Rates Of Primary Care Visits Research Articles

Impact of the COVID-19 era on preventative primary care for children 0–5 years old: a scoping review protocol

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread disruptions to primary healthcare delivery and shifts to virtual care. Reduced in-person paediatric primary care visit rates have been reported. However, the extent to which access to primary preventative care has been impacted remains unclear. The objective of this scoping review is to characterise the utilisation of preventative primary care and its association with child development for children ages 0–5 years old during the COVID-19 era. In addition, we will determine if specific groups of children are at greater risk for reduced access to care.MethodsA systematic search will be conducted for studies published between March 11, 2020, and October 2023 in the following databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Library (CENTRAL and CDSR), Web of Science, and CINAHL (EBSCOhost). This scoping review will follow the methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley and updated by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Studies related to primary preventative care of children aged 0–5 years old conducted in English and in high-income countries will be screened. Studies published before March 11, 2020, in acute care and low–middle-income settings will be excluded. Results will be summarised for appointments attended, delayed, and missed. In addition, we will summarise findings on the impact of COVID-19 on child development. Findings will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines.DiscussionFurther investigation is required to better understand the relationship between attendance of preventative primary care for children and its effects on child development. The findings obtained from this review will offer essential context to guide policy-making and healthcare service planning for the period following the pandemic.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rate of primary care visits for substance use among patients in Ontario, Canada.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the prevalence of substance use presentations. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rate of primary care visits for substance use including tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use among primary care patients in Ontario, Canada. Diagnostic and service fee code data were collected from a longitudinal cohort of family medicine patients during pre-pandemic (March 14, 2019-March 13, 2020) and pandemic periods (March 14, 2020-March 13, 2021). Generalized linear models were used to compare the rate of substance-use related visits pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. The effects of demographic characteristics including age, sex, and income quintile were also assessed. Relative to the pre-pandemic period, patients were less likely to have a primary care visit during the pandemic for tobacco-use related reasons (OR = 0.288, 95% CI [0.270-0.308]), and for alcohol-use related reasons (OR = 0.851, 95% CI [0.780-0.929]). In contrast, patients were more likely to have a primary care visit for other drug-use related reasons (OR = 1.150, 95% CI [1.080-1.225]). In the face of a known increase in substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in substance use-related primary care visits likely represents an unmet need for this patient population. This study highlights the importance of continued research in the field of substance use, especially in periods of heightened vulnerability such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Economic and Humanistic Burden of Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Pediatric-onset MS (POMS), defined as onset of MS before 18 years of age, is estimated to account for 2% to 5% of the MS population worldwide. Objectives: To conduct a literature review focused on the healthcare resource utilization and cost as well as quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes among patients with POMS. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of English-language studies published after September 2010 in MEDLINE and Embase to describe the global economic healthcare resource utilization and costs and humanistic (QOL) burden in patients with POMS. Results: We found 11 studies that reported on healthcare resource utilization, cost, or insurance coverage and 36 studies that reported on QOL outcomes in patients with POMS. Patients with POMS had higher rates of primary care visits (1.41 [1.29-1.54]), hospital visits (10.74 [8.95-12.90]), and admissions (rate ratio, 4.27 [2.92-6.25];OR, 15.2 [12.0-19.1]) compared with healthy controls. Mean per-patient costs in the United States were $5907 across all settings per year of follow-up between 2002 and 2012; mean costs per hospital stay were $38 543 (in 2015 USD) between 2004 and 2013. Three studies reported psychosocial scores between 71.59 and 79.7, and 8 studies reported physical health scores between 74.62 to 82.75 using the Pediatric Quality of Life Measurement Model (PedsQLTM). Twelve studies used the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Mean scores on the self-reported general fatigue scale ranged from 63.15 to 78.5. Quality-of-life scores were lower than those of healthy controls. Discussion: Our review presents a uniquely broad and recent overview of the global economic and humanistic burden of patients with POMS. Additional research on healthcare resource utilization and cost would provide a more robust understanding of the economic burden in this population. Conclusions: Healthcare resource utilization and costs are high in this population, and patients report reduced QOL and significant fatigue compared with healthy children and adolescents.

Statistical methods for assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on health services use: Paediatric primary care and mental health access.

ObjectivesThere were large disruptions to health care services after the onset of the COVID pandemic. We compared outpatient primary care and mental health care physician visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.
 ApproachPopulation-based study of pediatric primary care and mental health visit rates after vs. before Covid restrictions. We used Poisson GEE regression to model 3-year pre-Covid trends and forecast expected trends after restrictions. The model included age, sex, a secular trend, and pre-Covid month indicators. Expected visit rates and 95% CIs post-restrictions were estimated by applying the linear combination of pre-Covid regression coefficients to the post-pandemic data and exponentiating. Relative changes in post Covid visit rates were expressed as an adjusted rate ratio of observed to expected rates by exponentiating the difference of observed and expected post-pandemic log rates and CIs.
 ResultsIn a population of 2.5 million children, primary care visit rates declined by 20% of expected (adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.77–0.82). The largest monthly decrease occurred in April 2020. Virtual visits accounted for 53% of overall visits. Although visit rates increased slowly after April 2020, they did not return to pre-restriction levels by November 2020. Mental health visit rates declined rapidly to below expected in April 2020 (aRR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.79-0.82) followed by an increase to 7% above expected (aRR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.09) by July 2020 and sustained at 10-15% above expected to February 2021. Adolescent females had the greatest overall increase in mental health visit rates relative to expected (aRR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.25-1.28).
 ConclusionThe pandemic contributed to rapid decreases in primary and mental health care, with some recovery and a shift to virtual care. There was a disproportionate increase in mental health care services among adolescent females. System-level planning to address increasing needs and monitor quality with such large shifts is warranted.

The Association Between Telemedicine Use and Changes in Health Care Usage and Outcomes in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure: Retrospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundTelemedicine use has become widespread owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, but its impact on patient outcomes remains unclear.ObjectiveWe sought to investigate the effect of telemedicine use on changes in health care usage and clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF).MethodsWe conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using administrative data in Ontario, Canada. Patients were included if they had at least one ambulatory visit between March 14 and September 30, 2020, and a heart failure diagnosis any time prior to March 14, 2020. Telemedicine users were propensity score–matched with unexposed users based on several baseline characteristics. Monthly use of various health care services was compared between the 2 groups during 12 months before to 3 months after their index in-person or telemedicine ambulatory visit after March 14, 2020, using generalized estimating equations.ResultsA total of 11,131 pairs of telemedicine and unexposed patients were identified after matching (49% male; mean age 78.9, SD 12.0 years). All patients showed significant reductions in health service usage from pre- to postindex visit. There was a greater decline across time in the unexposed group than in the telemedicine group for CHF admissions (ratio of slopes for high- vs low-frequency users 1.02, 95% CI 1.02-1.03), cardiovascular admissions (1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04), any-cause admissions (1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04), any-cause ED visits (1.03, 95% CI 1.03-1.04), visits with any cardiologist (1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.02), laboratory tests (1.02, 95% CI 1.02-1.03), diagnostic tests (1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.05), and new prescriptions (1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03). However, the decline in primary care visit rates was steeper among telemedicine patients than among unexposed patients (ratio of slopes 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-1.00).ConclusionsOverall health care usage over time appeared higher among telemedicine users than among low-frequency users or nonusers, suggesting that telemedicine was used by patients with the greatest need or that it allowed patients to have better access or continuity of care among those who received it.

The Economic and Humanistic Burden of Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Pediatric-onset MS (POMS), defined as onset of MS before 18 years of age, is estimated to account for 2% to 5% of the MS population worldwide. Objectives: To conduct a literature review focused on the healthcare resource utilization and cost as well as quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes among patients with POMS. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of English-language studies published after September 2010 in MEDLINE and Embase to describe the global economic healthcare resource utilization and costs and humanistic (QOL) burden in patients with POMS. Results: We found 11 studies that reported on healthcare resource utilization, cost, or insurance coverage and 36 studies that reported on QOL outcomes in patients with POMS. Patients with POMS had higher rates of primary care visits (1.41 [1.29-1.54]), hospital visits (10.74 [8.95-12.90]), and admissions (rate ratio, 4.27 [2.92-6.25];OR, 15.2 [12.0-19.1]) compared with healthy controls. Mean per-patient costs in the United States were $5907 across all settings per year of follow-up between 2002 and 2012; mean costs per hospital stay were $38 543 (in 2015 USD) between 2004 and 2013. Three studies reported psychosocial scores between 71.59 and 79.7, and 8 studies reported physical health scores between 74.62 to 82.75 using the Pediatric Quality of Life Measurement Model (PedsQLTM). Twelve studies used the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Mean scores on the self-reported general fatigue scale ranged from 63.15 to 78.5. Quality-of-life scores were lower than those of healthy controls. Discussion: Our review presents a uniquely broad and recent overview of the global economic and humanistic burden of patients with POMS. Additional research on healthcare resource utilization and cost would provide a more robust understanding of the economic burden in this population. Conclusions: Healthcare resource utilization and costs are high in this population, and patients report reduced QOL and significant fatigue compared with healthy children and adolescents.

Comparison of Healthcare Utilization Between Telemedicine and Standard Care: A Propensity-Score Matched Cohort Study Among Individuals With Chronic Psychotic Disorders in Ontario, Canada.

BackgroundTelemedicine adoption has grown significantly due to the coronavirus of 2019 pandemic; however, it remains unclear what the impact of widespread telemedicine use is on healthcare utilization among individuals with psychosis. ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of telemedicine use on changes in healthcare utilization among patients with chronic psychotic disorders (CPDs). Study DesignWe conducted a population-based, retrospective propensity-matched cohort study using healthcare administrative data in Ontario, Canada. Patients were included if they had at least one ambulatory visit between March 14, 2020 and September 30, 2020 and a CPD diagnosis any time before March 14, 2020. Telemedicine users (2+ virtual visits after March 14, 2020) were propensity score-matched 1:1 with standard care users (minimum of 1 in-person or virtual ambulatory visit and maximum of 1 virtual visit after March 14, 2020) based on several baseline characteristics. Monthly use of various healthcare services was compared between the two groups from 12 months before to 3 months after their index in-person or virtual ambulatory visit after March 14, 2020 using generalized estimating equations (eg, hospitalizations, emergency department [ED] visits, and outpatient physician visits). The slope of change over the study period (ie, rate ratio) as well as a ratio of slopes, were calculated for both telemedicine and standard care groups for each outcome. Study ResultsA total of 18 333 pairs of telemedicine and standard care patients were identified after matching (60.8% male, mean [SD] age 45.4 [16.3] years). There was a significantly greater decline across time in the telemedicine group compared to the standard care group for ED visits due to any psychiatric conditions (ratio of slopes for telemedicine vs standard care (95% CI), 0.98 (0.98 to 0.99)). However, declines in primary care visit rates (ratio of slopes for telemedicine vs standard care (1.01 (1.01 to 1.02)), mental health outpatient visits with primary care (1.03 (1.03 to 1.04)), and all-cause outpatient visits with primary care (1.01 (1.01 to 1.02)), were steeper among the standard care group than telemedicine group. ConclusionsOverall, patients with CPDs appeared to benefit from telemedicine as evidenced by increased outpatient healthcare utilization and reductions in ED visits due to psychiatric conditions. This suggests that telemedicine may have allowed this patient group to have better access and continuity of care during the initial waves of the pandemic.

National Trends and Outcomes Associated With Presence and Type of Usual Clinician Among Older Adults With Multimorbidity

Declining primary care visit rates and increasing specialist visit rates among older adults with multimorbidity raise questions about the presence, specialty, and outcomes associated with usual clinicians of care for these adults. To examine trends in the presence and specialty of usual clinicians and the association with preventive care receipt and spending. This survey study used repeated cross-sectional analyses of Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from 2010, 2013, and 2016. Participants were community-dwelling Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare members with at least 2 chronic conditions. Data were analyzed from March 1, 2020, to February 5, 2021. Trends and factors associated with self-reported usual clinician presence and specialty. Multivariable regression was used to examine associations between usual clinician presence and specialty with preventive care receipt and spending, controlling for respondent sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. A total of 25 490 unweighted respondent-years were examined, representing 90 324 639 respondent-years across the United States. Overall, 58.4% of respondent-years belonged to women, and the mean (SD) age of respondents was 77.5 (7.5) years. From 2010 to 2016, those reporting usual clinicians dropped from 94.2% to 91.0% (P < .001). Across study years, respondents were more likely to report a usual clinician if they were women (adjusted marginal difference [AMD], 2.5 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.5-3.5 percentage points) or had higher income (≥$50 000 vs <$15 000: AMD, 2.2 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.1-3.4 percentage points) and less likely if they were Black beneficiaries (vs White: AMD, -2.8 percentage points; 95% CI, -4.3 to -1.3 percentage points) or had traditional Medicare (vs Medicare Advantage: AMD, -3.2 percentage points; 95% CI. -4.1 to -2.3 percentage points). Among 23 279 respondents with usual clinicians, those reporting specialists as their usual clinicians decreased from 5.3% to 4.1% (P < .001). Across the study period, respondents were more likely to report specialists as their usual clinicians if they had traditional Medicare (vs Medicare Advantage: AMD, 2.3 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.6 to 2.9 percentage points), were Black or non-White Hispanic (Black vs White: AMD, 1.5 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.2 to 2.8 percentage points; non-White Hispanic vs White: AMD, 3.8 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.9 to 5.7 percentage points), or lived in the Northeast (vs Midwest: AMD, 3.6 percentage points; 95% CI, 2.1 to 5.2 percentage points). Compared with those without usual clinicians, respondents with usual clinicians were more likely to receive all examined preventive services, such as cholesterol screening (AMD, 6.7 percentage points; 95% CI, 5.4 to 8.1 percentage points) and influenza vaccines (AMD, 11.6 percentage points; 95% CI, 9.2 to 14.0 percentage points). Among respondents with usual clinicians, those reporting specialist usual clinicians (vs primary care) were less likely to receive influenza vaccines (AMD, -5.6 percentage points; 95% CI, -9.2 to -2.1). In this study, older adults with multimorbidity were less likely to have a usual clinician over the study period, with potential implications for preventive care receipt. Our results suggest a key role for usual clinicians, especially primary care clinicians, in vaccination uptake for this population.

Pediatric primary care in Ontario and Manitoba after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study.

Background:There were large disruptions to health care services after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to describe the extent to which pandemic-related changes in service delivery and access affected use of primary care for children overall and by equity strata in the 9 months after pandemic onset in Manitoba and Ontario.Methods:We performed a population-based study of children aged 17 years or less with provincial health insurance in Ontario or Manitoba before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Jan. 1, 2017–Nov. 28, 2020). We calculated the weekly rates of in-person and virtual primary care well-child and sick visits, overall and by age group, neighbourhood material deprivation level, rurality and immigrant status, and assessed changes in visit rates after COVID-19 restrictions were imposed compared to expected baseline rates calculated for the 3 years before pandemic onset.Results:Among almost 3 million children in Ontario and more than 300 000 children in Manitoba, primary care visit rates declined to 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77–0.82) of expected in Ontario and 0.82 (95% CI 0.79–0.84) of expected in Manitoba in the 9 months after the onset of the pandemic. Virtual visits accounted for 53% and 29% of visits in Ontario and Manitoba, respectively. The largest monthly decreases in visits occurred in April 2020. Although visit rates increased slowly after April 2020, they had not returned to prerestriction levels by November 2020 in either province. Children aged more than 1 year to 12 years experienced the greatest decrease in visits, especially for well-child care. Compared to prepandemic levels, visit rates were lowest among rural Manitobans, urban Ontarians and Ontarians in low-income neighbourhoods.Interpretation:During the study period, the pandemic contributed to rapid, immediate and inequitable decreases in primary care use, with some recovery and a substantial shift to virtual care. Postpandemic planning must consider the need for catch-up visits, and the long-term impacts warrant further study.

Observational study of the implementation of telephone advice nursing in Sweden: did callers follow recommendations and did the rate of healthcare visits change?

ObjectivesTelephone advice nursing is introduced in many countries with one key aim being a reduction of avoidable healthcare visits. The aim of this study was to explore whether callers to...

Mobility and social deprivation on primary care utilisation among paediatric patients with asthma

ObjectiveAsthma care is negatively impacted by neighbourhood social and environmental factors, and moving is associated with undesirable asthma outcomes. However, little is known about how movement into and living in...

Prevalence of depression and anxiety in people with inflammatory bowel disease and associated healthcare use: population-based cohort study

BackgroundInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a significant impact on quality of life for many people.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of common mental health conditions in IBD and the combined impact of...

Assessment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Increase in Fees for Primary Care and Access to Care for Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) temporarily increased primary care practitioners' (PCP) Medicaid fees to that of Medicare for 2013 to 2014 (fee bump) to help accommodate potential increases in demand for care with ACA coverage expansion. This also increased fees for PCPs treating dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in many states and eliminated payment differentials for dual-eligible vs non-dual-eligible Medicare beneficiaries that could limit access to care. To examine the association between the ACA fee bump and primary care visits for dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This cohort study used a difference-in-difference design and Medicare claims data from 2012 to 2016 to compare changes in visit rates for full-subsidy dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries vs non-dual-eligible Medicare beneficiaries with low income whose fees did not change. Changes were examined overall and separately in states with temporary, extended, or minimal fee increases for dual-eligible vs non-dual-eligible beneficiaries in 2013 to 2014 (mandatory bump) and 2015 to 2016 (postbump or bump extension) vs 2012 (prebump). The study used linear regression models with beneficiary fixed effects, adjusting for time-changing area and beneficiary characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed from February 2018 to November 2019. ACA-mandated Medicaid fee bump. Primary care visits per 100 beneficiaries overall and visits billed by physicians vs nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The study included 3 052 044 dual-eligible and non-dual-eligible beneficiaries in 2012; 1 516 534 (49.7%) were aged 65 years or younger, 1 797 556 (58.9%) were women, and 1 754 626 (57.5%) had non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity. Overall primary care visit rates for dual-eligible beneficiaries were unchanged or decreased slightly relative to non-dual-eligible beneficiaries during the fee bump (2013-2014) and the postbump or bump extension period (2015-2016) vs baseline. Compared with non-dual-eligible beneficiaries, visit rates with primary care physicians declined more uniformly for dual-eligible beneficiaries across state groups and time periods (difference-in-difference: -0.37 [95% CI, -0.43 to -0.32] visits per 100 beneficiaries in 2013-2014 vs 2012; P < .001; and difference-in-difference: -0.62 [95% CI, -0.68 to -0.56] visits per 100 beneficiaries in 2015-2016 vs 2012; P < .001), whereas visits with nurse practitioners and physician assistants increased over time (difference-in-difference: 0.11 [95% CI, 0.08 to 0.14] visits per 100 beneficiaries in 2013-2014 vs 2012; P < .001; and difference-in-difference: 0.46 [95% CI, 0.43 to 0.50] visits per 100 beneficiaries in 2015-2016 vs 2012; P < .001). These changes, however, were not associated with the timing of the payment changes. The ACA fee bump was not associated with increases in primary care visits for dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Visits for dual-eligible beneficiaries with primary care physicians decreased after the ACA, a decrease that was partially offset by increases in visits with nonphysician clinicians.

Evaluating the effects of a multidisciplinary transition care management program on hospital readmissions.

To measure the effect of a pharmacist-initiated transitions of care (TOC) program on rates of 30-day all-cause readmissions and primary care follow-up. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate a pharmacist-initiated TOC program for patients discharged from hospitals of a large health system from September 2015 through July 2016. Discharged patients of 13 primary care physicians (the intervention cohort) received TOC program services, and discharged patients seen by 12 other primary care physicians (the control cohort) received usual care. Patients in both cohorts were followed for 90 days. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause readmissions, and secondary outcomes were 14-day primary care visits, TOC pharmacist identification and resolution of medication therapy problems (MTPs), and transition care management (TCM) billing. Multivariable modeling was performed to test the associations of patient receipt of TOC services with 30-day readmissions and 14-day primary care visits, with controlling for patient demographics and baseline healthcare utilization. A total of 492 patients received the TOC intervention, and 379 were followed in the usual care cohort. Among intervention patients, 960 MTPs were identified, and 85.7% of identified MTPs were resolved. Moreover, 9% of intervention cohort patients were readmitted within 30 days, compared to 15% of control cohort patients, and this effect was significant in the multivariable model (odds ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.89; P = 0.0108). Rates of primary care visits did not differ significantly between the groups; 65% of intervention group visits were billed using TCM codes. A pharmacist-initiated TOC program was effective in reducing 30-day all-cause readmissions.

Declining Use of Primary Care Among Commercially Insured Adults in the United States, 2008-2016.

Primary care is known to improve outcomes and lower health care costs, prompting recent U.S. policy efforts to expand its role. Nonetheless, there is early evidence of a decline in per capita primary care visit rates, and little is understood about what is contributing to the decline. To describe primary care provider (PCP) visit trends among adults enrolled with a large, national, commercial insurer and assess factors underlying a potential decline in PCP visits. Descriptive repeated cross-sectional study using 100% deidentified claims data from the insurer, 2008-2016. A 5% claims sample was used for Poisson regression models to quantify visit trends. National, population-based. Adult health plan members aged 18 to 64 years. PCP visit rates per 100 member-years. In total, 142 million primary care visits among 94 million member-years were examined. Visits to PCPs declined by 24.2%, from 169.5 to 134.3 visits per 100 member-years, while the proportion of adults with no PCP visits in a given year rose from 38.1% to 46.4%. Rates of visits addressing low-acuity conditions decreased by 47.7% (95% CI, -48.1% to -47.3%). The decline was largest among the youngest adults (-27.6% [CI, -28.2% to -27.1%]), those without chronic conditions (-26.4% [CI, -26.7% to -26.1%]), and those living in the lowest-income areas (-31.4% [CI, -31.8% to -30.9%]). Out-of-pocket cost per problem-based visit rose by $9.4 (31.5%). Visit rates to specialists remained stable (-0.08% [CI, -0.56% to 0.40%]), and visits to alternative venues, such as urgent care clinics, increased by 46.9% (CI, 45.8% to 48.1%). Data were limited to a single commercial insurer and did not capture nonbilled clinician-patient interactions. Commercially insured adults have been visiting PCPs less often, and nearly one half had no PCP visits in a given year by 2016. Our results suggest that this decline may be explained by decreased real or perceived visit needs, financial deterrents, and use of alternative sources of care. None.

Trends in Pediatric Primary Care Visits Among Commercially Insured US Children, 2008-2016

Primary care is the foundation of pediatric care. While policy interventions have focused on improving access and quality of primary care, trends in overall use of primary care among children have not been described. To assess trends in primary care visit rates and out-of-pocket costs, to examine variation in these trends by patient and visit characteristics, and to assess shifts to alternative care options (eg, retail clinics, urgent care, and telemedicine). Observational cohort study of claims data from 2008 to 2016 for children 17 years and younger covered by a large national commercial health plan. Visit rate per 100 child-years was determined for each year overall, by child and geographic characteristics, and by visit type (eg, primary diagnosis), and trends were assessed with a series of child-year Poisson models. Data were analyzed from November 2017 to September 2019. Visits to primary care and other settings. This cohort study included more than 71 million pediatric primary care visits over 29 million pediatric child-years (51% male in 2008 and 2016; 37% between 12-17 years in 2008 and 38% between 12-17 years in 2016). Unadjusted results for primary care visit rates per 100 child-years decreased from 259.6 in 2008 to 227.2 in 2016, yielding a regression-estimated change in primary care visits across the 9 years of -14.4% (95% CI, -15.0% to -13.9%; absolute change: -32.4 visits per 100 child-years). After controlling for shifts in demographics, the relative decrease was -12.8% (95% CI, -13.3% to -12.2%). Preventive care visits per 100 child-years increased from 74.9 in 2008 to 83.2 visits in 2016 (9.9% change in visit rate; 95% CI, 9.0%-10.9%; absolute change: 8.3 visits per 100 child-years), while problem-based visits per 100 child-years decreased from 184.7 in 2008 to 144.1 in 2016 (-24.1%; 95% CI, -24.6% to -23.5%; absolute change: -40.6 visits per 100 child-years). Visit rates decreased for all diagnostic groups except for the behavioral and psychiatric category. Out-of-pocket costs for problem-based primary care visits increased by 42% during the same period. Per 100 child-years, visits to other acute care venues increased from 21.3 to 27.6 (30.3%; 95% CI, 28.5% to 32.1%; absolute change: 6.3 visits per 100 child-years) and visits to specialists from 45.2 to 53.5 (16.4%; 95% CI, 14.8% to 18.0%, absolute change: 8.3 visits per 100 child-years). Primary care visit rates among commercially insured children decreased over the last decade. Increases in out-of-pocket costs and shifts to other venues appear to explain some of this decrease.

Increased mental health care use by mothers of children with multiple sclerosis.

We compared the prevalence of physical and mental conditions and rate of health care utilization in mothers of children with multiple sclerosis (MS) (MS-mothers) with that of mothers of children without MS (non-MS-mothers). Using population-based administrative data from Ontario, Canada, we identified MS-mothers and non-MS-mothers, matched on maternal age at childbirth, region, and the child's age and sex at the time of MS diagnosis. We compared the prevalence of any physical condition or any mood or anxiety disorder between the cohorts, in the child's MS diagnosis year, and 5 years before and after diagnosis. We compared rates of physician visits before diagnosis, during the diagnosis year, and after the child's diagnosis using multivariable regression models with generalized estimating equations adjusting for maternal age, socioeconomic status, region of residence, and index year. We identified 156 MS-mothers and 624 non-MS-mothers. MS-mothers had a higher prevalence of any physical condition and of any mood or anxiety disorder than non-MS-mothers, before, during, and after their child's diagnosis. On multivariable analysis, MS-mothers did not have higher rates of primary care visits (rate ratio [RR] 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90-1.20), but exhibited increased odds of having any psychiatry visits (odds ratio 1.60; 95% CI 1.10-2.31); the rate of visits did not differ when they did occur (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.33-1.30). Mothers of children with MS use more mental health services before and after their child's MS diagnosis than mothers of children without MS. Pediatric health care providers should consider the mental well-being of mothers and their children with MS.

The effects of integrating behavioral health into primary care for low-income children.

To evaluate the impact of TEAM UP-an initiative that fully integrates behavioral health services into pediatric primary care in three Boston-area Community Health Centers (CHCs)-on health care utilization and costs. 2014-2017 claims data on continuously enrolled children from a Massachusetts Medicaid managed care plan. We used a difference-in-difference approach with inverse probability of treatment weights to compare outcomes in children receiving primary care at TEAM UP CHCs versus comparison site CHCs, in the pre (2014-2016q2)- versus post (2016q3-2017)-intervention periods. Utilization outcomes included emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, primary care visits, and outpatient/professional visits (all cause and those with mental health (MH) diagnoses). Cost outcomes included total cost of care (inpatient, outpatient, professional, pharmacy). We further assessed differential effects by baseline MH diagnosis. After 1.5years, TEAM UP was associated with a relative increase in the rate of primary care visits (IRR=1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.27, or 115 additional visits/1000 patients/quarter), driven by children with a MH diagnosis at baseline. There was no significant change in avoidable health care utilization or cost. Expanding the TEAM UP behavioral health integration model to other sites has the potential to improve primary care engagement in low-income children with MH needs.

National Trends in Primary Care Visit Use and Practice Capabilities, 2008-2015.

Recent evidence shows a national decline in primary care visit rates over the last decade. It is unclear how changes in practice-including the use and content of primary care visits-may have contributed. We analyzed nationally representative data of adult visits to primary care physicians (PCPs) and physician practice characteristics from 2007-2016 (National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey). United States census estimates were used to calculate visits per capita. Measures included visit rates per person year; visit duration; number of medications, diagnoses, and preventive services per visit; percentage of visits with scheduled follow-up; and percentage of physicians with practice capabilities including an electronic medical record (EMR). Our weighted sample represented 3.2 billion visits (83,368 visits, unweighted). Visits per capita declined by 20% (-0.25 visits per person, 95% CI, -0.32 to -0.19) during this time, while visit duration increased by 2.4 minutes per visit (95% CI, 1.1-3.8). Per visit, PCPs addressed 0.30 more diagnoses (95% CI, 0.16-0.43) and 0.82 more medications (95% CI, 0.59-1.1), and provided 0.24 more preventive services (95% CI, 0.12-0.36). Visits with scheduled PCP followup declined by 6.0% (95% CI, -12.4 to 0.46), while PCPs reporting use of EMR increased by 44.3% (95% CI, 39.1-49.5) and those reporting use of secure messaging increased by 60.9% (95% CI, 27.5-94.3). From 2008 to 2015, primary care visits were longer, addressed more issues per visit, and were less likely to have scheduled follow-up for certain patients and conditions. Meanwhile, more PCPs offered non-face-to-face care. The decline in primary care visit rates may be explained in part by PCPs offering more comprehensive in-person visits and using more non-face-to-face care.

Evidence and Implications Behind a National Decline in Primary Care Visits.

Primary care is the foundation of the health care system and the basis for new payment and delivery reforms in the USA. Yet since 2008, primary care visit rates dropped by 6-25% across a range of populations in five sources of national survey and administrative data. We hypothesize three likely mechanisms behind the decline: decreases in patients' ability, need, or desire to seek primary care; changes in primary care practice such as greater use of teams and non-face-to-face care; and replacement of in-person primary care visits with alternatives such as specialist, retail clinic, and commercial telemedicine visits. These mechanisms require further investigation. In the meantime, the trend prompts us to optimize the primary care visit and embrace the growth of alternatives while preserving the fundamental benefits of primary care.