Policy debates surrounding implementation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in the Medicare program would be informed greatly by a better understanding of the relationship between physician organization and the quality and cost of care. In this context, the candidate (Dr. David C. Miller) seeks to evaluate the organization of surgical practice in the United States and its relationship to efficiency. The candidate, a urologist and health services researcher at the University of Michigan, will leverage this proposal to broaden the scientific and clinical scope of his research agenda, and to facilitate his development into an independent investigator. During the period of support, he will pursue additional didactic instruction in several disciplines, including doctoral-level courses in advanced statistical and econometric methods (e.g., hierarchical modeling), health care organizations, and health care policy. He will also have ample opportunities for mentored, project-based learning, including the hands-on application of advanced statistical modeling and econometric techniques. The research plan has three aims:
Aim 1. To understand the organization of surgical practice in the United States. Using both administrative and survey data, the candidate will determine the proportion of surgical care provided in four distinct organizational settings: 1) integrated delivery systems, 2) multispecialty groups, 3) single- specialty groups, and 4) solo or 2-person practices. He will also explore the relationship between physician organization and potential determinants of efficiency, including financial incentives and use of care coordination strategies.
Aim 2. To examine the relationship between physician organization and quality of surgical care. Using national Medicare claims data (2006-2008), the candidate will then compare risk-adjusted operative mortality, rates of readmission, and post-operative complications among patients undergoing common inpatient procedures performed by surgeons working in the same four organizational settings. He posits that surgeons working in integrated delivery systems will have better outcomes, due in part to their greater capacity for information exchange and care coordination.
Aim 3. To evaluate the relationship between physician organization and costs of surgical care. Finally, for the same physician organizations, the candidate will compare Medicare expenditures related to the index episode of surgical care. Specific costs to be assessed include (among others) overall hospital payments, payments for physician services, and payments for post-acute care. He hypothesizes that surgeons in single-specialty practices will provide more expensive care based on, among other factors, greater use of consultants, diagnostic tests, and post-discharge ancillary care. Completion of the proposed research will illuminate the potential quality and cost implications of Medicare ACOs and clarify the merits of a voluntary ACO implementation strategy.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal will evaluate the current organization of surgical practice in the United States and its relationship to the quality and cost of surgical care. Our findings will prove immediately relevant to policymakers seeking to better understand both the quality and cost implications of Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) and the relative merits of a voluntary ACO implementation strategy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08HS018346-03
Application #
8238122
Study Section
HSR Health Care Research Training SS (HCRT)
Program Officer
Anderson, Kay
Project Start
2010-07-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Urology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Chen, Lena M; Sakshaug, Joseph W; Miller, David C et al. (2015) The association among medical home readiness, quality, and care of vulnerable patients. Am J Manag Care 21:e480-6
Ellimoottil, Chandy; Miller, Sarah; Davis, Matthew et al. (2015) Insurance Expansion and the Utilization of Inpatient Surgery: Evidence for a ""Woodwork"" Effect? Surg Innov 22:588-92
Gadzinski, Adam J; Dimick, Justin B; Ye, Zaojun et al. (2014) Transfer rates and use of post-acute care after surgery at critical access vs non-critical access hospitals. JAMA Surg 149:671-7
Tan, Hung-Jui; Wolf Jr, J Stuart; Ye, Zaojun et al. (2014) Population level assessment of hospital based outcomes following laparoscopic versus open partial nephrectomy during the adoption of minimally invasive surgery. J Urol 191:1231-7
Ellimoottil, Chandy; Miller, Sarah; Ayanian, John Z et al. (2014) Effect of insurance expansion on utilization of inpatient surgery. JAMA Surg 149:829-36
Hollingsworth, John M; Birkmeyer, John D; Ye, Zaojun et al. (2014) Specialty-specific trends in the prevalence and distribution of outpatient surgery: implications for payment and delivery system reforms. Surg Innov 21:560-5
Risko, Rachel; Merdan, Selin; Womble, Paul R et al. (2014) Clinical predictors and recommendations for staging computed tomography scan among men with prostate cancer. Urology 84:1329-34
Merdan, Selin; Womble, Paul R; Miller, David C et al. (2014) Toward better use of bone scans among men with early-stage prostate cancer. Urology 84:793-8
Ellimoottil, Chandy; Miller, Sarah; Wei, John T et al. (2014) Anticipating the impact of insurance expansion on inpatient urological surgery. Urol Pract 1:134-140
Gadzinski, Adam J; Dimick, Justin B; Ye, Zaojun et al. (2013) Utilization and outcomes of inpatient surgical care at critical access hospitals in the United States. JAMA Surg 148:589-96

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