Devin V Williams1, Tiffany C Liu2, Michael G Zywiel3, Miranda K Hoff4, Lorrayne Ward5, Kevin J Bozic6, Karl M Koenig7. 1. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Electronic address: devin.williams@austin.utexas.edu. 2. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Electronic address: tiffany.liu@austin.utexas.edu. 3. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Electronic address: mike@zywiel.net. 4. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Electronic address: miranda.hoff@austin.utexas.edu. 5. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Electronic address: lorrayne.ward@austin.utexas.edu. 6. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Electronic address: kevin.bozic@austin.utexas.edu. 7. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States. Electronic address: karl.koenig@austin.utexas.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Limited access to specialty care for uninsured and underinsured patients may be exacerbated by traditional fee-for-service approaches to care that incentivize volume and intensity of services over value of care. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a value-based integrated practice unit (IPU) on access to musculoskeletal care and surgical outcomes in a safety-net population. METHODS: A new IPU was implemented on 6/1/2016 at an established safety-net clinic providing musculoskeletal care in central Texas to supplement existing musculoskeletal care provided through a fee-for-service model. This retrospective cohort study compared access and outcomes under the IPU to the parallel fee-for-service clinic through 3/31/2017, as well as the historical fee-for-service clinic from 8/1/2015 through 5/31/2016. Primary outcomes for access included number of referrals addressed; for surgical patients, length of stay, discharge destination, and 30-day readmission rates were assessed. RESULTS: The baseline waitlist of 1401 referrals on 6/1/2016 was eliminated by 3/31/2017. Among patients undergoing hip or knee replacement, length of stay was 1.4 days compared to 2.6 days for patients referred to the parallel fee-for-service clinic (p < 0.001), and 92% were discharged home versus 89% (p = 0.46). The 30-day readmission rate for the IPU was 2.7%, which did not differ significantly from the HFFS (8.5%, p = 0.23) and PFFS (3.7%, p = 0.64) clinics. CONCLUSIONS: An IPU increased access and improved short-term surgical outcomes in a population of uninsured and underinsured patients seeking musculoskeletal care. Additional studies of longer duration are needed to assess the sustainability of a value-based approach. IMPLICATIONS: A value-based approach to musculoskeletal care may improve access and outcomes in safety-net patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND: Limited access to specialty care for uninsured and underinsured patients may be exacerbated by traditional fee-for-service approaches to care that incentivize volume and intensity of services over value of care. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a value-based integrated practice unit (IPU) on access to musculoskeletal care and surgical outcomes in a safety-net population. METHODS: A new IPU was implemented on 6/1/2016 at an established safety-net clinic providing musculoskeletal care in central Texas to supplement existing musculoskeletal care provided through a fee-for-service model. This retrospective cohort study compared access and outcomes under the IPU to the parallel fee-for-service clinic through 3/31/2017, as well as the historical fee-for-service clinic from 8/1/2015 through 5/31/2016. Primary outcomes for access included number of referrals addressed; for surgical patients, length of stay, discharge destination, and 30-day readmission rates were assessed. RESULTS: The baseline waitlist of 1401 referrals on 6/1/2016 was eliminated by 3/31/2017. Among patients undergoing hip or knee replacement, length of stay was 1.4 days compared to 2.6 days for patients referred to the parallel fee-for-service clinic (p < 0.001), and 92% were discharged home versus 89% (p = 0.46). The 30-day readmission rate for the IPU was 2.7%, which did not differ significantly from the HFFS (8.5%, p = 0.23) and PFFS (3.7%, p = 0.64) clinics. CONCLUSIONS: An IPU increased access and improved short-term surgical outcomes in a population of uninsured and underinsured patients seeking musculoskeletal care. Additional studies of longer duration are needed to assess the sustainability of a value-based approach. IMPLICATIONS: A value-based approach to musculoskeletal care may improve access and outcomes in safety-net patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective cohort study.
Authors: Kirsten Daniels; Marc B V Rouppe van der Voort; Douwe H Biesma; Paul B van der Nat Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2022-10-20 Impact factor: 2.908