Exploring the association of dual use of the VHA and Medicare with mortality: separating the contributions of inpatient and outpatient services.

TitleExploring the association of dual use of the VHA and Medicare with mortality: separating the contributions of inpatient and outpatient services.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsWolinsky, FD, An, H, Liu, L, Miller, TR, Rosenthal, GE
JournalBMC Health Serv Res
Volume7
Pagination70
Date Published2007 May 09
ISSN Number1472-6963
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Ambulatory Care, Cluster Analysis, Continuity of Patient Care, Emergency Service, Hospital, Episode of Care, Hospital Mortality, Hospitals, Veterans, Humans, Male, Medicare, Proportional Hazards Models, United States, Veterans
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Older veterans may use both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Medicare, but the association of dual use with health outcomes is unclear. We examined the association of indirect measures of dual use with mortality.

METHODS: Our secondary analysis used survey, claims, and National Death Index data from the Survey on Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old. The analytic sample included 1,521 men who were Medicare beneficiaries. Veterans were classified as dual users when their self-reported number of hospital episodes or physician visits exceeded that in their Medicare claims. Veterans reporting inpatient or outpatient visits but having no Medicare claims were classified as VHA-only users. Proportional hazards regression was used.

RESULTS: 897 (59%) of the men were veterans, of whom 134 (15%) were dual users. Among dual users, 60 (45%) met the criterion based on inpatient services, 54 (40%) based on outpatient services, and 20 (15%) based on both. 766 men (50%) died. Adjusting for covariates, the independent effect of any dual use was a 38% increased mortality risk (AHR = 1.38; p = .02). Dual use based on outpatient services marginally increased mortality risk by 45% (AHR = 1.45; p = .06), and dual use based on both inpatient and outpatient services increased the risk by 98% (AHR = 1.98; p = .02).

CONCLUSION: Indirect measures of dual use were associated with increased mortality risk. New strategies to better coordinate care, such as shared medical records, should be considered.

DOI10.1186/1472-6963-7-70
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17490488?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Veterans: statistics/numerical/medicare/mortality/Physician visits/Physician visits/HOSPITALIZATION

Endnote ID

25010

Alternate JournalBMC Health Serv Res
Citation Key7188
PubMed ID17490488
PubMed Central IDPMC1884152
Grant ListR01 AG022913 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R03 AG027741 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States