Medicare FFS Beneficiaries Research Articles

Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Among Medicare Beneficiaries Newly Diagnosed With Diabetes in Arkansas, 12 Months Postdiagnosis (2015-2018).

The purpose of the study was to determine the rate of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) utilization among Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) populations with type 2 diabetes in Arkansas. The Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database was used to identify Medicare FFS and MA beneficiaries diagnosed with type 2 diabetes from 2015 to 2018. Claims from 2013 to 2020 were analyzed to determine newly diagnosed individuals from 2015 to 2018. The criteria included 1 outpatient diabetes claim in the index year and at least 1 inpatient or outpatient claim in the 2 years following the initial claim. A total of 15 648 Medicare FFS individuals and 7520 MA individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were identified. The use of DSMES 1 year following the diagnosis dates for both Medicare FFS and MA populations was assessed. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to understand the factors associated with DSMES utilization. DSMES utilization consistently remained lower in the MA population compared to Medicare FFS (2.3% vs 4.9%). The adjusted analysis indicated that factors such as older age, living in a rural area, belonging to a racial group other than White, and MA enrollment were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving DSMES. DSMES utilization in Arkansas, where the prevalence of diabetes is higher than the national average, is notably low. There is a need for coordinated efforts at various levels to enhance access to DSMES.

Medicare medication therapy Management: Beneficiary characteristics and utilization patterns in a national CMS Medicare fee-for-service sample (2013 to 2016)

BackgroundThe Medicare Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program has been available to eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries since 2006, but research regarding program utilization and characterization is limited. ObjectiveTo describe enrollee and MTM program characteristics in a national sample of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries (2013 to 2016). MethodsUsing a 5% random sample of Medicare FFS beneficiaries, we conducted a descriptive time series analysis to examine annual MTM enrollment and describe the type of MTM criteria at enrollment (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS] vs. expanded). We investigated the offer of Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR) along with CMR receipt status, and delivery characteristics, as well as frequencies of Target Medication Reviews (TMRs). ResultBeneficiaries who met CMS enrollment criteria, compared to those eligible under expanded criteria, were significantly older, more likely to be of white race, more likely to be female, and had a significantly higher number of comorbidities. Of those meeting CMS criteria, the proportion receiving TMR increased from 95% in 2013% to 98.1% in 2016, and over 97% were offered a CMR. Although the proportion of beneficiaries offered a CMR was stable over the study period, the proportion who received a CMR increased from 17% in 2013% to 35.4% in 2016. Telephone CMR delivery was the most common method used (87.8% to 89.1% of CMRs over the study period). Over 95% of the CMRs were delivered by a pharmacist. ConclusionDuring the years 2013 to 2016, enrollment in the MTM program increased, as did the proportion of enrollees receiving TMRs and CMRs. However, uptake remained low and the main factors driving participation remain unclear. Significant differences in demographic characteristics between beneficiaries enrolled under the CMS MTM enrollment criteria and the expanded criteria suggest the need to further investigate the optimal provision of such programs.

US Medicare Hospice and Palliative Medicine Physician Workforce and Service Delivery in 2008-2020

ContextDespite clinical benefits of early palliative care, little is known about Medicare physician workforce specialized in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) and their service delivery settings. ObjectivesTo examine changes in Medicare HPM physician workforce and their service delivery settings in 2008–2020. MethodsUsing the Medicare Data on Provider Practice and Specialty from 2008 to 2020, we identified 2375 unique Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) physicians (15,565 physician-year observations) with self-reported specialty in “Palliative Care and Hospice”. We examined changes in the annual number of HPM physicians, average number of Medicare services overall and by care setting, total number of Medicare FFS beneficiaries, and total Medicare allowed charges billed by the physician. ResultsThe number of Medicare HPM physicians increased 2.32 times from 771 in 2008 to 1790 in 2020. The percent of HPM physicians practicing in metropolitan areas increased from 90% to 96% in 2008–2020. Faster growth was also observed in female physicians (52.4% to 60.1%). Between 2008 and 2020, we observed decreased average annual Medicare FFS beneficiaries (170 to 123), number of FFS services (467 to 335), and Medicare allowed charges billed by the physician ($47,230 to $37,323). The share of palliative care delivered in inpatient settings increased from 47% to 68% in 2008–2020; whereas the share of services delivered in outpatient settings decreased from 37% to 19%. ConclusionDespite growth in Medicare HPM physician workforce, access is disproportionately concentrated in metropolitan and inpatient settings. This may limit receipt of early outpatient specialized palliative care, especially in nonmetropolitan areas.

The Prevalence of Incontinence and Its Association With Urinary Tract Infections, Dermatitis, Slips and Falls, and Behavioral Disturbances Among Older Adults in Medicare Fee-for-Service.

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of urinary (UI), fecal (FI), and dual incontinence (DI) in older adults and their association with urinary tract infections, dermatitis, slips and falls, and behavioral disturbances based on Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims data. Retrospective analysis. Data from administrative claims from the CMS Medicare Limited Data Set (5% sample) for all months in 2018 were reviewed. The analysis was limited to FFS Medicare beneficiaries, with minimum of 3-month enrollment in Parts A and B who were at least 65 years old. This cohort included 1.2 million beneficiaries in the United States. We used diagnosis codes to identify members with incontinence and grouped these members into 3 categories (UI only, FI only, and DI). We also divided claims based on 4 sites of care (nursing home, skilled nursing facility, home health, and self- or family care). We then determined the prevalence of (1) urinary tract infections (UTIs), (2) dermatitis, (3) slips and falls, and (4) behavioral disturbances for each type of incontinence. We found that 11.2% of Medicare members had a claims-based diagnosis of incontinence in 2018. On average, those diagnosed with incontinence experienced 5 times more UTIs, 2 times as many dermatitis events, more than twice as many slips and falls, and 2.8 times more behavior disturbances compared to those without an incontinence diagnosis. For those with DI, the prevalence of the 4 outcomes was significantly higher (between 22% and 185%) compared to those with UI only. Findings show that Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed as incontinent experience a much higher prevalence of UTIs, dermatitis, slips and falls, and behavioral disturbances compared to those without a diagnosis of incontinence. Our results suggest that incontinence may be an important indicator diagnosis for multiple other conditions and, if not well-managed, may challenge the desire for those who are incontinent to age at home.

Risk of mortality in older adults with loss of appetite: An analysis of Medicare fee-for-service data

ObjectivesPrior research suggested that loss of appetite (LOA) among adults with Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) insurance in the United States increased the risk of mortality within 1 year; those findings were not adjusted for risk factors and confounders. The objective of this study was to compare the risk of mortality among Medicare FFS beneficiaries with LOA to a control group without LOA while controlling or adjusting for age, comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), and weight loss. DesignRetrospective and observational analysis of Medicare FFS health insurance claims data from October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021. SettingClaims from all settings (e.g., hospital inpatient/outpatient, office, assisted living facility, skilled nursing facility, hospice, rehabilitation facility, home) were included in these analyses. ParticipantsThe LOA group included all individuals aged 65–115 years with continuous Medicare FFS medical coverage (Parts A and/or B) for at least 12 months before a claim with ICD-10 diagnosis code “R63.0 Anorexia”. The control group was drawn from individuals aged 65–115 years with continuous Medicare FFS coverage who did not have a diagnosis of R63.0. Individuals with LOA were matched 1:3 to those in the control group based on age, sex, and race/ethnicity. MeasurementsMortality in the LOA group was compared to mortality in the control group using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses and stratified or adjusted in terms of Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), claims-based frailty index (CFI), BMI, and weight loss. ResultsThe study population of 1,707,031 individuals with LOA and 5,121,093 controls without LOA was 61.7% female and 82.2% White. More individuals with LOA compared with the control group had a CCI score 5+ (52.4% vs. 19.4%), CFI score 5+ (31.6% vs. 6.4%), and BMI < 20 kg/m2 (11.2% vs. 2.1%). Median follow-up was 12 months (individuals with LOA) and 49 months (control group). In a matched population, the risk of mortality was significantly higher (unadjusted hazard ratio 4.40, 95% confidence interval 4.39–4.42) for individuals with LOA than the control group. Median survival time was 4 months (individuals with LOA) and 26 months (control group); differences in survival time remained when stratifying by CCI, BMI, and weight loss. ConclusionIndividuals with LOA had a substantially increased risk of death even after matching for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and adjusting for comorbidities. These findings highlight the burden of illness in older adults with LOA and the need for therapies.

Abstract WMP60: Comparison of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics and the CDC Social Vulnerability Index Among Medicare Beneficiaries Hospitalized With Acute Ischemic Stroke, April 2020 - December 2021

Introduction: Extensive evidence shows that social inequities create health disparities. However, limited information exists on how demographic and clinical factors are associated with social inequities among older patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during COVID-19. Methods: We analyzed data on Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥65 years hospitalized with AIS from April 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. All patients were followed until March 31, 2023. We used US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and compared demographic and clinical features by SVI tertiles (low 0-0.33, moderate 0.34-0.66, high 0.67-1.0). Results: Among 249299 Medicare FFS beneficiaries with AIS, there were 57814 (23.2%) with low, 88565 (35.5%) moderate, and 102920 (41.3%) high SVI. Demographic and clinical features differed significantly across SVI tertiles. Compared to AIS patients living in low SVI communities, patients living in high SVI areas were significantly younger (median age 79.0 vs 79.9 years), more likely to be non-Hispanic Black (15.4% vs 4.3%), had more severe stroke at admission per National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (9.4% NIHSS ≥20 vs 8.4%), more history of COVID-19 (7.7% vs 6.3%), higher proportion of death at the end of follow-up (40.4% vs 38.2%), and more comorbidities. Conclusion: Medicare patients with AIS hospitalizations live in communities with higher SVI. These data identified racial disparities and more severe outcomes among AIS patients living in areas with higher social vulnerabilities, signaling a need for multisectoral interventions and policies that impact AIS outcomes.

LATENT HEALTH PROFILES ASSOCIATED WITH INSTITUTIONAL ADMISSION AFTER SNF STAY AMONG MEDICARE PLWH

Abstract Background Health profiles may help identify PLWH at risk for institutional admission after a short-term skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay. Methods We estimated rates of institutional admission in one-year follow-up after discharge from a SNF stay (&amp;lt;100 days) among Medicare FFS beneficiaries with HIV (2014-2019). Latent profile analysis identified subgroups based on prevalent conditions one year prior to discharge including 8 indices: mental health (MH range 0-6), substance use (SU 0-4), cardiovascular conditions (CV 0-9), sensory (SE 0-4), musculoskeletal (MU 0-10), pulmonary (PU 0-2), learning disabilities (LD 0-9), and other chronic conditions (OCC 0-11). Cox models estimated the association between latent profiles and time to institution admission (hospital, nursing home), adjusting for demographics, dual eligibility, HIV treatment; censoring included death and study end. Results The 618 PLWH studied were male (73%), with mean age 60 (standard deviation [sd] 11). Two latent health profiles were: CV+OCC+MH (n=77), median values CV=3, OCC=2, MH=1; healthy (n=541), median 0 for all. Compared to the healthy group, the CV+OCC+MH group had similar days spent in an institute (60 days [96] vs 66 days [96]), and similar hazards for institutional admission in adjusted models (HR:1.09, 95% CI [0.81-1.46]) in one-year after SNF discharge. HIV treatment for ≥80% of the time prior to discharge had lower hazards (HR:0.76 [0.59-0.98]) and dual eligibility had higher hazards (HR:1.32 [1.09, 1.61]) of returning to an institutional setting. Conclusions Latent profiles had similar risk for institutional admission in one-year after discharge from a SNF stay, despite having significantly different contributing factors.

Medicare Data Linkages for Conducting Patient-Centered Outcomes Research on Economic Outcomes.

Medicare patients and other stakeholders often make health care decisions that have economic consequences. Research on economic variables that patients have identified as important is referred to as patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) and can generate evidence that informs decision-making. Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims are widely used for research and are a potentially valuable resource for studying some economic variables, particularly when linked to other datasets. The aim of this study was to identify and assess the characteristics of federally funded administrative and survey data sources that can be linked to Medicare claims for conducting PCOR on some economic outcomes. A targeted internet search was conducted to identify a list of relevant data sources. A technical panel and key informant interviews were used for guidance and feedback. We identified 12 survey and 6 administrative sources of linked data for Medicare FFS beneficiaries. A majority provide longitudinal data and are updated annually. All linked sources provide some data on social determinants of health and health equity-related factors. Fifteen sources capture direct medical costs (beyond Medicare FFS payments); 5 capture indirect costs (eg, lost wages from absenteeism), and 7 capture direct nonmedical costs (eg, transportation). Linking Medicare FFS claims data to other federally funded data sources can facilitate research on some economic outcomes for PCOR. However, few sources capture direct nonmedical or indirect costs. Expanding linkages to include additional data sources, and reducing barriers to existing data sources, remain important objectives for increasing high-quality, patient-centered economic research.

Claims analysis of Medicare fee-for-service oral health care encounters, from 2019 through 2021

BackgroundMany qualifying people rely on Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) for their health care insurance, although it rarely provides coverage for oral health care services. The objective of this study was to gain insights into oral health care that is being provided by all health care provider types for Medicare FFS beneficiaries. MethodsThe authors used the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Virtual Data Research Center to query 100% of Medicare FFS claims from 2019 through 2021 and identify all encounters for which there was either an oral health–related International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code or a CDT 2019-2021: Current Dental Terminology code recorded on the claim. The authors used a cross-sectional study design and calculated descriptive statistics to describe characteristics of identified oral health care encounters. The encounter level was the unit of analysis. ResultsA total of 2,098,056 oral health care encounters were identified through Medicare FFS claims during the study observation period, with a lower volume observed after 2019. Nearly 98% of encounters were related to those in which oral health diagnoses were recorded (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification code on claim), and non–oral health care providers primarily submitted these claims. Most encounters included beneficiaries with chronic conditions, and a roughly equal proportion included those qualifying for Medicare on the basis of age and disability. ConclusionsPreviously unreported characteristics of oral health care encounters were identified through administrative claims, providing insights into oral health care being provided to a subset of Medicare FFS beneficiaries. Practical ImplicationsFuture research and policies should focus on strengthening medical-dental integration models and expanding access to oral health care for the Medicare FFS population.

Abstract P105: High-throughput Sequence Symmetry Analysis To Detect Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors (acei) Induced Prescribing Cascades.

Introduction: ACEIs are the most commonly prescribed antiHTN drugs, but side effects may prompt additional therapy resulting in a prescribing cascade. We aimed to identify potential ACEI-induced prescribing cascades using high throughput sequence symmetry analysis. Methods: Using claims from 5% (2011-15) and 15% (2016-20) national samples of Medicare FFS beneficiaries, we identified new ACEI users aged ≥66 y with continuous enrollment for ≥360 days pre- and ≥180 days post-ACEI initiation. We screened for initiation of 446 other ‘marker’ drug classes (based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Classification level 4 codes) within ±90 days of ACE initiation, generating sequence ratios (SRs) representing the proportions of ACEI initiators starting the marker class after, vs before, the ACEI. Adjusted SRs (aSRs), accounting for prescribing trends over time, were calculated with 95% CIs &gt;1 considered statistically significant. Results: We identified 297,410 ACEI initiators (mean ± SD age, 76.1 ± 7.5 y; 59% women, 88% HTN). Of 446 ‘marker’ classes studied, and excluding other antiHTN classes, we identified 110 statistically significant signals indicative of potential prescribing cascades. The 30 strongest prescribing cascade signals (by aSR) are summarized (Figure) and included decongestant nasal preparations and monoamine oxidase B inhibitors. Conclusion: We identified potential prescribing cascade signals reflecting known and possibly underrecognized ACEI adverse events in this Medicare cohort. Additional research is needed to determine impact of these cascades on patient outcomes.

Participation in a Medicare advanced primary care model and the delivery of high-value services.

To evaluate whether primary care providers' participation in the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus Initiative (CPC+) was associated with changes in their delivery of high-value services. Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners public use files from 2013 to 2019, 2017 to 2019 Medicare Part B claims for a 5% random sample of Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries, the Area Health Resources File, the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System files, and public use datasets from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Compare. We used a difference-in-difference approach with a propensity score-matched comparison group to estimate the association of CPC+ participation with the delivery of annual wellness visits (AWVs), advance care planning (ACP), flu shots, counseling to prevent tobacco use, and depression screening. These services are prominent examples of high-value services, providing benefits to patients at a reasonable cost. We examined both the likelihood of delivering these services within a year and the count of services delivered per 1000 Medicare FFS beneficiaries per year. Secondary data are linked at the provider level. We find that CPC+ participation was associated with increases in the likelihood of delivering AWVs (13.03 percentage points by CPC+'s third year, p < 0.001) and the number of AWVs per 1000 Medicare FFS beneficiaries (44 more AWVs by CPC+'s third year, p < 0.001). We also find that CPC+ participation was associated with more flu shots per 1000 beneficiaries (52 more shots by CPC+'s third year, p < 0.001) but not with the likelihood of delivering flu shots. We did not find consistent evidence for the association between CPC+ participation and ACP services, counseling to prevent tobacco use, or depression screening. CPC+ participation was associated with increases in the delivery of AWVs and flu shots, but not other high-value services.

Use and Cost of Sustained-Release Corticosteroids for Cataract Surgery Under the Medicare Pass-Through Program

Sustained-release corticosteroids offer the potential of improved compliance and greater patient convenience for anti-inflammatory treatment after cataract surgery. However, they are substantially more expensive than postoperative corticosteroid eye drops, which have historically been standard care. To examine the use and cost of sustained-release corticosteroids in patients with Medicare who underwent cataract surgery in the US during the temporary pass-through reimbursement program period. This cross-sectional study examined Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims from beneficiaries with at least 12 continuous months of Medicare enrollment who underwent at least 1 cataract surgery from March 2019 through December 2021. Patients younger than 65 years, those with missing demographic information, those who had more than 1 cataract surgery on each eye, and those who received more than 1 corticosteroid on the day of surgery were excluded. Cataract surgeries with concurrent use of dexamethasone intraocular suspension 9% or dexamethasone ophthalmic insert were identified. Information on surgeon demographic characteristics and costs of surgery and drugs were extracted. Data were analyzed from June 15 to December 4, 2022. Use of dexamethasone intraocular suspension 9% or dexamethasone ophthalmic insert during cataract surgery. Utilization rate and cost of dexamethasone intraocular suspension 9% and dexamethasone ophthalmic insert among Medicare FFS beneficiaries who underwent cataract surgery. A total of 4 252 532 cataract surgeries in Medicare FFS beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 74.8 [5.8] years; 1 730 811 male [40.7%] and 2 521 721 female [59.3%]) were performed by 12 284 ophthalmologists (8876 male [72.3%], 2877 female [23.4%], and 531 sex unknown [4.3%]). In all, 34 627 beneficiaries (0.8%) received dexamethasone intraocular suspension 9% and 73 430 (1.7%) received a dexamethasone ophthalmic insert; the use of both drugs increased over the study period. The mean (SD) Medicare allowed charges for dexamethasone intraocular suspension 9% and dexamethasone ophthalmic insert were $531.47 ($141.52) and $538.49 ($63.79), respectively. Despite offering the potential of improved compliance and greater patient convenience, findings of this study suggest that sustained-release corticosteroid use during cataract surgery was low and associated with cost increases to the health care system vs conventional postoperative eye drops. As these new products must be priced high enough to qualify for the Medicare pass-through program, unreasonable cost may have been a deterrent to their use, suggesting that the current Medicare reimbursement rules may not be appropriate for sustained-release postoperative corticosteroids in cataract surgery.

Trends in the Diagnosed Prevalence and Incidence of Major Eye Diseases in Medicare Part B Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries 68 Years of Age or Older

To study contemporary trends in the diagnosed prevalence and incidence of age-related eye diseases among Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries. Analysis of Medicare administrative claims data. Medicare FFS beneficiaries 68 years of age and older from 2005 through 2020 who were enrolled continuously in both Part A and Part B for 3 years, including the index year and a 2-year lookback period. Annual cross-sectional diagnosed prevalence and incidence rates were calculated. Age standardization was performed using the direct standardization method to account for changes in the age structure of the study population. Rates stratified by demographics (age, sex, race, and ethnicity) also were calculated. Annual prevalence and incidence of diagnosed age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) (among those with diabetes), and glaucoma. At baseline, in 2005, 60% of included beneficiaries were female, 20% were 85 years of age or older, 86% were non-Hispanic White, and one-quarter had a diagnosis of diabetes. From 2005 through 2019, the prevalence of a diagnosis of any of the conditions studied increased from 16.4% (n = 3 628 996) to 17.9% (n= 3 731 281). Diagnosed incidence decreased over this period from 4.9% (n = 954 878) in 2005 to 4.2% in 2019 (n=757 696). The diagnosed prevalence of AMD increased from 6.8% (n= 1 504 770) to 9.4% (n= 1 965 176); the diagnosed prevalence of any DR among those with diabetes decreased from 9.3% (n= 504 135) to 9.0% (n=532 859), although the diagnosed prevalence of vision-threatening DR increased from 2.0% to 3.4%; and the diagnosed prevalence of any diagnosed glaucoma decreased from 8.8% (n= 1 951 141) to 8.1% (n= 1 692 837). In 2020, the diagnosed prevalence and incidence of all diagnoses decreased. During the study period, we detected demographic differences in the prevalence and incidence of diagnosis of each condition. This study presents updated data on the prevalence and incidence of diagnosed major chronic, age-related eye diseases among Medicare FFS beneficiaries. Compared with older epidemiologic estimates, we found that the diagnosed prevalence of each condition studied was higher in more recent years. These findings may inform public health and policy planning and resource allocation to address the eye health of an increasingly older United States population. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Pneumoconiosis incidence and prevalence among US Medicare beneficiaries, 1999-2019.

Pneumoconiosis is a group of occupational lung diseases caused by dust and fiber exposure. This study analyzes Medicare claims to estimate the burden of pneumoconiosis among fee-for-service (FFS; Medicare Parts A and B) Medicare beneficiaries during 1999-2019 in the United States. Claim and enrollment information from 81 million continuously enrolled FFS Medicare beneficiaries were analyzed. Beneficiaries with any pneumoconiosis and cause-specific pneumoconiosis (e.g., asbestosis, silicosis) were identified using three case definitions (broad, intermediate, and narrow) with varying diagnostic criteria based on claim International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-CM) diagnosis codes and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. Results are presented as ranges of values for the three case definitions. The 21-year prevalence range for any pneumoconiosis was 345,383-677,361 (412-833 per 100,000 beneficiaries) using the three case definitions. The highest prevalence was among those ≥75 years of age, males, Whites, and North American Natives. Most claims (70.0%-72.5%) included an ICD-CM diagnosis code for asbestosis. The broad pneumoconiosis prevalence rate increased significantly (p < 0.001) during 2002-2009 by 3%-10% annually and declined significantly by 3%-5% annually starting in 2009. The average annual broad incidence rate declined significantly by 7% annually during 2009-2019. Despite the decline in rate for any pneumoconiosis among Medicare beneficiaries, which is primarily attributed to a decline in asbestosis, pneumoconiosis is prevalent among FFS Medicare beneficiaries.

Association of Device Industry Payments, Physician Supply, and Regional Utilization of Orthopedic and Cardiac Procedures.

Geographic variation in high-cost medical procedure utilization in the USA is not fully explained by patient factors but may be influenced by the supply of procedural physicians and marketing payments. To examine the association between physician supply, medical device-related marketing payments to physicians, and utilization of knee arthroplasty (KA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) within hospital referral regions (HRRs). Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2018 CMS Open Payments database and procedural utilization data from the CMS Provider Utilization and Payment database. Medicare-participating procedural cardiologists and orthopedic surgeons. Regional rates of PCIs and KAs per 100,000 Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries were estimated after adjustment for beneficiary demographics. Across 306 HRRs, there were 109,301 payments (value $17,554,728) to cardiologists for cardiac stents and 68,132 payments (value $40,492,126) to orthopedic surgeons for prosthetic knees. Among HRRs, one additional interventional cardiologist was associated with an increase of 12.9 (CI, 9.3-16.5) PCIs per 100,000 beneficiaries, and one additional orthopedic surgeon was associated with an increase of 20.6 (CI, 16.9-24.4) KAs per 100,000 beneficiaries. A $10,000 increase in gift payments from stent manufacturers was associated with an increase of 26.0 (CI, 5.1-46.9) PCIs per 100,000 beneficiaries, while total and service payments were not associated with greater regional PCI utilization. A $10,000 increase in total payments from knee prosthetic manufacturers was associated with an increase of 2.9 (CI, 1.4-4.5) KAs per 100,000 beneficiaries, while a similar increase in gift and service payments was associated with an increase of 14.5 (CI, 5.0-24.1) and 3.4 (CI, 1.6-5.2) KAs, respectively. Among Medicare FFS beneficiaries, regional supply of physicians and receipt of industry payments were associated with greater use of PCIs and KAs. Relationships between payments and procedural utilization were more consistent for KAs, a largely elective procedure, compared to PCIs, which may be elective or emergent.

Racial-Ethnic Composition of Primary Care Practices and Comprehensive Primary Care Plus Initiative Participation

BackgroundIt remains unclear whether the racial-ethnic composition or the socioeconomic profiles of eligible primary care practices better explain practice participation in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) program.ObjectiveTo examine whether practices serving high proportions of Black or Latino Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries were less likely to participate in CPC+ in 2021 compared to practices serving lower proportions of these populations.Design2019 IQVIA OneKey data on practice characteristics was linked with 2018 CMS claims data and 2021 CMS CPC+ participation data. Medicare FFS beneficiaries were attributed to practices using CMS’s primary care attribution method.Participants11,718 primary care practices and 7,264,812 attributed Medicare FFS beneficiaries across 18 eligible regions.MethodsMultivariable logistic regression models examined whether eligible practices with relatively high shares of Black or Latino Medicare FFS beneficiaries were less likely to participate in CPC+ in 2021, controlling for the clinical and socioeconomic profiles of practices.Main MeasuresProportion of Medicare FFS beneficiaries attributed to each practice that are (1) Latino and (2) Black.Key ResultsOf the eligible practices, 26.9% were CPC+ participants. In adjusted analyses, practices with relatively high shares of Black (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 0.62, p < 0.05) and Latino (aOR = 0.32, p < 0.01) beneficiaries were less likely to participate in CPC+ compared to practices with lower shares of these beneficiary groups. State differences in CPC+ participation rates partially explained participation disparities for practices with relatively high shares of Black beneficiaries, but did not explain participation disparities for practices with relatively high shares of Latino beneficiaries.ConclusionsThe racial-ethnic composition of eligible primary care practices is more strongly associated with CPC+ participation than census tract–level poverty. Practice eligibility requirements for CMS-sponsored initiatives should be reconsidered so that Black and Latino beneficiaries are not left out of the benefits of practice transformation.

The role of restrictive scope-of-practice regulations on the delivery of nurse practitioner-delivered home-based primary care.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are the largest group of providers delivering home-based primary care (HBPC) in the U.S. We examined the association of scope-of-practice regulations and NP-HBPC rates. Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use File for 2019, we conducted a state-level analysis to examine the impact of scope-of-practice regulations on the utilization of NP-HBPC. Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes were used to identify the HBPC visits in private residences (99341-99,345, 99,347-99,350) and domiciliary settings (99324-99,328, 99,334-99,337). We used linear regression to compare NP-HBPC utilization rates between states of either restricted or reduced scope-of-practice laws to states with full scope-of-practice, adjusting for a number of NP-HBPC providers, state ranking of total assisted living, the proportion of fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries and neighborhood-level socio-economic status and race and ethnicity. Nearly half of NPs providing HBPC (46%; n=7151) were in states with a restricted scope of practice regulations. Compared to states with full scope-of-practice, states with restricted or reduced scope-of-practice had higher adjusted rates of NP-HBPC per 1000 FFS Medicare beneficiaries. The average level of the utilization rate of NP-HBPC was 89.9, 63, and 49.1 visits, per 1000 FFS Medicare beneficiaries in states with restricted, reduced, and full- scope-of-practice laws, respectively. The rate of NP-HBPC visits was higher in states with restricted (Beta coefficient=0.92; 95%CI 0.13-1.72; p=0.023) and reduced scope-of-practice laws (Beta coefficient=0.91; 95%CI 0.03-1.79; p=0.043) compared to states with full scope-of-practice laws. Restricted state NP scope-of-practice regulations were associated with higher rates of FFS Medicare NP-HBPC care delivery compared with full or reduced scope-of-practice. Understanding underlying mechanisms of how scope-of-practice affects NP-HBPC delivery could help to develop scope-of-practice regulations that improve access to HBPC for the underserved homebound population.

Defining a taxonomy of Medicare-funded home-based clinical care using claims data

BackgroundAs more Americans age in place, it is critical to understand care delivery in the home. However, data on the range of home-based services provided by Medicare is limited. We define a taxonomy of clinical care in the home funded through fee-for-service Medicare and methods to identify receipt of those services.MethodsWe analyzed Fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare claims data from a nationally-representative cohort of older adults, the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), to identify home-based clinical care. We included 6,664 NHATS enrollees age ≥ 70 and living in the community, observed an average of 3 times each on claims-linked NHATS surveys. We examined provider and service type of home-based clinical care to identify a taxonomy of 5 types: home-based medical care (physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner visits), home-based podiatry, skilled home health care (SHHC), hospice, and other fee-for-service (FFS) home-based care. We further characterized home-based clinical care by detailed care setting and visit types.ResultsFrom 2011–2016, 17.8%-20.8% of FFS Medicare beneficiaries age ≥ 70 received Medicare-funded home-based clinical care. SHHC was the most common service (12.8%-16.1%), followed by other FFS home-based care (5.5%-6.5%), home-based medical care (3.2%-3.9%), and hospice (2.6%-3.0%). Examination of the other-FFS home-based care revealed imaging/diagnostics and laboratory testing to be the most common service.ConclusionsWe define a taxonomy of clinical care provided in the home, serving 1 in 5 FFS Medicare beneficiaries. This approach can be used to identify and address research and clinical care gaps in home-based clinical care delivery.

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries using antipsychotic medications for FDA-approved indications before and after transitioning from the community to a nursing home

Objectives This study examines the relationships between changes in antipsychotic medication (AP) use and acute clinical events (identified with administrative claims data) for patients with FDA-approved indications for APs following transition from the community (eg, home) to a nursing home (NH) in a Medicare population. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted using 100% Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) research identifiable files (RIF) claims data (2016 - 2018). Medicare beneficiaries with a condition for which APs are approved by the FDA were examined using logistic regression models to determine whether changes in AP use following transition from community to NHs were correlated with the likelihood of experiencing acute clinical events. Results We identified 38,448 Medicare FFS beneficiaries meeting our study criteria. A change in AP use after transition to a NH did not have a statistically significant association with acute skeletal events, coronary artery events, or cerebrovascular events (p = 0.55, p = 0.69, and p = 0.59 respectively). Conclusions Between 2016 and 2018, Medicare FFS patients with approved-use indications for APs had lower average AP use following transition to a NH. Changes in the use of other medications of interest largely followed a similar pattern, indicating that these medications did not tend to be used as substitutions for APs. No clear relationship exists between increases or decreases in AP use and adverse events among NH residents who used APs and had FDA-approved conditions in the community setting.

Malignant mesothelioma among US Medicare beneficiaries: incidence, prevalence and therapy, 2016–2019

ObjectivesMesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. Mesothelioma patients who receive trimodal therapy (chemotherapy, surgical resection and radiation) survive longer than those who receive two...