosis with symptoms. Patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors were most likely to present with symptoms (93%), whereas patients with cervical cancer were least likely (70%). Symptoms varied by malignancy. Of patients with symptoms, thyroid (105days [range: 50-154]) and cervical (104days [range: 41-151]) cancer had the longest median time to diagnosis. Females and patients at either end of the age spectrum were more likely to experience diagnosis delays of more than 3months. In a commercially insured population, time to diagnosis varies by cancer type, age, and sex. Further work is needed to understand the patient, provider, and health system-level factors contributing to time from symptom onset to diagnosis, specifically in the very young children and the young adult patient population going forward.

New Supplemental Benefits and Plan Ratings Among Medicare Advantage Enrollees

In 2018, the US Congress gave Medicare Advantage (MA) historic flexibility to address members' social needs with a set of Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCIs). In response, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expanded the definition of primarily health-related benefits (PHRBs) to include nonmedical services in 2019. Uptake has been modest; MA plans cited a lack of evidence as a limiting factor. To evaluate the association between adopting the expanded supplemental benefits designed to address MA enrollees' nonmedical and social needs and enrollees' plan ratings. This cohort study compared the plan ratings of MA enrollees in plans that adopted an expanded PHRB, SSBCI, or both using difference-in-differences estimators with MA Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems survey data from March to June 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021 linked to Medicare administrative claims and publicly available benefits and enrollment data. Data analysis was performed between April 2023 and March 2024. Enrollees in MA plans that adopted a PHRB and/or SSBCI in 2021. Enrollee plan rating on a 0- to 10-point scale, with 0 indicating the worst health plan possible and 10 indicating the best health plan possible. The study sample included 388 356 responses representing 467 MA contracts and 2558 plans in 2021. Within the weighted population of responders, the mean (SD) age was 74.6 (8.7) years, 57.2% were female, 8.9% were fully Medicare-Medicaid dual eligible, 74.6% had at least 1 chronic medical condition, 13.7% had not graduated high school, 9.7% were helped by a proxy, 45.1% reported fair or poor physical health, and 15.6% were entitled to Medicare due to disability. Adopting both a new PHRB and SSBCI benefit in 2021 was associated with an increase of 0.22 out of 10 points (95% CI, 0.4-4.0 points) in mean enrollee plan ratings. There was no association between adoption of only a PHRB (adjusted difference, -0.12 points; 95% CI, -0.26 to 0.02 points) or SSBCI (adjusted difference, 0.09 points; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.21 points) and plan rating. Medicare Advantage plans that adopted both benefits saw modest increases in mean enrollee plan ratings. This evidence suggests that more investments in supplemental benefits were associated with improved plan experiences, which could contribute to improved plan quality ratings.

Real-world first-line treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in the United States.

e23287 Background: Historically, cisplatin-containing chemotherapy has been the recommended first-line (1L) treatment for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC). For those ineligible for cisplatin due to poor performance status, impaired renal function, or comorbidities, alternative choices include carboplatin-based chemotherapy and PD-1/L1 inhibitors. This study aimed to describe real-world treatment patterns and overall survival (OS) among US Medicare patients with la/mUC receiving 1L therapy. Methods: This retrospective study used Medicare fee-for-service claims data from 2015 through 2022 to identify patients diagnosed with la/mUC who received systemic treatment. Initiation of 1L therapy was the index date for study inclusion; treatment patterns and OS were assessed until end of data availability, discontinuation of health plan enrollment, or death. OS was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier approach, and a log-rank test was used to compare OS across the following 1L treatment groups: platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC; cisplatin- and carboplatin-based), non-PBC monotherapy, and PD-1/L1 inhibitor monotherapy. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated across groups using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for baseline characteristics. Results: Of 13,104 patients included in this analysis, 77.5% were male, and mean (SD) age was 76.2 (7.5) years. The most commonly observed 1L treatment categories were PBC (cisplatin-based, 19.7%; carboplatin-based, 28.4%), PD-1/L1 inhibitors (34.8%), non-PBC (13.7%), and other combination therapies (2.9%). Common comorbidities included renal disease (39.9%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (36.1%), and diabetes (32.2%). Compared with patients in the cisplatin cohort, patients in other cohorts had higher NCI Comorbidity Index scores. Median duration of 1L treatment was 3.5 months for PD-1/L1 inhibitors, 3.2 months for carboplatin, 3.0 months for cisplatin, and 2.0 months for non-PBC. Median OS was longest with cisplatin (17.0 months; IQR: 7.8–51.9), followed by non-PBC (14.7; 5.5–39.7), carboplatin (10.5; 4.9–25.1), and PD-1/L1 inhibitors (9.4; 2.8–27.9). In the adjusted Cox model, all treatment groups had statistically significantly higher hazards of death compared with cisplatin, with an HR (95% CI) of 1.50 (1.41, 1.59; P&lt; 0.001) for PD-1/L1 inhibitors, 1.38 (1.30, 1.46; P&lt; 0.001) for carboplatin, and 1.11 (1.03, 1.19; P= 0.007) for non-PBC. Conclusions: In this large retrospective study of US Medicare patients from 2015–2022 with la/mUC, PBC was the most common 1L treatment, followed by PD-1/L1 inhibitors and non-PBC. While cisplatin-treated patients had longer OS than patients in other groups, treatment durations were short, and OS was generally poor across regimens. These findings highlight an unmet need for more effective 1L therapies in la/mUC.

The Association Between Type of Insurance Plan, Out-of-Pocket Cost, and Adherence to Antihypertensive Medications in Medicare Supplement Insurance Enrollees.

Medicare supplement insurance, or Medigap, covers 21% of Medicare beneficiaries. Despite offsetting some out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses, remaining OOP costs may pose a barrier to medication adherence. This study aims to evaluate how OOP costs and insurance plan types influence medication adherence among beneficiaries covered by Medicare supplement plans. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Merative MarketScan Medicare Supplement Database (2017-2019) in Medigap enrollees (≥65 years) with hypertension. The proportion of days covered (PDC) was a continuous measure of medication adherence and was also dichotomized (PDC ≥0.8) to quantify adequate adherence. Beta-binomial and logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between these outcomes and insurance plan type and log-transformed OOP costs, adjusting for patient characteristics. Among 27,407 patients with hypertension, the average PDC was 0.68 ± 0.31; 47.5% achieved adequate adherence. A mean $1 higher in 30-day OOP costs were associated with a 0.06 (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: -0.09 to -0.03) lower probability of adequate adherence, or a 5% (95% CI: 4%-7%) decrease in PDC. Compared with comprehensive plan enrollees, the odds of adequate adherence were lower among those with point-of-service plans (odds ratio [OR]: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.62-0.77), but higher among those with preferred provider organization (PPO) plans (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15). Moreover, the association between OOP costs and PDC was significantly greater for PPO enrollees. While Medicare supplement insurance alleviates some OOP costs, different insurance plans and remaining OOP costs influence medication adherence. Reducing patient cost-sharing may improve medication adherence.

Real-World Treatment Patterns Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Initiating Treatment with Oral Semaglutide.

The treatment landscape for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex and constantly evolving, and real-world evidence of prescribing patterns is limited. The objectives of this study were to characterize lines of therapy (LOTs), calculate the length of time spent on each LOT, and identify the reasons for the LOT end among patients who initiated oral semaglutide for T2DM. This retrospective, claims-based study included commercial and Medicare Advantage adults with T2DM. Data from November 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, were obtained from Optum Research Database. Patients with ≥ 1 claim for oral semaglutide and continuous health plan enrollment for ≥ 12months prior to (baseline period) and ≥ 6months following (follow-up period) the date of the first oral semaglutide claim were included. LOT 1 began on the date of the first oral semaglutide claim. The start date of any subsequent LOTs was the date of the first claim for an additional non-insulin anti-diabetic drug class or a reduction in drug class with use of commitment medications. The LOT ended at the first instance of medication class discontinuation, change in regimen or end of follow-up. Of the 1937 patients who initiated oral semaglutide, 950 (49.0%) remained on their initial regimen over the 6-month follow-up period, 844 (43.6%) had at least one subsequent LOT, and 89 (4.6%) had at least two subsequent LOTs. Among patients with more than one LOT, approximately 20%-25% used oral semaglutide as monotherapy or combination therapy during LOTs 2 and 3. Metformin was frequently used during treatment across all LOTs. This study provides insight for physicians and payers into the real-world prescribing practices within the first 6months following oral semaglutide initiation and fills the gap in understanding the frequency of regimen changes in the constantly evolving and complex environment of T2DM care.