Medicaid-insured Women Research Articles

Association between preexisting mental illnesses and mortality among medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer.

We investigated the impact of preexisting mental illnesses on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer. Data from the New York State Cancer Registry for 10,444 women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2004 to 2016 and aged <65yearsat diagnosis were linked with Medicaid claims. Women were categorized as having depression or a severe mental illness (SMI) if they had at least three relevant diagnosis claims with at least one claim within three years prior to breast cancer diagnosis. SMI included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychotic disorders. Estimated menopausal status was determined by age (premenopausal age <50; postmenopausal age ≥50). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated with Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Preexisting SMI was associated with greater all-cause (HR=1.36; 95%CI 1.18, 1.57) and cancer-specific (HR=1.21; 95%CI 1.03, 1.44) mortality compared to those with no mental illnesses. No association was observed between preexisting depression and mortality. Among racial/ethnic subgroups, the association between SMI and all-cause mortality was observed among non-Hispanic white (HR=1.47; 95%CI 1.19, 1.83) and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (HR=2.59; 95% 1.15, 5.87) women. Additionally, mortality hazards were greatest among women with preexisting SMI that were postmenopausal (HR=1.49; 95%CI 1.25, 1.78), obese (HR=1.58; 95%CI 1.26, 1.98), and had documented tobacco use (HR=1.42; 95%CI 1.13, 1.78). Women with preexisting SMI prior to breast cancer diagnosis have an elevated mortality hazard and should be monitored and treated by a coordinated cross-functional clinical team.

Disparities in infant mortality by payment source for delivery in the United States

In this study, we hypothesized that infant mortality varies among health insurance status. Furthermore, we examined whether there are racial and ethnic disparities in the association between infant death and payment source for delivery. Our study used US national linked birth and infant death data for 2013 and 2017 collected by the National Center for Health Statistics and included 3,311,504 and 3,218,168 live births for each year. The principal source of payment for delivery was classified into three groups: Medicaid, private insurance, and self-payment. The outcome measures were infant mortality, neonatal mortality, and postneonatal mortality. Subgroup analysis for race and ethnicity was also performed. Overall infant mortality was lower in mothers who paid with private insurance than in those who paid with Medicaid insurance (RR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.84–0.90 in 2013; RR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.87–0.94 in 2017), but it was higher in self-paid women than in Medicaid-insured women at delivery (RR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.17–1.33 in 2013; RR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.08–1.24 in 2017). Non-Hispanic black (RR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.47–1.90 in 2013; RR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.00–1.35 in 2017) and Hispanic (RR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.17–1.44 in 2013; RR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.09–1.36 in 2017) mothers with self-payment had a higher risk for infant mortality than those with Medicaid at delivery. Newborns whose mothers have no health insurance would be more vulnerable to infant mortality than Medicaid beneficiaries, and non-white ethnic groups with self-payment would have an elevated risk of infant mortality among other racial and ethnic groups.

Abstract PR16: All-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women with preexisting type 2 diabetes diagnosed with breast cancer: A cancer registry-Medicaid linkage

Abstract Background: Previous studies have reported that women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) diagnosed with breast cancer have greater overall morality compared to nondiabetic breast cancer patients, while limited knowledge exists on cause-specific mortality. Among the nonelderly U.S. population, Medicaid-insured individuals have higher breast cancer mortality and elevated risk of T2DM-related complications compared to other insurance types. However, the role of preexisting T2DM on mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer remains unknown. We investigated the influence preexisting T2DM and antidiabetic drugs have on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: Data for 9,221 women aged &amp;lt;64 years who were diagnosed with breast cancer and reported to the New York State (NYS) Cancer Registry from 2004-2016 were linked with Medicaid claims data. Preexisting T2DM was determined by three diagnosis claims for T2DM with at least one claim prior to breast cancer diagnosis and a prescription claim for an antidiabetic drug within three months following breast cancer diagnosis. Estimated menopausal status was determined by age (premenopausal age &amp;lt;50; postmenopausal age ≥50). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated with Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Women with preexisting T2DM had greater all-cause (HR=1.42; 95%CI 1.22, 1.65), cancer-specific (HR=1.26; 95%CI 1.06, 1.50), and cardiovascular-specific (HR=2.45; 95%CI 1.54, 3.89) mortality hazard compared to nondiabetic women. In subgroup analyses, the association between T2DM and all-cause mortality was observed among non-Hispanic White (HR 1.80 95%CI 1.39, 2.32), postmenopausal (HR=1.49; 95%CI 1.24, 1.79) women, but not among other race/ethnicity groups or premenopausal women. Additionally, compared to women prescribed metformin, all-cause mortality hazard was elevated among women prescribed sulfonylurea (HR=1.44; 95%CI 1.07, 1.94) or insulin (HR=1.54; 95%CI 1.12, 2.11). Conclusion: Among Medicaid-insured women with breast cancer, those with preexisting T2DM have an increased mortality hazard, especially when prescribed sulfonylurea or insulin. Further research is warranted to determine the optimal course of treatment for women with preexisting T2DM diagnosed with breast cancer. Citation Format: Wayne R. Lawrence, Akiko S. Hosler, Margaret Gates Kuliszewski, Matthew C. Leinung, Wangjian Zhang, Francis P. Boscoe. All-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women with preexisting type 2 diabetes diagnosed with breast cancer: A cancer registry-Medicaid linkage [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR16.

Abstract PO-215: Diabetes and the quality of adjuvant therapy in Medicaid-insured women with breast cancer

Abstract Introduction. Diabetes is associated with poorer prognosis among breast cancer patients. It remains uncertain about the impact of comorbid diabetes on breast cancer treatments, especially among low-income women. Methods. Using the linked Missouri Cancer Registry and Medicaid claims data, we identified 3,761 women aged 18–64 diagnosed with stage 0-III breast cancer from 2007 to 2016. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) of the adherence and quality of adjuvant therapy, including the uptake, timely initiation (&amp;lt;30 days of diagnosis (neo-adjuvant), &amp;lt;120 days after diagnosis (adjuvant), or 90 days after surgery(adjuvant)), and completion of radiation therapy (≥25 sessions) and chemotherapy (recommended regimen-specific durations), as well as adherence (medication possession rate≥80%) and persistence (&amp;lt;90-consecutive-days’ prescription) of endocrine therapy, for diabetic women compared with non-diabetic women, using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical factors. Results. Overall, 20.7% of women had diabetes prior to breast cancer, 66.1% received radiation therapy, 72.6% with invasive breast cancer initiated chemotherapy, and 71.5% with hormone receptor- positive tumors received endocrine therapy. Diabetic women were less likely than non-diabetic women to utilize radiation therapy (odd ratio (OR) =0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-0.99) and chemotherapy (OR=0.75, 95% CI 0.59-0.96). Among patients receiving chemotherapy, diabetes was associated with a lower likelihood of completion of chemotherapy (OR=0.79 (95% CI=0.62-0.996). Diabetic women initiated radiation therapy in a more timely manner (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.004- 1.95). There were no significant associations of diabetes with the utilization, adherence and persistence of endocrine therapy, timely initiation of chemotherapy, and completion of radiation therapy. Conclusions. Comorbid diabetes was associated with lower likelihoods of the utilization of radiation and chemotherapy and completion of chemotherapy in Medicaid-insured women with breast cancer. Efforts are needed to improve adherence to recommended adjuvant therapy in Medicaid- insured diabetic women with breast cancer. Funding support: National Cancer Institute (R01CA215418) and American Cancer Society-Denim Days Research Scholar Grant (RSG-18-116-01-CPHPS). Citation Format: Yun Wang, Min Lian, Ying Liu. Diabetes and the quality of adjuvant therapy in Medicaid-insured women with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-215.

BRCA1/2 Testing in Massachusetts Among Women With Private Insurance or Medicaid, 2011-2015.

Testing for BRCA1/2 mutations has increased among privately insured women in the United States. However, little is known about testing rates or trends among women with Medicaid. We sought to determine whether BRCA1/2 testing rates differed between women with private insurance compared with women with Medicaid in a state where both insurance types cover the test, and to compare testing trends from 2011 to 2015. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of medical claims from January 2011 through June 2015. We included Massachusetts women aged 18-64 with private insurance or Medicaid and at least 12 months of continuous enrollment. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the association of insurance type, age, and time with testing rates. Mean monthly BRCA1/2 testing rates were lower among women with Medicaid compared with those with private insurance. Among privately insured women, mean monthly rates rose from 9.3 per 100,000 in 2011 to 18.4 per 100,000 in 2015, while among Medicaid-insured women, rates increased from 3.7 to 14.7. There was no difference in the monthly rate of increase in both groups (P=0.07). In adjusted analyses, rates were lower among Medicaid-insured women (7 fewer tests per month than privately insured women, P<0.001), and differed by age, with women aged 44-54 most likely to receive testing and women 18-34 the least likely. BRCA1/2 testing rates were lower among women insured by Medicaid compared with those with private insurance, though rates increased from 2011 to 2015 among both groups of women at a similar rate.

Pharmacist prescription and access to hormonal contraception for Medicaid-insured women in Oregon

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of Oregon's policy that allows pharmacist prescription of the pill and patch on contraceptive receipt for Medicaid-insured women. Study designWe conducted a difference-in-differences analysis using Oregon Medicaid claims data to compare changes in receipt of all contraceptive services and receipt of the pill or patch for Medicaid-enrolled women (n = 436,258) before and after policy implementation in areas with and without participating pharmacists. We then described filled prescriptions for the contraceptive pill and patch by type of prescribing provider before and after implementation of the policy. We also compared past contraceptive use for women receiving prescriptions from pharmacists and non-pharmacists. ResultsWe found no significant policy effects on receipt of all contraceptive services or on receipt of the pill or patch. More than 98% of prescriptions filled for the pill and patch in the first two years of policy implementation were prescribed by a non-pharmacist provider. Women receiving contraceptive pill and patch prescriptions from pharmacists and non-pharmacists were equally likely to be continuing contraceptive users. ConclusionWe identified no increase in receipt of contraceptive services among Medicaid-insured women in the two years following the implementation of a pharmacy access policy. Additional research is needed to investigate other possible benefits of the policy, such as satisfaction, convenience, cost and equity. ImplicationsWe identified no effect of allowing pharmacist prescription of the contraceptive pill and patch on increasing utilization of contraceptive services for Medicaid-insured women in Oregon. Impacts on access to contraceptive services and unintended pregnancy may emerge in subsequent years as availability of and demand for pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraception increases.

Abstract A106: Preexisting mental illness on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer

Abstract Background: Research suggests mental illness contributes to poor survival among cancer patients. In New York State (NYS), Medicaid is the largest single insurer for individuals with mental illness. We investigated the influence of preexisting mental illness on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: 9,479 women aged &amp;lt;65 years diagnosed with breast cancer and reported to the NYS Cancer Registry from 2004-2016 were linked with NYS Medicaid claims. Women were grouped as having depression or severe mental illness if they had at least three diagnosis claims for mental illness with at least one claim within three years prior to breast cancer diagnosis. Severe mental illness included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychotic disorders. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated with Cox regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Women with severe mental illness had greater risks of all-cause (HR 1.49; 95% CI 1.25, 1.78), cancer (HR 1.36; 95% CI 1.09, 1.68), and cardiovascular (HR 2.14; 95% CI 1.22, 3.74) mortality compared to women without mental illness. No association was observed for depression. The association between severe mental illness and all-cause mortality was strongest among Asians (HR 3.85; 95% CI 1.55, 9.60) but also observed in White (HR 1.50; 95% CI 1.17, 1.93) and Black (HR 1.36; 95% CI 1.02, 1.80) women. Additionally, associations were also observed among obese (HR 1.83; 95% CI 1.42, 2.36) and postmenopausal (HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.35, 2.01) women with preexisting severe mental illness, but no association was observed for premenopausal women. Conclusion: Women with preexisting severe mental illness diagnosed with breast cancer have an elevated mortality risk and should be monitored and treated by a coordinated cross-functional clinical team. Citation Format: Wayne R Lawrence, Akiko Hosler, Margaret Gates, Matthew Leinung, Xiuling Zhang, Wangjian Zhang, Maria Schymura, Francis Boscoe. Preexisting mental illness on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A106.

Using Deliberative and Qualitative Methods to Recommend Revisions to the Medicaid Sterilization Waiting Period.

Sterilization is used by one-quarter of women in the United States for contraception and is a preferred birth control method among women with Medicaid. A history of coercive sterilization practices in the United States led to federal regulation of consent for Medicaid sterilization (including a mandated waiting period); this regulation can be a barrier to sterilization in Medicaid-insured women. This study aimed to develop a revised model of Medicaid sterilization policy grounded in the experiences of women impacted by current regulations. This prospective study used in-depth interviews with 32 Medicaid-insured women who had obtained or tried to obtain sterilization to elicit recommendations regarding the Medicaid waiting period. Deliberative methods (a planning cell including 20 key community stakeholders) were used to evaluate women's recommendations and propose a revised policy for sterilization under Medicaid. In-depth interview data demonstrated that women were often not made aware of the 30-day waiting period during informed consent before sterilization. Once informed about the policy, women described the Medicaid waiting period as "unfair," because it did not apply to all women. After deliberating women's recommendations to change the policy, key stakeholders came to a consensus around replacing the current waiting period policy with an improved consent process that would acknowledge the problematic history of coercive sterilization. Participants could not endorse removing the waiting period altogether without evidence that the health system had shifted away from coercive sterilization practices. Using deliberative methods and the recommendations of women with Medicaid insurance, community stakeholders recommended developing a revised Medicaid sterilization consent policy that acknowledged the historical context of this procedure.

High-Risk Pregnancies and Health Conditions in Medicaid-Insured Participants in a Federal Healthy Start Program [13F

INTRODUCTION: Decreasing disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality and addressing maternal chronic health conditions in Medicaid-insured pregnant women are important national goals. Federal Healthy Start (HS) programs provide care for underserved and racial/ethnic minority women, many with self-reported medical conditions, and address social determinants; an opportunity for strategic partnerships with clinical providers. The study objective was to use administrative data and describe health conditions and compare risks in a cohort of HS participants with a statewide population of Medicaid-insured women. METHODS: Medicaid-insured HS participants (N=389) were compared with Michigan beneficiaries (N=80,547). Linked Medicaid claims and vital record data were used to identify health conditions and high-risk pregnancy; AHRQ’s Clinical Classification Software diagnoses were used to identify behavioral health conditions and assess multiple health conditions during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy periods. IRB determined the study did not involve human subjects. RESULTS: HS participants were significantly more likely to have high-risk pregnancy claims (67.4% vs 30.2%), mental health conditions (31.9% vs. 20.2%), multiple health conditions (61% vs. 49%), prior preterm birth (6.7% vs. 3.7%), less than 12 grade education/health literacy (41.6% vs. 16.9%) and be African American (54% vs. 29%). There was a trend for chronic hypertension (5.7% vs. 4%), but no group differences for chronic diabetes (5.7% vs. 5.8%). CONCLUSION: Findings support that HS, equipped to address cultural and social determinants, serves many Medicaid-insured women with multiple, complex health problems, high-risk pregnancies, and mental health issues. Standard processes for program referral and coordination within practices who provide prenatal care could optimize services for high-risk women.

Impact of preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus and antidiabetic drugs on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer

BackgroundWe investigated the influence preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and antidiabetic drugs have on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods9221 women aged <64 years diagnosed with breast cancer and reported to the New York State (NYS) Cancer Registry from 2004 to 2016 were linked with Medicaid claims. Preexisting T2DM was determined by three diagnosis claims for T2DM with at least one claim prior to breast cancer diagnosis and a prescription claim for an antidiabetic drug within three months following breast cancer diagnosis. Estimated menopausal status was determined by age (premenopausal age <50; postmenopausal age ≥50). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI) were calculated with Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for confounders. ResultsWomen with preexisting T2DM had greater all-cause (HR = 1.40; 95 %CI 1.21, 1.63), cancer-specific (HR = 1.24; 95 %CI 1.04, 1.47), and cardiovascular-specific (HR = 2.46; 95 %CI 1.54, 3.90) mortality hazard compared to nondiabetic women. In subgroup analyses, the association between T2DM and all-cause mortality was found among non-Hispanic White (HR 1.78 95 %CI 1.38, 2.30) and postmenopausal (HR = 1.47; 95 %CI 1.23, 1.77) women, but not among other race/ethnicity groups or premenopausal women. Additionally, compared to women prescribed metformin, all-cause mortality hazard was elevated among women prescribed sulfonylurea (HR = 1.44; 95 %CI 1.06, 1.94) or insulin (HR = 1.54; 95 %CI 1.12, 2.11). ConclusionAmong Medicaid-insured women with breast cancer, those with preexisting T2DM have an increased mortality hazard, especially when prescribed sulfonylurea or insulin. Further research is warranted to determine the role antidiabetic drugs have on survival among women with breast cancer.

Factors Associated with Endocrine Therapy Non-Adherence in Breast Cancer Survivors.

For women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer, long-term endocrine therapy (ET) can greatly reduce the risk of recurrence, yet adherence is low- particularly among traditionally underserved populations. The Carolina Breast Cancer Study oversampled Black and young women (<50 years of age). Participants answered an ET-specific medication adherence questionnaire assessing reasons for non-adherence. We used principal factor analysis to identify latent factors describing ET non-adherence. We then performed multivariable regression to determine clinical and demographic characteristics associated with each ET non-adherence factor. 1,231 women were included in analysis, 59% reported at least one barrier to ET adherence. We identified three latent factors which we defined as: habit - challenges developing medication-taking behavior; tradeoffs - high perceived side effect burden and medication safety concerns; and resource barriers - challenges related to cost or accessibility. Older age (50+) was associated with less reporting of habit (Adjusted Risk Ratio (aRR) 0.54[95% CI: 0.43-0.69] and resource barriers (aRR 0.66[0.43-0.997]), but was not associated with tradeoff barriers. Medicaid-insured women were more likely than privately-insured to report tradeoff (aRR:1.53 [1.10-2.13]) or resource barriers (aRR:4.43[2.49-6.57]). Black race was associated with increased reporting of all factors (habit: aRR 1.29[1.09-1.53]; tradeoffs: 1.32[1.09-1.60], resources: 1.65[1.18-2.30]). Barriers to ET adherence were described by three distinct factors, and strongly associated with sociodemographic characteristics. Barriers to ET adherence appear inadequately addressed for younger, Black, and publicly-insured breast cancer survivors. These findings underscore the importance of developing multi-faceted, patient-centered interventions that address a diverse range of barriers to ET adherence.

Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening: Patterns Among Women With Medicaid and Commercial Insurance

Despite healthcare reforms mandating expanded insurance coverage and reduced out-of-pocket costs for preventive care, cancer screening rates remain relatively static. No study has measured cancer screening rates for multiple tests among non-Medicare patients. This retrospective, population-based claims analysis, conducted in 2016-2017, of commercially insured and Medicaid-insured women aged 30-59 years enrolled in IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicaid Databases (containing approximately 90 and 17 million enrollees, respectively) during 2010-2015 describes screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. Key outcomes were (1) proportion screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among the age-eligible population compared with accepted age-based recommendations and (2) proportion with longer-than-recommended intervals between tests. One half (54.7%) of commercially insured women aged 40-59 years (n=1,538,444) were screened three or more times during the 6-year study period for breast cancer; for Medicaid-insured women (n=78,897), the rates were lower (23.7%). One third (43.4%) of commercially insured and two thirds (68.9%) of Medicaid-insured women had a >2.5-year gap between mammograms. Among women aged 30-59 years, 59.3% of commercially insured women and 31.4% of Medicaid-insured women received two or more Pap tests. The proportion of patients with a >3.5-year gap between Pap tests was 33.9% (commercially insured) and 57.1% (Medicaid-insured). Among women aged 50-59 years, 63.3% of commercially insured women and 47.2% of Medicaid-insured women were screened at least one time for colorectal cancer. Almost all women aged 30-59 years (commercially insured, 99.1%; Medicaid-insured, 98.9%) had at least one healthcare encounter. Breast and cervical cancer screenings remain underutilized among both commercially insured and Medicaid-insured populations, with lower rates among the Medicaid-insured population. However, almost all women had at least one healthcare encounter, suggesting opportunities for better coordinated care.

Effect of the Medicaid Primary Care Rate Increase on Prenatal Care Utilization Among Medicaid-Insured Women.

To evaluate the effect of the 2013-2014 ACA Medicaid Primary Care Rate Increase on Medicaid-insured women's prenatal care utilization, overall and by race and ethnicity. We employed a difference-in-differences design, using births data from the 2010-2014 National Vital Statistics System. Our study population included approximately 6.2 million births to Medicaid insured mothers conceived between April 2009 and March 2014. Our treatment group was births in states with large (relative to small) fee bump, defined as having Medicaid-to-Medicare fee ratio below the median of all states (0.7) in 2012. Our control group was births in states with a small fee bump. Prenatal care utilization measures included initiation of prenatal care in the first trimester and number of prenatal care visits. Non-Hispanic Black women giving births in large fee bump states had 9% higher odds (95% CI 1.02, 1.17) of initiating prenatal care in the first trimester during the fee bump period, compared to small fee bump states. Prenatal care visits in this group also increased by 0.24 (95% CI 0.10, 0.39), 2.4% of the mean. A smaller increase in prenatal care visits of 0.17 (95% CI 0.00, 0.33) was found among non-Hispanic Whites. The fee bump had no impact among Hispanics or non-Hispanic women of other races. The Medicaid "fee bump" improved prenatal care utilization for non-Hispanic Black and White women. Policymakers may consider reinstating higher Medicaid reimbursements to improve access to care for disadvantaged populations.

Maternal drug-related death and suicide are leading causes of postpartum death in California

Reducing maternal mortality is a priority in the United States and worldwide. Drug-related deaths and suicide may account for a substantial and growing portion of maternal deaths, yet information on the incidence of and sociodemographic variation in these deaths is scarce. We sought to examine incidence of drug-related and suicide deaths in the 12 months after delivery, including heterogeneity by sociodemographic factors. We also explored maternal decedents' health care utilization prior to death. This retrospective, population-based cohort study followed up 1,059,713 women who delivered a live-born infant in California hospitals during 2010-2012 to ascertain maternal death. Analyses were conducted using statewide, all-payer, longitudinally-linked hospital and death data. A total of 300 women died during follow-up, a rate of 28.33 deaths per 100,000 person-years. The leading cause of death was obstetric-related problems (6.52 per 100,000 person-years). Drug-related deaths were the second leading cause of death (3.68 per 100,000 person-years), and suicide was the seventh leading cause (1.42 per 100,000 person-years); together these deaths comprised 18% of all maternal deaths. Non-Hispanic white women, Medicaid-insured women, and women residing in micropolitan areas were especially likely to die from drugs/suicide. Two thirds of women who died, including 74% of those who died by drugs/suicide, made ≥1 emergency department or hospital visit between their delivery and death. Deaths caused by drugs and suicide are a major contributor to mortality in the postpartum period and warrant increased clinical attention, including recognition by physicians and Maternal Mortality Review Committees as a medical cause of death. Importantly, emergency department and inpatient hospital visits may serve as a point of identification of, and eventually prevention for, women at risk for these deaths.

Surgical site infection risk following cesarean deliveries covered by Medicaid or private insurance.

To compare risk of surgical site infection (SSI) following cesarean delivery between women covered by Medicaid and private health insurance. Retrospective cohort. Cesarean deliveries covered by Medicaid or private insurance and reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) and state inpatient discharge databases by hospitals in California (2011-2013). Deliveries reported to NHSN and state inpatient discharge databases were linked to identify SSIs in the 30 days following cesarean delivery, primary payer, and patient and procedure characteristics. Additional hospital-level characteristics were obtained from public databases. Relative risk of SSI by primary payer primary payer was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for patient, procedure, and hospital characteristics, accounting for facility-level clustering. Of 291,757 cesarean deliveries included, 48% were covered by Medicaid. SSIs were detected following 1,055 deliveries covered by Medicaid (0.75%) and 955 deliveries covered by private insurance (0.63%) (unadjusted odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.3; P &lt; .0001). The adjusted odds of SSI following cesarean deliveries covered by Medicaid was 1.4 (95% CI, 1.2-1.6; P &lt; .0001) times the odds of those covered by private insurance. In this, the largest and only multicenter study to investigate SSI risk following cesarean delivery by primary payer, Medicaid-insured women had a higher risk of infection than privately insured women. These findings suggest the need to evaluate and better characterize the quality of maternal healthcare for and needs of women covered by Medicaid to inform targeted infection prevention and policy.

Efficacy and safety of adjunctive pharmacologic treatments for alcohol addiction in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

We investigated the influence preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and antidiabetic drugs have on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer.9221 women aged <64 years diagnosed with breast cancer and reported to the New York State (NYS) Cancer Registry from 2004 to 2016 were linked with Medicaid claims. Preexisting T2DM was determined by three diagnosis claims for T2DM with at least one claim prior to breast cancer diagnosis and a prescription claim for an antidiabetic drug within three months following breast cancer diagnosis. Estimated menopausal status was determined by age (premenopausal age <50; postmenopausal age ≥50). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI) were calculated with Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for confounders.Women with preexisting T2DM had greater all-cause (HR = 1.40; 95 %CI 1.21, 1.63), cancer-specific (HR = 1.24; 95 %CI 1.04, 1.47), and cardiovascular-specific (HR = 2.46; 95 %CI 1.54, 3.90) mortality hazard compared to nondiabetic women. In subgroup analyses, the association between T2DM and all-cause mortality was found among non-Hispanic White (HR 1.78 95 %CI 1.38, 2.30) and postmenopausal (HR = 1.47; 95 %CI 1.23, 1.77) women, but not among other race/ethnicity groups or premenopausal women. Additionally, compared to women prescribed metformin, all-cause mortality hazard was elevated among women prescribed sulfonylurea (HR = 1.44; 95 %CI 1.06, 1.94) or insulin (HR = 1.54; 95 %CI 1.12, 2.11).Among Medicaid-insured women with breast cancer, those with preexisting T2DM have an increased mortality hazard, especially when prescribed sulfonylurea or insulin. Further research is warranted to determine the role antidiabetic drugs have on survival among women with breast cancer.

Racial and geographic disparities in adherence and discontinuation to adjuvant endocrine therapy in Texas Medicaid-insured patients with breast cancer.

The purpose of the study is to examine disparities in AET adherence and discontinuation among Texas Medicaid-insured early-stage breast cancer patients. Texas Cancer Registry Medicaid-linked database was used from 2000 to 2007 for breast cancer patients aged 20-64. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to test the association of race/ethnicity and geographic factors with AET adherence and discontinuation. Of the 1240 women with breast cancer, 60.8% of non-Hispanic white vs 46.6% of Black patients were adherent to AET in the first year. After adjusting for confounding, Black patients had lower odds of adherence compared to non-Hispanic white patients (Odds ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-0.87), but they were not more likely to discontinue therapy during the study period. Patients from the Texas/Mexico border had higher odds of adherence compared to other regions (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.29-4.18). There are substantial racial and geographic disparities in AET adherence and discontinuation among Texas Medicaid-insured women.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Medicaid Beneficiaries: The Role of Physician Payment and Managed Care.

Medicaid-insured women have low rates of cancer screening. There are multiple policy levers that may influence access to preventive services such as screening, including physician payment and managed care. We examine the relationship between each of these factors and breast and cervical cancer screening among nonelderly nondisabled adult Medicaid enrollees. We combine individual-level data on Medicaid enrollment, demographics, and use of screening services from the Medicaid Analytic eXtract files with data on states' Medicaid-to-Medicare fee ratios and estimate their impact on screening services. Higher physician fees are associated with greater screening for comprehensive managed care enrollees; for enrollees in fee-for-service Medicaid, the findings are mixed. Patient participation in primary care case management is a significant moderator of the relationship between physician fees and the rate of screening, as interactions between enrollee primary care case management status and the Medicaid fee ratio are consistently positive across models of screening.

Postpartum Tubal Sterilization: Making the Case for Urgency.

The parturient who requests postpartum sterilization has given consideration to and has made decisions regarding this aspect of her medical care long before her delivery. She arrives at parturition expecting the postpartum procedure to be performed as intended. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has reaffirmed its opinion that postpartum sterilization is an urgent procedure, owing to the safety and superior effectiveness of tubal sterilization via minilaparotomy in the immediate postpartum period, and the adverse consequences for mothers, babies, and society when the procedure is not actualized as desired and intended. In contrast, recent practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia address anesthetic procedural aspects and short-term safety but overlook the long-term complications and considerations associated with failure to perform postpartum sterilization as planned. In practice, procedure completion rates are strikingly low, reportedly ranging from 31% to 52%. Reasons for failure to complete abound and include inadequate resources or inavailability of necessary personnel; obstetrician reluctance due to concerns for patient regret in younger women or medical comorbidities; barriers related to provision of obstetric care in a religiously affiliated hospital, or incomplete, improperly completed, or unavailable original federal consent forms among Medicaid-insured women. The federal requirement to wait 30 days after signing informed consent, and to retain the original signed document to be physically verified at time of the procedure, serves as a significant source of health care disparity for Medicaid-dependent mothers. This article reviews these larger issues of maternal health and comprehensive maternal care to broaden the anesthesiologist's appreciation of major benefits and potential risks of postpartum sterilization, including long-term effects, to promote an evidence-based, informed, and proactive role in delivering equitable, safe, and optimal care for these patients.

Medicaid and fulfillment of desired postpartum sterilization

ObjectiveWe sought to assess fulfillment of sterilization requests while accounting for the complex interplay between insurance, clinical and social factors in a contemporary context that included both inpatient and outpatient postpartum sterilization procedures. Study designThis is a retrospective single-center cohort chart review study of 1331 women with a documented contraceptive plan at time of postpartum discharge of sterilization. We compared sterilization fulfillment within 90days of delivery, time to sterilization and rate of subsequent pregnancy after nonfulfillment between women with Medicaid and women with private insurance. ResultsA total of 475 of 1030 Medicaid-insured and 100 of 154 privately insured women received postpartum sterilization (46.1% vs. 64.9%, p<.001). Women with Medicaid had a longer time from delivery to completion of the sterilization request (p<.001). After adjusting for age, parity, gestational age, mode of delivery, adequacy of prenatal care, race/ethnicity, marital status and education level, private insurance status was not associated with either sterilization fulfillment [odds ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54–1.64] or time to sterilization (hazard ratio 1.03, 95% C.I. 0.73–1.34). Of the 555 Medicaid-insured women who did not receive a postpartum sterilization, 267 (48.1%) had valid Title XIX sterilization consent forms at time of delivery. Of women who did not receive sterilization, 132 of 555 Medicaid patients and 5 of 54 privately insured patients became pregnant within 1 year (23.8% vs. 9.3%, p=.023). ConclusionDifferences in fulfillment rates of postpartum sterilization and time to sterilization between women with Medicaid versus private insurance are similar after adjusting for relevant clinical and demographic factors. Women with Medicaid are more likely than women with private insurance to have a short interval repeat pregnancy after an unfulfilled sterilization request. ImplicationsEfforts are needed to ensure that Medicaid recipients who desire sterilization receive timely services.