Uninsured Group Research Articles

Influence of health insurance on withdrawal of life sustaining treatment for patients with isolated traumatic brain injury: a retrospective multi-center observational cohort study

BackgroundHealthcare inequities for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) represent a major priority area for trauma quality improvement. We hypothesized a relationship between health insurance status and timing of withdrawal of life sustaining treatment (WLST) for adults with severe TBI.MethodsThis multicenter retrospective observational cohort study utilized data collected between 2017 and 2020. We identified adult (age ≥ 16) patients with isolated severe TBI admitted participating Trauma Quality Improvement Program centers. We determined the relationship between insurance status (public, private, and uninsured) and the timing of WLST using a competing risk survival analysis framework adjusting for baseline, clinical, injury and trauma center characteristics. Multivariable cause-specific Cox regressions were used to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HR) reflecting timing of WLST, accounting for mortality events. We also quantified the between-center residual variability in WLST using the median odds ratio (MOR) and measured insurance status association with access to rehabilitation at discharge.ResultsWe identified 42,111 adults with isolated severe TBI treated across 509 trauma centers across North America. There were 10,771 (25.6%) WLST events in the cohort and a higher unadjusted incidence of WLST events was evident in public insurance patients compared to private or uninsured groups. After adjustment, WLST occurred earlier for publicly insured (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.12) and uninsured patients (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.18–1.41) compared to privately insured patients. Access to rehabilitation was lower for both publicly insured and uninsured patients compared to patients with private insurance. Accounting for case-mix, the MOR was 1.49 (95% CI 1.43–1.55), reflecting significant residual between-center variation in WLST decision-making.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the presence of disparate WLST practices independently associated with health insurance status. Additionally, these results emphasize between-center variability in WLST, persisting despite adjustments for measurable patient and trauma center characteristics.

Abstract SY15-02: Health insurance and outcome disparities in adolescents and young adults with cancer

Abstract SY15-02: Health insurance and outcome disparities in adolescents and young adults with cancer

United States Healthcare System

United States Healthcare System

Health insurance financing and patient retention in care at diabetics and hypertension clinics in Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions, Tanzania. A cohort study.

Hypertension and diabetes are chronic conditions that cause major morbidity and mortality worldwide. Whether health insurance financing is associated with improved retention in chronic care in Tanzania, is unknown. Our study establishes the effect of health insurance on retention and the determinants for retention in care among patients attending diabetes and hypertension clinics. We used a Cohort design to study participants enrolled in a cluster-randomized trial of integrated management of HIV, diabetes, and hypertension compared with standard vertical care in the INTE-AFRICA trial. Fifteen health facilities in Dar es Salam and Pwani regions were enrolled, with 1716 participants. Our sample size had 95% power to detect a 50% to 60% retention difference between the insured and uninsured groups (95% CI). We compared proportions using χ2 tests and obtained prevalence and rate ratios by Generalised Linear Models. We studied 1716 participants for 1612.3 Person-years (PY). At the study's end, 1351 persons were alive and retained in care. Among the insured participants (26.0%), females accounted for 65.9%. Middle-aged adults contributed 58.8% of insured participants. We observed high retention rates (retention incidence rate IR: 83.80/100 PY; 95% CI (79.40-88.40)). There was no difference in retention among insured and uninsured patients (adjusted rate ratio aRR: 1.00; 95% CI, 0.94-1.06). Being middle-aged or senior-aged adults compared to young adults, having diabetes alone or hypertension alone compared to both conditions, having the comorbidity of diabetes or hypertension with HIV compared to a single condition, and attending health centres and hospitals compared to dispensaries were significantly associated with retention in care. This study showed no effect of health insurance on retention in diabetic and hypertension care clinics. However, age, medical diagnosis, morbidity, and type of health facility attended were associated with retention in care.

Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) vs. mastectomy with reconstruction: a comparison of outcomes in an underserved population.

Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) has demonstrated superior cosmetic outcomes to traditional breast-conserving surgery (BCS) while maintaining oncologic safety. While prior studies have compared OBCS to mastectomy, there is a scarcity of literature on the impact of social determinants of health on outcomes. Furthermore, although traditionally tumors larger than 5 cm and multifocal disease were treated with mastectomy, the literature has now shown OBCS to be safe in treating such disease. As a result, patients with large or multifocal tumors could be eligible for both mastectomy and OBCS, which prompts the need for comparison between the two. Thus, the aim of our study was to compare OBCS and mastectomy with reconstruction using BREAST-Q and oncologic outcome measures, as well as stratify these outcomes based on race, ethnicity, and body mass index (BMI). A retrospective chart review was performed for 57 patients treated with OBCS and 204 patients treated with mastectomy with reconstruction from 2015 to 2021. Variables including age, race, ethnicity, BMI, insurance status, surgery type, pathology, recurrence, and complications were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were recorded using BREAST-Q pre- and post-operatively. Despite having a higher BMI (P<0.001), OBCS yielded higher "satisfaction with breast" and "satisfaction with outcome" than mastectomy (P=0.02 and P=0.02, respectively). When stratified by race, there were no statistical differences in the PROs between the two surgeries for Hispanic nor African American patients. OBCS had a significantly lower rate of infection and fewer additional surgeries than mastectomy (P=0.004 and P<0.001, respectively). There were no differences in positive margin rate or recurrence rate between the groups. In our study, OBCS yielded better PROs than mastectomy while maintaining oncologic safety and resulting in fewer surgeries and complications. These excellent outcomes in a majority non-Caucasian cohort support the utilization of OBCS for underserved, minority populations. Larger studies evaluating PROs in diverse and uninsured groups are needed to reinforce these conclusions.

Financial toxicity among patients undergoing resectional surgery for inflammatory bowel disease in the United States.

Financial toxicity describes the financial burden and distress that patients experience due to medical treatment. Financial toxicity has yet to be characterized among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing surgical management of their disease. This study investigated the risk of financial toxicity associated with undergoing surgery for IBD. This study used a retrospective analysis using the National Inpatient Sample from 2015 to 2019. Adult patients who underwent IBD-related surgery were identified using the International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision) diagnostic and procedure codes and stratified into privately insured and uninsured groups. The primary outcome was risk of financial toxicity, defined as hospital admission charges that constituted 40% or more of patient's post-subsistence income. Secondary outcomes included total hospital admission cost and predictors of financial toxicity. The analytical cohort consisted of 6412 privately insured and 3694 uninsured patients. Overall median hospital charges were $21 628 (interquartile range $14 758-$35 386). Risk of financial toxicity was 86.5% among uninsured patients and 0% among insured patients. Predictors of financial toxicity included emergency admission, being in the lowest residential income quartile and having ulcerative colitis (compared to Crohn's disease). Additional predictors were being of Black race or male sex. Financial toxicity is a serious consequence of IBD-related surgery among uninsured patients. Given the pervasive nature of this consequence, future steps to support uninsured patients receiving surgery, in particular emergency surgery, related to their IBD are needed to protect this group from financial risk.

DECREASED HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION IN UNINSURED PATIENTS WITH PERIANAL CROHN’S DISEASE UNDERGOING PROCTECTOMY

Abstract INTRODUCTION Perianal Crohn's disease (CD) is a debilitating subtype affecting nearly 20% of CD patients, primarily characterized by the presence of perianal fistulas. It is associated with poor health outcomes, significantly decreased quality of life, and is an independent predictor of work disability. Proctectomy is generally reserved for patients with severe, refractory disease. Social determinants of health, including health insurance status, can impact the progression and outcomes of chronic diseases. Here we examine healthcare utilization and clinical characteristics of patients with perianal CD who undergo proctectomy for those with and without health insurance. METHODS This retrospective study follows perianal CD patients who underwent a proctectomy from 2008 to 2021 at Mount Sinai Hospital. We collected demographic, insurance status, and clinical data, such as diagnosis-to-surgery time, hospitalization rates, number of MRIs utilized, and number of medications utilized (Tables 1 and 2). Univariate analysis comparing patients with and without insurance was performed using Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact Tests. RESULTS Our study included 130 patients (50.8% female) with a mean age of 52.0 ± 14.9 years. The majority were insured (n = 106, 81.5%). Results were significant for a shorter diagnosis-to-surgery time in the uninsured group (6.9 vs. 11.1 years, p = 0.050), fewer hospitalizations (p = 0.002), MRIs (p = 0.008), clinic visits (p = 0.007), as well as reduced use of antibiotics (p = 0.016), and biologics (p =0.001) in the uninsured group (Tables 1 and 2). Data trended towards a later mean age at the time of diagnosis in the uninsured group (37.8 vs. 33.1 years, p=0.241). There was no statistical difference between the groups regarding race, comorbidities, extraintestinal manifestations, presence of skin tags, strictures, and fissures, presence of proctitis or abscess at proctectomy, age at proctectomy, surgical approach, number of lifetime GI surgeries, endoscopies, or corticosteroid treatments. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that the uninsured patients with perianal CD have decreased utilization of healthcare resources compared to the insured group. This disparity, combined with the observed trend of older age at, and therefore likely delay of, CD diagnosis and treatment may contribute to a more rapid and severe CD course, ultimately leading to a shorter diagnosis-to-surgery interval. This study was limited by a small, single-center population sample, as well as other confounding factors associated with lack of insurance. Future research will include multivariate analysis to identify specific discrepancies in annual healthcare utilization between these populations, evaluate the contribution of race and language to this issue, and investigate the role that a decreased delay in diagnosis could play in preventing last resort proctectomy. Table 1 Patient Characteristics Table 2 Comparison of Healthcare Utilization by Insurance Status

Association between insurance type and suicide-related behavior among US adults: The impact of the Affordable Care Act

This study examined the association between insurance type and suicidal ideation and attempts among adults in the United States, incorporating a comparative analysis of the pre- and post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) periods. We used a nationally representative, cross-sectional, population-based survey of individuals aged 18 years and older from the 2010–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts among Medicaid and uninsured groups compared with those with private insurance. After implementation of the ACA policy, the difference-in-differences analysis showed a significantly reduced risk of suicide in the Medicare group compared with the privately insured group, with no significant differences observed in the other groups. These findings highlight the importance of improving access to mental health services, particularly for those with lower levels of insurance coverage, such as Medicaid and Medicare.

Disparities in Clinical Outcomes of B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: A National Cancer Database Study with Focus on Hispanic Populations in the United States

BACKGROUND Lymphoblastic lymphoma, a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subtype, exhibits striking cytological and histological parallels with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Such similarities have led to its classification as precursor B and T lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia by the World Health Organization. Exhibiting a modest global incidence of 1 to 5 cases per 100,000 population, it is notable that two-thirds of cases of ALL cases are of B-cell phenotype (PMID 15698386). To deepen our comprehension of this rare disease, it becomes essential to understand its behavior across various demographics, particularly among Hispanic (HI) and Non-Hispanic (NH) populations in the United States (US). To bridge this knowledge gap, this pioneering nationwide study endeavors to unravel how demographic, clinical, and survival outcomes vary between HI and NH patients with this disease. METHODS: Data were analyzed on B-Lymphoblastic lymphoma patients in the US reported to the National Cancer Database (NCDB) between 2004 and 2019. Demographic and treatment characteristics were compared between ethnic groups. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to compare OS between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic populations. Multivariate analysis and propensity score matching was performed with adjustment for age, stage, co-morbidity score, and insurance status, type of facility and great circle distance. RESULTS Of 989 B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma patients, 16 were HI, and 81% NH. 53% of HI were male, compared to 57% of NH. At diagnosis, HI patients were younger (40 years vs. 56 years) (p=&amp;lt;0.001); the majority of HI 84% and NH 68% were diagnosed in the age bracket of &amp;lt; 65 (p=&amp;lt;0.001). With respect to race, most of both HI and NH were whites (87% vs 85%), followed by blacks (1% vs 10%). Examining the stage, most of both HI 45% and NH 47% were stage IV (p= 0.260). When looking at insurance type; private insurance was the most prevalent type in HI vs NH (42% vs 51%), followed by government-sponsored (40% vs 44%). The most uninsured group was HI 16% vs NH 3%. Considering Census Median Income (2008-2012), the most prevalent bracket for HI was Less than $38,000 (29%) and NH was $63,000+ (34%). When it comes to median income of less than $38,000, HI were 29% vs NH 16%. As for Charlson-Deyo Score (comorbidities score), HI had 10% =/&amp;gt; 2 scores, vs NH 8%. In terms of Academic/Research Programs, including NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers, it was the most prevalent type of facility providing care for both HI 55% and NH 50%. Regarding the median distance in miles between the patient's residence and the hospital that reported the case (Great Circle Distance), HI lived at a median of 9.3 miles, vs NH at a median of 12.4 miles. On survival analysis; the survival probability at 2, 5, and 10 years of HI vs NH were (0.624 vs 0.552), (0.516 vs 0.435), and (0.458 vs 0.362), respectively. The median survival time (MS) was 10.0 years for HI, vs 3.1 years for NH; and there was an overall survival (OS) difference favoring HI with (p=0.017). On multivariate analysis, there were no independent variables associated with better or worse OS; however, the propensity matched analysis showed a striking MS difference between HI vs NH (3.02 y vs. 1.43 y). CONCLUSION This groundbreaking study provides crucial insights into the distinct demographic and clinical characteristics of HI and NH patients with B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in the US. Importantly, we found that HI patients were significantly younger at diagnosis, and despite having a higher percentage of uninsured individuals and lower median income, showed better survival outcomes compared to NH. These findings highlight the critical role ethnicity plays in disease presentation and prognosis, thus emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive, tailored healthcare approaches. This study underscores the urgent need for further research to understand intrinsic biologic factors contributing to these disparities and enhance health equity in lymphoma care.

Abstract 18944: Affordability of Insulin for Non-Elderly Adults in the United States Following $35 Monthly Out-of-Pocket Cap

Introduction: In March 2023, insulin manufacturers in the United States announced price reductions, with Eli Lilly adding a $35 OOP cap on their unbranded insulin products. Aims: To investigate estimated OOP savings of a $35 insulin cap for non-Medicare patients. Methods: We used the 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Non-Medicare adults aged 18-64 who filled at least one insulin prescription were included. We identified insulin prescriptions with OOP spending above $35 and estimated savings using a $35 OOP cap. For each respondent, we calculated annual insulin OOP spending, average OOP spending per prescription, and total estimated OOP savings with a $35 OOP cap. Analyses were done in SAS. Results: Over 4.1 million non-elderly civilians filled 32.7 million insulin prescriptions in 2019, totaling $1.7 billion in OOP costs, or $418 per person (Table 1). There were 1.6 million people (39.5%) eligible for reduced OOP spending under a $35 OOP cap. Those eligible were more often male and medium- or high-income. Only 16% of publicly insured patients were eligible for savings with a $35 OOP cap, compared to 53% among privately insured and 52% among uninsured groups. Of those eligible for savings, we estimated a $35 OOP cap would have reduced average annual OOP insulin spending from $984 to $231, saving an estimated $1.2 billion. Uninsured patients would see a 93% reduction in OOP spending. Hispanic patients would see an 87% reduction in OOP spending, compared to 73% among non-Hispanic patients. Near poor and low-income patients would see greater OOP reductions than patients in other income groups. Conclusions: Populations most likely to benefit under a $35 OOP insulin cap are those with the highest cost-sharing requirements, such as the uninsured and those just above the threshold for income-based social services. Future work should assess how insulin OOP caps affect patient adherence and outcomes.

Cancer stage at diagnosis: Comparison of insurance status in SEER to the Department of Defense Cancer Registry.

Military individuals, retirees, and their families have free care or minimal out-of-pocket costs in the US military health system (MHS). In contrast, out-of-pocket costs in the US general population vary substantially. This study compared cancer patients with various insurance types in the general population to those in the MHS in cancer stage at diagnosis. Patients were identified from the US Department of Defense's (DoD) Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Tumor stage at diagnosis of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers during 2007-2013 was compared between ACTUR and SEER insurance categories of "insured," "insured-no specifics," "any Medicaid," and "uninsured," A multivariable logistic regression analysis estimated the odds ratio (OR) of late stage (Stages III and IV) versus early stage (Stages I and II) cancers comparing SEER insurance status to ACTUR. There were 18,440 eligible patients identified from ACTUR and 831,959 patients identified from SEER. For all cancer types, patients in the SEER-insured/no specifics, Medicaid, and uninsured groups had significantly greater likelihood of late stage diagnosis compared to ACTUR patients. The adjusted ORs were greatest among uninsured and Medicaid patients. The SEER-insured group also had a significantly higher odds of advanced stage disease than ACTUR patients for prostate cancer and lung cancer. Patients in the MHS with universal access to healthcare were diagnosed at an earlier stage than those in the general population. This difference was most evident compared to Medicaid and uninsured groups.

The Role of Health Insurance Type and Clinic Visit on Hypertension Status Among Multiethnic Chicago Residents.

To investigate the joint relationship of health insurance and clinic visit with hypertension among underserved populations. Population-based cohort study. Data from 1092 participants from the Chicago Multiethnic Prevention and Surveillance Study (COMPASS) between 2013 and 2020 were analyzed. Five health insurance types were included: uninsured, Medicaid, Medicare, private, and other. Clinic visit over past 12months were retrieved from medical records and categorized into 4 groups: no clinic visit, 1-3 visits, 4-7 visits, >7 visits. Inverse-probability weighted logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hypertension status according to health insurance and clinic visit. Models were adjusted for individual socio-demographic variables and medical history. The study population was predominantly Black (>85%) of low socioeconomic status. Health insurance was not associated with more clinic visit. Measured hypertension was more frequently found in private insurance (OR = 6.48, 95% CI: 1.92-21.85) compared to the uninsured group, while 1-3 clinic visits were associated with less prevalence (OR = .59, 95% CI: .35-1.00) compared to no clinic visit. These associations remained unchanged when health insurance and clinic visit were adjusted for each other. In this study population, private insurance was associated with higher measured hypertension prevalence compared to no insurance. The associations of health insurance and clinic visit were independent of each other.

The Use of Parenteral Nutrition and Disparities in Its Allocation Following Traumatic Injury

IntroductionSevere traumatic injury requires rapid and extensive deployment of resources to save the lives of the critically injured. The sequelae of traumatic injuries frequently require extensive intervention obligating patients to a complicated recovery process devoid of meaningful nutrition. In this setting, parenteral nutrition (PN) is key in enabling appropriate wound healing, recovery, and rehabilitation. We sought to examine the use of PN in adult trauma management and to highlight any disparities in the utilization of PN in adult trauma patients. MethodsWe queried the 2017-2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) for adult patients (aged > 18 y) who sustained blunt or penetrating traumatic injuries and received PN as part of their hospitalization. We compared time to PN administration based on demographics. We then used a multivariable logistic regression model to identify factors associated with the use of PN. We hypothesized that PN would be less commonly employed in the uninsured and minority groups. ResultsWe identified 2,449,498 patients with sufficient data for analysis. Of these, 1831 patients were treated with PN. On univariate analysis, PN patients were more commonly male (74.7% PN versus 60.2% non-PN; P < 0.001). PN use was more frequent in the Black population (24.3% PN versus 15.5% non-PN; P < 0.001) and less frequent in the White population (72.7% PN versus 81.2% non-PN; P < 0.001). PN use was also much more common among patients covered by Medicaid. Penetrating trauma was over twice as common among PN recipients relative to non-PN patients (% PN versus % non-PN). PN patients had higher injury severity scores (ISSs), more intensive care unit days, longer hospitalizations, and increased mortality compared to non-PN patients. PN patients were half as likely to discharge home and twice as likely to discharge to a long-term care facility. Multivariable analysis including age, race, trauma mechanism, primary payer, and ISS, demonstrated an association of PN use with increasing age (OR 1.01, P < 0.001), cases of penetrating trauma (odds ratio [OR], 2.47; P < 0.001), and patients with high ISS (OR, 0.1.06; P < 0.001). There was decreased use in Uninsured patient (OR, 0.54; P < 0.001). ConclusionsPN use following traumatic injury is rarely required. Patients treated with PN typically have a resource-intense hospital course. More severe injuries, penetrating trauma, and increased age are more likely to result in PN use. Variations in PN use are apparent based on insurance payer, further examination into allocation of hospital and intensive care resources, as it pertains to patient socioeconomic status, is warranted in light of these findings.

The impact of insurance status on in-hospital mortality in patients with hyperglycemic crisis: A propensity score matching analysis.

This study was designed to determine the associations between insurance status and clinical outcomes among patients with hyperglycemic crisis. Overall, 1,668 patients with hyperglycemic crisis were recruited from the Chongqing Medical University Medical Data Science Academy's big data platform. In-hospital mortality, length of stay, and complications (i.e., hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, pulmonary infection, multiple systemic organ failure, acute kidney injury, and deep venous thrombosis) were assessed. Propensity score matching analysis was used to reduce the confounding bias, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate the effect of insurance status on mortality in patients with hyperglycemic crisis. After matching one uninsured patient to two insured patients with a caliper of 0.02, the uninsured group suffered a higher burden of in-hospital mortality than the insured group (16.9% vs. 9.8%); the insured status (odds ratio [OR] = 0.216, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.079-0.587) was a potential protect factor for in-hospital mortality of patients with hyperglycemic crisis in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Insurance status is associated with the outcomes of hospitalization for hyperglycemic crisis; uninsured patients with hyperglycemic crisis face a higher risk of mortality in China. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Disparities in Mpox Vaccination Among Priority Populations During the 2022 Outbreak.

The 2022 mpox outbreak disproportionately affected men who have sex with men and persons living with HIV (PLWH). A 2-dose mpox vaccine series was deployed in mid-2022. Structural racism and insurance status may have affected equitable vaccination. We defined 3 cohorts: PLWH with at least 1 clinic visit between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2022 (n = 2066), HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recipients as of 1 January 2022 (n = 262), and all mpox-vaccinated patients in our health system between 1 July 2022 and 30 November 2022 (n = 807). We identified patients with prior diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as having a positive test result for gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis between 1 July 2021-1 July 2022. The primary outcome was receipt of at least 1 dose of mpox vaccine. We identified 224 (10.8%) PLWH and 50 (19.0%) PrEP patients who received at least 1 dose of mpox vaccine. Among PLWH, White race (odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% CI, 1.11-2.16), private insurance (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.01-3.34), prior STI (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.16-4.27), prior COVID-19 vaccination (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.93-5.20), and prior influenza vaccination (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.30-1.96) independently predicted mpox vaccination. Within the PrEP cohort, prior COVID-19 vaccination and seasonal influenza vaccination predicted mpox vaccination. Uninsured patients were vaccinated later in the outbreak than patients with private insurance (median time to vaccination, 41 days in the privately insured group vs 83 days in the uninsured group; P < .0001). Race, insurance status, prior STI, and previous receipt of other vaccines influenced uptake of mpox vaccine. Addressing health disparities and vaccine acceptance will be essential in improving future outbreak response.

Assessing Adherence to Statin Prescription Guidelines at a Student-Run Free Clinic: A Retrospective Review.

The goals of this quality improvement project are to assess the BRIDGE Student-Run Free Clinic's adherence to the 2019 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA)Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and to compare our rate of statin prescription to the national average and to uninsured groups. A quality improvement project of 205 patients qualified by initial inclusion criteria at a student-run free healthcare clinic. Socio-demographic information, clinical measures associated with cardiovascular risk, and documentation regarding statin prescription at the follow-up visit after a patient's first lipid panel were abstracted from medical records. Descriptive statistics were calculated on the sample (proportions, means), and the proportion of patients eligible for statin treatment was determined. Of 58 patients eligible by guidelines to receive statins, 29 received a statin (50%) at their follow-up visit. Patients with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) were more likely to receive statin therapy (83.3%) compared to other groups. Patients who were prescribed a statin were older, had higher total cholesterol, higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL), higher systolic blood pressure, and had higher ASCVD risk. Patients receiving statins were also more likely to be male or have a history of either hypertension, diabetes, or clinical ASCVD. Patients with established ASCVD had high rates of statin prescription.Following the first lipid panel, clinicians prescribed statins to approximately 50% of eligible patients.Although this proportion is below the national average for insured patients, it is higher than the national average for uninsured patients and represents a relatively high proportion of eligible patients within the examined time frame.

The role of insurance status in the association between short-term temperature exposure and myocardial infarction hospitalizations in New York State.

To evaluate effect modification of the relationship between short-term ambient temperature and MI, by individual-level insurance status (insured vs. uninsured). We identified MI hospitalizations and insurance status across New York State (NYS) hospitals from 1995 to 2015 in the New York Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database, using International Classification of Diseases codes. We linked short-term ambient temperature (averaging the 6 hours preceding the event [MI hospitalization]) or nonevent control period in patient residential zip codes. We employed a time-stratified case-crossover study design for both insured and uninsured strata, and then compared the group-specific rate ratios. Over the study period, there were 1,095,051 primary MI admissions, 966,475 (88%) among insured patients. During extremely cold temperatures (<5.8 °C) insured patients experienced reduced rates of MI; this was not observed among the uninsured counterparts. At warmer temperatures starting at the 65th percentile (15.7 °C), uninsured patients had higher rates than insured patients (e.g., for a 6-hour pre-event average temperature increase from the median to the 75th percentile, the rate of MI increased was 2.0% [0.0%-4.0%] higher in uninsured group). Uninsured individuals may face disproportionate rates of MI hospitalization during extreme temperatures.

Accounting for Medicaid expansion and regional policy and programs to advance equity in cancer prevention in the United States.

Many studies compare state-level outcomes to estimate changes attributable to Medicaid expansion. However, it is imperative to conduct more granular, demographic-level analyses to inform current efforts on cancer prevention among low-income adults. Therefore, the authors compared the volume of patients with cancer and disease stage at diagnosis in Ohio, which expanded its Medicaid coverage in 2014, with those in Georgia, a nonexpansion state, by cancer site and health insurance status. The authors used state cancer registries from 2010 to 2017 to identify adults younger than 64 years who had incident female breast cancer, cervical cancer, or colorectal cancer. Multivariable Poisson regression was conducted by cancer type, health insurance, and state to examine the risk of late-stage disease, adjusting for individual-level and area-level covariates. A difference-in-differences framework was then used to estimate the differences in risks of late-stage diagnosis in Ohio versus Georgia. In Ohio, the largest increase in all three cancer types was observed in the Medicaid group after Medicaid expansion. In addition, significantly reduced risks of late-stage disease were observed among patients with breast cancer on Medicaid in Ohio by approximately 7% and among patients with colorectal cancer on Medicaid in Ohio and Georgia after expansion by approximately 6%. Notably, the authors observed significantly reduced risks of late-stage diagnosis among all patients with colorectal cancer in Georgia after expansion. More early stage cancers in the Medicaid-insured and/or uninsured groups after expansion suggest that the reduced cancer burden in these vulnerable population subgroups may be attributed to Medicaid expansion. Heterogeneous risks of late-stage disease by cancer type highlight the need for comprehensive evaluation frameworks, including local cancer prevention efforts and federal health policy reforms. This study looked at how Medicaid expansion affected cancer diagnosis and treatment in two states, Ohio and Georgia. The researchers found that, after Ohio expanded their Medicaid program, there were more patients with cancer among low-income adults on Medicaid. The study also found that, among people on Medicaid, there were lower rates of advanced cancer at the time of diagnosis for breast cancer and colon cancer in Ohio and for colon cancer in Georgia. These findings suggest that Medicaid expansion may be effective in reducing the cancer burden among low-income adults.

Ex-ante moral hazard and health insurance: Evidence from China's urban residence basic medical insurance scheme.

This study examines whether implementing Urban Residents Medical Insurance Scheme decreased an individual's risky lifestyle behavior before illness, termed ex-ante moral hazard. Ex-ante moral hazard is predicted by the classical economic theory suggesting that health insurance coverage reduces an individual's incentive to take preventive efforts to remain healthy. Studies have provided mixed evidence for this prediction. China's 2006 nationwide social experiment of implementing the Urban Residents Basic Medical Insurance Scheme offers an excellent opportunity for examining the effect of the transition from uninsured to insured on an individual's health behaviors. We exploit the longitudinal dimension of a representative survey data for 2007-2010 and employ the instrumental variable technique, thereby addressing the issue of self-selection into voluntary health insurance schemes. The results do not provide evidence for and contrast the prediction of the ex-ante moral hazard. Significant differences exist between insured and uninsured groups with respect to smoking, drinking habits, and being overweight. People with insurance care more about their health than people without insurance do. The main results still hold if we use alternative estimation methods and other robustness tests.

Changes in knowledge and awareness for a community-based cancer screening educational program

BackgroundCervical cancer (CC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and breast cancer (BC) are diseases that can be prevented/detected through early test. Through educational programs, individuals can become better informed about these cancers and understand the importance of screening and early detection. However, many people, especially low-income, low-educated, uninsured minority population groups, do not have their cancer screenings at the recommended intervals and do not receive appropriate and timely follow-up of abnormal screening results or timely treatment after diagnosis. A community-based educational program was developed to improve knowledge and awareness toward the screening of the three cancer types in a South Texas underserved population.MethodsResidents living in Laredo, Texas were invited to participate in the present educational program. From January 2020 to April 2021, participants were recruited using social media and flyer distributions in the general community. Participants received a free live web cancer education presentation delivered by bilingual community health educators, and online pre- and post-education surveys for CC, CRC, and BC separately. Pre-post changes in knowledge for individual items were compared using McNemar’s chi-squared tests.ResultsOverall, the participants showed increases in CC (n = 237), CRC (n = 59), and BC (n = 56) screening knowledge and awareness after receiving the cancer screening education (Ps < 0.05). After receiving the cancer screening education, 85–97% of participants had an intent to talk to a healthcare provider about CC/CRC/BC screening, 88–97% had an intent to get a CC/CRC/BC screening test in the next 12 months or at the next routine appointment, and 90–97% had an intent to talk about CC/CRC/BC with their family members or friends.ConclusionsA community-based educational program culturally and linguistically tailored help increase knowledge and awareness about cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer screening, and promote positive changes in population’s knowledge and awareness about the benefits of cancer screening. Future cancer screening educational programs in similar populations are warranted to reduce the risk of cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer.