National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- Access to Care (3)
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- Cardiovascular Conditions (5)
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- Quality Indicators (QIs) (2)
- Quality Measures (2)
- Quality of Care (16)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Rural Health (2)
- Screening (1)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
26 to 50 of 90 Research Studies DisplayedHe D, McHenry P, Mellor JM
Do financial incentives matter? Effects of Medicare price shocks on skilled nursing facility care.
The authors provided new evidence on how Medicare payment changes affect the amount of skilled nursing facility (SNF) care provided to Medicare patients. They found that increases in Medicare payment rates to SNFs increased the total number of Medicare resident days at SNFs. Further, the effects were asymmetric; although Medicare payment increases affected Medicare days, payment decreases did not. They conclude that their results have important implications for policies that alter the Medicare base payment rates to SNFs and other health care providers.
AHRQ-funded; HS025529.
Citation: He D, McHenry P, Mellor JM .
Do financial incentives matter? Effects of Medicare price shocks on skilled nursing facility care.
Health Econ 2020 Jun;29(6):655-70. doi: 10.1002/hec.4009..
Keywords: Medicare, Nursing Homes, Elderly, Payment, Healthcare Costs
Mroz TM, Patterson DG, Frogner BK
The impact of Medicare's rural add-on payments on supply of home health agencies serving rural counties.
This analysis looked at the impact of Medicare’s rural add-on payments on supply of home health agencies serving rural counties. The authors used data from Home Health Compare. The results suggest that while supply changes are similar in rural counties adjacent to urban areas and urban counties regardless of add-on payments, only higher add-payments of 5 to 10 percent to rural counties keep them on pace with those in urban counties.
AHRQ-funded; HS024777.
Citation: Mroz TM, Patterson DG, Frogner BK .
The impact of Medicare's rural add-on payments on supply of home health agencies serving rural counties.
Health Aff 2020 Jun;39(6):949-57. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00952..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Home Healthcare, Rural Health, Payment, Access to Care
Hoffman GJ, Yakusheva O
Association between financial incentives in Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program and hospital readmission performance.
This study compared the outcome of penalties versus rewards to prevent hospital readmission in Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). This retrospective cohort study used Medicare readmissions data from 2823 US short-term acute care hospitals participating in HRRP. Data from pre-HRRP in 2016 was compared with 2016-2019 3-year follow-up readmission performance classified by tertile of hospitals using baseline marginal incentives for 5 HRRP-targeted conditions: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and hip and/or knee surgery. Of the 2823 hospitals participating in HRRP from baseline to follow-up, 81% had more than 1 excess readmission for 1 or more applicable condition and 19% did not. Financial incentives ranged from a mean range of $8762 to $58,158 per 1 avoided readmission. Hospitals with greater incentives for readmission avoidance had greater decreases than hospitals with smaller incentives. An additional $5000 in the incentive amount was associated with up to a 26% decrease in readmissions. The findings suggest that incentives work better than penalties to reduce hospital readmissions for those 5 conditions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025838.
Citation: Hoffman GJ, Yakusheva O .
Association between financial incentives in Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program and hospital readmission performance.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Apr;3(4):e202044. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.2044..
Keywords: Medicare, Hospital Readmissions, Provider Performance, Payment, Health Insurance, Hospitals
Selden TM
AHRQ Author: Selden TM
Differences between public and private hospital payment rates narrowed, 2012-16.
In 2000-12 payments for inpatient hospital stays, emergency department visits, and outpatient hospital care for privately insured patients grew much faster than payments for Medicare and Medicaid patients. This widening of private-public payment gaps slowed or even reversed itself in 2012-16. In this paper, the author discusses the differences between public and private hospital payment rates, 2012-2016.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Selden TM .
Differences between public and private hospital payment rates narrowed, 2012-16.
Health Aff 2020 Jan;39(1):94-99. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00415..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Hospitals, Payment, Healthcare Costs, Medicaid, Medicare
Werner RM, Konetzka RT, Qi M
The impact of Medicare copayments for skilled nursing facilities on length of stay, outcomes, and costs.
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Medicare's skilled nursing facility (SNF) copayment policy, with a large increase in the daily copayment rate on the 20th day of a benefit period, on length of stay, patient outcomes, and costs. The investigators concluded that Medicare's SNF copayment policy was associated with shorter lengths of stay and worse patient outcomes, suggesting the copayment policy had unintended and negative effects on patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266.
Citation: Werner RM, Konetzka RT, Qi M .
The impact of Medicare copayments for skilled nursing facilities on length of stay, outcomes, and costs.
Health Serv Res 2019 Dec;54(6):1184-92. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13227..
Keywords: Medicare, Nursing Homes, Payment, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Costs, Elderly, Hospitalization, Hospital Discharge
Chatterjee P, Qi M, Coe NB
Association between high discharge rates of vulnerable patients and skilled nursing facility copayments.
The authors sought to determine whether patterns of skilled nursing facility (SNF) discharge are associated with the change in Medicare payment responsibility on day 20. They found that Medicare beneficiaries were more often discharged from SNFs on benefit day 20 than on benefit days 19 or 21. Those discharged on day 20 were more likely to be racial/ethnic minorities and to live in areas of lower socioeconomic status compared with those discharged before or after day 20. Their findings suggested an association between disproportionately high SNF discharge rates of vulnerable patients and existing Medicare payment policies. The authors recommended that payment policies be designed with consideration of the potential for such unintended consequences, and that any potential consequences be mitigated by balancing existing payment structures with incentives to provide optimal patient care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266.
Citation: Chatterjee P, Qi M, Coe NB .
Association between high discharge rates of vulnerable patients and skilled nursing facility copayments.
JAMA Intern Med 2019 Sep;179(9):1296-98. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.1209.
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Keywords: Vulnerable Populations, Nursing Homes, Medicare, Payment, Policy, Social Determinants of Health
Childrers CP, Dworsky JQ, Kominski G
A comparison of payments to a for-profit dialysis firm from government and commercial insurers.
The authors assessed differences in payments from government and commercial insurers to dialysis clinics through analysis of DaVita’s financial records. They found that, in 2017, commercial insurers paid one of the largest dialysis suppliers 4 times the rate of their government peers. They recommended that reducing payments from commercial insurers, perhaps through increased competition or fixing charges at a percent of Medicare reimbursement, may help alleviate excess spending on dialysis.
AHRQ-funded; HS025079.
Citation: Childrers CP, Dworsky JQ, Kominski G .
A comparison of payments to a for-profit dialysis firm from government and commercial insurers.
JAMA Intern Med 2019 Aug;179(8):1136-38. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.0431..
Keywords: Payment, Health Insurance, Kidney Disease and Health, Medicare, Medicaid
Song LD, Newhouse JP, Garcia-De-Albeniz X
Changes in screening colonoscopy following Medicare reimbursement and cost-sharing changes.
This study examined changes in screening colonoscopy rates after Medicare reimbursement and cost-sharing changed when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented. A 20% random sample of fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare claims from 2002-2012 was used in this study. Screening colonoscopy rates did increase after 2001 when cost-sharing was eliminated but the amount varied depending on the algorithm used to classify the indication.
AHRQ-funded; HS023128.
Citation: Song LD, Newhouse JP, Garcia-De-Albeniz X .
Changes in screening colonoscopy following Medicare reimbursement and cost-sharing changes.
Health Serv Res 2019 Aug;54(4):839-50. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13150..
Keywords: Colonoscopy, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Medicare, Payment, Prevention, Screening
Sankaran R, Sukul D, Nuliyalu U
Changes in hospital safety following penalties in the US Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program: retrospective cohort study.
This study evaluated the association between hospital penalization in the US Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) and changes in clinical outcomes. Out of the total of 724 hospitals were penalized in fiscal year 2015, 708 were included in the study. The majority of the penalized hospitals were large teaching institutions and have a greater share of low-income patients than non-penalized hospitals. After penalization, there was a non-significant change in hospital acquired conditions, 30-day readmission rates, and 30-day mortality. This might mean that disparities in care could be exacerbated.
AHRQ-funded; HS026244.
Citation: Sankaran R, Sukul D, Nuliyalu U .
Changes in hospital safety following penalties in the US Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program: retrospective cohort study.
BMJ 2019 Jul 3;366:l4109. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l4109..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Medicare, Patient Safety, Provider Performance, Payment, Quality of Care, Quality Indicators (QIs)
Markovitz AA, Mullangi S, Hollingsworth JM
ACOs and the 1%: changes in spending among high-cost patients following the Medicare shared savings program.
This paper analyzed changes in spending among high-cost patients following the creation of accountable care organizations (ACOs), specifically for the Medicare Shared Savings Program – which is Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) flagship program. Changes in spending for Medicare fee-for-services were analyzed for different spending percentiles (50th, 90th, and 99th) as well as regionally. While there was a reduction in spending, it was not considered statistically significant and has not affected spending within or across regions. However, the authors note that the study is limited by the program’s voluntary nature and may be not a full reflection of the changes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728; HS025615.
Citation: Markovitz AA, Mullangi S, Hollingsworth JM .
ACOs and the 1%: changes in spending among high-cost patients following the Medicare shared savings program.
J Gen Intern Med 2019 Jul;34(7):1116-18. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-04963-2..
Keywords: Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Payment
Zhu JM, Navathe A, Yuan Y
Medicare's bundled payment model did not change skilled nursing facility discharge patterns.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether participation in Medicare's voluntary Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) model was associated with changes in discharge referral patterns to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), specifically number of SNF partners and discharge concentration. The investigators concluded that hospital participation in BPCI was not associated with changes in the number of SNF partners or in discharge concentration relative to non-BPCI hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266.
Citation: Zhu JM, Navathe A, Yuan Y .
Medicare's bundled payment model did not change skilled nursing facility discharge patterns.
Am J Manag Care 2019 Jul;25(7):329-34..
Keywords: Medicare, Payment, Practice Patterns, Hospital Discharge, Nursing Homes
Kaplan CM, Thompson MP, Waters TM
How have 30-day readmission penalties affected racial disparities in readmissions?: an analysis from 2007 to 2014 in five US states.
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in Black-White disparities in 30-day readmissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), or pneumonia following the passage and implementation of the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), and to compare disparities across safety-net and non-safety-net hospitals. Prior to the passage of HRRP, Black and White readmission rates and disparities in readmissions were decreasing, with largest reductions at safety-net hospitals. Findings showed that improvements in readmissions have not reversed following the implementation of HRRP. In contrast, disparities continue to persist at non-safety-net hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS023783.
Citation: Kaplan CM, Thompson MP, Waters TM .
How have 30-day readmission penalties affected racial disparities in readmissions?: an analysis from 2007 to 2014 in five US states.
J Gen Intern Med 2019 Jun;34(6):878-83. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-04841-x..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Hospitals, Medicare, Payment
Sheetz KH, Dimick JB, Regenbogen SE
How patient complexity and surgical approach influence episode-based payment models for colectomy.
This study looked into how the use of bundled payment programs would affect hospital reimbursements for colectomies. National data from the 100% Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files for the years 2010 to 2014 was used. Patients undergoing colectomies were identified using diagnosis-related group codes and ICD-9, Clinical Modification codes. Reconciliation payments were simulated as the difference between actual price-standardized 90-day episode payments and estimated regional spending benchmarks. The simulated bundled payment conditions showed 51.8% of hospitals would achieve shared savings, but the average case would incur reconciliation penalties. Laparoscopies would achieve the highest savings.
AHRQ-funded; HS023597.
Citation: Sheetz KH, Dimick JB, Regenbogen SE .
How patient complexity and surgical approach influence episode-based payment models for colectomy.
Dis Colon Rectum 2019 Jun;62(6):739-46. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000001372..
Keywords: Surgery, Payment, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Hospitals
Chukmaitov AS, Harless DW, Bazzoli GJ
Factors associated with hospital participation in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Accountable Care Organization programs.
The aim of this study was to assess the organizational and environmental characteristics associated with hospital participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The investigators found that hospital participation in both Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ACO programs was associated with prior experience with risk-based payments and care management programs, advanced health information technology, and location in higher-income and more competitive areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS023332.
Citation: Chukmaitov AS, Harless DW, Bazzoli GJ .
Factors associated with hospital participation in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Accountable Care Organization programs.
Health Care Manage Rev 2019 Apr/Jun;44(2):104-14. doi: 10.1097/hmr.0000000000000182..
Keywords: Payment, Medicare, Hospitals
Modi PK, Kaufman SR, Caram MV
Impact of Medicare office visit payment reform on urologic practices.
This study analyzed the impact of the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on urologic practices. This new payment system modifies reimbursement for office evaluation and management visits. Researchers used a sample of 20% of National Medicare claims. They identified 2822 practices ranging from solo to multispecialty groups. Solo practices had the least benefit in reimbursement with most practices having a small increase in payment.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Modi PK, Kaufman SR, Caram MV .
Impact of Medicare office visit payment reform on urologic practices.
Urology 2019 Apr;126:83-88. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2019.01.013..
Keywords: Medicare, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Payment, Policy
Markovitz AA, Hollingsworth JM, Ayanian JZ
Risk adjustment in Medicare ACO program deters coding increases but may lead ACOs to drop high-risk beneficiaries.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether beneficiaries' exposure to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) was associated with changes in risk scores and whether risk scores were associated with entry to or exit from the MSSP. Findings indicate that MSSP was not associated with consistent changes in within-beneficiary risk scores, but that beneficiaries at the 95th percentile of risk score had a higher chance of exiting the MSSP when compared to beneficiaries at the 50th percentile. The researchers conclude that decision not to upwardly adjust risk scores in the MSSP has successfully deterred coding increases, but this might discourage accountable care organizations to care for high-risk beneficiaries.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728; HS025615.
Citation: Markovitz AA, Hollingsworth JM, Ayanian JZ .
Risk adjustment in Medicare ACO program deters coding increases but may lead ACOs to drop high-risk beneficiaries.
Health Aff 2019 Feb;38(2):253-61. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05407..
Keywords: Medicare, Payment
Meddings J, Smith SN, Hofer TP
Mixed messages to consumers from Medicare: Hospital Compare grades versus value-based payment penalty.
This study examined the discrepancy of ratings with hospitals with low readmission grades for heart failure (HF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on the Hospital Compare website, yet received penalties for excessive readmissions under the hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. A retrospective data analysis was conducted of 2956 hospitals that had publicly reported HF grades on Hospital Compare. Of those, 92% were graded as “no different” than the national rate for HD readmissions, yet included 48.6% that were scored as having excessive HF admissions and 87% received an overall readmission penalty. Of the 120 hospitals graded as “better”, none were scored as having excessive HF readmissions and 50% were penalized. There were similar results for AMI.
AHRQ-funded; HS018334; HS019767.
Citation: Meddings J, Smith SN, Hofer TP .
Mixed messages to consumers from Medicare: Hospital Compare grades versus value-based payment penalty.
Am J Manag Care 2018 Dec;24(12):e399-e403..
Keywords: Medicare, Hospital Readmissions, Heart Disease and Health, Hospitals, Quality of Care, Cardiovascular Conditions, Provider Performance, Payment
Jacobs PD, Kronick R
AHRQ Author: Jacobs PD
Getting what we pay for: how do risk-based payments to Medicare Advantage plans compare with alternative measures of beneficiary health risk?
The purpose of this study was to estimate the relative health risk of Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries compared to those in Traditional Medicare (TM). The investigators indicate that their findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting MA receives favorable, or, at worst, neutral selection. They assert that if MA beneficiaries are no healthier and no sicker than similar beneficiaries in TM, then payments to MA plans exceed what is warranted based on their health status.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Jacobs PD, Kronick R .
Getting what we pay for: how do risk-based payments to Medicare Advantage plans compare with alternative measures of beneficiary health risk?
Health Serv Res 2018 Dec;53(6):4997-5015. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12977..
Keywords: Payment, Medicare
Selden TM, Karaca Z, Decker S
AHRQ Author: Selden TM, Karaca Z, Decker S
Has inpatient hospital treatment before and after age 65 changed as the difference between private and Medicare payment rates has widened?
This study examined whether inpatient hospital treatment before and after age 65 changed as the difference between private and Medicare payment rates widened. Using a large discharge dataset covering the period 2001-2011, the investigators tracked changes at age 65 in multiple dimensions of hospital care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Selden TM, Karaca Z, Decker S .
Has inpatient hospital treatment before and after age 65 changed as the difference between private and Medicare payment rates has widened?
Int J Health Econ Manag 2018 Dec;18(4):409-23. doi: 10.1007/s10754-018-9240-5..
Keywords: Payment, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Inpatient Care, Medicare
Huckfeldt P, Escarce J, Wilcock A
HF mortality trends under Medicare readmissions reduction program at penalized and nonpenalized hospitals.
After announcement and implementation of the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), 30-day readmissions declined rapidly among seniors with heart failure (HF) while 30-day mortality rose. This raised questions about whether the policy was responsible, because lower HF readmission rates have historically been associated with higher mortality. In this study, the investigators compared trends in heart failure (HF) mortality at penalized and nonpenalized hospitals nationally.
AHRQ-funded; HS024284.
Citation: Huckfeldt P, Escarce J, Wilcock A .
HF mortality trends under Medicare readmissions reduction program at penalized and nonpenalized hospitals.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2018 Nov 13;72(20):2539-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.08.2174..
Keywords: Mortality, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Hospitals, Provider Performance, Payment
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Kirby B
Effect of site-neutral payment policy on long-term acute care hospital use.
The purpose of this study was to assess the projected effect of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services new site-neutral payment policy, which aims to decrease unnecessary long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) admissions by reducing reimbursements for less-ill individuals by 2020. The investigators concluded that the site-neutral payment policy may limit LTACH access in existing LTAC-scarce markets, with potential adverse implications for recovery of hospitalized older adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Kirby B .
Effect of site-neutral payment policy on long-term acute care hospital use.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2018 Nov;66(11):2104-11. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15539..
Keywords: Policy, Hospitalization, Payment, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Elderly, Hospitals
Berenson R, Singh H
Payment innovations to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce diagnostic error.
Researchers examined ways that payment innovations could be used to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce diagnostic error among Medicare patients. They recommended three different approaches: 1) coding changes in the Medicare Physician Fee schedule; new Alternative Payment Models (APMs) that could improve accuracy in challenging cases and even provide second or third opinions; and 3) have a method that accurate diagnoses would trigger APM payments and establish payment amounts.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087; HS017820.
Citation: Berenson R, Singh H .
Payment innovations to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce diagnostic error.
Health Aff 2018 Nov;37(11):1828-35. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0714..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Payment, Medical Errors, Medicare, Patient Safety, Quality of Care
Bazzoli GJ, Thompson MP, Waters TM
Medicare payment penalties and safety net hospital profitability: minimal impact on these vulnerable hospitals.
The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between penalties assessed by Medicare's Hospital Readmission Reduction Program and Value-Based Purchasing Program and hospital financial condition. The investigators conducted bivariate and multivariate analysis of pooled cross-sectional data and found that safety net hospitals appear to rely on nonpatient care revenues to offset higher penalties for the years studied. They assert that while reassuring, these funding streams are volatile and may not be able to compensate for cumulative losses over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS023783.
Citation: Bazzoli GJ, Thompson MP, Waters TM .
Medicare payment penalties and safety net hospital profitability: minimal impact on these vulnerable hospitals.
Health Serv Res 2018 Oct;53(5):3495-506. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12833.
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Keywords: Payment, Hospitals, Medicare
Modi PK, Kaufman SR, Qi J
National trends in active surveillance for prostate cancer: validation of medicare claims-based algorithms.
This study analyzed the use of active surveillance of low-risk prostate cancer among a wide variety of health care practices. Researchers identified men with prostate cancer from 2012-2014 using a 100% sample of Michigan Medicare data and linked them with the Michigan Urologic Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC) registry. They analyzed the performance of 8 claims-based algorithms that were used and selected 3 of them to apply to a 20% national Medicare sample. The 3 algorithms were determined to be either the most sensitive, the most specific, and a balanced algorithm incorporating age and comorbidity. They found that use of surveillance for men increased from 2007 to 2014 but there was a large decrease in the rate of prostate cancer diagnosis. The rate of active surveillance either increased or remained stable depending on the algorithm used.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Modi PK, Kaufman SR, Qi J .
National trends in active surveillance for prostate cancer: validation of medicare claims-based algorithms.
Urology 2018 Oct;120:96-102. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2018.06.037..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Medicare, Men's Health, Payment
Thompson MP, Cabrera L, Strobel RJ
Association between postoperative pneumonia and 90-day episode payments and outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing cardiac surgery.
Postoperative pneumonia is the most common healthcare-associated infection in cardiac surgical patients, yet their impact across a 90-day episode of care remains unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between pneumonia and 90-day episode payments and outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing cardiac surgery. The investigators concluded that postoperative pneumonia was associated with significantly higher 90-day episode payments and inferior outcomes at the patient and hospital level.
AHRQ-funded; HS022535.
Citation: Thompson MP, Cabrera L, Strobel RJ .
Association between postoperative pneumonia and 90-day episode payments and outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing cardiac surgery.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2018 Sep;11(9):e004818. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.118.004818..
Keywords: Elderly, Surgery, Medicare, Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Pneumonia, Payment, Healthcare Costs, Outcomes, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Health Insurance