Background Since October 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has penalized 25% of U.S. hospitals with the highest rates of hospital-acquired conditions under the Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction Program (HACRP). While early evaluations of the HACRP program reported cumulative reductions in hospital-acquired conditions, more recent studies have not found a clear association between receipt of the HACRP penalty and hospital quality of care. We posit that some of this disconnect may be driven by frequent scoring updates. The sensitivity of the HACRP penalties to updates in the program’s scoring methodology has not been independently evaluated. Methods We used hospital discharge records from 14 states to evaluate the association between changes in HACRP scoring methodology and corresponding shifts in penalty status. To isolate the impact of changes in scoring methods over time, we used FY2018 hospital performance data to calculate total HAC scores using FY2015 through FY2018 CMS scoring methodologies. Results Comparing hospital penalty status based on various HACRP scoring methodologies over time, we found a significant overlap between penalized hospitals when using FY 2015 and 2016 scoring methodologies (95%) and between FY 2017 and 2018 methodologies (46%), but substantial differences across early vs later years. Only 15% of hospitals were eligible for penalties across all four years. We also found significant changes in a hospital’s (relative) ranking across the various years, indicating that shifts in penalty status were not driven by small changes in HAC scores clustered around the penalty threshold. Conclusions HACRP penalties have been highly sensitive to program updates, which are generally announced after performance periods are concluded. This disconnect between performance and penalties calls into question the ability of the HACRP to improve patient safety as intended.

Objective This study aimed to assess whether a counselor‐initiated (CI) adaptation of the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) intensive lifestyle intervention in a military setting was cost‐effective relative to a self‐paced (SP) adaptation. Methods A cost‐effectiveness analysis from a payer perspective was performed alongside a 2014‐2017 randomized behavioral weight loss trial among 248 active‐duty military personnel stationed at a US Air Force base in Texas. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios were calculated for weight loss, reductions in waist circumference, and quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs). Results After 12 months, the CI adaptation cost more per participant compared with the SP adaptation ($1,081 vs. $120) but achieved greater weight loss (1.86 kg vs. 0.06 kg), greater reductions in waist circumference (1.85 cm vs. 0.48 cm), and more QALYs (0.871 vs. 0.856). The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio for the CI adaptation relative to the SP adaptation was $61,268 per additional QALY. At willingness‐to‐pay thresholds of $50,000 and $100,000 per QALY, the CI adaptation was 45% and 49% likely to be cost‐effective, respectively. Conclusions The CI delivery of the Look AHEAD Intensive Lifestyle Intervention may offer a cost‐effective approach to tackle excess weight in the US military.

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Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Chronische Entzündungserkrankungen (engl. „immune-mediated inflammatory diseases“ [IMID]) sind mit einer erheblichen Krankheitslast verbunden. Diese ist umso ausgeprägter, sofern diese gleichzeitig bei Patienten auftreten oder z. B. weitere Komorbiditäten bestehen. Die Versorgung der IMID ist komplex und involviert diverse medizinische Fachdisziplinen. Ziel der Arbeit Die Beschreibung der Krankheitslast und der aktuellen Arzneimittelversorgung der Patienten mit IMID. Material und Methoden Die retrospektive Querschnittanalyse erfolgte unter Nutzung von Abrechnungsdaten der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung der InGef-Datenbank. Unter 3.988.695 Versicherten wurden im Jahr 2018 anhand dokumentierter Diagnosen (ICD-10-GM) prävalente Patienten mit Psoriasis (Pso), Psoriasisarthritis (PsA), Spondyloarthritiden (SpA), rheumatoider Arthritis (RA), Morbus Crohn (MC), Colitis ulcerosa (CU) oder Kollagenosen identifiziert. Das gemeinsame Auftreten verschiedener IMID sowie weiterer Begleiterkrankungen wurde im Vergleich zur Referenzpopulation untersucht. Die medikamentöse Versorgung wurde basierend auf vordefinierten Therapieformen beschrieben. Ergebnisse Im Jahr 2018 wurden 188.440 Patienten mit IMID (4,7 %) identifiziert. Im Vergleich zur Referenzpopulation war die Prävalenz von depressiven Episoden und kardiovaskulären Risikoerkrankungen bei Patienten mit IMID höher. Bei MC, CU, RA, und PsA wurden DMARDs (engl. „disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs“) und klassische systemische Therapien am häufigsten eingesetzt. Bei Pso, SpA und Kollagenosen waren NSAR (nichtsteroidale Antirheumatika) die häufigsten Therapieformen oft in Kombination mit anderen Wirkstoffen. Diskussion Ein beträchtlicher Anteil der Patienten mit IMIDs (16,9–27,5 %) leidet an unterschiedlichen Erkrankungen des IMID-Formenkreises. Sie sind häufig von Begleiterkrankungen betroffen und bedürfen einer interdisziplinären medizinischen Versorgung.

Background Since October 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has penalized 25% of U.S. hospitals with the highest rates of hospital-acquired conditions under the Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction Program (HACRP). While early evaluations of the HACRP program reported cumulative reductions in hospital-acquired conditions, more recent studies have not found a clear association between receipt of the HACRP penalty and hospital quality of care. We posit that some of this disconnect may be driven by frequent scoring updates. The sensitivity of the HACRP penalties to updates in the program's scoring methodology has not been independently evaluated. Methods We used hospital discharge records from 14 states to evaluate the association between changes in HACRP scoring methodology and corresponding shifts in penalty status. To isolate the impact of changes in scoring methods over time, we used FY2018 hospital performance data to calculate total HAC scores using FY2015 through FY2018 CMS scoring methodologies. Results Comparing hospital penalty status based on various HACRP scoring methodologies over time, we found a significant overlap between penalized hospitals when using FY 2015 and 2016 scoring methodologies (95%) and between FY 2017 and 2018 methodologies (46%), but substantial differences across early vs later years. Only 15% of hospitals were eligible for penalties across all four years. We also found significant changes in a hospital's (relative) ranking across the various years, indicating that shifts in penalty status were not driven by small changes in HAC scores clustered around the penalty threshold. Conclusions HACRP penalties have been highly sensitive to program updates, which are generally announced after performance periods are concluded. This disconnect between performance and penalties calls into question the ability of the HACRP to improve patient safety as intended.