Brad Wright1,2, Andrew J Potter3, Amal N Trivedi4,5, Keith J Mueller1,2. 1. Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa. 2. Public Policy Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. 3. Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, California State University, Chico, California. 4. Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island. 5. Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island.
Abstract
PURPOSE: High rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits indicate limited primary care access. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are intended to increase access to primary care. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of RHCs and their impact on potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits among Medicare beneficiaries based on actual individual-level utilization patterns. METHODS: With Medicare Part A and Part B claims data from 2007 to 2010, we constructed a series of individual-level negative binomial regression models to examine the relationship between RHC use and the number of potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits. FINDINGS: RHC use was associated with a 27% increase in potentially preventable hospitalizations and a 24% increase in potentially preventable ED visits among older Medicare enrollees. Among younger, disabled Medicare beneficiaries, RHC use was associated with a 14% increase in potentially preventable hospitalizations and an 18% increase in potentially preventable ED visits. Potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits were more common among beneficiaries who were black or who had more chronic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study highlight that the Medicare population using RHCs is at especially high risk for potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits. The mechanisms behind this are not well understood and should receive continued attention from policy makers and researchers.
PURPOSE: High rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits indicate limited primary care access. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are intended to increase access to primary care. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of RHCs and their impact on potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits among Medicare beneficiaries based on actual individual-level utilization patterns. METHODS: With Medicare Part A and Part B claims data from 2007 to 2010, we constructed a series of individual-level negative binomial regression models to examine the relationship between RHC use and the number of potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits. FINDINGS: RHC use was associated with a 27% increase in potentially preventable hospitalizations and a 24% increase in potentially preventable ED visits among older Medicare enrollees. Among younger, disabled Medicare beneficiaries, RHC use was associated with a 14% increase in potentially preventable hospitalizations and an 18% increase in potentially preventable ED visits. Potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits were more common among beneficiaries who were black or who had more chronic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study highlight that the Medicare population using RHCs is at especially high risk for potentially preventable hospitalizations and ED visits. The mechanisms behind this are not well understood and should receive continued attention from policy makers and researchers.
Authors: Maya M Jeyaraman; Leslie Copstein; Nameer Al-Yousif; Rachel N Alder; Scott W Kirkland; Yahya Al-Yousif; Roger Suss; Ryan Zarychanski; Malcolm B Doupe; Simon Berthelot; Jean Mireault; Patrick Tardif; Nicole Askin; Tamara Buchel; Rasheda Rabbani; Thomas Beaudry; Melissa Hartwell; Carolyn Shimmin; Jeanette Edwards; Gayle Halas; William Sevcik; Andrea C Tricco; Alecs Chochinov; Brian H Rowe; Ahmed M Abou-Setta Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-05-10 Impact factor: 2.692