Assessment of Unmet Health-Related Social Needs Among Patients With Mental Illness Enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

Importance: A large body of literature has found associations between unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs) and adverse mental health outcomes. A comparative analysis of the risks associated with HRSNs among patients with varying severity of mental illness and an assessment of how these risks compare with those of individuals without mental illness are needed.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and risks of HRSNs among patients with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), patients with mental health diagnoses but no serious and persistent mental illness (non-SPMI), and patients with both SPMI and non-SPMI compared with individuals without mental illness.

Frequency of Quarterly Self-reported Health-Related Social Needs Among Older Adults, 2020.

This cohort study analyzes survey responses regarding social needs throughout 2020 among Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries.

Effect of interventions for non-emergent medical transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Transportation is an important social determinant of health. We conducted a systematic review of the associations on health and health care utilization of interventions aimed at reducing barriers to non-emergency transportation and non-medical transportation.

Methods: We searched three databases and the gray literature through mid-January 2022.

Structural basis of RNA polymerase recycling by the Swi2/Snf2 family of ATPase RapA in Escherichia coli.

After transcription termination, cellular RNA polymerases (RNAPs) are occasionally trapped on DNA, impounded in an undefined post-termination complex (PTC), limiting the free RNAP pool and subsequently leading to inefficient transcription. In Escherichia coli, a Swi2/Snf2 family of ATPase called RapA is known to be involved in countering such inefficiency through RNAP recycling; however, the precise mechanism of this recycling is unclear. To better understand its mechanism, here we determined the structures of two sets of E.

Identifying impacts of air pollution on subacute asthma symptoms using digital medication sensors.

Background: Objective tracking of asthma medication use and exposure in real-time and space has not been feasible previously. Exposure assessments have typically been tied to residential locations, which ignore exposure within patterns of daily activities.

Methods: We investigated the associations of exposure to multiple air pollutants, derived from nearest air quality monitors, with space-time asthma rescue inhaler use captured by digital sensors, in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

CsrA-Mediated Translational Activation of Expression in Escherichia coli.

The sequence-specific RNA-binding protein CsrA is the central component of the conserved global regulatory Csr system. In , CsrA regulates many cellular processes, including biofilm formation, motility, carbon metabolism, iron homeostasis, and stress responses. Such regulation often involves translational repression by CsrA binding to an mRNA target, thereby inhibiting ribosome binding.

Claims identification of patients with severe cancer-related symptoms.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to establish a claims-based mechanism for identifying patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) and high levels of patient-reported cancer-related symptoms who could benefit from engagement with health care programs.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey of patients with mNSCLC was conducted from July 2017 to May 2018. Surveys were mailed to patients who were within 3 months of cancer treatment and enrolled in a Medicare Advantage health plan.

Initiation of triple therapy maintenance treatment among patients with COPD.

Objectives: Triple therapy is indicated for patients with very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Use of this treatment in the appropriate patient population is important to ensure optimal outcomes. This study quantified the use of triple therapy and assessed concordance with 2013-2016 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommendations within a national health plan.

Primary Care Provider Encounter Cadence and HbA1c Control in Older Patients With Diabetes.

Introduction: Primary care provider encounters are associated with health and well-being; however, limited evidence guides optimal primary care provider rate of visit, referred to as encounter cadence. This study measures associations between primary care provider encounter cadence and diabetes outcomes among individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 7,106 people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 were identified and followed for 36 months.

Charlson Comorbidity Index: Update and Translation.

Background: The original Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) encompassed 19 categories of medical conditions that were identifiable in medical records. Subsequent publications provided scoring algorithms based on () codes. The recent adoption of () codes in the United States created a need for a new scoring scheme.

Using the Healthy Days Measure to Assess Factors Associated with Poor Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Metastatic Breast, Lung, or Colorectal Cancer Enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Health Plan.

This study investigated factors associated with patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Healthy Days tool for patients with Medicare Advantage undergoing treatment for metastatic breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. In 2015, a total of 6390 patients were mailed surveys regarding factors that may influence their HRQoL, including cancer-related symptoms. HRQoL was measured as the number of physically and mentally unhealthy days experienced in the past 30 days and summed for the total number of unhealthy days.

Posttranscription Initiation Control of Gene Expression Mediated by Bacterial RNA-Binding Proteins.

RNA-binding proteins play vital roles in regulating gene expression and cellular physiology in all organisms. Bacterial RNA-binding proteins can regulate transcription termination via attenuation or antitermination mechanisms, while others can repress or activate translation initiation by affecting ribosome binding. The RNA targets for these proteins include short repeated sequences, longer single-stranded sequences, RNA secondary or tertiary structure, and a combination of these features.

Spirometry evaluation to assess performance of a claims-based predictive model identifying patients with undiagnosed COPD.

Background: A claims-based model to predict patients likely to have undiagnosed COPD was developed by Moretz et al in 2015. This study aims to assess the performance of the aforementioned model using prospectively collected spirometry data.

Methods: A study population aged 40-89 years enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage or commercial health plan and without a claim for COPD diagnosis was identified from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2016 in the Humana claims database.

Retracted: Using the Healthy Days Measure to Assess Factors Associated with Poor Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Metastatic Breast, Lung, or Colorectal Cancer Enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Health Plan.

The article entitled, "Using the Healthy Days Measure to Assess Factors Associated with Poor Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Metastatic Breast, Lung, or Colorectal Cancer Enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Health Plan," by Casebeer AW et al, which published online ahead of print in Population Health Management [doi: 10.1089/pop.2018.

Examining Changes in Healthy Days After Health Coaching.

Purpose: To describe changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) related to variation in demographic characteristics, program goals, and program participation, among health coaching program participants.

Design: A retrospective observational study of a health coaching program.

Setting And Participants: A total of 2169 adults enrolled in an individually purchased or employer-sponsored health plan from a large health and well-being company, who participated in a health coaching program between January 2016 and April 2017.

In vivo RNA structural probing of uracil and guanine base-pairing by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC).

Many biological functions performed by RNAs arise from their in vivo structures. The structure of the same RNA can differ in vitro and in vivo owing in part to the influence of molecules ranging from protons to secondary metabolites to proteins. Chemical reagents that modify the Watson-Crick (WC) face of unprotected RNA bases report on the absence of base-pairing and so are of value to determining structures adopted by RNAs.

The relationship between comorbidity medication adherence and health related quality of life among patients with cancer.

Background: Studies have demonstrated that comorbidities compound the adverse influence of cancer on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Comorbidities adversely impact adherence to cancer treatment. Additionally, adherence to medications for comorbidities is positively associated with HRQoL for various diseases.

Development and validation of a predictive model to identify patients at risk of severe COPD exacerbations using administrative claims data.

Background: Patients with COPD often experience severe exacerbations involving hospitalization, which accelerate lung function decline and reduce quality of life. This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model to identify patients at risk of developing severe COPD exacerbations using administrative claims data, to facilitate appropriate disease management programs.

Methods: A predictive model was developed using a retrospective cohort of COPD patients aged 55-89 years identified between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2013 using Humana's claims data.

Effects of Educational Messaging on Urgent and Emergent Care-Seeking Behaviors Among Publicly Insured Populations.

Background: The impact of messaging campaigns on influencing urgent care- and emergent care-seeking behaviors, including the use of in-network providers, is not well-understood. Although out-of-network healthcare utilization can have negative financial consequences for patients in narrow network Affordable Care Act plans, individuals with time-sensitive medical conditions, and especially patients visiting the emergency department, may not think about out-of-network issues. Inappropriate or avoidable emergency department visits can also create unnecessary costs for patients.

Association of obesity with healthcare resource utilization and costs in a commercial population.

Objective: To examine the association of obesity with healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among commercially insured individuals.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study used administrative claims from 1 January 2007 to 1 December 2013. The ICD-9-CM status codes (V85 hierarchy) from 2008 to 2012 classified body mass index (BMI) into the World Health Organizations' BMI categories.

Effect of a mobile health, sensor-driven asthma management platform on asthma control.

Background: Asthma inflicts a significant health and economic burden in the United States. Self-management approaches to monitoring and treatment can be burdensome for patients.

Objective: To assess the effect of a digital health management program on asthma outcomes.

A Bold Goal: More Healthy Days Through Improved Community Health.

Humana, a large health care company, has set a goal of 20% improvement in health in the communities it serves by 2020. The metric chosen for the Bold Goal initiative was the HRQOL-4 version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Days survey. This paper presents the methods for measuring progress, reports results for the first year of tracking, and describes Humana's community-based interventions.