Estimating optimal thresholds for adherence to RASA medications among older adults with hypertension.

Background: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star Ratings program incentivizes health plans in Medicare to improve performance on a variety of quality measures such as adherence to renin-angiotensin system antagonists (RASAs). Adherence to RASA medications, defined as having a proportion of days covered (PDC) of at least 80%, has been improving for several years, suggesting that further investigation is needed to assess the appropriateness of the current 80% PDC threshold for medication adherence as an indicator of quality. The 80% PDC threshold has been found to be associated with improved health care resource utilization outcomes; however, little evidence exists to show that this threshold is optimal.

Persistence to Basal Insulin: Association With Health Outcomes in a Population With Type 2 Diabetes.

This study examined the association between persistence to basal insulin and clinical and economic health outcomes. The question of whether a persistence measure for basal insulin could be leveraged in quality measurement was also explored. Using the IBM-Truven MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015, a total of 14,126 subjects were included in the analyses, wherein 9,898 (70.

Review of the National Quality Forum's Measure Endorsement Process.

The National Quality Forum (NQF) evaluates healthcare performance measures for endorsement based on a broad set of criteria. We extracted data from NQF technical reports released between spring 2018 and spring 2019. Measures were commonly stewarded by federal agencies (44.

Examining subjective well-being among older adults using pain medications.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between social participation and subjective well-being (SWB) among older adults using pain medications and evaluate the impact of sex on this relationship.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study data, a nationally-representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older. Individuals were included if they reported taking pain medications for five days or more per week over the last month.

The Influence of Social Determinants of Health on the Provision of Postpartum Contraceptives in Medicaid.

Disparities continue to exist in the timely provision of postpartum contraception. This study aimed to identify prevalence and factors associated with postpartum contraception provision among women enrolled in Medicaid. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the 2014 National Medicaid data, linked to county-level social vulnerability index (SVI) data.

Association between a usual source of care and influenza vaccination rates among pregnant women.

Purpose: Pregnant women and infants less than 6 months of age have a higher risk of complications from influenza. Vaccination is recommended for pregnant women to decrease risk of infection and hospitalizations between both the women themselves and infants. However, vaccination rates remain low in pregnant women.

Gender Disparities in Osteoporosis Screening and Management Among Older Adults.

Introduction: One in two women and one in four men experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. Related morbidity and mortality rates are higher in men versus women. Current guidelines are inconsistent in the screening recommendations for osteoporosis in men.

The impact of medication synchronization programs on medication adherence: A meta-analysis.

Background: Medication nonadherence is associated with more than $100 billion in preventable medical costs each year in the United States. Medication synchronization (med sync) programs have emerged as a potential solution to addressing nonadherence.

Objectives: To assess the impact of med sync programs on adherence in adults on chronic medications through a meta-analysis.

Missed Opportunities for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Initiation in an Insured Adolescent Female Population.

Background: This study assessed the initiation of HPV vaccination in insured adolescent females in relation to physician visits and receipt of other vaccines routinely given at the same age.

Methods: January 1, 2010, and September 31, 2015. Vaccination administration was determined by using Current Procedural Terminology codes.