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BackgroundManagement of adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter in the emergency department (ED) includes rate reduction, cardioversion, and stroke prevention. Different approaches to these components of care may lead to variation in frequency of hospitalization and stroke prevention actions, with significant implications for patient experience, cost of care, and risk of complications. Standardization using evidence-based recommendations could reduce variation in management, preventable hospitalizations, and stroke risk.MethodsWe describe the rationale for our ED-based AF treatment recommendations. We also describe the development of an electronic clinical decision support system (CDSS) to deliver these recommendations to emergency physicians at the point of care. We implemented the CDSS at three pilot sites to assess feasibility and solicit user feedback. We will evaluate the impact of the CDSS on hospitalization and stroke prevention actions using a stepped-wedge cluster randomized pragmatic clinical trial across 13 community EDs in Northern California.DiscussionWe hypothesize that the CDSS intervention will reduce hospitalization of adults with isolated AF or atrial flutter presenting to the ED and increase anticoagulation prescription in eligible patients at the time of ED discharge and within 30 days. If our hypotheses are confirmed, the treatment protocol and CDSS could be recommended to other EDs to improve management of adults with AF or atrial flutter.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05009225 .  Registered on 17 August 2021.

ObjectiveTo estimate the effect of out-of-pocket (OOP) cost on nonadherence to classes of cardiometabolic medications among patients with diabetes.Data sources/settingElectronic health records from a large, health care delivery system for 223,730 patients with diabetes prescribed 842,899 new cardiometabolic medications during 2006-2012.Study designObservational, new prescription cohort study of the effect of OOP cost on medication initiation and adherence.Data collectionAdherence and OOP costs were based on pharmacy dispensing records and benefits.Principal findingsPrimary nonadherence (never dispensed) increased monotonically with OOP cost after adjusting for demographics, neighborhood socioeconomic status, Medicare, medical financial assistance, OOP maximum, deductibles, mail order pharmacy incentive and use, drug type, generic or brand, day's supply, and comorbidity index; 7 percent were never dispensed the new medication when OOP cost ≥$11, 5 percent with OOP cost of $1-$10, and 3 percent when the medication was free of charge (p

BACKGROUND:The specialist's role in caring for managed care patients is likely to grow. Thus, assessing the correlates of patient satisfaction with specialty care is essential. OBJECTIVE:To examine the association between characteristics of eye care practices and satisfaction with eye care among working age patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or diabetic retinopathy (DR). SUBJECTS/STUDY SETTING: A total of 913 working age patients with OAG or DR enrolled in six commercial managed care health plans. The patients were treated in 144 different eye care practices. STUDY DESIGN:We used a patient survey to obtain information on patient characteristics and satisfaction with eye care, measured by scores on satisfaction subscales of the 18-item Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. We used a survey of eye care practices to obtain information on practice characteristics, including provider specialties, practice organization, financial features, and utilization and quality management systems. We estimated logistic regression models to assess the association of patient and practice characteristics with high levels of patient satisfaction. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Treatment in a practice with a glaucoma specialist (for OAG patients) or a retina specialist (for DR patients) was associated with higher satisfaction, whereas treatment in a practice that obtained a high proportion of its revenues from capitation payments or in a group practice where providers obtained a high proportion of their incomes from bonuses was associated with lower satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS:Many eye care patients prefer to be treated by specialists with expertise in their conditions. Financial arrangement features of eye care practices also are associated with patient satisfaction with care. The most likely mechanisms underlying these associations are effects on provider behavior and satisfaction, which in turn influence patient satisfaction. Managed care plans and provider groups should aim to minimize the negative impact of managed care features on patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the variation in practice structure, financial arrangements, and utilization and quality management systems for eye care practices with managed care contracts. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of 88 group and 56 solo eye care practices that contract with 6 health plans affiliated with a national managed care organization. The survey contained modules on practice structure, financial arrangements, utilization management, and quality management. The survey response rate was 85%. RESULTS: Group practices with both ophthalmologists and optometrists were triple the size of ophthalmology-only groups, and 5 times the size of optometry-only groups. Fee-for-service payments were the primary source of group practice revenues, although 60% of groups derived some revenues from capitation payments. Group practices paid their physicians almost exclusively with fee-for-service payments or salary arrangements, with minimal capitation at the individual level. Almost no practices used both capitation and bonuses to compensate providers. Most practices received practice profiles and three fourths were subject to utilization review, which mainly consisted of preauthorization for procedures, tests, or referrals. Nearly all practices used clinical guidelines, protocols, or pathways in managing patients with diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Further, nearly all group practices used computerized information systems to assist in delivering care, and most had provider education programs. CONCLUSIONS: Managed care has affected the way eye care providers organize, finance, and deliver healthcare. In general, our findings paint an optimistic picture of eye care practices that contract with managed care organizations. Few practices bear substantial financial risk, and nearly all practices use quality management tools that could help to improve the quality of care.

The article discusses a study on the natural history of unoperated ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) conducted by the Aortic Institute at Yale University. The study found that among unoperated patients, there was an increased relative risk of adverse events when the aneurysm surpassed 5.0 cm, with overall slow aortic growth. However, the authors caution that the sample represents selected high-risk patients and may not capture the true rate of aortic dissection for all patients. They also highlight several limitations of the study, including excluded cohorts, inconsistent metrics, a mixed cohort, subjective outcomes, and discrepancies in event rates. The authors argue that clinical decision-making should be based on absolute risk and individualized to balance operative and surveillance risks. They look forward to further insights from the TITAN trial on the appropriate TAA size for intervention. [Extracted from the article]

To discourage the use of more expensive pharmaceuticals and to reduce drug spending, many health plans have instituted more cost sharing. Cost changes in cost sharing, which affect the use of the most commonly used drug classes among the privately insured and the chronically ill is determined.

Increasing co-payments for drugs and forcing doctors to prescribe generic drugs can reduce spending on prescription drugs, according to a study of 420,786 Americans whose health insurance plans included a drug benefit. However, this means consumers will have to pay more for their prescription drugs. In this study, out-of-pocket costs increased from 17.6% of total drug purchases to 25.6%.