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Objectives The United States has seen increasing shifts toward home- and community-based services (HCBS) in place of institutional care for long-term services and supports. However, research has neglected to assess whether these shifts have improved access to HCBS for persons with dementia. This paper identifies HCBS access barriers and facilitators, and discusses how barriers contribute to disparities for persons with dementia living in rural areas and exacerbate disparities for minoritized populations. Methods We analyzed qualitative data from 35 in-depth interviews. Interviews were held with stakeholders in the HCBS ecosystem, including Medicaid administrators, advocates for persons with dementia and caregivers, and HCBS providers. Results Barriers to HCBS access for persons with dementia range from community and infrastructure barriers (e.g., clinicians and cultural differences), to interpersonal and individual-level barriers (e.g., caregivers, awareness, and attitudes). These barriers affect the health and quality of life for persons with dementia and may affect whether individuals can remain in their home or community. Facilitators included a range of more comprehensive and dementia-attuned practices and services in health care, technology, recognition and support for family caregivers, and culturally competent and linguistically accessible education and services. Discussion System refinements, such as incentivizing cognitive screening, can improve detection and increase access to HCBS. Disparities in HCBS access experienced by minoritized persons with dementia may be addressed through culturally competent awareness campaigns and policies that recognize the necessity of familial caregivers in supporting persons with dementia. These findings can inform efforts to ensure more equitable access to HCBS, improve dementia competence, and reduce disparities.

Implementation of new skilled nursing facility (SNF) Medicare payment policy, the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), resulted in immediate declines in physical and occupational therapy staffing. This study characterizes continuing impacts of PDPM in conjunction with COVID-19 on SNF therapy staffing and examines variability in staffing changes based on SNF organizational characteristics.We analyzed Medicare administrative data from a national cohort of SNFs between January 2019 and March 2022. Interrupted time series mixed effects regression examined changes in level and trend of total therapy staffing minutes/patient-day during PDPM and COVID-19 and by type of staff (therapists, assistants, contractors, and in-house staff). Secondary analyses examined the variability in staffing by organizational characteristics.PDPM resulted in a -6.54% level change in total therapy staffing, with larger declines for assistants and contractors. Per-patient staffing fluctuated during COVID-19 as the census changed. PDPM-related staffing declines were larger in SNFs that were: Rural, for-profit, chain-affiliated, provided more intensive therapy, employed more therapy assistants, and admitted more Medicare patients before PDPM. COVID-19 resulted in larger staffing declines in rural SNFs but smaller early declines in SNFs that were hospital-based, for-profit, or received more relief funding.SNFs that historically engaged in profit-maximizing behaviors (e.g., providing more therapy via lower-paid assistants) had larger staffing declines during PDPM compared to other SNFs. Therapy staffing fluctuated during COVID-19, but PDPM-related reductions persisted 2 years into the pandemic, especially in rural SNFs. Results suggest specific organizational characteristics that should be targeted for staffing and quality improvement initiatives.

To examine by age, the veterans' report on whether components of age-friendly health systems were discussed during primary care visits.Veterans Affairs (VA) Survey of Healthcare Experience of Patients from October 2015 to September 2019.Cross-sectional survey of VA users by age group (18-44 years, 45-64 years, 65+ years; N = 1,042,318). We used weighted logistic regression models to evaluate disparities in whether veterans discussed with anyone in their provider's office: health goals, depression symptoms, stress, personal problems, and medications. Models were adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics (sex, socioeconomic status, education, rurality) and comorbidity.Surveys were administered by mail and online. Additional veteran characteristics were extracted from VA administrative data.In unadjusted analyses, VA users age 18-44 had a higher (-8.2%; CI: -9.0, -7.3) and users aged 45 to 64 had lower (4.0%; CI: 3.7, 4.3) predicted, probably discussing health goals compared to age 65+. Fewer VA users age 65+ reported discussing depression symptoms, personal problems, and stress than other age groups, whereas more VA users age 65+ discussed medications. Results were unchanged after adjusting for socio-demographics and comorbidity.Delivery of goal-concordant care relies on understanding the needs of individual patients. Lower rates of discussing what matters and mood represent potential missed opportunities to deliver age-friendly care for older veterans.

The assessment of cognitive function in post-acute care (PAC) settings is important for understanding an individual's condition and care needs, developing better person-directed care plans, predicting resource needs and understanding case mix. Therefore, we tested the feasibility and reliability of cognitive function assessments, including the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS), Confusion Assessment Method (CAM©), Expression and Understanding, and Behavioral Signs and Symptoms for patients in PAC under the intent of the IMPACT Act of 2014.We conducted a national test of assessments of four standardized cognitive function data elements among patients in PAC. One hundred and forty-three PAC settings (57 home health agencies, 28 inpatient rehabilitation facilities, 28 long-term care hospitals, and 73 Skilled Nursing Facilities) across 14 U.S. markets from November 2017 to August 2018. At least one of four cognitive function data elements were assessed in 3026 patients. We assessed descriptive statistics, percent of missing data, time to complete, and interrater reliability between paired research nurse and facility staff assessors, and assessor feedback.The BIMS, CAM©, Expression and Understanding, and Behavioral Signs and Symptoms demonstrated low rates of missing data (less than 2%), high percent agreement, and substantial support from assessors. The prevalence of Behavioral Signs and Symptoms was low in our sample of PAC settings.Findings provide support for feasibility of implementing standardized assessment of all our cognitive function data elements for patients in PAC settings. The BIMS and CAM© were adopted into federal Quality Reporting Programs in the fiscal year/calendar year 2020 final rules. Future work could consider implementing additional cognitive items that assess areas not covered by the BIMS and CAM©.

Pain is highly prevalent among patients in post-acute care (PAC) settings and can affect quality of life, treatment outcomes, and transitions in care. Routine, accurate assessment of pain across settings is important for pain management and care planning; however, existing PAC assessment instruments do not assess patient pain in a standardized manner.We developed and tested a set of pain interview data elements for use across PAC settings (skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long term care hospitals, home health agencies) as part of a larger effort undertaken by the Centers for MedicareMedicaid Services to develop standardized assessment data elements to meet the requirements of the IMPACT Act of 2014. The interview assessed six pain constructs: presence; frequency; interference with sleep; interference with rehabilitation therapies [if applicable]; interference with daily activities; worst pain; and pain relief from treatments/medications). A total of 3031 PAC patients at 143 PAC settings (across 14 U.S. geographic/metropolitan areas in 10 states) participated in a national field test of standardized data elements from November 2017 to August 2018. We assessed item response distributions, time to complete interviews, inter-assessor agreement, and, for a subset of patients, change in responses between admission and discharge assessments. We also conducted focus groups with nurse assessors about their experiences administering the items.For patients reporting any pain, average time to complete the pain interview was 3.1 min (SD = 1.3), and interrater reliability was excellent for all data elements (kappa range: 0.95-0.99). Findings were similar across types of PAC settings. Qualitative data from nurses emphasized ease of administration and high perceived clinical utility.Findings provide support for feasibility of implementing a standardized pain interview assessment in PAC settings. This tool can support tracking of patient needs across settings and interoperability of data in electronic medical records.

Depression symptoms have impacts on quality of life, rehabilitation and treatment adherence, and resource utilization among patients in post-acute care (PAC) settings. The PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 are instruments for the assessment of depression, previously used in PAC settings, that have tradeoffs in terms of measurement depth versus respondent/assessor burden. Therefore, the present study tested a gateway version of the protocol (PHQ-2 to 9).In 143 PAC settings in 14 U.S. markets across 10 states from November 2017 to August 2018, facility and research nurses administered the PHQ-2 to communicative patients (n = 3010). Nurses administered the full PHQ-9 if the patient screened positive for either of the two cardinal symptoms assessed by the PHQ-2 (depressed mood and anhedonia). We assessed the prevalence and frequency of depression symptoms using the PHQ-2 to 9, associations between depression screening results and patient characteristics and clinical conditions, and feasibility indicators.More than 1 in 4 patients (28%) screened positive on the PHQ-2. Only 6% of those completing the full PHQ-9 had a score indicating "minimal" severity. The average score (M = 11.9) met the threshold for moderate depression. Positive PHQ-2 screening was associated with age, female gender, disposition at discharge, septicemia/severe sepsis, and dependence for ADLs of toileting and lying to sitting mobility. Age was also associated with full PHQ-9 scores; patients ages 45-64 had the highest mean score. Length of stay was not associated with PHQ-2 screening results or full PHQ-2 to 9 scores. Missing data were minimal (2.4%). The average time to complete was 2.3 min. Interrater reliability and percent agreement were excellent.These findings suggest the feasibility of a gateway scoring approach to standardized assessment of depression symptoms among PAC patients, and that depression symptoms are relatively common among this inpatient population.

Medication reconciliation (MR) facilitates safety during transitions of care, which occur frequently across post-acute care (PAC) settings. Under the intent of the IMPACT Act of 2014, the Centers for MedicareMedicaid Services contracted with the RAND Corporation to develop and test standardized assessment data elements (SADEs) that assess the MR process.We employed an iterative process that incorporated stakeholder input and three rounds of testing to identify, refine, and evaluate MR SADEs. Testing took place in 186 PAC sites (57 home health agencies, 28 inpatient rehabilitation facilities, 28 long-term care hospitals, and 73 skilled nursing facilities). There were 2951 patients in the final test. Novel MR SADEs, based on the Joint Commission's framework, were refined. The final SADEs assessed whether: patient was taking high-risk medications; an indication was noted for each medication class; discrepancies were identified; patient or family/caregiver was involved in addressing discrepancies; discrepancies were communicated to physician (or designee) within 24 h; recommended physician actions regarding discrepancies were implemented within 24 h after physician response; and the reconciled list was communicated to patient, prescriber, and/or pharmacy. Two assessors per facility collected data for each patient. Analyses described completion time, data missingness, and interrater reliability, as well as feedback on assessor burden.Time to complete the MR SADEs was 3.2 min. Missing data were5%. Interrater reliability was moderate to high (κ: 0.42 [whether a reconciled list was communicated to prescribers] to 0.89 [identifying patients taking hypoglycemics]). For identifying high-risk medication classes, interrater reliability was high (κ: 0.72-0.89). There were minimal differences by setting.This is the first set of MR SADEs that have been assessed across the PAC settings. Results demonstrate feasibility, based on missing data and completion time, and moderate to strong reliability, based on interrater comparisons, of assessing MR.

BACKGROUND The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HHQRP) uses performance measurement to spur improvements in home health agencies' (HHAs') quality of care. We examined quality improvement (QI) activities HHAs reported making to improve on HHQRP quality measures, and whether reported QI activities were associated with better measure performance. METHODS We used responses (N = 1052) from a Web- and mail-based survey of a stratified random sample of HHAs included in CMS Home Health Compare in October 2019. We estimated national adoption rates for 27 possible QI activities related to organizational culture, health information technology, care process redesign, provider incentives, provider training, changes to staffing responsibilities, performance monitoring, and measure-specific QI initiatives and technical assistance. We used multivariate linear regression to examine the associations between HHA characteristics and QI adoption, and between QI adoption and CMS Home Health Quality of Patient Care Star Rating. RESULTS HHAs reported implementing an average of 16 QI activities (interquartile range 11-19 activities). Larger HHA size was associated with adopting 1.6 additional QI activities (p

Objective To assess governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders' perceived impacts of a Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) rebalancing initiative, the Balancing Incentive Program (BIP). Data sources Governmental stakeholders (Medicaid administrators) and nongovernmental stakeholders (service providers and consumer advocates) (n = 30) from eight states that participated in BIP. Study design We conducted key informant interviews. Data collection Interviews followed a semi-structured guide and were professionally transcribed. We thematically coded transcripts using an iterative codebook with a priori and emergent codes. Principal findings Stakeholders reported that BIP participation had a range of impacts on the HCBS ecosystem, often beyond the mandated structural reforms. BIP activities were believed to have changed the culture of HCBS in some states, for example, at the level of state administration or in the provision of HCBS to consumers. Stakeholders also described significant improvements in cross-stakeholder relationships and communication, for example, in the context of troubleshooting consumers' unmet needs or improvements in the states' responsiveness to providers' inquiries. Stakeholders believed that within-state data harmonization undertaken through Core Standardized Assessment (CSA) was a positive impact of BIP, particularly with regard to its utility for administrative data, care planning, and patient-centeredness. Two stakeholders also voiced concerns regarding the validity of spending-based rebalancing metrics. The impacts that stakeholders attributed to BIP may help create a more sustained rebalancing environment through their changes to the ecosystem, including infrastructure upgrades, data harmonization, collaboration across stakeholders and agencies, more patient-centeredness, and greater recognition of HCBS. Conclusions Our findings highlight additional BIP impacts to monitor over the longer term and to consider in evaluations of future rebalancing efforts. Some potential impacts of BIP are more readily quantified (e.g., HCBS spending), while others are less likely to be formally assessed (e.g., improved stakeholder cooperation). These latter impacts are likely instrumental to future rebalancing efforts.

Our objective was to identify the influencing factors associated with the implementation of the INTERACT (Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers) Quality Improvement program within a national healthcare system. INTERACT focuses on early identification and management of changes in residents' condition leading to a reduction in potentially preventable hospital transfers. The Consolidated Framework was used to evaluate implementation data from eight VA Community Living Centers. Qualitative implementation data suggest two influencing Consolidated Framework domains had a strong influence: 1) key attributes of the intervention (e.g., adaptability or complexity) and 2) internal organizational factors (e.g., culture or compatibility). Using the Consolidated Framework can assist future adaptations to this and other complex quality improvement initiatives.

Hospitals may provide less positive patient experiences for older than younger patients.We used 2019 HCAHPS data from 4358 hospitals to compare patient-mix adjusted HCAHPS Survey scores for 19 experience of care items for patients ages 75+ versus 55-74 years and tested for interactions of age group with patient and hospital characteristics. We contrasted the age patterns observed for inpatient experiences with those among respondents to the 2019 Medicare CAHPS (MCAHPS) Survey of overall experience.Patients 75+ years (31% of all HCAHPS respondents) reported less-positive experiences than those 55-74 (46% of respondents) for 18 of 19 substantive HCAHPS items (mean difference -3.3% points). Age differences in HCAHPS top-box scores were large (5 points) for 1 of 3 Nurse Communication items, 1 of 3 Doctor Communication, 2 of 2 Communication about Medication items, 1 of 2 Discharge Information items, and 2 of 3 Care Transition items. In contrast, for MCAHPS, those 75+ reported similar experiences to younger adults. The magnitude of age differences varied considerably across hospitals; some hospitals had very large age disparities for older patients (age 75+ vs. ages 55-74), while others had none. These age differences were generally smaller for patients in government and non-profit than in for-profit hospitals, and in the Pacific region than in other parts of the United States. This variation in age disparities across hospitals may help to identify best practices.Patients ages 75+ reported less-positive experiences than patients ages 55-74, especially for measures of communication. These differences may be specific to inpatient care. Further study should investigate the effectiveness of hospital staffs' communication with older patients. Hospital protocols designed for younger patients may need to be adjusted to meet the needs of older patients. There may also be opportunities to learn from outpatient interactions with older patients.

Background Frailty is a potential modifiable predictor of surgical outcomes in older adults. The impact of frailty following appendectomy, a common urgent operation, is unknown for older adults. The study aim was to assess if frailty is associated with worse perioperative outcomes after appendectomy in older adults. Methods We used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database from 2016 to 2018 and identified patients 65 and older who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis. We identified frailty as a Modified Frailty Index (MFI) score ≥2. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association of frailty with 30-day mortality, serious complications, readmission, and discharge to facility. Results Five thousand seven hundred twenty-eight older adults underwent appendectomy, of which 29.1% were 75 or older, 53.3% female, 74.9% non-Hispanic White, and 17.1% frail. Frail patients experienced worse outcomes: mortality (frail: 1.0% vs non-frail: .3%, P = .001), serious complications (14.2% vs 8.0%, P = Conclusions Frailty is associated with worse postoperative outcomes following appendectomy in older adults. As frailty is potentially modifiable, it should be routinely assessed and utilized in perioperative optimization and counseling, especially with respect to patient-centered outcomes.

To address ambulatory care sensitive hospitalisations in heart failure (HF), we implemented a quality improvement initiative to reduce admissions and improve guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) prescription, through proactive integration of remote patient monitoring-home telehealth (RPM-HT) and pharmacist consultations. Each enrolled patient (n=38) was assigned an RPM-HT registered nurse (RN), cardiology licensed independent provider (provider), and, if referred, a clinical pharmacy specialist (pharmacist). The RN called patients weekly and for changes detected by RPM-HT, while the pharmacist worked to optimise GDMT. The RN and pharmacist communicated clinical status changes to the provider for expedited management. Process measures were the percentage of outbound RN weekly calls missed per enrolled patient; the weekly percentage of provider interventions missed; and the number of initiative-driven diuretic changes. Outcome measures included eligible GDMT medications prescribed, optimisation of those medications, and the pre–post difference in emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalisations. After a 4-week run-in period, RN weekly calls missed per enrolled patient decreased from a mean of 21.4% (weeks 5–15) to 10.2% (weeks 16–23). Weekly missed provider interventions decreased from a mean of 15.1% (weeks 1–15) to 3.4% (weeks 16–23), with special cause variation detected. The initiative resulted in 43 diuretic changes in 21 patients. Among 34 active patients, 65 ED visits (0.16 per person-month) occurred in 12 months pre intervention compared with 8 ED visits (0.04 per person-month) for 6 intervention months (p

Objective To compare rates of incident SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and 30‐day hospitalization or death among residents with confirmed infection in nursing homes with earlier versus later SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine clinics. Design Matched pairs analysis of nursing homes that had their initial vaccine clinics between December 18, 2020, and January 2, 2021, versus between January 3, 2021, and January 18, 2021. Matched facilities had their initial vaccine clinics between 12 and 16 days apart. Setting and Participants Two hundred and eighty nursing homes in 21 states owned and operated by the largest long‐term care provider in the United States. Measurements Incident SARS‐CoV‐2 infections per 100 at‐risk residents per week; hospital transfers and/or deaths per 100 residents with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection per day, averaged over a week. Results The early vaccinated group included 136 facilities with 12,157 residents; the late vaccinated group included 144 facilities with 13,221 residents. After 1 week, early vaccinated facilities had a predicted 2.5 fewer incident SARS‐CoV‐2 infections per 100 at‐risk residents per week (95% CI: 1.2–4.0) compared with what would have been expected based on the experience of the late vaccinated facilities. The rates remained significantly lower for several weeks. Cumulatively over 5 weeks, the predicted reduction in new infections was 5.2 cases per 100 at‐risk residents (95% CI: 3.2–7.3). By 5 to 8 weeks post‐vaccine clinic, early vaccinated facilities had a predicted 1.1 to 3.8 fewer hospitalizations and/or deaths per 100 infected residents per day, averaged by week than expected based on late vaccinated facilities' experience for a cumulative on average difference of 5 events per 100 infected residents per day. Conclusions The SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines seem to have accelerated the rate of decline of incident infections, morbidity, and mortality in this large multi‐state nursing home population., See related editorial by Ouslander et al and related articles by Moore et al, Rudolph et al, and Domi et al.

Background: Health information technology (HIT) use in home- and community-based services (HCBS) has been hindered by inadequate resources and incentives to support modernization. We sought to understand the ways the Medicaid Balancing Incentive Program (BIP) facilitated increased use of HIT to increase access to HCBS. Method: Qualitative analysis of interviews with 30 Medicaid administrators, service agency providers, and consumer advocates. Results: Although stakeholders perceived several benefits to greater HIT use, they highlighted critical challenges to effective adoption within the long-term services and supports (LTSS) system, including lack of extant expertise/knowledge about HIT, the limited reach of HIT among rural and disabled beneficiaries, burdensome procurement processes, and the ongoing resources required to maintain up-to-date HIT solutions. Conclusion: The structural reforms required by BIP gave states an opportunity to modernize their HCBS systems through use of HIT. However, barriers to HIT adoption persist, underscoring the need for continued support as part of future rebalancing efforts.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to impact older adults disproportionately with respect to serious consequences ranging from severe illness and hospitalization to increased mortality risk. Concurrently, concerns about potential shortages of healthcare professionals and health supplies to address these issues have focused attention on how these resources are ultimately allocated and used. Some strategies, for example, misguidedly use age as an arbitrary criterion that disfavors older adults in resource allocation decisions. This is a companion article to the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) position statement, "Resource Allocation Strategies and Age-Related Considerations in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond." It is intended to inform stakeholders including hospitals, health systems, and policymakers about ethical considerations that should be considered when developing strategies for allocation of scarce resources during an emergency involving older adults. This review presents the legal and ethical background for the position statement and discusses these issues that informed the development of the AGS positions: (1) age as a determining factor, (2) age as a tiebreaker, (3) criteria with a differential impact on older adults, (4) individual choices and advance directives, (5) racial/ethnic disparities and resource allocation, and (6) scoring systems and their impact on older adults. It also considers the role of advance directives as expressions of individual preferences in pandemics. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1143-1149, 2020.

ImportanceRecent work suggests that instability in nursing home staffing levels may be an important marker of nursing home quality. Whether that association holds when controlling for average staffing levels is unknown.ObjectiveTo examine whether staffing instability, defined as the percentage of days below average staffing levels, is associated with nursing home quality when controlling for average staffing levels.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis quality improvement study of 14 717 nursing homes used the merged Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Payroll Based Journal, Minimum Data Set, Nursing Home Care Compare, and Long-Term-Care Focus data for fiscal years 2017 to 2019. Statistical analysis was performed from February 8 to November 14, 2022.Main Outcomes and MeasuresLinear, random-effect models with state fixed effects and robust SEs were estimated for 12 quality indicators as dependent variables, percentage of below-average staffing days as independent variables, controlling for average staffing hours per resident-day for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides. Below-average staffing days were defined as those 20% below the facility average, by staffing type. Quality indicators included deficiency citations; long-stay residents receiving an antipsychotic; percentage of high-risk long-stay residents with pressure ulcers (2 different measures for pressure ulcers were used); and percentage of long-stay residents with activities of daily living decline, mobility decline, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations; and short-stay residents with new antipsychotic medication, mobility decline, emergency department visits, and rehospitalizations.ResultsFor the 14 717 nursing homes in this study, the mean (SD) percentage of days with below-average staffing was 30.2% (12.0%) for registered nurses, 16.4% (11.3%) for licensed practical nurses, and 5.1% (5.3%) for certified nurse aides. Mean (SD) staffing hours per resident-day were 0.44 (0.40) for registered nurses, 0.80 (0.32) for licensed practical nurses, and 2.20 (0.50) for certified nurse aides. In regression models that included average staffing, a higher percentage of below-average staffing days was significantly associated with worse quality for licensed practical nurses in 10 of 12 models, with the largest association for decline of activities of daily living among long-stay residents (regression coefficient, 0.020; P P = .01).Conclusions and RelevanceThis study suggests that holding average staffing levels constant, day-to-day staffing stability, especially avoiding days with low staffing of licensed practical nurses and certified nurse aides, is a marker of better quality of nursing homes. Future research should investigate the causes and potential solutions for instability in staffing in all facilities, including those that may appear well-staffed on average.

Each year millions of Medicare beneficiaries in the United States receive post-acute care (PAC) in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), and home health agencies (HHA). We describe, overall and by PAC setting, the national population of facilities and patients, evaluate the representativeness of a national field test sample, and describe patient characteristics in the national field test sample.We analyzed the 2016 Provider of Service file, 2016 patient assessment data reported by PAC providers to Centers for MedicareMedicaid, and data collected from PAC providers participating in a national field test. National data included 27,234 PAC settings and 5,033,820 beneficiaries receiving PAC. The national field test sample consisted of 143 facilities across 14 markets with 25-30 patients sampled from each facility (n = 3669). We describe PAC facility and patient characteristics for both the national and field test sample.Nationally, PAC facilities were more likely for-profit versus not for-profit, have an average nurse-to-bed ratio between 1:10 to 1:1 (lowest in SNFs) and be in metropolitan versus other areas. PAC patients were more likely to be white, female, and 75-89 years of age; heart failure as a primary medical condition tended to be more common than stroke or sepsis. There was limited variability across setting types. In the national field test, patients in LTCHs demonstrated a greater likelihood of cognitive impairment, positive depression screening, bowel and bladder appliance use, higher rates of medication drug classes taken, and use of therapeutic diets and IV medications.The national field test facility and patient samples were fairly representative of the national population overall and across settings with a few exceptions. Moreover, differences according to PAC setting on patient characteristics in the national field test aligned with general differences in patient populations.

To support interoperability and care planning across provider types, the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act) requires the submission of standardized patient assessment data using the assessment instruments provided by the Centers for MedicareMedicaid Services (CMS). CMS was tasked with developing standardized assessment data elements (SADEs) within clinical categories named in the IMPACT Act.We used environmental scans, subject matter expert, and stakeholder input to identify candidate SADEs; tested candidate data elements in alpha testing; revised SADEs and training protocols based on alpha analyses and stakeholder feedback; tested SADEs across post-acute care (PAC) settings in a national field test that included 3121 patients across 143 home health agencies, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities in 14 markets across the United States; and analyzed data and stakeholder input from national testing. Field testing measured the time required for assessment, percent completion, and inter-rater reliability. We analyzed qualitative feedback from stakeholder focus groups and technical expert panels. We also obtained survey and focus group feedback from data collectors.We developed a mixed-method, multi-stakeholder procedure to identify and gather input on SADE for cross-setting use. This process yielded feasible and reliable SADEs for PAC settings that assess pain, cognitive status, mood, and medication reconciliation. The success of this work depended on working iteratively with diverse stakeholders and providing qualitative as well as quantitative evidence.The procedures applied in this project for developing and adopting SADEs for PAC, as well as the challenges and strategies to overcome challenges, should be considered in future item and quality measure development.

Assessments of patients have sought to increase the patient voice through direct patient interviews and performance-based testing. However, some patients in post-acute care (PAC) are unable to communicate and cannot participate in interviews or structured cognitive tests. Therefore, we tested the feasibility and reliability of observational assessments of cognitive function, mood, and pain for patients who are unable to communicate in PAC settings.We conducted a national test of observational assessments of cognitive function, mood, and pain in 143 PAC facilities (57 home health agencies, 28 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, 28 Long-Term Care Hospitals, and 73 Skilled Nursing Facilities) across 14 U.S. markets from November 2017 to August 2018. For the 548 patients identified as unable to make themselves understood, we assessed descriptive statistics, percent of missing data, time to complete, and inter-rater reliability (IRR) between paired research nurse and facility staff assessors.Most sampled non-communicative patients were administered all three observational assessments. Among assessed patients, overall missing data was high for some items within the Staff Assessment for Mental Status (2.9% to 33.5%) and Staff Assessment of Patient Mood (12.4% to 44.3%), but not the Observational Assessment of Pain or Distress (0.0% to 4.4%). Average time to complete the data elements ranged from 2.4 to 3.5 min and IRR was good to excellent for all items (kappa range: 0.74-0.98).The three observational data elements had acceptable reliability. Although results revealed varying feasibility, there was support for feasibility overall in terms of implementing a standardized observational assessment of pain for patients in PAC settings. Additional work is needed for the Staff Assessment for Mental Status and the Staff Assessment of Patient Mood to improve the observable nature of these data elements and enhance instructions and training for standardizing the assessments.

The committee began its work by developing a conceptual model for achieving resident-centered care. The model draws on existing evidence about the multiple dimensions of resident quality of life and the complexity of nursing home care and environments. Dr. Debra Saliba, a professor in UCLA’s Borun Center and Los Angeles VA GRECC with expertise in long-term care policy and delivery, will describe this model and how it guided the committee’s recommendations. She also will discuss how each presentation fits within the model’s domains

Objective The quality of care provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is increasingly being compared to community providers. The objective of this study was to compare the VA Community Living Centers (CLCs) to nursing homes in the community (NHs) in terms of characteristics of their post-acute populations and performance on 3 claims-based (“short-stay”) quality measures. Design Observational, cross-sectional. Setting and Participants CLC and NH residents admitted from hospitals during July 2015–June 2016. Methods CLC residents were compared with 3 NH populations: males, Veterans, and all NH residents. CLC and NH performance was compared on risk-adjusted claims-based measures: unplanned rehospitalizations and emergency department visits within 30 days of CLC or NH admission and successful discharge to the community within 100 days of NH admission. Results Veterans admitted from hospitals to CLCs (n = 23,839 Veterans/135 CLCs) were less physically impaired, less likely to have anxiety, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and dementia than Veterans (n = 241,177/14,818 NHs), males (n = 661,872/15,280 NHs), and all residents (n = 1,674,578/15,395 NHs) admitted to NHs from hospitals. Emergency department and successful discharge risk-adjusted rates of CLCs were statistically significantly better than those of NHs [mean (standard deviation): 8.3% (4.6%) and 67.7% (11.5%) in CLCs vs 11.9% (5.3%) and 57.0% (10.5%) in NHs, respectively]. CLCs had slightly worse rehospitalization rates [22.5% (6.2%) in CLCs vs 21.1% (5.9%) in NHs], but lower combined emergency department and rehospitalization rates [30.8% (0.8%) in CLCs vs 33.0% (0.7%) in NHs]. Conclusions and Implications CLCs and NHs serve different post-acute care populations. Using the same risk-adjusted NH quality metrics, CLCs provided better post-acute care than community NHs.

The delivery of medical care services in U.S. nursing homes (NHs) is dependent on a workforce that comprises physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Each of these disciplines operates under a unique regulatory framework while adhering to common standards of care. NH provider characteristics and their roles in NH care can illuminate potential links to clinical outcomes and overall quality of care with important policy and cost implications. This perspective provides an overview of what is currently known about medical provider practice in NH and organizational models of practice. Links to quality, both conceptual and established, are presented as is a research and policy agenda that addresses the gaps in the evidence base within the context of our ever-changing health care landscape.

Older adults undergoing nonelective surgery are at risk for geriatric events (GEs: delirium, dehydration, falls/fractures, failure to thrive, and pressure ulcers), but the impact of GEs on postoperative outcomes is unclear. Using the 2013 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample, we analyzed nonelective hospital admissions for five common operations (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, colectomy, soft tissue debridement, small bowel resection, and laparoscopic appendectomy) in older adults (aged ≥65 years) and a younger referent group (aged 55–64 years). Nationally weighted descriptive statistics were generated for GEs. Logistic regression controlling for patient, procedure, and hospital characteristics estimated the association of 1) age with GEs and 2) GEs with outcomes. Of 471,325 overall admissions, 64.7 per cent were aged ≥65 years. The rate of any GE in older adults was 26.9 per cent; GEs varied by age and procedure ( P < 0.001). After adjustment, the probability of any GE increased with age category ( P < 0.001); having any GE was associated with higher probability of all outcomes ( P < 0.001): mortality (4.5% vs 0.8%), postoperative complications (61.7% vs 24.9%), prolonged length of stay (24.3% vs 7.9%), and skilled nursing facility discharge (46.6% vs 10.3%). In addition, there was a dose–response relationship between GEs and negative outcomes. GEs are prevalent in the nonelective surgery setting and associated with worse clinical outcomes. Quality improvement efforts should focus on addressing GEs.

Background Many older adults with multiple chronic conditions, particularly those who are functionally impaired, spend considerable time juggling the competing demands of managing their conditions often assisted by caregivers. We examined methods of assessing the treatment burden experienced by this population as a first step to identifying strategies to reduce it. Methods Systematic searches were performed of the peer-reviewed and grey-literature (PubMed, Cochrane library, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, New York Academy of Medicine Grey Literature Review, NLM catalog and ProQuest Digital Theses and Dissertations). After title and abstract screening, both qualitative and quantitative articles describing approaches to assessment of treatment burden were included. Results Forty-five articles from the peer reviewed and three items from the grey literature were identified. Most articles (34/48) discussed treatment burden associated with a specific condition. All but one examined the treatment burden experienced by patients and six addressed the treatment burden experienced by caregivers. Qualitative studies revealed many aspects of treatment burden including the burdens of understanding the condition, juggling, monitoring and adjusting treatments, efforts to engage with others for support as well as financial and time burdens. Many tools to assess treatment burden in different populations were identified through the qualitative data. The most commonly used instrument was the Treatment Burden Questionnaire. Conclusions Many instruments are available to assess treatment burden, but no one standardized assessment method was identified. Few articles examined approaches to measuring the treatment burden experienced by caregivers. As people live longer with more chronic conditions healthcare providers need to identify patients and caregivers burdened by treatment and engage in approaches to ameliorate treatment burden. A standard and validated assessment method to measure treatment burden in the clinical setting would help to enhance the care of people with multiple chronic conditions, allow comparison of different approaches to reducing treatment burden, and foster ongoing evaluation and monitoring of burden across conditions, patient populations, and time.

Background: Organizational health literacy (OHL) is the degree to which health care organizations implement strategies to make it easier for patients to understand health information, navigate the health care system, engage in the health care process, and manage their health. Although resources exist to guide OHL-related quality improvement (QI) initiatives, little work has been done to establish measures that organizations can use to monitor their improvement efforts. Objective: We sought to identify and evaluate existing OHL-related QI measures. To complement prior efforts to develop measures based on patient-reported data, we sought to identify measures computed from clinical, administrative, QI, or staff-reported data. Our goal was to develop a set of measures that experts agree are valuable for informing OHL-related QI activities. Methods: We used four methods to identify relevant measures computed from clinical, administrative, QI, or staff-reported data. We convened a Technical Expert Panel, published a request for measures, conducted a literature review, and interviewed 20 organizations working to improve OHL. From the comprehensive list of measures identified, we selected a set of high-priority measures for review by a second expert panel. Using a modified Delphi review process, panelists rated measures on four evaluation criteria, participated in a teleconference to discuss areas of disagreement among panelists, and rerated all measures. Key Results: Across all methods, we identified 233 measures. Seventy measures underwent Delphi Panel review. For 22 measures, there was consensus among panelists that the measures were useful, meaningful, feasible, and had face validity. Five additional measures received strong ratings for usefulness, meaningfulness, and face validity, but failed to show consensus among panelists regarding feasibility. Conclusions: We identified OHL-related QI measures that have the support of experts in the field. Although additional measure development and testing is recommended, the Consensus OHL QI Measures are appropriate for immediate use. [ HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice . 2019;3(2):e127–e146.] Plain Language Summary: The health care system is complex. Health care organizations can make things easier for patients by making changes to improve communication and to help patients find their way around, become engaged in the health care process, and manage their health. We identify 22 measures that organizations can use to monitor their efforts to improve communication with and support for patients.

BACKGROUND: A reliable and valid clinically practical multi-domain self-report and caregiver-report tool is needed for tracking actionable symptoms in primary care for elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). OBJECTIVE: Assess internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, construct validity, and sensitivity to change for SymTrak. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Among 600 (200 patient–caregiver dyads, 200 patients without an identified caregiver) participants, SymTrak was telephone interviewer–administered at baseline and 3-month follow-up, and at 24 h post-baseline for assessing test–retest reliability in a random subsample of 180 (60 dyads, 60 individual patients) participants. MAIN MEASURES: Demographic questions, SymTrak, Health Utility Index Mark 3 (HUI3). KEY RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis indicated a single dominant dimension for SymTrak items for both patients and caregivers. Coefficient alpha and 24-h test–retest reliability, respectively, were high for the 23-item SymTrak total score for both patient-reported (0.85; 0.87) and caregiver-reported (0.86; 0.91) scores. Construct validity was supported by monotone decreasing relationships between the mean of SymTrak total scores across the poor-to-excellent categories of physical and emotional general health, and by high correlations with HUI3 overall utility score, even after adjusting for demographic covariates (standardized linear regression coefficient = − 0.84 for patients; − 0.70 for caregivers). Three-month change in the SymTrak total score was sensitive to detecting criterion standard 3-month reliable change categories (Improved, Stable, Declined) in HUI3-based health-related quality of life, especially for caregiver-reported scores. CONCLUSIONS: SymTrak demonstrates good internal consistency and test–retest reliability, construct validity, and sensitivity to change over a 3-month period, supporting its use for monitoring symptoms for older adults with MCCs. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11606-018-4780-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A clinically practical, brief, user-friendly, multi-domain self-report and caregiver-report tool is needed for tracking actionable symptoms in primary care for elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). Develop and assess usability, administration time, and internal reliability of SymTrak. Phase I: legacy instruments, content validity, analyses of existing data, focus groups (physicians, nurses, patients, informal caregivers), and Think Aloud interviews (patients, caregivers) were used to develop SymTrak. Phase II (pilot feasibility study): 81 (27 patient-caregiver dyads, 27 patients without an identified caregiver) participants were self-administered SymTrak in clinic. SymTrak and demographic questions. Consistent themes emerged from phase I focus groups. Ambiguous wording was corrected with Think Aloud feedback. In phase II, patients and caregivers preferred circling words instead of numbers for item response options. SymTrak self-administration completion time in clinic was brief; mean was 2.4, 3.0, and 3.3 min for the finalized circlingwords version, respectively, for caregivers, dyadic patients, and patients without a caregiver; and the maximum was 6.2 min for any participant. Usability questionnaire ratings were high. Cronbach’s alpha for the SymTrak 23-item total score was 0.86, 0.79, and 0.81 for caregivers, dyadic patients, and patients without a caregiver, respectively. SymTrak demonstrates content validity, positive qualitative findings, high perceived usability, brief self-administered completion time, and good internal reliability.

In July 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule for calendar year 2019 (MPFS2019). The proposal sets forth CMS‐recommended updates to Medicare payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services provided in the next calendar year. From year to year, the rule also can serve as a vehicle for soliciting input on new payment proposals and changes to existing policies. Among the payment and quality proposals in the MPFS2019 proposal, CMS proposed extensive changes to Current Procedural Terminology codes that are the framework for documentation and payment for office‐based evaluation and management (E/M) services. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) believes the proposed payment methodology changes for E/M services would have had a significant negative impact on care for older Americans. On September 10, 2018, the AGS submitted its comments on this proposal and other aspects of the rule, and the AGS also submitted a comment letter signed by 41 organizations from an AGS‐led multispecialty coalition. The coalition also worked collaboratively on outreach to Congress, which included visits to Capitol Hill and a coalition letter stressing our collective support for reducing the burden of documentation for clinicians and our opposition to the proposed changes in payment methodology. In all letters, we noted that the AGS and members of our coalition hoped to work collaboratively with CMS and other stakeholders to develop a refined approach that would achieve the best possible outcomes for patients, particularly frail older Americans with multiple chronic conditions. In releasing their final MPFS2019, CMS postponed the E/M coding collapse for at least two years, a decision that speaks to the hard work of the AGS, its members, and the multi‐specialty coalition, and which opens the door for further discussions about the future of payment for E/M services so critical to older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:145–150, 2019.

Study Objective: As recent efforts to improve culturally competent clinical care (CCCC) have largely overlooked older LGB adults, we conducted a scoping review of position statements, empirical, and non-empirical research and suggest action steps. Methods: We followed PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews Guidelines and searched for articles 1/1/11-3/14/19 (n = 1210) and other resources (n = 52), deduplicating, dually screening abstracts (n = 1,156), reviewing full-text (n = 107), and conducted a content analysis to identify distinct and cross-cutting domains (n = 44). Main Findings: Most research was based on simple pre/post-training differences in provider knowledge. A majority of sources were non-empirical. We identified three distinct domains (education & staffing, physical environment, and inclusive language & communication) and three cross-cutting domains (subgroup differences, research, and policy). Principal Conclusions: Sparse empirical data that specify best approaches to improve CCCC exist; nevertheless, providers, in collaboration with researchers and policy makers, can initiate improved practices aimed at increasing CCCC for older LGB patients.

Objective The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Foster Home (MFH) program was created to give veterans a community-based alternative to institutional long-term care (LTC). This study describes demographic, clinical, and functional characteristics of veterans in MFHs. Methods Findings from in-home assessments of veterans in MFHs tied to 4 VHA medical centers for ≥ 90 days between April 2014 and December 2015 were collected. Trained nurses completed Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessments for 92 veterans in MFHs. The assessment included demographic characteristics, cognition, behaviors, depression, pain, functional status, mobility, and morbidity. Results MFH veterans were primarily male (85%), aged > 65 years (83%), cognitively impaired (55%), and had a diagnosis of depression (52%). Overall, 22% had caregiverreported aggressive behaviors and 45% self-reported pain. More than half used a wheelchair (56%). Of the 11 activities of daily living (ADLs) assessed, MFH residents were most likely to require assistance with bathing and least likely to require assistance with bed mobility and eating, although more than half required eating assistance. Conclusions Veterans residing in MFHs have a wide range of care needs, including some veterans with high needs for help with ADLs and others who are completely independent in performing ADLs. These results provide insights about which veterans are staying in MFH care. Future studies should explore how VHA care providers refer veterans to LTC settings.

Average staffing measures are a focus of nursing homes' quality assessments and reporting. They may, however, mask daily variation in staffing, additional information that could be important for understanding nursing home quality and relative ranking.To examine daily variation in staffing, its association with quality, and whether daily variation provides information regarding quality ranking of nursing homes over and above the information provided by average staffing levels.This quality improvement study included registered nurses (RNs) and certified nurse aide (CNAs) at 13 339 certified nursing homes throughout the United States during 2017 to 2018. Retrospective analyses of the Payroll-Based Journal, Medicare Cost Reports, and Nursing Home Care Compare were conducted. Data were analyzed from January 2017 to December 2018.Three measures of daily variation, ie, coefficient of variation (COV), total outlier days (TOD), and low outlier days (LOD), were calculated for RNs and CNAs. The association between these measures and quality rankings and other facility characteristics were evaluated.A total of 13 339 nursing homes were included in this study, with 9476 (71%) for-profit facilities. The mean (SD) hours-per-resident-day were 0.41 (0.29) for RNs and 2.16 (0.49) for CNAs, and a mean (SD) 55% (26%) of residents were Medicaid beneficiaries. Outcome measures were as follows: mean (SD) COV, 0.5 (0.6) for RNs and 0.1 (0.1) for CNAs; mean (SD) TOD, 220 (69) for RNs and 44 (45) for CNAs; and mean (SD) LOD, 116 (45) for RNs and 22 (24) for CNAs. All 3 variation measures, for both RNs and CNAs, were significantly associated with both the 5-Star Quality Measures (COV among RNs, -0.014 [95% CI, -0.021 to -0.007]; P .001; COV among CNAs: -0.004 [95% CI, -0.006 to -0.003]; P .001; TOD among RNs, -3.79 [95% CI, -4.59 to -2.99]; P .001; TOD among CNAs, -2.52 [95% CI, -3.08 to -1.96]; P .001; LOD among RNs, -2.46 [95% CI, -3.03 to -1.88]; P .001; LOD among CNAs, -1.29 [95% CI, -1.58 to -0.99]; P .001) and the 5-Star Survey rankings (COV among RNs,-0.026 [95% CI, -0.033 to -0.019]; P .001; COV among CNAs: -0.006 [95% CI, -0.007 to -0.004]; P .001; TOD among RNs, -5.10 [95% CI, -5.97 to -4.23]; P .001; TOD among CNAs, -4.16 [95% CI, -4.77 to -3.55]; P .001; LOD among RNs, -3.04 [95% CI, -3.65 to -2.44]; P .001; LOD among CNAs, -1.97 [95% CI, -2.29 to -1.65]; P .001) published in Nursing Home Care Compare. Low κ values, ranging from 0.23 to 0.63, indicated that the variation measures add information about ranking to the information provided by average staffing measure.These findings highlight the importance of reporting daily variation in staffing to improve understanding of the relationship between staffing and quality. They suggest that 2 facilities with the same average staffing achieve different quality of resident care and survey ratings in association with on the day-to-day variation in staffing. Measures of daily staffing may enhance the value of Nursing Home Care Compare for nursing homes and others engaged in quality improvement and consumers searching for high quality nursing homes.

Background Despite public perception, most of the nearly 20 million US veterans have health coverage outside the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and VHA eligibility and utilization vary across veterans. Out-of-pocket healthcare spending thus remains a potential source of financial hardship for veterans. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed to expand health insurance access, but its effect on veterans’ financial risk protection has not been explored. Objective To evaluate whether ACA implementation was associated with changes in veterans’ risk of catastrophic health expenditures, and to characterize drivers of catastrophic health spending among veterans post-ACA. Design Using multivariable linear probability regression, we examined changes in likelihood of catastrophic health spending after ACA implementation, stratifying by age (18–64 vs 65+), household income tercile, and payer (VHA vs non-VHA). Among veterans with catastrophic spending post-ACA, we evaluated sources of out-of-pocket spending. Participants Nationally representative sample of 13,030 veterans aged 18+ from the 2010 to 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Intervention ACA implementation, January 1, 2014. Main Measures Likelihood of catastrophic health expenditures, defined as household out-of-pocket spending exceeding 10% of household income. Key Results Among veterans aged 18–64, ACA implementation was associated with a 26% decrease in likelihood of catastrophic health expenditures (absolute change, −1.4 percentage points [pp]; 95% CI, −2.6 to −0.2; p=0.03), which fell from 5.4% pre-ACA to 3.9% post-ACA. This was driven by a 38% decrease in catastrophic spending among veterans with non-VHA coverage (absolute change, −1.8pp; 95% CI, −3.0 to −0.6; p=0.003). In contrast, catastrophic expenditure rates among veterans aged 65+ remained high, at 13.0% pre- and 12.5% post-ACA. Major drivers of veterans’ spending post-ACA include dental care, prescription drugs, and home care. Conclusions ACA implementation was associated with reduced household catastrophic health expenditures for younger but not older veterans. These findings highlight gaps in veterans’ financial protection and areas amenable to policy intervention. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11606-021-06807-4.