Cross-sectional adherence with the multi-target stool DNA test for colorectal cancer screening in a medicaid population.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the US. Early detection improves CRC outcomes and multiple options are endorsed for CRC screening; however, adherence remains challenging. Among Medicaid enrollees, the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is often used for average-risk CRC screening, with suboptimal adherence rates reported (12.3-23.2 %). The navigation-supported (personalized outreach by phone, mail, email and text), at home collection, multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test represents a relatively recent and broadly accessible option for average-risk CRC screening in Medicaid enrollees. We assessed cross-sectional mt-sDNA adherence in a national sample of Medicaid patients. Data from Exact Sciences Laboratories LLC (ESL; Madison, WI) were retrospectively analyzed. Participants included individuals 45 + years covered by Fee-For-Service (FFS)- or Managed-Medicaid. Primary analysis focused on the 50-74 age cohort and included those with valid mt-sDNA orders between January 1-December 31, 2018. Data from 25,794 individuals who received valid orders for mt-sDNA were included in analysis (61.2 % women; mean age at order 57.5 years). Overall adherence - completion of an ordered test - was 51.3 %. Adherence was 54.6 % in Managed-Medicaid and 38.9 % in FFS-Medicaid. Adherence by age was: 51.5 % for 50-64 years and 47.7 % for 65-74 years. Mt-sDNA tests ordered by gastroenterologists had higher adherence (60.5 %) compared with primary care clinicians (51.3 %). These data from a large, national sample of Medicaid-insured patients substantiate mt-sDNA testing as a viable patient-supported, home-based option to improve average-risk CRC screening participation in Medicaid enrollees.

Life-years gained resulting from screening colonoscopy compared with follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based colorectal screening test.

Screening colonoscopies for colorectal cancer (CRC) are typically covered without patient cost-sharing, whereas follow-up colonoscopies for positive stool-based screening tests often incur patient costs. The objective of this analysis was to estimate and compare the life-years gained (LYG) per average-risk screening colonoscopy and follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based test to better inform CRC coverage policy and reimbursement decisions. CRC outcomes from screening and follow-up colonoscopies versus no screening were estimated using CRC-AIM in a simulated population of average-risk individuals screened between ages 45-75 years. The LYG/colonoscopy per 1000 individuals was 0.09 for screening colonoscopy and 0.29 for follow-up colonoscopy. 0.01 and 0.04 CRC cases and 0.01 and 0.02 CRC deaths were averted per screening and follow-up colonoscopies, respectively. Coverage policies should be revised to encourage individuals to complete recommended screening processes.

Advancing Age and Comorbidity in a US Insured Population-Based Cohort of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) comorbidity data are limited. Using insurance claims databases, our aims were to determine the prevalence and incidence of nonliver comorbidities in CHB patients over time and the predictors of select comorbidities in CHB patients. Patients were adults with continuous coverage (commercial/Medicare or Medicaid) 6 months prior to and after the first CHB diagnosis and matched non-CHB patients. Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index (DCCI) and comorbidities were analyzed (cardiovascular disease [CVD], carcinoma, diabetes mellitus [DM], obesity, hypertension [HTN], hyperlipidemia, alcohol use, renal impairment, chronic kidney disease [CKD], and osteoporosis/fracture [OF]). The study population included 44,026 CHB cases and 121,568 matched controls. CHB patient mean age increased from 48.1 ± 11.9 years in 2006 to 51.8 ± 12.4 years in 2015 for commercial/Medicare and from 44.1 ± 11.1 years to 50.2 ± 10.2 years for Medicaid (P < 0.001 for both). The Medicaid CHB cohort was the sickest (DCCI, 2.6, P < 0.001). The commercial/Medicare 2006 CKD prevalence rate was 36.1/1,000 in CHB patients and 10.2/1,000 in controls, increasing to 97.6 and 38.8 in 2015, respectively. The 2006 CKD incidence (per 1,000 person-years) was 10.3 and 4.8 and 15.2 and 11.3 by 2015, respectively (P < 0.05 for all). The strongest predictors for CKD were DM (hazard ratio [HR], 2.48), HTN (HR, 3.29), and CVD (HR, 2.61) (all P < 0.0001). Similar prevalence and incidence changes were observed for OF. The strongest predictors for OF were female gender (HR, 2.22), alcohol use (HR, 2.02), and viral coinfection (HR, 1.37) (all P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Insured CHB patients were older, had more comorbidities, and experienced higher incidence and prevalence of CKD and OF than controls.

Healthcare resource utilization and costs by disease severity in an insured national sample of US patients with chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects over 2 million people in the US, with little reported on healthcare utilization and cost. We aimed to quantify annual CHB utilization and costs by disease severity and payer type. METHODS: Using Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid databases from 2004 to 2015 and ICD9 codes, we retrospectively identified adults with CHB, analyzing all-cause inpatient, outpatient, and pharmaceutical utilization and costs by disease severity. We compared healthcare utilization and costs between patients with CHB, without advanced liver disease, and matched non-CHB controls. All-cause inpatient, outpatient, and pharmaceutical utilization and costs were reported for each year and adjusted to 2015 dollars. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 33,904 CHB cases and 86,072 non-CHB controls. All-cause inpatient admissions (average stay 6-10 days) were more frequent in advanced liver disease states. Across all payers, patients with decompensated cirrhosis had the highest emergency department utilization (1.6-2.8 annual visits) and highest mean annual costs. The largest all-cause cost components for Commercial and Medicaid were inpatient costs for all advanced liver disease groups (Commercial: 62%, 47%, 68%; Medicaid: 81%, 72%, 74%, respectively), and decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma groups for Medicare (Medicare 49% and 48%). In addition, patients with compensated liver disease incurred costs 3 times higher than non-CHB controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with CHB, regardless of payer, who experienced decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or a liver transplant incurred the highest annual costs and utilization of healthcare resources, but even patients with CHB and compensated liver disease incurred higher costs than those without CHB. All stakeholders in disease management need to combine efforts to prevent infection and advanced liver disease through improved vaccination rates, earlier diagnosis, and treatment. LAY SUMMARY: Hepatitis B virus can be a progressive disease leading to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant, and death. These progressive disease states are associated with a higher rate of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, outpatient visits, and costs compared to similar patients without hepatitis B. The most ill patients have the highest costs, but even patients who are less sick experience higher costs than patients without hepatitis B.

The impact of value-based healthcare for inflammatory bowel diseases on healthcare utilization: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Value-based healthcare (VBHC) is considered to be the solution that will improve quality and decrease costs in healthcare. Many hospitals are implementing programs on the basis of this strategy, but rigorous scientific reports are still lacking. In this pilot study, we present the first-year outcomes of a VBHC program for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management that focuses on highly coordinated care, task differentiation of providers, and continuous home monitoring. METHODS: IBD patients treated within the VBHC program were identified in an administrative claims database from a commercial insurer allowing comparisons to matched controls. Only patients for whom data were available the year before and after starting the program were included. Healthcare utilization including visits, hospitalizations, laboratory and imaging tests, and medications were compared between groups. RESULTS: In total, 60 IBD patients treated at the VBHC Center were identified and were matched to 177 controls. Significantly fewer upper endoscopies were performed (-10%, P=0.012), and numerically fewer surgeries (-25%, P=0.49), hospitalizations (-28%, 0=0.71), emergency department visits (-37%, P=0.44), and imaging studies (-25 to -86%) were observed. In addition, 65% fewer patients (P=0.16) used steroids long term. IBD-related costs were 16% ($771) lower than expected (P=0.24). CONCLUSION: These are the first results of a successfully implemented VBHC program for IBD. Encouraging trends toward fewer emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and long-term corticosteroid use were observed. These results will need to be confirmed in a larger sample with more follow-up.