Evaluation of a pediatric asthma high-risk scoring algorithm.

Objectives: Identification of patients with asthma at increased risk for hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits presents opportunity for intervention.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of computerized health plan claims data.

Methods: Texas Children's Health Plan, a large Medicaid managed care program, developed an asthma risk scoring algorithm using the clinically relevant parameters of hospitalization for asthma, ED visits for asthma, short-acting β agonist medication dispensing, inhaled corticosteroid medication dispensing, number of prescribing providers, loss to follow-up, and oral corticosteroid dispensing.

Oral Corticosteroid Prescribing for Children With Asthma in a Medicaid Managed Care Program.

Background And Objective: Short courses of oral corticosteroid (OCS) medication are recommended for treatment of moderate to severe asthma exacerbations. Concern has been raised about OCS overuse. Our objective is to describe rates of OCS dispensing among children with asthma and factors associated with variation in OCS dispensing.

The Impact of Tobacco Smoke Exposure on Childhood Asthma in a Medicaid Managed Care Plan.

Background: Tobacco smoke exposure increases breathing problems of children. Texas Children's Health Plan is a Managed Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care provider. The aim of this study is to determine associations among tobacco smoke exposure, asthma prevalence, and asthma health-care utilization.