Using Propensity to Succeed Modeling to Increase Utilization and Adherence in a Nurse HealthLine Telephone Triage Program.

Propensity to succeed modeling was used to identify characteristics associated with higher utilization of a telephone triage program and adherence to nurse recommendations among callers. Characteristics significantly associated with calling the telephone triage service and engaging in triage services were being female and having an elevated health risk score. Callers most likely to adhere to nurse recommendations were younger than 85 years of age, had called on a weekday, and had received a recommendation to seek care at an emergency department or a doctor's office visit.

Propensity to Succeed: Prioritizing Individuals Most Likely to Benefit from Care Coordination.

The objective was to develop a propensity to succeed (PTS) process for prioritizing outreach to individuals with Medicare Supplement (ie, Medigap) plans who qualified for a high-risk case management (HRCM) program. Demographic, socioeconomic, health status, and local health care supply data from previous HRCM program participants and nonparticipants were obtained from Medigap membership and health care claims data and public data sources. Three logistic regression models were estimated to find members with higher probabilities of engaging in the HRCM program, receiving high quality of care once engaged, and incurring enough monetary savings related to program participation to more than offset program costs.

An emergency room decision-support program that increased physician office visits, decreased emergency room visits, and saved money.

The objective of this study was to evaluate an Emergency Room having a Decision-Support (ERDS) program designed to appropriately reduce ER use among frequent users, defined as 3 or more visits within a 12-month period. To achieve this, adults with an AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance plan insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company (for New York residents, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York) were eligible to participate in the program. These included 7070 individuals who elected to enroll in the ERDS program and an equal number of matched nonparticipants who were eligible but either declined or were unreachable.

Barriers to managing coronary artery disease among older women.

Numerous barriers to managing coronary artery disease (CAD) among older women are reported in the literature; however, few studies adjust for demographic and health status differences. A survey assessing barriers and other factors was distributed to a stratified random sampling of older women with CAD. Factor analysis and multiple logistic regression procedures were used to estimate the impact of these issues on receiving a CAD-related office visit.

Listening to the nurse pays off: an integrated Nurse HealthLine programme was associated with significant cost savings.

Aim: To estimate the relationship between adherence to nurse recommendations about where to seek care and expenditures for health-care services received by callers to a Nurse HealthLine telephone-based triage programme.

Methods: Health-care utilization and claims data from callers to the Nurse HealthLine were included. Adherent callers were those who followed the nurse recommendations, while those who did not were classified as non-adherent.

The impact of pain on physical and mental quality of life in adults 65 and older.

Pain is a frequent and debilitating problem among older adults, decreasing quality of life (QOL) both physically and mentally. The burden of arthritis, sciatica, and back pain on QOL was estimated using ordinary least squares regression techniques to estimate the impact of each of these types of pain on QOL, controlling for patient demographic, socioeconomic, and health status characteristics. For individuals with arthritis, sciatica, and back pain, the adjusted average physical component scores were 4.

Why do older adult women fall short of the recommended follow-up care for coronary artery disease?

Background: Many women with coronary artery disease (CAD), commonly referred to as coronary heart disease, do not receive an annual office visit to manage their disease. We set out to determine what barriers factor into women not receiving an office visit to manage their disease.

Methods: A purposive sample of 26 eligible women (≥65 years of age) diagnosed with CAD completed in-depth, qualitative interviews.

The burden of depressive symptoms and various chronic conditions and health concerns on the quality of life among those with Medicare Supplement Insurance.

Objective: This study aims to estimate the burden of currently having depressive symptoms on quality of life independently and in combination with various chronic conditions/health concerns among adults with Medicare Supplement Insurance (i.e., Medigap) coverage.

The prevalence of hearing impairment and its burden on the quality of life among adults with Medicare Supplement Insurance.

Purpose: To estimate the impact of hearing impairment on quality of life from a physical and mental standpoint.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Health Update Survey, which contains questions on demographics, comorbid conditions, and the Veterans RAND 12-item health status/quality of life survey. It was fielded on a random sample of 15,000 adults with an AARP(®) Medicare Supplement plan, insured by UnitedHealthcare.

Disparities in major joint replacement surgery among adults with Medicare supplement insurance.

The objective of this study was to determine if disparities in hip and knee replacement surgery exist among osteoarthritis patients with AARP-branded Medicare supplement plan (ie, Medigap) coverage provided by UnitedHealthcare. Patients were selected into the study if they had 1 or more medical claims with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. Logistic regression analyses tested for age-, sex-, race-, or income-related differences in the likelihood of receiving a hip or knee replacement surgery.

The burden of falling on the quality of life of adults with Medicare supplement insurance.

To study the impact of falling or risk of falling on quality of life (QOL) outcomes, a survey was mailed to a random sample of 15,000 adults with an AARP® Medicare Supplement plan insured by UnitedHealthcare from 10 states in 2008. Approximately 21% had fallen in the past year; 17% did not fall but reported balance or walking problems (i.e.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence and its burden on the quality of life among older adults with medicare supplement insurance.

Purpose: Estimate the prevalence and burden of urinary incontinence (UI) on the quality of life (QOL) among adults (65 or older) with Medigap insurance.

Methods: Data were obtained from the health update survey (HUS), which contains questions on demographics, comorbid conditions, and the Veteran's RAND 12-item health status survey. The mail survey was fielded on a random sample of 15,000 insureds from 10 states in 2008.