ACP Comments to PTAC in Response to RFI on Identifying a Pathway Toward Maximizing Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care Models

ACP Comments on Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program Proposed Rule

ACP Comments on CMS" CY23 Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) Programs Proposed Rule

ACP Comments on HHS OIG’s Proposed Rule Updating Anti-Kickback Statute to Accommodate Value-Based Payments

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans

ACP Letter to CMS on Medicaid Waivers in Kansas

The Impending Collapse of Primary Care Medicine and Its Implications for the State of the Nation’s Health Care

Restructuring the Medical Professional Liability System

Redesigning Medicaid During a Time of Budget Deficits

Medicare Budget Issues. Testimony given before the Congressional Finance Committee.

Missed Opportunities for Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccination Among Departing U.S. Adult Travelers Receiving Pretravel Health Consultations

Background: Measles outbreaks continue to occur in the United States and are mostly due to infections in returning travelers. Objective: To describe how providers assessed the measles immunity status of departing U.S. adult travelers seeking pretravel consultation and to assess reasons given for nonvaccination among those considered eligible to receive the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Design: Observational study in U.S. pretravel clinics. Setting: 24 sites associated with Global TravEpiNet (GTEN), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–funded consortium. Patients: Adults (born in or after 1957) attending pretravel consultations at GTEN sites (2009 to 2014). Measurements: Structured questionnaire completed by traveler and provider during pretravel consultation. Results: 40 810 adult travelers were included; providers considered 6612 (16%) to be eligible for MMR vaccine at the time of pretravel consultation. Of the MMR-eligible, 3477 (53%) were not vaccinated at the visit; of these, 1689 (48%) were not vaccinated because of traveler refusal, 966 (28%) because of provider decision, and 822 (24%) because of health systems barriers. Most MMR-eligible travelers who were not vaccinated were evaluated in the South (2262 travelers [65%]) or at nonacademic centers (1777 travelers [51%]). Nonvaccination due to traveler refusal was most frequent in the South (1432 travelers [63%]) and in nonacademic centers (1178 travelers [66%]). Limitation: These estimates could underrepresent the opportunities for MMR vaccination because providers accepted verbal histories of disease and vaccination as evidence of immunity. Conclusion: Of U.S. adult travelers who presented for pretravel consultation at GTEN sites, 16% met criteria for MMR vaccination according to the provider's assessment, but fewer than half of these travelers were vaccinated. An increase in MMR vaccination of eligible U.S. adult travelers could reduce the likelihood of importation and transmission of measles virus. Primary Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and the Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholars Award.

Sacubitril–Valsartan in Heart Failure: Why Are More Physicians Not Prescribing It?

Outcomes-Based Pricing as a Tool to Ensure Access to Novel but Expensive Biopharmaceuticals

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Interval Colorectal Cancer Incidence: A Population-Based Cohort Study: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 166, No 12

Background: Interval colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for 3% to 8% of all cases of CRC in the United States. Data on interval CRC by race/ethnicity are scant. Objective: To examine whether risk for interval CRC among Medicare patients differs by race/ethnicity and whether this potential variation is accounted for by differences in the quality of colonoscopy, as measured by physicians' polyp detection rate (PDR). Design: Population-based cohort study. Setting: Medicare program. Participants: Patients aged 66 to 75 years who received colonoscopy between 2002 and 2011 and were followed through 2013. Measurements: Kaplan–Meier curves and adjusted Cox models were used to estimate cumulative probabilities and hazard ratios (HRs) of interval CRC, defined as a CRC diagnosis 6 to 59 months after colonoscopy. Results: There were 2735 cases of interval CRC identified over 235 146 person-years of follow-up. A higher proportion of black persons (52.8%) than white persons (46.2%) received colonoscopy from physicians with a lower PDR. This rate was significantly associated with interval CRC risk. The probability of interval CRC by the end of follow-up was 7.1% in black persons and 5.8% in white persons. Compared with white persons, black persons had significantly higher risk for interval CRC (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.13 to 1.51]); the disparity was more pronounced for cancer of the rectum (HR, 1.70 [CI, 1.25 to 2.31]) and distal colon (HR, 1.45 [CI, 1.00 to 2.11]) than for cancer of the proximal colon (HR, 1.17 [CI, 0.96 to 1.42]). Adjustment for PDR did not alter HRs by race/ethnicity, but differences between black persons and white persons were greater among physicians with higher PDRs. Limitation: Colonoscopy and polypectomy were identified by using billing codes. Conclusion: Among elderly Medicare enrollees, the risk for interval CRC was higher in black persons than in white persons; the difference was more pronounced for cancer of the distal colon and rectum and for physicians with higher PDRs. Primary Funding Source: American Cancer Society.

Antibiotic Prescribing for Nonbacterial Acute Upper Respiratory Infections in Elderly Persons

Background: Reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURIs) requires a better understanding of the factors associated with this practice. Objective: To determine the prevalence of antibiotic prescribing for nonbacterial AURIs and whether prescribing rates varied by physician characteristics. Design: Retrospective analysis of linked administrative health care data. Setting: Primary care physician practices in Ontario, Canada (January–December 2012). Patients: Patients aged 66 years or older with nonbacterial AURIs. Patients with cancer or immunosuppressive conditions and residents of long-term care homes were excluded. Measurements: Antibiotic prescriptions for physician-diagnosed AURIs. A multivariable logistic regression model with generalized estimating equations was used to examine whether prescribing rates varied by physician characteristics, accounting for clustering of patients among physicians and adjusting for patient-level covariates. Results: The cohort included 8990 primary care physicians and 185 014 patients who presented with a nonbacterial AURI, including the common cold (53.4%), acute bronchitis (31.3%), acute sinusitis (13.6%), or acute laryngitis (1.6%). Forty-six percent of patients received an antibiotic prescription; most prescriptions were for broad-spectrum agents (69.9% [95% CI, 69.6% to 70.2%]). Patients were more likely to receive prescriptions from mid- and late-career physicians than early-career physicians (rate difference, 5.1 percentage points [CI, 3.9 to 6.4 percentage points] and 4.6 percentage points [CI, 3.3 to 5.8 percentage points], respectively), from physicians trained outside of Canada or the United States (3.6 percentage points [CI, 2.5 to 4.6 percentage points]), and from physicians who saw 25 to 44 patients per day or 45 or more patients per day than those who saw fewer than 25 patients per day (3.1 percentage points [CI, 2.1 to 4.0 percentage points] and 4.1 percentage points [CI, 2.7 to 5.5 percentage points], respectively). Limitation: Physician rationale for prescribing was unknown. Conclusion: In this low-risk elderly cohort, 46% of patients with a nonbacterial AURI were prescribed antibiotics. Patients were more likely to receive prescriptions from mid- or late-career physicians with high patient volumes and from physicians who were trained outside of Canada or the United States. Primary Funding Source: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, and Lawson Health Research Institute.

Primary Care Physician Volume and Quality of Diabetes Care: A Population-Based Cohort Study: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 166, No 4

Background: A relationship between higher patient volume and both better quality of care and better outcomes has been shown for many acute care conditions. Whether a volume–quality relationship exists for the outpatient management of chronic diseases is uncertain. Objective: To explore the association between primary care physician volume and quality of diabetes care. Design: Cohort study. Setting: The study was conducted using linked population-based health care administrative data in Ontario, Canada. Patients: 1 018 647 adults with diabetes in 2011 who received care from 9014 primary care physicians. Two measures of volume were ascertained for each physician: overall ambulatory volume (representing time available to devote to chronic disease management during patient encounters) and diabetes-specific volume (representing disease-specific expertise). Measurements: Quality of care was measured over a 2-year period using 6 indicators: disease monitoring (eye examination, hemoglobin A1c testing, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol testing), prescribing appropriate medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers and statins), and adverse clinical outcomes (emergency department visits for hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia). Results: Higher overall ambulatory volume was associated with lower rates of appropriate disease monitoring and medication prescription. In contrast, higher diabetes-specific volume was associated with better quality of care across all 6 indicators. Limitation: Only a select set of quality indicators and potential confounders could be ascertained from available data. Conclusion: Primary care physicians with busier ambulatory patient practices delivered lower-quality diabetes care, but those with greater diabetes-specific experience delivered higher-quality care. These findings show that relationships between physician volume and quality can be extended from acute care to outpatient chronic disease care. Health policies or programs to support physicians with a low volume of patients with diabetes may improve care. Primary Funding Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Should We Offer Medication to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk?: Grand Rounds Discussion From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 165, No 3

In November 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a guideline on medications for risk reduction of primary breast cancer in women. Although mammography can detect early cases, it cannot prevent development of breast cancer. Tamoxifen and raloxifene are selective estrogen receptor modulators that have been shown to reduce the risk for estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer and are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this indication. However, neither medication reduces the risk for estrogen receptor–negative breast cancer or all-cause mortality. The Task Force concluded that postmenopausal women with an estimated 5-year risk for breast cancer of 3% or greater will probably have more net benefit than harm and recommends that clinicians engage in shared, informed decision making about these medications. The American Society of Clinical Oncology issued a practice guideline on use of pharmacologic interventions for breast cancer in 2013. It recommends that women aged 35 years or older at increased risk, defined as a 5-year absolute risk for breast cancer of 1.66% or greater, discuss breast cancer prevention medications with their primary care practitioner. The Society includes the aromatase inhibitor exemestane in addition to tamoxifen and raloxifene as a breast cancer prevention medication, although exemestane is not FDA approved for this indication. Here, an oncologist and an internist discuss how they would balance these recommendations and what they would suggest for an individual patient.

Integrated Interventions for Improving Total Worker Health: A Panel Report From the National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Total Worker Health—What's Work Got to Do With It?

This National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pathways to Prevention workshop was cosponsored by the NIH Office of Disease Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A multidisciplinary working group developed the agenda, and an evidence-based practice center prepared an evidence report through a contract with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. During the 1.5-day workshop, experts discussed the body of evidence and participants commented during open discussions. After weighing the data from the evidence report, expert presentations, and public comments, an unbiased, independent panel prepared a draft report that identified research gaps and future research priorities. The report was posted on the NIH Office of Disease Prevention Web site for 5 weeks for public comment. This article highlights 8 recommendations critical for advancing the science of integrated interventions to improve the total health of workers.

Prediction Models of Mortality in Acute Pancreatitis in Adults: A Systematic Review: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 165, No 7

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) varies in severity, prompting development of systems aimed at predicting prognosis to help guide therapy. Although several prediction approaches are available, their test characteristics and clinical utility are not completely understood. Purpose: To evaluate the test characteristics (prognostic accuracy, incremental predictive value) and clinical utility (effect on patient outcomes) of severity scores for predicting mortality in AP. Data Sources: Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE (inception to 3 May 2016). Study Selection: Longitudinal studies, in any language, that evaluated the prognostic value of at least 1 clinical severity score in AP. Data Extraction: Dual data extraction and quality assessment. Data Synthesis: Of 4039 citations screened, 94 unique studies evaluating 18 scores in 53 547 patients met the inclusion criteria. All studies provided data on prognostic accuracy, whereas 6 provided data on incremental predictive values. Most scores demonstrated low prognostic accuracy. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and the Ranson criteria were studied most extensively. The median sensitivity and specificity of APACHE II at a threshold of 7 were 100% (range, 68% to 100%) and 63% (range, 21% to 96%), respectively, and those of the Ranson criteria at a threshold of 2 were 90% (range, 0% to 100%) and 67% (range, 14% to 97%), respectively. Estimates of sensitivity were based on relatively few patients. Evidence was limited regarding the incremental predictive value of the scoring systems or their effect on patient outcomes. Limitation: Substantial clinical heterogeneity and inadequate methodological and reporting quality precluded a meta-analysis. Conclusion: The test characteristics and clinical utility of AP severity scores remain uncertain. Additional studies with improved methodological rigor are needed, and the development of new scoring systems may be justified. Primary Funding Source: Global Scholarship Programme for Research Excellence for 2014 to 2015, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Diagnosis of Acute Gout: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians

Description: The American College of Physicians (ACP) developed this guideline to present the evidence and provide clinical recommendations on the diagnosis of gout. Methods: This guideline is based on a systematic review of published studies on gout diagnosis, identified using several databases, from database inception to February 2016. Evaluated outcomes included the accuracy of the test results; intermediate outcomes (results of laboratory and radiographic tests, such as serum urate and synovial fluid crystal analysis and radiographic or ultrasonography changes); clinical decision making (additional testing and pharmacologic or dietary management); short-term clinical (patient-centered) outcomes, such as pain and joint swelling and tenderness; and adverse effects of the tests. This guideline grades the evidence and recommendations by using the ACP grading system, which is based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) method. Target Audience and Patient Population: The target audience for this guideline includes all clinicians, and the target patient population includes adults with joint inflammation suspected to be gout. Recommendation: ACP recommends that clinicians use synovial fluid analysis when clinical judgment indicates that diagnostic testing is necessary in patients with possible acute gout. (Grade: weak recommendation, low-quality evidence)