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Meier J, Murimwa G, Nehrubabu M, Yopp A, DiMartino L, Singal AG, Zeh HJ, Polanco P. Defining the Role of Social Vulnerability in the Treatment and Survival of Localized Colon Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Ann Surg 2025; 281:1055-1062. [PMID: 38545790 PMCID: PMC11436472 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000006282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether variations in the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) are associated with disparities in colon cancer surgery and mortality. BACKGROUND Colon cancer mortality is influenced by health care access, which is affected by individual and community-level factors. Prior studies have not used the SVI to compare surgical access and survival in localized colon cancer patients. Further, it is unclear whether those >65 years are more vulnerable to variations in SVI. METHODS We queried the Texas and California Cancer Registries from 2004 to 2017 to identify patients with localized colonic adenocarcinoma and categorized patients into <65 and ≥65 years. Our outcomes were survival and access to surgical intervention. The independent variable was census tract SVI, with higher scores indicating more social vulnerability. We used multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards for analysis. RESULTS We included 73,923 patients with a mean age of 68.6 years (SD: 13.0), mean SVI of 47.2 (SD: 27.6), and 51.1% males. After adjustment, increasing SVI was associated with reduced odds of undergoing surgery (odds ratio: 0.996; 95% CI: 0.995-0.997; P < 0.0001) and increased mortality (hazard ratio: 1.002; 95% CI: 1.001-1.002; P < 0.0001). Patients <65 years were more sensitive to variation in SVI. CONCLUSIONS Increased social vulnerability was associated with reduced odds of receiving surgery for early-stage colon cancer, as well as increased mortality. These findings amplify the need for policy changes at the local, state, and federal levels to address community-level vulnerability to improve access to surgical care and reduce mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie Meier
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
| | - Gilbert Murimwa
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
| | - Mithin Nehrubabu
- Department of Mathematics, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX
| | - Adam Yopp
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
| | - Lisa DiMartino
- Department of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, Dallas, TX
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
| | - Herbert J Zeh
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
| | - Patricio Polanco
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
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Branden L, Levin AS. Falling Rates of Public Orthopaedic Surgery Reimbursements and Utilization, 2016 to 2024. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2025; 33:378-384. [PMID: 39879381 DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-24-00897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 12/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Declining reimbursement rates can lead to decreased access and utilization of common orthopaedic surgeries for patients on Medicare, which is a particularly vulnerable population for musculoskeletal injuries. METHODS Using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool from 2016 to 2024 and utilization data for Medicare and part B beneficiaries from 2016 to 2022, we analyzed reimbursement and utilization trends. Simple linear regressions were executed to measure the annual trends, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test were used to analyze the statistical significance of price and utilization changes. RESULTS Between 2016 and 2024, mean reimbursements for all evaluated orthopaedic surgeries decreased 26.2% with a -3.34% compound annual growth rate, from $1,558 to $1,150 ( P < 0.0001). Comparatively, reimbursement rates for evaluation and management (E/M) services fell by 15.82% or a -1.91% compound annual growth rate, from $102.3 to $86.12 ( P < 0.0021). The federal utilization of all orthopaedic surgeries fell from 2016 to 2022 ( P < 0.0001), although no significant changes were seen for E/M services ( P = 0.9102). CONCLUSION We observe that Medicare reimbursement rates for orthopaedic surgeries from 2016 to 2024 have fallen consistently with a large drop in utilization, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Reimbursements for E/M services have fallen at attenuated rates with minimal changes in utilization. This demonstrates the supportive role that declining reimbursement rates may play in utilization and accessibility of orthopaedic surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Branden
- From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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3
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El Choueiri J, Pellicanò F, Laurelli F, Caimi E. Are we doing enough? Lifestyle interventions for enhancing spine health. J Clin Neurosci 2025; 133:111023. [PMID: 39742776 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.111023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2024] [Accepted: 12/28/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025]
Abstract
Spine-related health issues are a growing concern globally, driven by aging populations, sedentary lifestyles, and obesity rates, particularly in Western industrialized nations. While spine surgery remains a crucial intervention for severe cases, lifestyle modifications-including anti-inflammatory diets, smoking cessation, and physical activity-offer significant potential to prevent spinal conditions and improve surgical outcomes. Inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines are implicated in degenerative spinal diseases, and addressing these through diet and exercise could reduce the need for surgical intervention. Moreover, smoking cessation and perioperative nutritional optimization have shown promise in enhancing post-surgical recovery. Despite the demonstrated benefits, barriers exist in integrating these strategies into current practice, including patient adherence challenges and systemic biases toward surgical solutions. This paper advocates for a balanced, patient-centered approach to spine health that combines lifestyle interventions with surgical care, and poses the question: Are we doing enough?
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad El Choueiri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, School of Medicine.
| | | | - Francesco Laurelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, School of Medicine
| | - Edoardo Caimi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, School of Medicine
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Felan NA, Garcia-Creighton E, Hirpara A, Narváez I, Miller A, Batiste AJ, Stokes DJ, Tseng R, Santiago A, Smyth A, Pulciano NR, Wharton BR, McCarty EC, Muffly TM. Navigating the Orthopaedic Maze as a New Patient: A National Mystery Caller Study on Medicaid Coverage and Access to Specialized Surgeons. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2025; 33:e181-e190. [PMID: 39637372 DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-24-00668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Medicaid coverage is associated with longer appointment wait times, decreased access to care, and poorer health outcomes compared with private insurance across medical subspecialties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate new patient appointment wait times for subspecialty Orthopaedic care based on insurance type and to identify factors influencing these wait times. METHODS Orthopaedic physicians were identified using the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons patient-facing database in the fields of Adult Reconstruction, Foot and Ankle, Hand, Sports Medicine, Spine, Pediatric, and General Orthopaedic surgery. Mystery callers, posing as patients with either Medicaid or Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) insurance, contacted physicians to request the next available new patient appointment. The business days until the first available new patient appointment were recorded and analyzed using a linear mixed Poisson model. RESULTS A total of 1,002 phone calls were made to 501 unique physicians in 47 states. Among the 349 physicians meeting inclusion criteria, 37% (n = 130) did not accept Medicaid. Medicaid patients experienced a 10% longer wait for a new patient appointment compared with patients with BCBS (incidence rate ratio: 1.10; CI: 1.05 to 1.15; P < 0.01) with mean wait times of 24.9 business days (SD ± 24) and 19.6 business days (SD ± 23), respectively. Increased waiting times were also associated with academic institutions ( P < 0.01), prolonged call times ( P < 0.01), and specific geographic regions ( P < 0.05). Our model achieved an R-squared value of 0.94, demonstrating strong explanatory power. CONCLUSION Patients with Medicaid experience longer wait times and decreased access to care when scheduling an appointment with an Orthopaedic surgeon compared with patients with private insurance. This may be due to reimbursement structures in Medicaid that do not cover the full cost of treatment. Aside from advocating for higher reimbursement rates, telehealth initiatives may help bridge this gap to ensure accessibility to orthopaedic surgery for all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Felan
- From the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO (Felan, Garcia-Creighton, Hirpara, Narváez, Tseng, and Santiago), the Department of Orthopaedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO (Miller, Batiste, Stokes, Wharton, and McCarty), the Department of Orthopaedics, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Washington, DC (Smyth), the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Englewood, CO (Pulciano), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, CO (Muffly)
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Gill VS, Haglin JM, Tummala SV, Lin E, Cancio-Bello A, Hattrup SJ, Tokish JM. Regional variation from 2013 to 2021 in primary total shoulder arthroplasty utilization, reimbursement, and patient populations. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2025; 34:e35-e46. [PMID: 38754542 DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.03.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), encompassing both anatomical and reverse TSA, has increased in popularity worldwide. The purpose of this study was to assess how TSA utilization, reimbursement, surgeon practices, and patient populations have evolved within the Medicare population from 2013 to 2021 at a national and regional level. METHODS The Medicare Physician and Other Practitioners dataset was queried for all episodes of primary TSA (CPT-23472), both anatomic and reverse, between years 2013 and 2021. TSA utilization was assessed as volume per 10,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Average inflation-adjusted reimbursement, physician practice styles, and patient demographics of each TSA surgeon were extracted each year. Data were stratified geographically based on US census classifications and rural-urban commuting codes. Kruskal-Wallis and multivariate regressions were utilized to determine differences between regions. RESULTS Between 2013 and 2021 TSA utilization increased by 121.8%, nationally. The increase was greatest in the Northeast (+147.2%) and least in the Midwest (+115.5%). Average TSA reimbursement declined by 8.8% nationally, with the least decline in the Northeast (6.4%) and the greatest decline in the Midwest (-11.9%). In 2021, the Midwest had the highest TSA utilization (18.1/10,000), while having the lowest average reimbursement ($1108.59; P < .001). The Northeast had the lowest utilization (11.5/10,000) and highest reimbursement ($1223.44; P < .001) in 2021. Nationally, the number of Medicare beneficiaries per surgeon performing shoulder arthroplasty declined by 5.9%, while the average number of TSAs per surgeon (+8.5%) and average number of billable services per beneficiary (+16.6%) both increased. Surgeons in the South performed the most services per beneficiary in 2021 (9.0; P < .001). The average comorbidity burden of patients was decreased by 4.8% between 2013 and 2021, with the West having the healthiest patients in 2021. Higher patient comorbidities were associated with lower physician reimbursement nationally (P < .001). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that TSA utilization in the Medicare population has more than doubled between 2013 and 2021, while average inflation-adjusted reimbursement has declined by nearly 10%. The Midwest has the highest per-capita TSA utilization, while simultaneously having the lowest average reimbursement per TSA. Over time, TSA surgeons are seeing fewer and healthier beneficiaries but performing more services per beneficiary. Additionally, increased patient complexity may be associated with lower reimbursement. Together, these findings are concerning for long-term equitable access to care within shoulder surgery.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder/economics
- Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder/trends
- Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder/statistics & numerical data
- United States
- Medicare/economics
- Male
- Female
- Aged
- Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data
- Practice Patterns, Physicians'/economics
- Practice Patterns, Physicians'/trends
- Insurance, Health, Reimbursement/economics
- Insurance, Health, Reimbursement/trends
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram S Gill
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Jack M Haglin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Eugenia Lin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - John M Tokish
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Halperin SJ, Dhodapkar MM, Pathak N, Joo PY, Luo X, Grauer JN. Following carpel tunnel release, what factors affect whether patients return to the same or different hand surgeon for a subsequent procedure? PLoS One 2024; 19:e0312159. [PMID: 39436931 PMCID: PMC11495619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following carpal tunnel release (CTR), patients may be indicated for subsequent hand surgery (contralateral CTR and/or trigger finger release [TFR]). While surgeons typically take pride in patient loyalty, the rate of returning to the same hand surgeons has not been previously characterized. METHODS Patients undergoing CTR were isolated from 2010-2021 PearlDiver M151 dataset. Subsequent CTR or TFR were identified and characterized as being performed by the same or different surgeon, with patient factors associated with changing to a different surgeon determined by multivariable analyses. RESULTS In total, 1,121,922 CTR patients were identified. Of these, subsequent surgery was identified for 307,385 (27.4%: CTR 289,455 [94.2%] and TFR 17,930 [5.8%]). Of the patients with a subsequent surgery, 257,027 (83.6%) returned to the same surgeon and 50,358 (16.4%) changed surgeons. Multivariable analysis found factors associated with changing surgeon (in order of decreasing odds ration [OR]) to be: TFR as the second procedure (OR 2.98), time between surgeries greater than 2-years (OR 2.30), Elixhauser-Comorbidity Index (OR 1.14 per 2-point increase), and male sex (OR 1.06), with less likely hood of changing for those with Medicare (OR 0.95 relative to commercial insurance) (p<0.001 for each). Pertinent negatives included: age, Medicaid, and having a 90-day adverse event after the index procedure. CONCLUSIONS Over fifteen percent of patients who required a subsequent CTR or TFR following CTR did not return to the same surgeon. Understanding what factors lead to outmigration of patients form a practice may help direct efforts for patient retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott J. Halperin
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Meera M. Dhodapkar
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Neil Pathak
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Peter Y. Joo
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Xuan Luo
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Jonathan N. Grauer
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
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Lindsey CH, Beckwitt CH, Fowler JR. Investigating the Relationship Between Neighborhood Social Deprivation and Time to Specialty Orthopedic Care for Pediatric Trigger Thumb. JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY GLOBAL ONLINE 2024; 6:563-566. [PMID: 39166214 PMCID: PMC11331222 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsg.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Pediatric trigger thumb is a common condition resulting in referral from primary care to specialty care. Access to pediatric hand specialty care is a complex issue influenced by a multitude of social factors, including socioeconomic status. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between area deprivation and the time from primary care referral to presentation to specialty care for pediatric trigger thumb. Methods Participants were pediatric patients with trigger thumb. Patient-level area deprivation was reflected by the area deprivation index (ADI). We analyzed the relationship of the ADI to patient demographics (age and sex), trigger thumb treatment (surgical vs nonsurgical), and time to initial hand surgical visit after referral and surgical management when indicated. Results Among 163 patients with trigger thumb, 52% were men. Mean age at referral for trigger thumb was 2.9 ± 1.7 years. Mean ADI for patients diagnosed with trigger thumb was 57.8 ± 23.4 for the 2018 data set and 57.3 ± 23.6 for the 2021 data set, on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). The median time from referral from primary care to presentation to orthopedic care for trigger thumb was 34 days. Upon presentation to treating hand surgeon, 118 patients (72.4%) underwent surgical release. We found no difference in ADI between men and women nor between patients treated operatively or with nonsurgical management. We found a weak positive correlation between ADI and time from initial referral to presentation to the treating hand surgeon. There was no correlation between ADI and time from initial hand surgical evaluation and surgical management in patients indicated for surgery. Conclusions Pediatric trigger thumb patients from areas with higher ADI have a slightly longer delay between initial referral and their initial visit with an orthopedic hand specialist. Although we found a delay in initial evaluation by the treating hand surgeon in patients with higher ADI, ADI status was not different between patients managed with surgical and nonsurgical treatment nor between men and women. Clinical relevance Neighborhood ADI weakly correlated with increased time from referral to accessing specialty orthopedic care for trigger thumb. This may suggest a need for more equitable access to specialty care for patients with pediatric trigger thumb from high ADI areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John R. Fowler
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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Kankam SB, Okon II, Habibzadeh A, Rehman IU, Toriola O, Gbayisomore TJ, Okesanya OJ, Jalloh M. Navigating challenges in spine surgery in Nigeria: the current state and strategies for advancing spine care. Neurosurg Rev 2024; 47:265. [PMID: 38856859 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-024-02503-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The provision of specialized spine care in Nigeria presents a pressing challenge amid limited resources and geographical disparities. This correspondence offers a comprehensive roadmap for improving spine surgery and care within the country. We examine the current state of spinal health infrastructure, highlighting barriers such as limited access to specialists and facilities, particularly in rural areas, and financial constraints for patients. Innovations in spinal treatment, including the adoption of minimally invasive techniques and advancements in surgical modalities, are discussed alongside persistent challenges such as disparities in access and equipment costs. Training and education of spine surgeons emerge as critical areas requiring attention, with a shortage of qualified professionals exacerbated by inadequate training programs and resource constraints. We advocate for fostering local and international collaborations to address these gaps, emphasizing the role of partnerships in capacity building and knowledge exchange. Additionally, we explore the potential of public-private partnerships and investments to enhance the Nigerian spine healthcare system, calling for strategic initiatives to modernize infrastructure and improve accessibility. Finally, we propose a strategic blueprint encompassing infrastructure enhancement, training programs, research initiatives, policy advocacy, and public awareness campaigns. Through concerted efforts from local stakeholders and international partners, we envision a future where spine care in Nigeria is comprehensive, accessible, and of high quality, leading to improved health outcomes and a higher quality of life for those affected by spinal conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Berchi Kankam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Inibehe Ime Okon
- Brain & Spine, Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of the Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Adrina Habibzadeh
- School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ibad Ur Rehman
- Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Olalekan John Okesanya
- Department of Public Health and Maritime Transport, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
| | - Mohamed Jalloh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Cherelstein RE, Natal-Albelo EJ, Kuenze CM, Curley AJ, Bodendorfer BM, Hopkins M, Conroy CM, Fryar CM, Wang DX, Chang ES. The Effect of Greater Area Deprivation and Medicaid Insurance Status on Timing of Care and Rate of Reinjury After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Orthop J Sports Med 2024; 12:23259671241240751. [PMID: 38863506 PMCID: PMC11165962 DOI: 10.1177/23259671241240751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Lower socioeconomic status and public insurance lead to a longer delay to surgery and a higher likelihood of concomitant pathology before undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, few studies have examined the influence of community deprivation on ACLR timing and outcomes. Purpose/Hypothesis The primary aim of this study was to define the effect of the area deprivation index (ADI) and insurance classification on access to orthopaedic care after an ACL rupture, and the secondary aim was to determine whether these variables were associated with a second ACL injury after primary ACLR. It was hypothesized that patients with a greater national ADI percentile and Medicaid insurance would experience longer delays to care and an increased risk of reinjury after ACLR. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods A retrospective study was performed to evaluate patients undergoing primary ACLR between 2016 and 2019. The national ADI percentile was obtained utilizing the Neighborhood Atlas website. The relationship between national ADI percentile and care characteristics (eg, time to specialized care) was investigated using the Spearman rho correlation coefficient (r). The association between patient and care characteristics and second ACL injury after the index procedure (ie, graft rerupture or contralateral ACL rupture) was investigated using binary logistic regression. Results A total of 197 patients met the inclusion criteria. Longer times from injury to surgery (r = 0.238; P < .001) and from specialized care to surgery (r = 0.217; P = .002) were associated with a greater national ADI percentile. The second injury group reported significantly greater national ADI (P = .026) and included a greater percentage of patients with Medicaid insurance (31.3%) compared with the no second injury group. Patients experienced 5.1% greater odds of a second ACL injury for each additional month between evaluation and surgery. Conclusion Greater national ADI percentile and Medicaid insurance status were associated with adverse ACLR timing and outcomes. Patients with a greater national ADI percentile took significantly longer to obtain surgery after ACL injury. Those who sustained a second ACL injury after ACLR had an overall higher mean national ADI percentile and included a greater proportion of patients with Medicaid compared with those who did not sustain a second ACL injury. Future studies should critically investigate the underlying factors of these associations to reach equity in orthopaedic care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christopher M. Kuenze
- Inova Sports Medicine, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | | | | | - Christine M. Conroy
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Caroline M. Fryar
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David X. Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Heo K, Karzon A, Shah J, Ayeni A, Rodoni B, Erens GA, Guild GN, Premkumar A. Trends in Costs and Professional Reimbursements for Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty 2024; 39:612-618.e1. [PMID: 37611680 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With increasing numbers of revision total hip and total knee arthroplasties (rTHAs and rTKAs), understanding trends in related out-of-pocket (OOP) costs, overall costs, and provider reimbursements is critical to improve patient access to care. METHODS A large database was used to identify 92,116 patients who underwent rTHA or rTKA between 2009 and 2018. The OOP costs associated with the surgery and related inpatient care were calculated as the sum of copayment, coinsurance, and deductible payments. Professional reimbursement was calculated as total payments to the principal physician. All monetary data were adjusted to 2018 dollars. Multivariate regressions evaluated the associations between costs and procedure type, insurance type, and region of service. RESULTS From 2009 to 2018, overall costs for rTHA significantly increased by 35.0% and overall costs for rTKA significantly increased by 32.3%. The OOP costs for rTHA had no significant changes, while OOP costs for rTKA increased by 20.1%, with patients on Medicare plans having the lowest OOP costs. Professional reimbursements, when measured as a percentage of overall costs, decreased significantly by 4.4% for rTHA and 4.0% for rTKA, with the lowest reimbursements from Medicare plans. CONCLUSION From 2009 to 2018, total costs related to rTHA and rTKA significantly increased. The OOP costs significantly increased for rTKA, and professional reimbursements for both rTHA and rTKA decreased relative to total costs. Overall, these trends may combine to create greater financial burden to patients and the healthcare system, as well as further limit patients' access to revision arthroplasty care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Heo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Anthony Karzon
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jason Shah
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ayomide Ayeni
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bridger Rodoni
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Greg A Erens
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - George N Guild
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ajay Premkumar
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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Shahzad H, Hussain N, D'Souza RS, Bhatti N, Orhurhu V, Abdel-Rasoul M, Simopoulos T, Essandoh MK, Khan SN, Weaver T. Incidence of subsequent surgical decompression following minimally invasive approaches to treat lumbar spinal stenosis: A retrospective review. Pain Pract 2024; 24:431-439. [PMID: 37955267 DOI: 10.1111/papr.13315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Surgical decompression is the definitive treatment for managing symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis; however, select patients are poor surgical candidates. Consequently, minimally invasive procedures have gained popularity, but there exists the potential for failure of therapy necessitating eventual surgical decompression. PURPOSE To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of patients who require surgical decompression following minimally invasive procedures to treat lumbar spinal stenosis. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective review. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients who underwent minimally invasive procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis (Percutaneous Image-guided Lumbar Decompression [PILD] or interspinous spacer device [ISD]) and progressed to subsequent surgical decompression within 5 years. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the rate of surgical decompression within 5 years following the minimally invasive approach. Secondary outcomes included demographic and comorbid factors associated with increased odds of requiring subsequent surgery. METHODS Patient data were collected using the PearlDiver-Mariner database. The rate of subsequent decompression was described as a percentage while univariable and multivariable regression analysis was used for the analysis of predictors. RESULTS A total of 5278 patients were included, of which 3222 (61.04%) underwent PILD, 1959 (37.12%) underwent ISD placement, and 97 (1.84%) had claims for both procedures. Overall, the incidence of subsequent surgical decompression within 5 years was 6.56% (346 of 5278 patients). Variables associated with a significantly greater odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] of requiring subsequent surgical decompression included male gender and a prior history of surgical decompression by 1.42 ([1.14, 1.77], p = 0.002) and 2.10 times ([1.39, 3.17], p < 0.001), respectively. In contrast, age 65 years and above, a diagnosis of obesity, and a Charlson Comorbidity Index score of three or greater were associated with a significantly reduced OR [95% CI] by 0.64 ([0.50, 0.81], p < 0.001), 0.62 ([0.48, 0.81], p < 0.001), and 0.71 times ([0.56, 0.91], p = 0.007), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Minimally invasive procedures may provide an additional option to treat symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis in patients who are poor surgical candidates or who do not desire open decompression; however, there still exists a subset of patients who will require subsequent surgical decompression. Factors such as gender and prior surgical decompression increase the likelihood of subsequent surgery, while older age, obesity, and a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score reduce it. These findings aid in selecting suitable surgical candidates for better outcomes in the elderly population with lumbar spinal stenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hania Shahzad
- Department of Orthopedics, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nasir Hussain
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ryan S D'Souza
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nazihah Bhatti
- Department of Orthopedics, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Vwaire Orhurhu
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Susquehanna, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mahmoud Abdel-Rasoul
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Thomas Simopoulos
- Department of Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael K Essandoh
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Safdar N Khan
- Department of Orthopedics, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Tristan Weaver
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Kumar N, Akosman I, Mortenson R, Xu G, Kumar A, Mostafa E, Rivlin J, De La Garza Ramos R, Krystal J, Eleswarapu A, Yassari R, Fourman MS. Disparities in postoperative complications and perioperative events based on insurance status following elective spine surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. NORTH AMERICAN SPINE SOCIETY JOURNAL 2024; 17:100315. [PMID: 38533185 PMCID: PMC10964016 DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Increasing evidence demonstrates disparities among patients with differing insurance statuses in the field of spine surgery. However, no pooled analyses have performed a robust review characterizing differences in postoperative outcomes among patients with varying insurance types. Methods A comprehensive literature search of the PUBMED, MEDLINE(R), ERIC, and EMBASE was performed for studies comparing postoperative outcomes in patients with private insurance versus government insurance. Pooled incidence rates and odds ratios were calculated for each outcome and meta-analyses were conducted for 3 perioperative events and 2 types of complications. In addition to pooled analysis, sub-analyses were performed for each outcome in specific government payer statuses. Results Thirty-eight studies (5,018,165 total patients) were included. Compared with patients with private insurance, patients with government insurance experienced greater risk of 90-day re-admission (OR 1.84, p<.0001), non-routine discharge (OR 4.40, p<.0001), extended LOS (OR 1.82, p<.0001), any postoperative complication (OR 1.61, p<.0001), and any medical complication (OR 1.93, p<.0001). These differences persisted across outcomes in sub-analyses comparing Medicare or Medicaid to private insurance. Similarly, across all examined outcomes, Medicare patients had a higher risk of experiencing an adverse event compared with non-Medicare patients. Compared with Medicaid patients, Medicare patients were only more likely to experience non-routine discharge (OR 2.68, p=.0007). Conclusions Patients with government insurance experience greater likelihood of morbidity across several perioperative outcomes. Additionally, Medicare patients fare worse than non-Medicare patients across outcomes, potentially due to age-based discrimination. Based on these results, it is clear that directed measures should be taken to ensure that underinsured patients receive equal access to resources and quality care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neerav Kumar
- Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY,
USA
| | | | | | - Grace Xu
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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Venkat N, Vallurupalli N, Krueger CA, Courtney PM. Evaluation and Management-Focused Medicare Billing Threatens Orthopaedic Surgical Access for Medicare Beneficiaries. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2024; 106:171-174. [PMID: 37733920 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.23.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nitya Venkat
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Chad A Krueger
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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14
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Brush PL, Tomlak A, Pohl N, Lee Y, Narayanan R, Meade MH, Lambrechts MJ, Lawall CL, Weber J, Syal A, O'Connor P, Canseco JA, Kaye ID, Kurd MF, Vaccaro AR, Kepler CK, Hilibrand AS, Schroeder GD. Utilization of In-Hospital Orthopaedic Spine Consultations: Evaluating the Impact of Health Care Policy. Am J Med Qual 2023; 38:300-305. [PMID: 37908033 DOI: 10.1097/jmq.0000000000000155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Access to specialty and private practice providers has been a divisive policy issue over the last decade, complicated by the conflict between a reduction in government-funded health care reimbursement and the need for health care providers to sustain a financially sound practice. This study evaluates the orthopedic spine consult service at an academic tertiary care center at 2 separate time points over a 5-year period to better understand the impact of decreasing orthopedic reimbursement rates and the increasing prevalence of federally supported medical insurance on the access to specialty care. In total 500 patients in 2017 and 480 patients in 2021 were included for the final analysis. A higher percentage of consults in 2021 came from the emergency department (74.0% versus 60.4%, P < 0.001); however, the emergency department saw fewer spinal cord injuries (11.9% versus 21.4%, P < 0.001), and the spinal cord injuries were less severe (3.1% versus 6.2% Association Impairment Scale A or B, P = 0.034). A smaller percentage of patients in 2021 went on to receive orthopedic spine surgery following consultation (35.2% versus 43.8%, P = 0.007), and those receiving surgery had an operation performed farther out from the initial consultation (4.73 versus 4.09 days, P < 0.001). Additionally, fewer patients with Medicare insurance (23.5% versus 30.8%) and more patients with Medicaid insurance (20.2% versus 12.4%) were seen in 2021 compared with 2017 (P = 0.003). Overall, this study found an increased proportion of Medicaid patients seen by the spine consult service but a decrease in the acuity of consults. Measures to improve access to health insurance under the Affordable Care Act have revealed the complexity of this issue in health care. This study's findings have demonstrated that while more patients did have insurance coverage following the Affordable Care Act, they still face a barrier to accessing outpatient orthopedic spine providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parker L Brush
- Department of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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15
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Moore HG, Patibandla SD, McClung AM, Grauer JN, Sucato DJ, Wise CA, Johnson ME, Rathjen KE, McIntosh AL, Ramo BA, Brooks JT. Do Children With Medicaid Insurance Have Increased Revision Rates 5 Years After Posterior Spinal Fusions? J Pediatr Orthop 2023; 43:615-619. [PMID: 37694695 DOI: 10.1097/bpo.0000000000002504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Socioeconomic disparities in musculoskeletal care are increasingly recognized, however, no studies to date have investigated the role of the insurance carrier on outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with segmental spinal instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS A US insurance dataset was queried using the PearlDiver Mariner software for all patients aged 10 to 18 undergoing PSF for a primary diagnosis of AIS between 2010 and 2020. Age, sex, geographic region, number of levels fused, and baseline medical comorbidities were queried. Complications occurring within 90 days of the index surgery were queried using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. Revision surgery was also queried up to 5 years after the index PSF. Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher χ 2 tests and continuous variables were compared using independent t tests. All-cause revision within 5 years was compared using the Kaplan-Meier analysis and a log-rank test. Significance was set at P -value <0.05. RESULTS A total of 10,794 patients were identified with 9006 (83.4%) patients with private insurance and 1788 (16.6%) patients insured by Medicaid. The mean follow-up in the database was 5.36±3 years for patients with private insurance and 4.78±2.9 years for patients with Medicaid insurance ( P <0.001). Children with AIS and Medicaid insurance had a significantly higher prevalence of asthma, hypertension, and obesity. A larger percentage of children with Medicaid insurance (41.3%) underwent a ≥13-level PSF compared with privately insured children (34.5%) ( P <0.001). Medicaid patients did not experience higher odds of postoperative complications; in addition, revision surgeries occurred in 1.1% and 1.8% of patients with private insurance and Medicaid insurance, respectively at 5 years postoperatively ( P =0.223). CONCLUSION Despite worse baseline comorbidities and longer fusion constructs, AIS patients insured with Medicaid did not have higher rates of complications or revisions at 5-year follow-up versus privately insured patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III-retrospective cohort study.
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Rubery PT, Ramirez G, Kwak A, Thirukumaran C. Racial/ethnic and income-based differences in the use of surgery for cervical and lumbar disorders in New York State: a retrospective analysis. Spine J 2023:S1529-9430(23)03465-4. [PMID: 37890728 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT The extent to which use of spine surgeries for patients with cervical and lumbar disorders varies by their race/ethnicity and income is currently unknown. PURPOSE To assess racial/ethnic and income-based differences in use of spine surgery in New York State (NYS) from 2016 to 2019. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective observational analysis using 2016 to 2019 New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) data, direct standardization, and multivariable mixed-effects linear regression models. METHODS A dataset of patients who underwent surgery for cervical and spinal disorders in NYS in the period 2016 to 2019 was used to determine county-level age- and sex-standardized annual cervical and lumbar surgery rates expressed as number of surgeries per 10,000 individuals. Further sub-analysis was performed with the key independent variables being the combination of individual-level race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic individuals) and income (low-/high-income residing in zip codes below/above state median income); and year. We estimated multivariable mixed-effects linear regression models which controlled county-level variables to determine the adjusted rates of spine surgeries for patients belonging to various race/ethnicity and income group combinations. RESULTS The study included 29,650 and 42,498 patients in the cervical and lumbar cohorts, respectively. In 2019, the county-level mean cervical and lumbar surgery rates were 3.88 and 5.19 surgeries per 10,000 individuals, respectively. There was a five-fold rate variation across NYS. In 2019, the adjusted cervical rates were 4.59 (White low-income), 4.96 (White high-income), 7.20 (Black low-income), 3.01 (Black high-income), 4.37 (Hispanic low-income), and 1.17 (Hispanic high-income). The adjusted lumbar rates were 5.49 (White low-income), 6.31 (White high-income), 9.43 (Black low-income), 2.47 (Black high-income), 4.22 (Hispanic low-income), and 2.02 (Hispanic high-income). The rates for low-income Black or Hispanic patients were significantly higher than their high-income counterparts. Low-income Black patients had the highest rates. Over the study period, the gap/difference increased significantly between high-income Hispanic and White individuals by 2.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.27, -0.10, p=.04) for cervical surgery; and between low-income Black and White individuals by 2.82 (2.82, 95% CI: 0.59, 5.06, p=.01) for lumbar surgery. CONCLUSION There are differences in the rates of spine surgery in New York State, among identifiable groups. Black individuals from poorer zip codes experience relatively higher spine surgery rates. Understanding the drivers of surgical rate variation is key to improving the equitable delivery of spine care. A better understanding of such rate variations could inform health policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul T Rubery
- Department of Orthopaedics - University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Center for Musculoskeletal Research - University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Gabriel Ramirez
- Department of Orthopaedics - University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Center for Musculoskeletal Research - University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Amelia Kwak
- University of Rochester, 500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd., Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Caroline Thirukumaran
- Department of Orthopaedics - University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Center for Musculoskeletal Research - University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences - University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Mlv SK, Mahmood A, Vatsya P, Garika SS, Mittal R, Nagar M. Demographic characteristics of patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at a tertiary care hospital in India. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:3464-3470. [PMID: 37383898 PMCID: PMC10294183 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i15.3464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common sports-related injuries. Their incidence is not the same either for all the sports or for the same sport across various nations. This information is maintained by many sports leagues in their registries. However, very few nationwide registries exist for such injuries. This study is carried out to know the demographic characteristics of patients who underwent ACL reconstruction at our hospital in India. AIM To know the demographic characteristics of patients who underwent ACL reconstruction at a tertiary care hospital in India. METHODS All the patients who underwent ACL reconstruction from January 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively studied. Patients with multi-ligament injuries or a history of previous knee surgery were excluded. The patients' history was obtained from the hospital records, they were interviewed telephonically, and online questionnaires were given. Their demographic data was analyzed and compared to the existing literature. RESULTS A total of 124 patients were operated on for ACL reconstruction during this period. The mean age of the patients was 27.97 years. One hundred and thirteen patients (91.1%) were male and 11 (8.9%) were female. The majority of the patients (47.6%) sustained this injury by road traffic accidents (RTA) followed by sports-related injuries (39.5%). The commonest presenting complaint was giving way of the knee in 118 patients (95.2%). The mean duration from the injury to the first hospital visit among the patients was 290.1 d. The mean duration from the injury to surgery was 421.8 d. CONCLUSION ACL patients' demography is different in developing nations as compared to the developed world. RTA are the leading cause of ACL injuries and are followed by recreational sports as a cause. There is delayed access to healthcare leading to delayed diagnosis as well as even greater time to surgery. This, in turn, leads to poorer prognosis and longer rehabilitation. National registries for developing nations are the need of the hour due to the different demographics of ACL injuries in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Krishna Mlv
- Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Asjad Mahmood
- Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Pulak Vatsya
- Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Siva Srivastava Garika
- Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Ravi Mittal
- Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Manoj Nagar
- Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
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Gottschalk MB. Author's Reply to Letter to the Editor: Medicaid Payer Status Is a Predictor of Early Postoperative Pain Following Upper Extremity Procedures. Hand (N Y) 2023; 18:364-365. [PMID: 36476061 PMCID: PMC10035086 DOI: 10.1177/15589447221135900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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The Future of Spine Care Innovation-Software not Hardware: How the Digital Transformation Will Change Spine Care Delivery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2023; 48:73-78. [PMID: 36149861 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Narrative review. OBJECTIVE The aim was to utilize the lessons from the digital transformation of industries beyond healthcare, weigh the changing forces within the healthcare ecosystem, and provide a framework for the likely state of spine care delivery in the future. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Advances in technology have transformed the way in which we as consumers interact with most products and services, driven by devices, platforms, and a dramatic increase in the availability of digital data. Spine care delivery, and much of healthcare in general, has lagged far behind, hamstrung by regulatory limitations, narrow data networks, limited digital platforms, and cultural attachment to legacy care delivery models. METHODS The authors present a narrative review of the current state of the spine field in this dynamic and evolving environment. RESULTS The past several decades of spine innovation have largely been driven by "hardware" improvements, such as instrumentation, devices, and enabling technologies to facilitate procedures. These changes, while numerous, have largely resulted in modest incremental improvements in clinical outcomes. The next phase of growth in spine care, however, is likely to be more reflective of the broader innovation ecosystem that has already transformed most other industries, characterized by improvements in "software," including: (1) leveraging data analytics with growing electronic health records databases to optimize interactions between patients and providers, (2) expanding digital and telemedicine platforms to create integrated hybrid service lines, (3) data modeling for patient and provider decision aids, (4) deploying provider and service line performance metrics to improve quality, and (5) movement toward more free market dynamics as patients increasingly move beyond legacy limited health system networks. CONCLUSION Spine care stakeholders should familiarize themselves with the concepts discussed in this review, as they create value for patients and are also likely to dramatically shift the spine care delivery landscape.
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Patel MR, Jacob KC, Parsons AW, Vanjani NN, Prabhu MC, Pawlowski H, Singh K. Impact of Gender on Postsurgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion. Int J Spine Surg 2022; 16:991-1000. [PMID: 36418177 PMCID: PMC9807048 DOI: 10.14444/8366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior studies associate male gender with higher complication rates following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), but none has investigated gender influence on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) following single-level ACDF. METHODS Patients undergoing primary, single-level ACDF were divided into female and male groups. Visual analog scale (VAS) neck/arm, Neck Disability Index (NDI), 12-item short form (SF-12) physical composite score (PCS), PROM information system physical function (PROMIS-PF), and veterans RAND 12-item (VR-12) health survey PCS were collected preoperatively and postoperatively. Simple linear regression analysis evaluated the predictive capability of gender on PROMs. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of gender on mean PROMs while accounting for insurance type. Established MCID values determined achievement rates across PROMs. χ 2 analysis compared MCID achievement by gender. RESULTS A total of 179 women and 134 men were included. Cohorts differed in insurance type, length of stay, and discharge day (P ≤ 0.017, all). Women improved in PROMs at all timepoints (P ≤ 0.049, all) except SF-12 PCS 6 weeks and PROMIS-PF 6 weeks. Men improved in PROMs at all timepoints (P ≤ 0.042) except VAS arm 2 years, SF-12 PCS 6 weeks and 2 years, PROMIS-PF 6 weeks, and VR-12 PCS 6 weeks. Women demonstrated higher SF-12 PCS (P = 0.043) and VR-12 PCS (P = 0.035) 2 years. Multiple regression determined that VAS neck and arm from 6 weeks to 6 months, NDI from preoperative to 6 months, SF-12 PCS and VR-12 PCS from preoperative to 12 weeks, and PROMIS-PF preoperative, 6 weeks, and 6 months were significantly affected by gender and insurance status (P ≤ 0.031, all). MCID achievement rate did not differ for any PROM between genders. CONCLUSION Women reported significantly higher long-term physical function health (SF-12 PCS and VR-12 PCS) compared with men, while disability and pain did not differ. Nevertheless, no significant differences in MCID achievement were observed for any PROM studied. Gender does not appear to play a significant role in clinically meaningful recovery following single-level ACDF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gender has little value in prognostication for determining clinically meaningful recovery after single-level ACDF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhav R. Patel
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kevin C. Jacob
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alexander W. Parsons
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nisheka N. Vanjani
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michael C. Prabhu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hanna Pawlowski
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kern Singh
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA, Dr. Kern Singh, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W Harrison St, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
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Karamian BA, Toci GR, Lambrechts MJ, Canseco JA, Basques B, Tran K, Alfonsi S, Rihn J, Kurd MF, Woods BI, Hilibrand AS, Kepler CK, Vaccaro AR, Schroeder GD, Kaye ID. Does Age Younger Than 65 Affect Clinical Outcomes in Medicare Patients Undergoing Lumbar Fusion? Clin Spine Surg 2022; 35:E714-E719. [PMID: 35700082 DOI: 10.1097/bsd.0000000000001347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE To determine if age (younger than 65) and Medicare status affect patient outcomes following lumbar fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Medicare is a common spine surgery insurance provider, but most qualifying patients are older than age 65. There is a paucity of literature investigating clinical outcomes for Medicare patients under the age of 65. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients 40 years and older who underwent lumbar fusion surgery between 2014 and 2019 were queried from electronic medical records. Patients with >2 levels fused, >3 levels decompressed, incomplete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), revision procedures, and tumor/infection diagnosis were excluded. Patients were placed into 4 groups based on Medicare status and age: no Medicare under 65 years (NM<65), no Medicare 65 years or older (NM≥65), yes Medicare under 65 (YM<65), and yes Medicare 65 years or older (YM≥65). T tests and χ 2 tests analyzed univariate comparisons depending on continuous or categorical type. Multivariate regression for ∆PROMs controlled for confounders. Alpha was set at 0.05. RESULTS Of the 1097 patients, 567 were NM<65 (51.7%), 133 were NM≥65 (12.1%), 42 were YM<65 (3.8%), and 355 were YM≥65 (32.4%). The YM<65 group had significantly worse preoperative Visual Analog Scale back ( P =0.01) and preoperative and postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short-Form 12 Mental Component Score (MCS-12), and Physical Component Score (PCS-12). However, on regression analysis, there were no significant differences in ∆PROMs for YM <65 compared with YM≥65, and NM<65. NM<65 (compared with YM<65) was an independent predictor of decreased improvement in ∆ODI following surgery (β=12.61, P =0.007); however, overall the ODI was still lower in the NM<65 compared with the YM<65. CONCLUSION Medicare patients younger than 65 years undergoing lumbar fusion had significantly worse preoperative and postoperative PROMs. The perioperative improvement in outcomes was similar between groups with the exception of ∆ODI, which demonstrated greater improvement in Medicare patients younger than 65 compared with non-Medicare patients younger than 65. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III (treatment).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Karamian
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
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Alvarez PM, McKeon JF, Spitzer AI, Krueger CA, Pigott M, Li M, Vajapey SP. Socioeconomic factors affecting outcomes in total knee and hip arthroplasty: a systematic review on healthcare disparities. ARTHROPLASTY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 4:36. [PMID: 36184658 PMCID: PMC9528115 DOI: 10.1186/s42836-022-00137-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Background Recent studies showed that healthcare disparities exist in use of and outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). This systematic review was designed to evaluate the currently available evidence regarding the effect socioeconomic factors, like income, insurance type, hospital volume, and geographic location, have on utilization of and outcomes after lower extremity arthroplasty. Methods A comprehensive search of the literature was performed by querying the MEDLINE database using keywords such as, but not limited to, “disparities”, “arthroplasty”, “income”, “insurance”, “outcomes”, and “hospital volume” in all possible combinations. Any study written in English and consisting of level of evidence I-IV published over the last 20 years was considered for inclusion. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the data. Results A total of 44 studies that met inclusion and quality criteria were included for analysis. Hospital volume is inversely correlated with complication rate after TJA. Insurance type may not be a surrogate for socioeconomic status and, instead, represent an independent prognosticator for outcomes after TJA. Patients in the lower-income brackets may have poorer access to TJA and higher readmission risk but have equivalent outcomes after TJA compared to patients in higher income brackets. Rural patients have higher utilization of TJA compared to urban patients. Conclusion This systematic review shows that insurance type, socioeconomic status, hospital volume, and geographic location can have significant impact on patients’ access to, utilization of, and outcomes after TJA. Level of evidence IV. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42836-022-00137-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Alvarez
- grid.412332.50000 0001 1545 0811Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, USA
| | - John F. McKeon
- grid.412332.50000 0001 1545 0811Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, USA
| | - Andrew I. Spitzer
- grid.50956.3f0000 0001 2152 9905Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Chad A. Krueger
- grid.512234.30000 0004 7638 387XDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Matthew Pigott
- grid.412332.50000 0001 1545 0811Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, USA
| | - Mengnai Li
- grid.412332.50000 0001 1545 0811Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, USA
| | - Sravya P. Vajapey
- grid.412332.50000 0001 1545 0811Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, USA
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Xiong GX, Goh BC, Agaronnik N, Crawford AM, Smith JT, Hershman SH, Schoenfeld AJ, Simpson AK. Impact of insurance type on patient-reported outcome measures in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Spine J 2022; 22:1309-1317. [PMID: 35351668 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lumbar disc herniations (LDH) are among the most common spinal conditions. Despite increased appreciation for the importance of social determinants of health, the role that these factors play in patients with lumbar disc herniations is poorly defined. PURPOSE To elucidate the association between insurance status and baseline patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the setting of lumbar disc herniations. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective cohort study PATIENT SAMPLE: Baseline patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) were reviewed from 924 adult patients presenting for treatment of lumbar disc herniation within our institutional healthcare system (2015-2020). OUTCOME MEASURES The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Short Form 10a (PF10a), PROMIS Global-Mental, PROMIS Global-Physical, and visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and leg pain were assessed. METHODS PROMIS scores at presentation were defined at the primary outcome and insurance status as the primary predictor. Differences in clinical and sociodemographic characteristics between our cohorts, stratified by insurance status, were evaluated using Wilcoxon rank-sum or chi-squared testing. We used multivariable negative binomial regression modeling to adjust for potential confounders including age, gender, race, language, ethnicity, comorbidity index, and median geospatial household income. RESULTS We included 924 patients, with mean age of 58.4 +/- 15.2 years and 52.6% male prevalence. Patients insured through Medicaid were more likely to be Black, Hispanic, and non-English speaking patients compared with the commercially insured. The Charlson Comorbidity index was significantly higher in the Medicare group. Following adjusted analysis, patients with Medicaid insurance had significantly worse PF10a (IRR, 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.96), as well as PROMIS Global-Physical score (IRR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82-0.94), and VAS low back pain (IRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04-1.40) when compared to the commercially insured. CONCLUSIONS We encountered worse physical function, mental, and pain-related patient-reported outcomes for those with Medicaid insurance in a population of patients presenting for evaluation of lumbar disc herniation. These findings, including worse depression, anxiety, and higher axial back pain scores, merit further investigation into potential health system asymmetries, and should be accounted for by treating providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace X Xiong
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian C Goh
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Alexander M Crawford
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeremy T Smith
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stuart H Hershman
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew J Schoenfeld
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew K Simpson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Purcell M, Reeves R, Mayfield M. Examining delays in diagnosis for slipped capital femoral epiphysis from a health disparities perspective. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269745. [PMID: 35749448 PMCID: PMC9231816 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is a skeletal pathology affecting adolescents which requires timely surgery to prevent progression. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of SCFE can negatively affect patient prognosis, and few studies have examined how health disparities and barriers to care may influence these delays. In particular, only a handful of studies have included a Hispanic patient sample, despite this ethnic group’s increased risk for the disease and unique barriers to care. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 124 patients surgically treated for idiopathic SCFE from January 2010 to September 2017. Patient data included age, facility and date of diagnosis, sex, BMI, race and ethnicity, Southwick slip angle, and insurance type. Results indicated that patients with private insurance were more likely to present with a mild slip than patients who were insured by Medicaid or uninsured, while patients without insurance were more likely to have severe slips. Patients without insurance also had a significantly higher mean slip than patients with insurance. The relationship between insurance status and slip angle degree was significant independent of race, even though Hispanic individuals were significantly more likely to have Medicaid or be uninsured. All patients without insurance, and a majority of those with Medicaid, were diagnosed in the emergency department. Time to diagnosis and slip angle were positively correlated, which suggests that longer delays led to increase of the slip angle, consistent with previous findings. Time to diagnosis and BMI were also correlated, which may be tied to socioeconomic factors, but the possibility of weight bias should not be dismissed. These results suggest that socioeconomic status and other factors may have contributed to barriers to care which led to delays in diagnosis and thus more severe slips. Future SCFE research should include health disparities variables to better inform treatment and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Purcell
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rustin Reeves
- Department of Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Matthew Mayfield
- Department of Orthopedics, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
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Canseco JA, Karamian BA, Patel PD, Hilibrand AS, Rihn JA, Kurd MF, Anderson DG, Kepler CK, Vaccaro AR, Schroeder GD. The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Outpatient Spine Trauma Consult Follow-up. Clin Spine Surg 2022; 35:E412-E418. [PMID: 34907936 DOI: 10.1097/bsd.0000000000001277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on spine trauma patient follow-up. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Although damage to the spinal column accounts for a small proportion of all traumatic injuries, it results in a significant burden on the patient, provider, and health care system. Postoperative follow-up is essential to direct rehabilitation, prevent early deterioration, and manage complications early in the postoperative period. Previous studies have established the role of insurance coverage on follow-up compliance, however, the impact of the ACA on follow-up has been scant. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed upon institutional review board approval of spine trauma patients consulted by orthopedic spine or neurosurgery from January 2013 to December 2013 (pre-ACA) and January 2015 to December 2015 (post-ACA). Patient demographics, surgical case characteristics, and follow-up compliance were assessed via manual chart review. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify predictors of follow-up in the overall cohort, as well as within nonoperative and operative patients. RESULTS A total of 827 patients were included in the final analysis after inclusion and exclusion criteria. Overall, patient follow-up significantly increased after implementation of the ACA (P<0.001), with pre-ACA follow-up at 35.0% (144/411) and post-ACA follow-up at 50.0% (208/516). Multivariate regression analysis further corroborated these findings, showing post-ACA status associated with a 1.66-fold higher likelihood of follow-up. Among nonoperative patients, the ACA failed to make a significant difference in follow-up (P=0.56), however, patients treated operatively showed a significantly higher likelihood of follow-up (odds ratio=2.92, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Postoperative follow-up is an essential part of patient care, aiding in improving clinical outcomes and limiting the economic burden on the health care system. This study suggests that passage of the ACA significantly improved patient follow-up for operatively managed patients but not for nonoperatively managed patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Canseco
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
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Otero K, Congiusta D, Galdi B. Is Insurance Status Associated With Likelihood of Operative ACL Injury Treatment Compared With Nonoperative Treatment? Orthop J Sports Med 2022; 10:23259671221084296. [PMID: 35387361 PMCID: PMC8977718 DOI: 10.1177/23259671221084296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: While many factors inform the choice of operative versus nonoperative
treatment of injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee,
socioeconomic status influences this decision, as has been reported with
other procedures. Purpose: To identify any associations between insurance status and likelihood of
operative treatment of ACL injuries. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried using
International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision
codes for ACL injuries and reconstruction from 2001 to 2013. Chi-square
analysis was performed to determine significant predictors of operative
intervention. Binary logistic regression was used to account for demographic
and significant predictor variables. Results were recorded as odds ratios
(ORs) and 95% CIs. Significance was defined as P <
.05. Results: A total of 32,541 patients with ACL injuries were included in the final
analysis. Overall incidence of surgical reconstruction was 85.4% (n =
27,805). Multivariable regression revealed that nonprivate insurance types
were associated with lower likelihoods of operative reconstruction compared
with private insurance: the lowest likelihood of operation was seen in
uninsured patients (OR, 0.31; P < .01), followed by
Medicare (OR, 0.33; P < .01) and Medicaid (OR, 0.51;
P < .01) patients. There was also a decreased
likelihood of surgery for elderly (OR, 0.0 [for age ≥75 years];
P < .01) and Black patients (OR, 0.65;
P < .01). An increased likelihood of surgery was
seen with female patients (OR, 1.14; P < .01). Patients
in the highest median household income quartile were more likely to undergo
surgery than those in the lowest (OR, 1.36; P <
.01). Conclusion: Compared with privately insured patients, patients with nonprivate insurance
had lower likelihood of surgery. Furthermore, patients in higher income
quartiles were more likely to undergo operative fixation. These findings may
suggest a need for more precise treatment guidelines and studies that
investigate causes of such differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Otero
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Dominick Congiusta
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Balazs Galdi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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Resad Ferati S, Parisien RL, Joslin P, Knapp B, Li X, Curry EJ. Socioeconomic Status Impacts Access to Orthopaedic Specialty Care. JBJS Rev 2022; 10:01874474-202202000-00007. [PMID: 35171876 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.rvw.21.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
» Financial, personal, and structural barriers affect access to all aspects of orthopaedic specialty care. » Disparities in access to care are present across all subspecialties of orthopaedic surgery in the United States. » Improving timely access to care in orthopaedic surgery is crucial for both health equity and optimizing patient outcomes. » Options for improving orthopaedic access include increasing Medicaid/Medicare payments to physicians, providing secondary resources to assist patients with limited finances, and reducing language barriers in both clinical care and patient education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sehar Resad Ferati
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert L Parisien
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Patrick Joslin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brock Knapp
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xinning Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily J Curry
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Cheng AL, McDuffie JV, Schuelke MJ, Calfee RP, Prather H, Colditz GA. How Should We Measure Social Deprivation in Orthopaedic Patients? Clin Orthop Relat Res 2022; 480:325-339. [PMID: 34751675 PMCID: PMC8747613 DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000002044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social deprivation negatively affects a myriad of physical and behavioral health outcomes. Several measures of social deprivation exist, but it is unclear which measure is best suited to describe patients with orthopaedic conditions. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES (1) Which measure of social deprivation, defined as "limited access to society's resources due to poverty, discrimination, or other disadvantage," is most strongly and consistently correlated with patient-reported physical and behavioral health in patients with orthopaedic conditions? (2) Compared with the use of a single measure alone, how much more variability in patient-reported health does the simultaneous use of multiple social deprivation measures capture? METHODS Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 79,818 new patient evaluations occurred within the orthopaedic department of a single, large, urban, tertiary-care academic center. Over that period, standardized collection of patient-reported health measures (as described by the Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS]) was implemented in a staged fashion throughout the department. We excluded the 25% (19,926) of patient encounters that did not have associated PROMIS measures reported, which left 75% (59,892) of patient encounters available for analysis in this cross-sectional study of existing medical records. Five markers of social deprivation were collected for each patient: national and state Area Deprivation Index, Medically Underserved Area Status, Rural-Urban Commuting Area code, and insurance classification (private, Medicare, Medicaid, or other). Patient-reported physical and behavioral health was measured via PROMIS computer adaptive test domains, which patients completed as part of standard care before being evaluated by a provider. Adults completed the PROMIS Physical Function version 1.2 or version 2.0, Pain Interference version 1.1, Anxiety version 1.0, and Depression version 1.0. Children ages 5 to 17 years completed the PROMIS Pediatric Mobility version 1.0 or version 2.0, Pain Interference version 1.0 or version 2.0, Upper Extremity version 1.0, and Peer Relationships version 1.0. Age-adjusted partial Pearson correlation coefficients were determined for each social deprivation measure and PROMIS domain. Coefficients of at least 0.1 were considered clinically meaningful for this purpose. Additionally, to determine the percentage of PROMIS score variability that could be attributed to each social deprivation measure, an age-adjusted hierarchical regression analysis was performed for each PROMIS domain, in which social deprivation measures were sequentially added as independent variables. The model coefficients of determination (r2) were compared as social deprivation measures were incrementally added. Improvement of the r2 by at least 10% was considered clinically meaningful. RESULTS Insurance classification was the social deprivation measure with the largest (absolute value) age-adjusted correlation coefficient for all adult and pediatric PROMIS physical and behavioral health domains (adults: correlation coefficient 0.40 to 0.43 [95% CI 0.39 to 0.44]; pediatrics: correlation coefficient 0.10 to 0.19 [95% CI 0.08 to 0.21]), followed by national Area Deprivation Index (adults: correlation coefficient 0.18 to 0.22 [95% CI 0.17 to 0.23]; pediatrics: correlation coefficient 0.08 to 0.15 [95% CI 0.06 to 0.17]), followed closely by state Area Deprivation Index. The Medically Underserved Area Status and Rural-Urban Commuting Area code each had correlation coefficients of 0.1 or larger for some PROMIS domains but neither had consistently stronger correlation coefficients than the other. Except for the PROMIS Pediatric Upper Extremity domain, consideration of insurance classification and the national Area Deprivation Index together explained more of the variation in age-adjusted PROMIS scores than the use of insurance classification alone (adults: r2 improvement 32% to 189% [95% CI 0.02 to 0.04]; pediatrics: r2 improvement 56% to 110% [95% CI 0.01 to 0.02]). The addition of the Medically Underserved Area Status, Rural-Urban Commuting Area code, and/or state Area Deprivation Index did not further improve the r2 for any of the PROMIS domains. CONCLUSION To capture the most variability due to social deprivation in orthopaedic patients' self-reported physical and behavioral health, insurance classification (categorized as private, Medicare, Medicaid, or other) and national Area Deprivation Index should be included in statistical analyses. If only one measure of social deprivation is preferred, insurance classification or national Area Deprivation Index are reasonable options. Insurance classification may be more readily available, but the national Area Deprivation Index stratifies patients across a wider distribution of values. When conducting clinical outcomes research with social deprivation as a relevant covariate, we encourage researchers to consider accounting for insurance classification and/or national Area Deprivation Index, both of which are freely available and can be obtained from data that are typically collected during routine clinical care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, therapeutic study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby L. Cheng
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Matthew J. Schuelke
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ryan P. Calfee
- Division of Hand and Wrist, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Heidi Prather
- Department of Physiatry, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Graham A. Colditz
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Greenberg JK, Brown DS, Olsen MA, Ray WZ. Association of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act with access to elective spine surgical care. J Neurosurg Spine 2022; 36:336-344. [PMID: 34560659 PMCID: PMC8942868 DOI: 10.3171/2021.3.spine2122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid eligibility in many states, improving access to some forms of elective healthcare in the United States. Whether this effort increased access to elective spine surgical care is unknown. This study's objective was to evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on the volume and payer mix of elective spine surgery in the United States. METHODS This study evaluated elective spine surgical procedures performed from 2011 to 2016 and included in the all-payer State Inpatient Databases of 10 states that expanded Medicaid access in 2014, as well as 4 states that did not expand Medicaid access. Adult patients aged 18-64 years who underwent elective spine surgery were included. The authors used a quasi-experimental difference-in-difference design to evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion on hospital procedure volume and payer mix, independent of time-dependent trends. Subgroup analysis was conducted that stratified results according to cervical fusion, thoracolumbar fusion, and noninstrumented surgery. RESULTS The authors identified 218,648 surgical procedures performed in 10 Medicaid expansion states and 118,693 procedures performed in 4 nonexpansion states. Medicaid expansion was associated with a 17% (95% CI 2%-35%, p = 0.03) increase in mean hospital spine surgical volume and a 23% (95% CI -0.3% to 52%, p = 0.054) increase in Medicaid volume. Privately insured surgical volumes did not change significantly (incidence rate ratio 1.13, 95% CI -5% to 34%, p = 0.18). The increase in Medicaid volume led to a shift in payer mix, with the proportion of Medicaid patients increasing by 6.0 percentage points (95% CI 4.1-7.0, p < 0.001) and the proportion of private payers decreasing by 6.7 percentage points (95% CI 4.5-8.8, p < 0.001). Although the magnitude of effects varied, these trends were similar across procedure subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act was associated with an economically and statistically significant increase in spine surgery volume and the proportion of surgical patients with Medicaid insurance, indicating improved access to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob K. Greenberg
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Derek S. Brown
- Brown School, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Margaret A. Olsen
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Wilson Z. Ray
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
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Reimbursement for Orthopaedic Surgeries in Commercial and Public Payors: A Race to the Bottom. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2021; 29:e1232-e1238. [PMID: 33750751 DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-20-01397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to compare surgeon professional fee reimbursement and trends from Medicare versus commercial payors for inpatient orthopaedic surgeries: total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF), and posterior lumbar fusion (PLF). METHODS Patients undergoing TKA, THA, TSA, single-level ACDF, and single-level PLF from 2010 to 2018 were queried in a commercially insured claims database. Medicare reimbursements and the work relative value unit (wRVU) of each procedure were obtained from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. All costs were adjusted for inflation and reported in 2018 real dollars. Compound annual growth rates were calculated to assess the mean growth rate for each procedure. Linear regression was done to assess trends. RESULTS On average, payments from Medicare were 57% less than payments from commercial payors. From 2010 to 2018, both Medicare and commercial payments decreased significantly for each surgery (P < 0.05 for all). Compared with inflation-adjusted commercial payments, Medicare payments decreased 2.1 times faster for TKA (-2.1% versus -1.0%), 2.8 times faster for THA (-1.4% versus -0.5%), 1.3 times faster for TSA (-1.0% versus -0.8%), and 1.9 times faster for ACDF (-1.1% versus -0.6%). PLF was the only procedure for which Medicare payments declined slower than commercial payments (-0.6% versus -1.21%). Medicare payments per wRVU markedly declined for TKA (-0.83%), THA (-0.80%), TSA (-0.75%), and ACDF (-1.10%), whereas commercial payments per wRVU for those surgeries showed no notable change. For PLF, there was a notable decrease in both Medicare (-0.63%) and commercial (-1.21%) payments per wRVU. CONCLUSION Over the past decade, both commercial and Medicare surgeon payments for commonly performed inpatient orthopaedic surgeries decreased markedly, with Medicare payments decreasing an average of 1.5 times faster than commercial payments. The impact of declining reimbursements on access and quality of care merits additional investigation.
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Lopez CD, Boddapati V, Schweppe EA, Levine WN, Lehman RA, Lenke LG. Recent Trends in Medicare Utilization and Reimbursement for Orthopaedic Procedures Performed at Ambulatory Surgery Centers. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2021; 103:1383-1391. [PMID: 33780398 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.20.01105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As part of a market-driven response to the increasing costs of hospital-based surgical care, an increasing volume of orthopaedic procedures are being performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). The purpose of the present study was to identify recent trends in orthopaedic ASC procedure volume, utilization, and reimbursements in the Medicare system between 2012 and 2017. METHODS This cross-sectional, national study tracked annual Medicare claims and payments and aggregated data at the county level. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression models were used to evaluate trends in procedure volume, utilization rates, and reimbursement rates, and to identify demographic predictors of ASC utilization. RESULTS A total of 1,914,905 orthopaedic procedures were performed at ASCs in the Medicare population between 2012 and 2017, with an 8.8% increase in annual procedure volume and a 10.5% increase in average reimbursements per case. ASC orthopaedic procedure utilization, including utilization across all subspecialties, is strongly associated with metropolitan areas compared with rural areas. In addition, orthopaedic procedure utilization, including for sports and hand procedures, was found to be significantly higher in wealthier counties (measured by average household income) and in counties located in the South. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated increasing orthopaedic ASC procedure volume in recent years, driven by increases in hand procedure volume. Medicare reimbursements per case have steadily risen and outpaced the rate of inflation over the study period. However, as orthopaedic practice overhead continues to increase, other Medicare expenditures such as hospital payments and operational and implant costs also must be evaluated. These findings may provide a source of information that can be used by orthopaedic surgeons, policy makers, investors, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding the costs and benefits of the use of ASCs for orthopaedic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar D Lopez
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
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Xiong G, Greene NE, Lightsey HM, Crawford AM, Striano BM, Simpson AK, Schoenfeld AJ. Telemedicine Use in Orthopaedic Surgery Varies by Race, Ethnicity, Primary Language, and Insurance Status. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2021; 479:1417-1425. [PMID: 33982979 PMCID: PMC8208394 DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000001775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare disparities are well documented across multiple subspecialties in orthopaedics. The widespread implementation of telemedicine risks worsening these disparities if not carefully executed, despite original assumptions that telemedicine improves overall access to care. Telemedicine also poses unique challenges such as potential language or technological barriers that may alter previously described patterns in orthopaedic disparities. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES Are the proportions of patients who use telemedicine across orthopaedic services different among (1) racial and ethnic minorities, (2) non-English speakers, and (3) patients insured through Medicaid during a 10-week period after the implementation of telemedicine in our healthcare system compared with in-person visits during a similar time period in 2019? METHODS This was a retrospective comparative study using electronic medical record data to compare new patients establishing orthopaedic care via outpatient telemedicine at two academic urban medical centers between March 2020 and May 2020 with new orthopaedic patients during the same 10-week period in 2019. A total of 11,056 patients were included for analysis, with 1760 in the virtual group and 9296 in the control group. Unadjusted analyses demonstrated patients in the virtual group were younger (median age 57 years versus 59 years; p < 0.001), but there were no differences with regard to gender (56% female versus 56% female; p = 0.66). We used self-reported race or ethnicity as our primary independent variable, with primary language and insurance status considered secondarily. Unadjusted and multivariable adjusted analyses were performed for our primary and secondary predictors using logistic regression. We also assessed interactions between race or ethnicity, primary language, and insurance type. RESULTS After adjusting for age, gender, subspecialty, insurance, and median household income, we found that patients who were Hispanic (odds ratio 0.59 [95% confidence interval 0.39 to 0.91]; p = 0.02) or Asian were less likely (OR 0.73 [95% CI 0.53 to 0.99]; p = 0.04) to be seen through telemedicine than were patients who were white. After controlling for confounding variables, we also found that speakers of languages other than English or Spanish were less likely to have a telemedicine visit than were people whose primary language was English (OR 0.34 [95% CI 0.18 to 0.65]; p = 0.001), and that patients insured through Medicaid were less likely to be seen via telemedicine than were patients who were privately insured (OR 0.83 [95% CI 0.69 to 0.98]; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION Despite initial promises that telemedicine would help to bridge gaps in healthcare, our results demonstrate disparities in orthopaedic telemedicine use based on race or ethnicity, language, and insurance type. The telemedicine group was slightly younger, which we do not believe undermines the findings. As healthcare moves toward increased telemedicine use, we suggest several approaches to ensure that patients of certain racial, ethnic, or language groups do not experience disparate barriers to care. These might include individual patient- or provider-level approaches like expanded telemedicine schedules to accommodate weekends and evenings, institutional investment in culturally conscious outreach materials such as advertisements on community transport systems, or government-level provisions such as reimbursement for telephone-only encounters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, therapeutic study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Xiong
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nattaly E Greene
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harry M Lightsey
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander M Crawford
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brendan M Striano
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew K Simpson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew J Schoenfeld
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Li LT, Chuck C, Bokshan SL, Owens BD. Increased Total Cost and Lack of Diagnostic Utility for Emergency Department Visits After ACL Injury. Orthop J Sports Med 2021; 9:23259671211006711. [PMID: 34026918 PMCID: PMC8120546 DOI: 10.1177/23259671211006711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Patients are commonly evaluated at the emergency department (ED) with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, but providers without orthopaedics training may struggle to correctly diagnose these injuries. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that few patients would be diagnosed with an ACL tear while in the ED and that these patients would be of lower socioeconomic status and more likely to have public insurance. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The 2017 State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Database (SASD) and State Emergency Department Database (SEDD) from the state of Florida were utilized in this study. Cases with Current Procedural Terminology code 29888 (arthroscopically aided ACL reconstruction [ACLR]) were selected from the SASD, and data from the SEDD were matched to patients who had an ED visit for a knee injury within 120 days before ACLR. Chi-square analysis was used to test for differences in patient and surgical variables between the ED visit and nonvisit patient groups. A generalized linear model was created to model the effect of ED visit on total cost for an ACL injury. Results: While controlling for differences in patient characteristics and concomitant procedure usage, a visit to the ED added $4587 in total cost (P < .001). The ED visit cohort contained a greater proportion of patients with Medicaid (20.2% vs 9.1%), patients who were Black (18.4% vs 10.3%), and patients in the lowest income quartile (34.4% vs 25.0%) (P < .001 for all). In the ED visit cohort, 14.4% of patients received an allograft versus 10.1% in the non-ED visit cohort (P = .001) despite having a similar mean age. An ACL sprain was diagnosed in only 29 of the 645 (4.5%) patients who visited the ED. Conclusion: Utilizing the ED for care after an ACL injury was expensive, averaging a $4587 increase in total cost associated with ACLR. However, patients rarely left with a definitive diagnosis, with only 4.5% of patients who underwent ACLR being correctly diagnosed with an ACL tear in the ED. This additional cost was levied disproportionately on patients of low socioeconomic status and patients with Medicaid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lambert T Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brown University, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Carlin Chuck
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brown University, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Steven L Bokshan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brown University, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Brett D Owens
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brown University, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Bernstein DN, Merchan N, Fear K, Rubery PT, Mesfin A. Greater Socioeconomic Disadvantage Is Associated with Worse Symptom Severity at Initial Presentation in Patients Seeking Care for Lumbar Disc Herniation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021; 46:464-471. [PMID: 33181773 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000003811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective, observational study. OBJECTIVE To determine the association of patient socioeconomic disadvantage, insurance type, and other characteristics on presenting symptom severity in patients with isolated lumbar disc herniation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Little is known of the impact of socioeconomic disadvantage and other patient characteristics on the level of self-reported symptom severity when patients first seek care for lumbar disc herniation. METHODS Between April 2015 and December 2018, 734 patients newly presenting for isolated lumbar disc herniation who completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function (PF), Pain Interference (PI), and Depression Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs) were identified. Socioeconomic disadvantage was determined using the Area Deprivation Index, a validated measure of socioeconomic disadvantage at the census block group level (0-100, 100 = highest socioeconomic disadvantage). Bivariate analyses were used. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine if there was an association between socioeconomic disadvantage, insurance type, and other patient factors and presenting patient-reported health status. RESULTS Significant differences in age, insurance type, self-reported race, marital status, and county of residence were appreciated when comparing patient characteristics by socioeconomic disadvantage levels (all comparisons, P < 0.01). In addition, significant differences in age, insurance type, marital status, and county of residence were appreciated when comparing patient characteristics by self-reported race (all comparisons, P < 0.01). Being in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged cohort was associated with worse presenting Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scores (Physical Function: β = -3.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.89 to -1.45), P < 0.001; Pain Interference: β = 3.20 (95% CI: 1.58-4.83), P < 0.001; Depression: β = 3.31 (95% CI: 1.08-5.55), P = 0.004. CONCLUSION The most socioeconomically disadvantaged patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniations present with worse functional limitations, pain levels, and depressive symptoms as compared to patients from the least socioeconomically disadvantaged cohort when accounting for other key patient factors.Level of Evidence: 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N Bernstein
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Nelson Merchan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Kathleen Fear
- UR Health Lab, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Paul T Rubery
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Addisu Mesfin
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
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Healthcare Disparities Identified Between Hmong and Other Asian Origin Groups Living with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in Sacramento County 2014-2017. J Community Health 2021; 45:412-418. [PMID: 31612369 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-019-00763-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) disproportionately affects non-US born Asians. The Hmong have been shown to have the highest rates of CHB and mortality from liver cancer compared to other Asian groups. From September 2014 to September 2017, testing for CHB within Sacramento County was conducted through community-based testing events and an electronic health record alert that identified Asian patients by surname. Demographic and laboratory data were collected for analysis and patients were followed through the study period to assess linkage to care and treatment to compare differences between Asian origin groups. Of 4350 patients tested for CHB, 318 (7.3%) were HBsAg positive, including 90 Chinese, 47 Hmong, and 101 Vietnamese. Hmong were more likely to have Medicaid insurance compared to other Asian origin groups (15%, p < 0.001). Hmong had significantly lower rates of hepatitis B DNA testing (p < 0.001), referral to hepatology (p < 0.001), attendance of first (p < 0.001) and second medical visit (p = 0.0003), and lower rates of antiviral treatment compared to other Asian origin groups. Hmong also had the highest proportion of non-English speakers (p < 0.001). Hmong patients in the Sacramento CHB testing and linkage to care program experience socioeconomic disadvantages compared to Vietnamese and Chinese patients. These factors may contribute to decreased linkage of care and decreased anti-viral treatment rates for CHB.
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Harris A, Guadix SW, Riley LH, Jain A, Kebaish KM, Skolasky RL. Changes in racial and ethnic disparities in lumbar spinal surgery associated with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, 2006-2014. Spine J 2021; 21:64-70. [PMID: 32768655 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Since implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, more Americans have health insurance, and many racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare have improved. We previously reported that Black and Hispanic patients undergo surgery for spinal stenosis at lower rates than do white patients. PURPOSE To assess changes in racial/ethnic disparities in rates of lumbar spinal surgery after passage of the ACA. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis. PATIENT SAMPLE Approximately 3.2 million adults who underwent lumbar spinal surgery in the US from 2006 through 2014. OUTCOME MEASURES Racial disparities in discharge rates before versus after ACA passage. METHODS Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey Supplement, and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, criteria for definite lumbar spinal surgery, we calculated rates of lumbar spinal surgery as the number of hospital discharges divided by population estimates and stratified patients by race/ethnicity after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Calendar years were stratified as before ACA passage (2006-2010) or after ACA passage (2011-2014). Poisson regression was used to model hospital discharge rates as a function of race/ethnicity before and after ACA passage after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS All rates are expressed per 1,000 persons. The overall median discharge rate decreased from 1.9 before ACA passage to 1.6 after ACA passage (p < .001). After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, the Black:White disparity in discharge rates decreased from 0.40:1 before ACA to 0.44:1 after ACA (p < .001). A similar decrease in the Hispanic:White disparity occurred, from 0.35:1 before ACA to 0.38:1 after ACA (p < .001). CONCLUSION Small but significant decreases occurred in racial/ethnic disparities in hospital discharge rates for lumbar spinal surgery after ACA passage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Harris
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Sergio W Guadix
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Lee H Riley
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Amit Jain
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Khaled M Kebaish
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Richard L Skolasky
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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Kurucan E, Sulovari A, Thirukumaran C, Greenstein A, Molinari R, Mesfin A. Volume-outcome relationship in halo vest utilization for C2 fractures. Spine J 2020; 20:1676-1684. [PMID: 32474222 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.05.543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT The prevalence of C2 fractures has increased in recent years. The treatment of these fractures include halo-vest immobilization (HVI), rigid cervical collar, or spinal fusion. There is controversy regarding the management of these fractures with different institutions having their own protocols based on individualized experience. The volume-outcome relationship of HVI use for C2 fractures has not been studied. Evaluation of such relationships are important as they suggest that patients may benefit from referral to and treatment at high-volume institutions. PURPOSE To evaluate the volume-outcome relationship in HVI use for C2 fractures in New York State. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of a statewide database. PATIENT SAMPLE We queried the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database for the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code 805.02 (closed fracture of second cervical vertebra) and procedure code 029.4 (insertion or replacement of skull tongs or halo traction device) to identify all patients who received HVI for a fracture of the second cervical vertebra between the years 2001 and 2014. Those who had isolated C2 fractures were selected. OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes of interest included resource utilization characteristics (hospitalization charges and length of stay), perioperative complications, comorbidities, 30-day mortality, any readmission, and any future cervical fusion surgery. METHODS The 2001 to 2014 Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was used to identify patients with C2 fractures who received HVI. Our key independent variable was institution volume modeled as high- (>25 halos/year), medium-, (10-25 halos/year), or low-volume (<10 halos/year) based on the total number of HVI procedures reported by hospitals during the study period. We compared outcomes with respect to hospital volume. We also compared patients by age groups: <40, 40 to 60, 60 to 80, and >80. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed for the binary variables any complication and any readmission while controlling for covariates hospital volume, age, sex, race, insurance status, and Elixhauser comorbidity mean. Statistical significance was set at a value of p<.05 for all analyses. RESULTS In all, 625 patients with C2 fractures managed with HVI were included. Most patients were male (53%) and Caucasian (76%) with a mean age of 57. Patients at high-volume hospitals were younger (52 vs. 59 and 60 for medium- and low-volume, respectively; p<.01) and had fewer future readmissions (40% vs. 54% and 84% for medium- and low-volume, respectively; p<.01). On multivariable analysis, those with private insurance and worker's compensation had lower likelihood of future readmission compared to Medicaid patients. Patients >80 had higher rates of major in-hospital complications (52% vs. 40%, 18%, and 19% for groups 60-79, 40-59, and <40, respectively; p<.01), mortality (14% vs. 5%, 1%, and 1% for groups 60-79, 40-59, and <40, respectively; p<.01), and readmissions after the initial HVI (62% vs. 50%, 54%, and 37% for groups 60-79, 40-59, and <40, respectively; p<.01). The annual rate of HVI use for C2 fractures decreased significantly from 2001 to 2014 (0.32 to 0.06 HVI procedures per 100,000 people; p<.01) with the rate of decline being less pronounced in high-volume institutions (70% decrease vs. 85% and 90% for medium- and low-volume, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Halo vest utilization for C2 fractures in New York State has been declining over the past decade, with the decline being less pronounced in high-volume hospitals. Our hospital volume analysis suggests that HVI use in high-volume institutions is associated with a lower rate of future readmissions. This finding suggests that patients with C2 fractures may benefit from treatment at high-volume institutions. Further research to help improve referral of appropriate patients and increase access to such institutions is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etka Kurucan
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Aron Sulovari
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Caroline Thirukumaran
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Public Health Science, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Alexander Greenstein
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Robert Molinari
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Addisu Mesfin
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Public Health Science, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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The Effect of Health Insurance Coverage on Orthopaedic Patient-reported Outcome Measures. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2020; 28:e729-e734. [PMID: 32769725 DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-19-00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used to assess performance and value. The type of health insurance coverage may influence outcomes scores. The goal of this study was to determine if the type of insurance coverage is associated with the trends in PROMs within an orthopaedic cohort. METHODS We reviewed the electronic medical records of 10,745 adult foot and ankle patients who completed PROMs questionnaires from 2015 to 2017. Patients completed the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, PROMIS Global-Mental, PROMIS Global-Physical, and PROMIS Physical Function Short Form 10a. Descriptive analyses, analysis of variance, and Tukey HSD (honest significant difference) post hoc analyses were conducted. RESULTS Patients with commercial insurance consistently had the highest outcomes scores, whereas those with Workers Comp/Motor Vehicle and Medicaid had the lowest. PROMs of patients with commercial insurance were statistically significantly higher than the pooled scores of all other patients. Markedly poorer scores were also seen for Workers Comp/Motor Vehicle and Medicaid. In addition, these differences in PROMs for Workers Comp/Motor Vehicle and Medicaid exceeded the minimal clinically important differences. Patients with Medicare or Free Care had generally lower scores than the pooled averages, but these results were not statistically significant. DISCUSSION PROMs scores vary between the patients with different insurance types in an orthopaedic foot and ankle cohort. These data suggest that patient insurance type may affect patient-reported outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, Retrospective Cohort.
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Shi W, Anastasio A, Guisse NF, Faraj R, Fakunle OP, Easley K, Hammond KE. Impact of Insurance and Practice Type on Access to Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. Orthop J Sports Med 2020; 8:2325967120933696. [PMID: 32782900 PMCID: PMC7401157 DOI: 10.1177/2325967120933696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act has expanded Medicaid eligibility in recent years. However, the provisions of the act have not translated to improved Medicaid payments for specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons. The number of health care practitioners who accept Medicaid is already decreasing, with low reimbursement rates being cited as the primary reason for the trend. Hypothesis: Private practice orthopaedic groups will see patients with Medicaid or Medicare at lower rates than academic orthopaedic practices, and business days until appointment availability will be higher for patients with Medicaid and Medicare than those with private insurance. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Researchers made calls to 2 regular-sized orthopaedic practices, 1 small orthopaedic practice, and 1 academic orthopaedic practice in each of the 50 states in the United States. Callers described a scenario of a recent injury resulting in a bucket-handle meniscal tear and an anterior cruciate ligament tear seen on magnetic resonance imaging at an outside emergency department. For a total of 194 practices, 3 separate telephone calls were made, each with a different insurance type. Data regarding insurance acceptance and business days until appointment were tabulated. Student t tests or analysis of variance for continuous data and χ2 or Fisher exact tests for categorical data were utilized. Results: After completing 582 telephone calls, it was determined that 31.4% (n = 59) did not accept Medicaid, compared with 2.2% (n = 4) not accepting Medicare and 1% (n = 1) not accepting private insurance (P < .001). There was no significant association between type of practice and Medicaid refusal (P = 0.12). Mean business days until appointment for Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance were 5.3, 4.1, and 2.9, respectively (P < .001). Conclusions: Access to care remains a significant burden for the Medicaid population, given a rate of Medicaid refusal of 32.2% across regular-sized orthopaedic practices. If Medicaid is accepted, time until appointment was significantly longer when compared with private insurance.
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Does Universal Insurance and Access to Care Influence Disparities in Outcomes for Pediatric Patients with Osteomyelitis? Clin Orthop Relat Res 2020; 478:1432-1439. [PMID: 31725027 PMCID: PMC7310406 DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000000994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare disparities are an issue in the surgical management of orthopaedic conditions in children. Although insurance expansion efforts may mitigate racial disparities in surgical outcomes, prior studies have not examined these effects on differences in pediatric orthopaedic care. To assess for racial disparities in pediatric orthopaedic care that may persist despite insurance expansion, we performed a case-control study of the outcomes of children treated for osteomyelitis in the TRICARE system, the healthcare program of the United States Department of Defense and a model of universal insurance and healthcare access. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES We asked whether (1) the rates of surgical intervention and (2) 90-day outcomes (defined as emergency department visits, readmission, and complications) were different among TRICARE-insured pediatric patients with osteomyelitis when analyzed based on black versus white race and military rank-defined socioeconomic status. METHODS We analyzed TRICARE claims from 2005 to 2016. We identified 2906 pediatric patients, of whom 62% (1810) were white and 18% (520) were black. A surgical intervention was performed in 9% of the patients (253 of 2906 patients). The primary outcome was receipt of surgical intervention for osteomyelitis. Secondary outcomes included 90-day complications, readmissions, and returns to the emergency department. The primary predictor variables were race and sponsor rank. Military rank has been used as an indicator of socioeconomic status before and during enlistment, and enlisted service members, particularly junior enlisted service members, may be at risk of having the same medical conditions that affect civilian members of lower socioeconomic strata. Patient demographic information (age, sex, race, sponsor rank, beneficiary category [whether the patient is an insurance beneficiary from an active-duty or retired service member], and geographic region) and clinical information (prior comorbidities, environment of care [whether clinical care was provided in a civilian or military facility], treatment setting, and length of stay) were used as covariates in multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS After controlling for demographic and clinical factors including age, sex, sponsor rank, beneficiary category, geographic region, Charlson comorbidity index (as a measure of baseline health), environment of care, and treatment setting (inpatient versus outpatient), we found that black children were more likely to undergo surgical interventions for osteomyelitis than white children (odds ratio 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-2.50; p = 0.001). When stratified by environment of care, this finding persisted only in the civilian healthcare setting (OR 1.85; 95% CI, 1.26-2.74; p = 0.002). Additionally, after controlling for demographic and clinical factors, lower socioeconomic status (junior enlisted personnel) was associated with a higher likelihood of 90-day emergency department use overall (OR 1.60; 95% CI, 1.02-2.51; p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS We found that for pediatric patients with osteomyelitis in the universally insured TRICARE system, many of the historically reported disparities in care were absent, suggesting these patients benefitted from improved access to healthcare. However, despite universal coverage, racial disparities persisted in the civilian care environment, suggesting that no single intervention such as universal insurance sufficiently addresses differences in racial disparities in care. Future studies can address the pervasiveness of these disparities in other patient populations and the various mechanisms through which they exert their effects, as well as potential interventions to mitigate these disparities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, prognostic study.
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Yin C, Sing DC, Curry EJ, Abdul-Rassoul H, Galvin JW, Eichinger JK, Li X. The Effect of Race on Early Perioperative Outcomes After Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis. Orthopedics 2019; 42:95-102. [PMID: 30810757 DOI: 10.3928/01477447-20190221-01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
There is a paucity of data on how racial disparities may affect early outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in 30-day complications and readmission rates after shoulder arthroplasty based on race. White and black patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty, anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (Current Procedural Terminology codes 23470 and 23472) between 2006 and 2015 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Black patients were propensity score matched 1:4 based on preoperative demographics and comorbidities to white patients. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess postoperative complications based on race. Of the 12,663 patients with shoulder arthroplasty identified, 10,717 (84.6%) were white and 559 (4.4%) were black. Overall, 557 black patients were matched to 2228 white patients, for a total cohort of 2785 patients (mean age, 63.9±11.7 years; female, 61.0%). Surgical indications were similar between black and white patients. The 2 races had similar rates of overall complications, major complications, minor complications, readmissions, and discharge to facility. Mortality was significantly higher among black patients compared with white patients (0.6% vs 0.05%; P=.033). Black patients also experienced longer operative time (mean, 126.4 vs 112.5 minutes; P<.001) and length of stay (mean, 2.4 vs 2.1 days; P<.001). There was a significant disparity with underutilization of shoulder arthroplasty for black patients in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Black and white patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty experienced similar rates of 30-day complications, readmissions, and discharge to facility. However, black patients experienced greater operative time, total length of stay, and mortality compared with white patients. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(2):95-102.].
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