R. Neal Axon MD, Ralph Ward PhD, Ahmed Mohamed PhD, Charlene Pope PhD, Michela Stephens MPH, Patrick D. Mauldin PhD, Mulugeta Gebregziabher PhD
{"title":"Trends in Veteran hospitalizations and associated readmissions and emergency department visits during the MISSION Act era","authors":"R. Neal Axon MD, Ralph Ward PhD, Ahmed Mohamed PhD, Charlene Pope PhD, Michela Stephens MPH, Patrick D. Mauldin PhD, Mulugeta Gebregziabher PhD","doi":"10.1111/1475-6773.14332","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objective</h3>\n \n <p>To examine changes in hospitalization trends and healthcare utilization among Veterans following Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act implementation.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Data Sources and Study Setting</h3>\n \n <p>VA Corporate Data Warehouse and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services datasets.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Study Design</h3>\n \n <p>Retrospective cohort study to compare 7- and 30-day rates for unplanned readmission and emergency department visits following index hospital stays based on payor type (VHA facility stay, VA-funded stay in community facility [CC], or Medicare-funded community stay [CMS]). Segmented regression models were used to compare payors and estimate changes in outcome levels and slopes following MISSION Act implementation.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Data Collection/Extraction Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Veterans with active VA primary care utilization and ≥1 acute hospitalization between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Principal Findings</h3>\n \n <p>Monthly index stays increased for all payors until MISSION Act implementation, when VHA and CMS admissions declined while CC admissions accelerated and overtook VHA admissions. In December 2021, CC admissions accounted for 54% of index admissions, up from 25% in January 2016. From adjusted models, just prior to implementation (May 2019), Veterans with CC admissions had 47% greater risk of 7-day readmission (risk ratio [RR]: 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43, 1.51) and 20% greater risk of 30-day readmission (RR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.22) compared with those with VHA admissions; both effects persisted post-implementation. Pre-implementation CC admissions were also associated with higher 7- and 30-day ED visits, but both risks were substantially lower by study termination (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.91) and (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.90), respectively.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>MISSION Act implementation was associated with substantial shifts in treatment site and federal payor for Veteran hospitalizations. Post-implementation readmission risk was estimated to be higher for those with CC and CMS index admissions, while post-implementation risk of ED utilization following CC admissions was estimated to be lower compared with VHA index admissions. Reasons for this divergence require further investigation.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":55065,"journal":{"name":"Health Services Research","volume":"59 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Health Services Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-6773.14332","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
To examine changes in hospitalization trends and healthcare utilization among Veterans following Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act implementation.
Data Sources and Study Setting
VA Corporate Data Warehouse and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services datasets.
Study Design
Retrospective cohort study to compare 7- and 30-day rates for unplanned readmission and emergency department visits following index hospital stays based on payor type (VHA facility stay, VA-funded stay in community facility [CC], or Medicare-funded community stay [CMS]). Segmented regression models were used to compare payors and estimate changes in outcome levels and slopes following MISSION Act implementation.
Data Collection/Extraction Methods
Veterans with active VA primary care utilization and ≥1 acute hospitalization between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021.
Principal Findings
Monthly index stays increased for all payors until MISSION Act implementation, when VHA and CMS admissions declined while CC admissions accelerated and overtook VHA admissions. In December 2021, CC admissions accounted for 54% of index admissions, up from 25% in January 2016. From adjusted models, just prior to implementation (May 2019), Veterans with CC admissions had 47% greater risk of 7-day readmission (risk ratio [RR]: 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43, 1.51) and 20% greater risk of 30-day readmission (RR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.22) compared with those with VHA admissions; both effects persisted post-implementation. Pre-implementation CC admissions were also associated with higher 7- and 30-day ED visits, but both risks were substantially lower by study termination (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.91) and (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.90), respectively.
Conclusions
MISSION Act implementation was associated with substantial shifts in treatment site and federal payor for Veteran hospitalizations. Post-implementation readmission risk was estimated to be higher for those with CC and CMS index admissions, while post-implementation risk of ED utilization following CC admissions was estimated to be lower compared with VHA index admissions. Reasons for this divergence require further investigation.
期刊介绍:
Health Services Research (HSR) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that provides researchers and public and private policymakers with the latest research findings, methods, and concepts related to the financing, organization, delivery, evaluation, and outcomes of health services. Rated as one of the top journals in the fields of health policy and services and health care administration, HSR publishes outstanding articles reporting the findings of original investigations that expand knowledge and understanding of the wide-ranging field of health care and that will help to improve the health of individuals and communities.