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E valuation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal May 1992 OTA-H-531 NTIS order #PB93-116192
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Recommended Citation: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal, OTA-H-531 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, May 1992). I ()] \cilcs h} the [1 S ( io~t.rnl]lcnl PIIfI(IIlg ot IICC \upL$l Illtcll{lclll (It l)(lcumL Ill\, Nl,lll slop Ssol, u Jdllllgt(m. I)( 20402 9 3?s I SBN 0-16 -038015-4
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Foreword As part of an eventual statewide set of health insurance reform measures, the State of Oregon has proposed implementing a demonstration program, with Federal cofunding, that would change the States existing Medicaid program in three fundamental ways. It would: 1) expand coverage to include all persons with incomes up to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level; 2) enroll all covered persons in some form of managed care, such as with a health maintenance organization or a gatekeeper primary care physician; and 3) determine acute and primary health care benefits according to a ranked list of services, with actual benefits dependent on the level of program funding. Concern about the effects of Oregons Medicaid proposal on program recipients, and the potential ramifications of the proposal for the ongoing national health care debate, prompted Congress to ask the Office of Technology Assessment to ex amine the proposal in detail. This report was prepared in response to a request from Representative John Dingell, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Representative Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, The request for this study was endorsed by Senator Al Gore, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space, and by the Oregon delegation, including Senator Bob Packwood, Senator Mark Hatfield, Representative Les AuCoin, Representative Peter DeFazio, Representative Mike Kopetski, Representative Ron Wyden, and Representative Robert F. (Bob) Smith. Many individuals-both in favor of and opposed to the Oregon proposal-have urged OTA to explicitly recommend whether the proposed demonstration should be approved or to explicitly conduct a political analysis on the need for rationing health care services. We felt that at least one organization examin ing the Oregon proposal should confine its examin ation to technical critique and evaluation of potential consequencesboth positive and negative-of the proposed demonstration. This is the approach OTA took. We hope that the resulting report will therefore be not only useful to the Congress and others as they look at the Oregon plan but also relevant to States and other parties as they consider ways to reform the health care system. This OTA assessment was greatly assisted by an advisory panel, chaired by Lincoln Moses, Professor of Statistics, Stanford University. In addition, a large number of individuals, including many from the State of Oregon, provided information and reviewed drafts of the report. OTA gratefully acknowledges the contribution of each of these individuals. As with all OTA reports, the final responsibility for the content of the assessment rests with OTA. u JOHN H. GIBBONS Director ,.. Ill
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Office of Technology Assessment Advisory Panel to the OTA Evaluation of Oregons Medicaid Proposal Peter Budetti Director Center for Health Policy Research George Washington University Washington, DC Alexander Capron Co-Director Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Judy Feder Co-Director Center for Health Policy Studies Georgetown University School of Medicine Washington, DC Daniel M. Fox President Milbank Memorial Fund New York, NY John Hornberger Division of General Internal Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine Palo Alto, CA Robert Johnson Director of Adolescent Medicine Department of Pediatrics New Jersey Medical School Newark, NJ Robert M. Kaplan Professor and Acting Chief Division of Health Care Sciences Department of Community and Family Medicine University of California at San Diego La Jolla, CA Lincoln Moses, Panel Chair Professor of Statistics Stanford University Palo Alto, CA Richard Kronick Adjunct Professor Department of Community and Family Medicine University of California at San Diego La Jolla, CA Stephen H. Long Senior Economist RAND Corp. Washington, DC John Ludden Medical Director Harvard Community Health Plan Brookline, MA Maxwell J. Mehlman Professor of Law and Director of the Law-Medicine Center School of Law Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH James J. Mongan Executive Director Truman Medical Center Kansas City, MO Mary Ellen Mortensen Assistant Professor Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology Ohio State University Columbus, OH John Clark Nelson Obstetrician/gynecologist Salt Lake City, UT Sara Rosenbaum Senior Staff Research Scientist George Washington University Center for Health Policy Research Washington, DC Judith Ross Director of Social Work The Metrohealth System Cleveland, OH Peter Slavin Assistant Chief of Medicine for Administration Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA Vernon Smith Director Medical Services Administration Department of Social Services Lansing, MI James Tallon, Jr. Majority Leader New York State Assembly Albany, NY NOTE: OTA appreciates and is grateful for the valuable assistance and thoughtful critiques provided by the advisory panel members. The panel does not, however, necessarily approve, disapprove, or endorse this report. OTA assumes full responsibility for the report and the accuracy of its contents. iv
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OTA Project StaffEvaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Roger C. Herdman, Assistant Director, OTA Health and L&e Sciences Division Clyde J. Behney, Health Program Manager Project Staff Elaine J. Power, Project Director Jill Eden, Senior Analyst Maria Hewitt, Senior Analyst Dorit R. Opher, Research Assistant Sarah Saadah, Research Assistant l Leah Wolfe, Analyst Other Contributing Staff Diane Burnside Murdock, Contractor Tim Henderson, Analyst 2 David P. Reeker, Congressional Fellow 3 Ken Schellhase, Intern 4 Administrative Staff Marian Grochowski, Office Administrator Kelly Faulks, Secretary Kim Holmlund, Word Processor Specialist Eileen Murphy, P.C. Specialist Contractors David A. Asch and James Patton, Philadelphia, PA Pony Ehrenhaft, Lake Oswego, OR Angelo Giardino, Philadelphia, PA Mark A. Schuster, Los Angeles, CA Kenneth R. Wing, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA 1 Until June 1991 2 Until July 1991 3 Until May 1991 $ Until August 1991
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List of Acronyms ADA Age Discrimin ation Act of 1975 AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children AFDC-UP Aid to Families with Dependent AHA AIDS ALS CABG CAD CBO CHC CHD COBRA CPT-4 CT DCO DHHS DRG DSH DTP EPSDT FCHP FDA FFS FPL FQHC FY GA GAO HCFA HIV HM O HPV HSC Children-Unemployed Parent American Hospital Association acquired immune deficiency syndrome amyotrophic lateral sclerosis coronary artery bypass graft coronary artery disease Congressional Budget Office (U.S. Congress) community health center county health department Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Current Procedural Termin ology, 4th Edition condition-treatment (pair) dental care organization U.S. Department of Health and Human Services diagnosis-related group disproportionate-share hospital diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis (combination vaccine) Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment fully capitated health plan Food and Drug Administration (Public Health Service) fee-for-service Federal poverty level federally qualified health center fiscal year general assistance (State of Oregon) General Accounting Office (U.S. Congress) Health Care Financing Administration (DHHS) human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS virus) health maintenance organization human papillomavirus (Oregon) Health Services IPA MHC NASBO NGA NICU NMES NP OAH OBRA OHD OHP OM A OMAP OMPRO OPCA OSIP OTA PCCM PCO PHP PLM PTCA QMB QWB RFA RHC SB 27 SIPP SSA SSI USPSTF independent practice association institutional review board migrant health center National Association of State Budget Officers National Governors Association neonatal intensive care unit National Medical Expenditure Survey nurse practitioner Oregon Association of Hospitals Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Oregon Health Decisions Office of Health Policy (State of Oregon) Oregon Medical Association Office of Medical Assistance Programs (State of Oregon) Oregon Medical Peer Review Organization Oregon Primary Care Association Oregon Supplemental Income Program Office of Technology Assessment (U.S. Congress) primary care case manager physician care organization prepaid health plan poverty level medical percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries Quality of Well Being (scale) request for application rural health clinic (Oregon) Senate Bill 27 Survey of Income and Program Participation Social Security Administration (DHHS) Supplemental Security Income (program) (Social Security Administration) United States Preventive Services Task Force Commission ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification w
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Contents Page Chapter 1: S ummary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Chapter 2: Context of the Oregon Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 3: The Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 4: Implications for Health Care Providers . . . . . . . . . Chapter 5: Implications for Beneficiaries . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 6: Demonstration Program Costs . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 7: Federal Legal Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 8: Evaluation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix A: Method of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix B: Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix C: Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences . . . . . Appendix D: Prioritized Health Services List . . . . . . . . . . Appendix E: Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 39 81 119 157 175 193 201 203 205 235 306 317
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Chapter 1 Summary and Conclusions
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Contents Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Program Implications for Providers . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Program Implications for Beneficiaries l ....................****.......*......**. 14 Program costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Other Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Boxes Box Page l-A. The Oregon Basic Health Services Act . . . . . . . . . . 4 l-B. Categories of Services Used in the Prioritization Process and Examples of Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 l-C. Medicaid Waivers Requested by the State of Oregon . . . . . . . 18 Figures Figure Page 1-1. Oregon Health Services Commissions Prioritization Process . . . . . 7 1-2. Distribution of Oregon Medicaid Enrollees by Type of Delivery System: Current and Proposed Programs . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Tables Table Page 1-1. Demonstration Enrollment Projections l . . . . . . . . . . 5 1-2. S ummary of Oregons Demonstration Cost Estimate . . . . . . . 17 1-3. Examples of Condition-Treatment Pairs Excluded If Costs Were Underestimated by 5 Percent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
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Chapter 1 Summary and Conclusions INTRODUCTION On August 16, 1991, Oregon petitioned the Federal Government for permission to use Federal funds in a novel health care financing program. The proposed program is premised on two basic assumptions: 1. 2. all uninsured poor people should have publicly funded health care coverage, and coverage for this population can be made affordable to the taxpayers through a combination of two mechanisms: the explicit prioritization of health care services, and the delivery of covered services through managed care systems. Oregons plan to revamp its system of health care coverage was motivated by the steadily increasing costs of health care to the public treasury and the large number of Oregonians who have no health insurance. The State has estimated that between 400,000 and 450,000 Oregonians, or about 16 percent of the States population, are uninsured (177). To address this latter problem, the Oregon legislature passed the Oregon Basic Health Services Act in 1989, which established three mechanisms for increasing access to health insurance (box l-A). For individuals who could not qualify for private insurance due to a preexisting health condition, the State established a high-risk insurance pool with subsidized premiums. For individuals whose employers do not offer health insurance benefits, the State established a program that provides incentives for, and ultimately mandates, small businesses to provide such insurance to their employees. And for poor uninsured individuals, the Basic Health Services Act expanded the State Medicaid program to cover all residents with incomes up to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level (FPL). l The last of these three measures has been the subject of particular controversy (25,28,47,55,70,94, 115,300,308). In part, the controversy stems from the need for the State to obtain permission from the Federal Government to implement its proposal as planned, since it wishes to receive Federal Medicaid matching funding for the program. The proposal is also controversial because of its explicit attention to determining how unfunded care should be denied, and because by design it encouraged public debate regarding the relative importance of different health care services (53,85,90,1 16,214,236,251). Oregons proposal is to make a sweeping change to its Medicaid program, the Federal/State funded, State-administered health care program for the poor. The proposed new program, if approved as it was submitted to the Federal Government, would continue for 5 years. The program was originally anticipated to begin by July 1, 1992, but the State now expects that implementation may be delayed because as of March 1992 the Federal Government had not yet decided whether to grant the waiver. Under the proposed program, the Medicaideligible population would be expanded to include all legal State residents 2 with incomes below the FPL. In contrast, at present, most people in Oregon must fall into a federally specified need category (e.g., be eligible for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program) to qualify for Medicaid. In addition, in most cases they must have incomes much lower than the FPL to qualify. Oregon residents who receive AFDC assistance, for example, generally must have incomes that are less than 50 percent of the FPL to be eligible for Medicaid. According to the State of Oregon, the expansion in eligibility under the proposal would add approximately 120,600 people to the Medicaid rolls by the fifth year of the program. This number is predicted to be somewhat smaller (96,400) if the related employer-based health insurance mandate is in effect (table l-l) (177). Certain groups currently covered by the Oregon Medicaid program would not initially be affected by the proposed changes in the program. The waiver proposal does not cover Medicaid eligibles who are elderly, disabled, in institutions, in foster care, or in the custody of the State, because these groups were exempt from Oregon Senate Bill (SB) 27, the bill 1 For 1992, the Federal poverty level is $11,570 per year for a family of three. 2 und~~ented aliens do not qualify as legal residents and would not be eligible fOr the Progrm. -3
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4 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Box 1-AThe Oregon Basic Health Services Act The Oregon Basic Health Services Act of 1989 consists of three separate bills to expand access to health insurance in the State. Each of the three bills targets a specific segment of the uninsured population. The first bill, Senate Bill (SB) 27, expands the Oregon Medicaid program to include all legal residents with incomes up to the Federal poverty level. It also changes dramatically the method of defining benefits for the Medicaid population, greatly expands the use of prepaid managed care for this group, and makes other changes to the State Medicaid plan. To implement these changes and continue receiving Federal Medicaid matching funds, the State has proposed that its new plan be a Medicaid demonstration project, and it seeks Federal approval to carry out this project. The second bill of the act, SB 534, establishes a State high-risk insurance pool. This pool sells subsidized health insurance to persons who are unable to purchase insurance on the market due to preexisting health conditions and anticipated future high health care costs. The premium charge for policies from this insurance pool is not to exceed 150 percent of the cost of an average private health insurance premium. Program costs not covered by the collection of premiums are financed through general State funds and through mandatory contributions by private insurers. SB 935, the third bill of the act, addresses the problem of persons who are employed but have no employer-based health insurance. This law encourages, and ultimately requires, employers to provide health insurance to their employees that covers at least the level of services covered for the Medicaid population under SB 27. Businesses receive tax credits for providing insurance. They have the option of choosing private insurance plans or purchasing insurance from a State fund created for that purpose. The minimum benefits that must be covered are linked to the Medicaid benefits package. Employers who do not provide health insurance after 1994 will be required to make mandatory contributions to the fired, but that provision is repealed if at least 150,000 previously uninsured persons receive employer-based health insurance by January 1994. Legislation passed in 1991 made some significant additions and changes to this three-part program. One particularly significant statute (SB 44) requires that the Medicaid-eligible elderly, disabled, and individuals in foster care or in the custody of the State be subject to the provisions of SB 27. These groups, originally exempt from the sweeping changes in the Medicaid program, are now intended to be included in 1993. Because the waiver proposal as submitted in August 1991 does not accommodate them, the State must submit an amendment to the waiver to do so if the waiver is approved in its current form. The Health Insurance Reform Act (SB 1076), also passed in 1991, establishes some limits and safeguards on employer-based insurance. These limits would apply to the basic benefits package required under SB 935. The act establishes rate categories and limits rate increases in small group plans, provides for guaranteed issue and renewability of policies, and controls such factors as preexisting condition exclusions. Finally, the Health Resources Commission Act of 1991 (SB 1077) establishes a data and cost review commission designed to contain statewide health care costs as the above insurance expansions occur. SOURCE: OfIke of lMmologyAssessment, 1992. Based on Oregons SB 27, SB 44, SB 534, SB 935, SB 1076, SB 1077; and Oregon waiver application% August 1991. authorizing the program changes. For the first year of the new program, these groups would continue to be eligible for all Medicaid benefits under the current rules and would continue to receive the same services as they would if the demonstration program were not in place. However, the State plans to file an amendment to the waiver permitting these groups to be covered under the new program beginning in October 1993 (177). 3 Service deliver-y and payment would also change under the new plan. Most of the population receiving services under the demonstration program would be enrolled in some form of managed care reimbursed on a prepaid, per capita basis; the remainder would receive services on a case-managed, fee-for-service (FFS) basis. Payment to prepaid providers would no longer be linked to Medicaid FFS payment rates. Instead, payment rates to these providers would be s me projWt~ ~teforfol~ ~ese ~ups into tie prois apparent.lyunchanged by the possibili~ tit tie PXIWW, if approved, wouldp~b~ly begin sometime after July 1992.
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Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions l 5 Table l-lDemonstration Enrollment Projections a Without employer With employer mandate mandate Year of Current New Current New demonstration eligibles eligibles eligibles eligibles Year 1 (FY1993) b 150,700 46,800 150,700 46,800 Year 2 (FY 1994) 156,000 81,100 156,000 81,100 Year 3 (FY 1995) 160,600 105,400 160,600 105,400 Year 4 (FY 1996) 165,400 120,000 159,600 96,000 Year 5 (FY 1997) 170,300 120,600 164,400 96,400 aEnrollrnent k expr~s~ as average monthly caseload. It is lower than the actual number of eligibles who have benefits for some period of time during the course of a year. bhe Oregon State fiscal year begins in July. W these new eligibles, 2,700 are currently covered under a State+nly General Assistance (GA) program that covers the medically unemployable (unemployed for more than 60 days due to a medical condition). Oregons general assistance program only covers outpatient care. SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oregon MdicaidDemonsfration Wwver App/i@fion, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. based on the States estimates of the average reasonable costs, across all providers, of rendering the given covered services. Finally, the covered services to which the Medicaideligible population is entitled would change. For all Medicaid recipients subject to the program, the benefit package would be determin ed by a prioritized list of health services in which health conditions and their treatments are listed by importance from highest to lowest. The State legislature would then determine its budget for the program, and a line would be drawn where projected program costs equal the budgeted amount. All conditions and treatments at and above the line would then be covered; conditions and treatments below the line would not be covered. (Necessary diagnostic services are intended to be covered regardless of the condition and are not prioritized on the list.) The prioritized list of services is limited to primary and acute health care services. Long-term care services would not be covered by the proposal and do not appear on the prioritized list; they would remain a separately covered set of Medicaid services. Mental health and chemical dependency services would initially be excluded from the prioritized list, but they are to be incorporated into the list in October 1993. Until that time, any of the group of Medicaid beneficiaries covered by the proposal, including newly eligible groups, would receive these services under current program rules. Oregon has a 2-year budget cycle, and the State legislature would vote anew biennially on the threshold (i.e., the benefit package). An important provision of SB 27 is that if the Medicaid program should suffer a budget shortfall, the program may not cut people out of the program or reduce provider payments for covered services. Instead, the State must either allocate additional funds to the program or reduce covered services as necessary, with the lowest-ranked services being eliminated frost. Thus, as the program is designed, the benefit package could either expand or contract every 2 years, depending on the budget. In addition, benefits could be reduced in the middle of the biennial cycle if funds prove inadequate to meet projected costs. The need for Federal approval may inhibit this intended flexibility. Oregons waiver application states that it will seek an amendment to the waiver if in fact benefits would change significantly during the 5 years of the program. Exactly what the Federal Government would regard as significant will not be known until (or unless) the waiver is approved. Concern about the effects of Oregons Medicaid proposal on program recipients, and the potential ramifications of the proposal for the ongoing national health care debate, prompted Congress to ask the Office of Technology Assessment to examine the proposal in detail. 4 The report was prepared in response to a request from Representative John Dingell, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Representative Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment. The request for the OTA study was endorsed by Senator Al Gore, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space, and by the Oregon delegation, including Senator Bob Packwood, Senator Mark Hatfield, Representative Les AuCoin, Representative Peter DeFazio, Representative Mike Ko4 Unless indicated otherwise, details of the proposal discussed within this summary are based on Oregons Office of Medical Assistance Programs August 16, 1991 waiver application (177).
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6 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal petski, Representative Ron Wyden, and Representative Robert F. (Bob) Smith. The goals of this study are to describe and analyze the specifics of the proposed program and to discuss its most likely implications for the Federal Government, the State of Oregon, and Medicaid beneficiaries. The role of this report is not to critique the existing Medicaid program in detail. Rather, it is to examine the proposed program and especially its relevance to issues of particular interest to the Federal Government: the impact of the program on Medicaid beneficiaries, in whom the Federal Government (as a copayer) has a fiduciary interest; and the potential usefulness of Oregons program if applied in other States and other contexts. The report is organized as follows. l l l l l Chapter 2 briefly describes the context in which the proposal was developed, particularly the dilemmas facing the Medicaid program and the barriers to providing health care coverage to the uninsured. Chapter 3 examines the method and assumptions used to derive the prioritized list of health services upon which the proposed packaged of covered services is based. It also describes some of the characteristics of the list. It addresses such questions as: What were the most important determinants of ranking on the final list? Do services for certain vulnerable groups (e.g., pregnant women) rank high or low? Is the list complete? Is it replicable by others? Chapter 4 examines the effects of the overall proposal on Oregon health care providers. Would particular kinds of providers be likely to be advantaged or disadvantaged under the program? Would providers be paid more or less? Would they participate in the program? Chapter 5 analyzes the programs effect on new and existing Medicaid program beneficiaries. Would each of these groups have better or worse access to health care services under the proposal? Who would gain eligibility for services under the program, and who would lose it? What benefits would existing Medicaid participants lose, and what would they gain? Chapter 6 critiques the States estimate of the costs of the proposed program? Are costs likely to have been overor underestimated? If so, what are the implications for the Federal Government? l l The Chapter 7 examines major legal issues that might arise if the proposal were implemented as planned. Does the proposal violate Federal constitutional principles? Is it likely to conflict with major existing Federal statutes enacted to ensure equal access to services? Chapter 8 briefly outlines some basic evaluation issues regarding the proposed program. As a demonstration program, will it yield information valuable to other States and to the Federal Government? remainder of this chapter s ummarizes the findings of the report and draws overall conclusions regarding the technical merits of the proposal. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The Prioritized List Developing the List The use of a prioritized list of health care services as the basis on which to build a benefits package is unique to Oregons Medicaid proposal. Other States (e.g., Maine) have established priorities within existing Medicaid services to determine which optional categories of services shall be eliminated first in the event that tight State budgets require cuts. Only Oregon, however, has combined a detailed, comprehensive list of primary and acute medical care services with a public prioritization process to build a package of benefits in an entirely new way. Rather than eliminating types of services (e.g., prescription drugs, durable medical equipment) from coverage if the budget requires cuts, as some States have done, Oregons prioritized list would eliminate specific treatments for specific conditions. The building blocks of the list are conditiontreatment (CT) pairs. Each medical condition (e.g., appendicitis) is paired with one or more therapies used to treat it (e.g., appendectomy). Many treatments are very broad (e.g., any medical therapy used to treat the condition). Even so, some conditions appear more than once on the list paired with different treatments; for example, medical therapy for a particular condition might be located fairly high on the list, while surgical therapy for the same condition is ranked lower. The total prioritized list includes 709 CT pairs, of which only the first 587 would be covered at the time the proposed demonstration project begins.
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Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions 7 Figure 1-l-Oregon Health Services Commissions Prioritization Process 7 Health care values assessed at community meetings and public hearings CT pairs assigned to 1 of 17 service categories, and HSC ranks the categories v HSC ranks CT pairs within categories by net benefit v HSC uses judgment to reorder selected CT pairs on list SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1991. The list was compiled and prioritized by an n-member Health Services Commission (HSC), authorized in the Oregon Basic Health Services Act and appointed by the Governor for this purpose. The HSCs charge was to compile a list of health services ranked by priority, from the most important to the least important, representing the comparative benefits of each service to the population to be served (Senate Bill 27). Other than the accompanying charge to actively solicit public involvement, the HSC was given little guidance on how to proceed. <<2. 3. Community clinicians supply outcomes information for each Estimate of < I CT pair I CT pairs I I I net benefit r Public preferences for health states are assessed through telephone survey J Within each category, CT pairs were ranked according to their net benefit, a number intended to indicate the average improvement in quality of life associated with treatment for the specified condition. To derive this net benefit term, the HSC used data from two sources: health care providers assessments of treatment outcomes (furnished by provider groups in the State), and Oregonians opinions about being in various states of health, as elicited through a telephone survey. Finally, the HSC undertook a line-by-line An interim working list, using a formula to indicate the relative cost-effectiveness of services, was released in May 1990 but was ultimately rejected by the HSC. The final list, transmitted to the c review of the preliminary ranked list and used its judgment to move selected individual CT pairs up or down the list. The final list was sent to an actuarial firm, which State legislature in May 1991, abandoned the more estimated the cost of providing services at various thresholds on the list. The State legislature then rigid and quantitative cost-effectiveness approach in favor of a three-stage process (see figure l-l): decided to fund an initial benefits package consisting of all services included in CT pairs 1 through 587. 1. Each CT pair was assigned to one of 17 general service categories (e.g., maternity services, Characteristics and Determinants of the List services for acute conditions for which treatment prevents death) (box l-B). The HSC then In general, the prioritized list favors prevenranked the categories using a group consensus tive services and services used primarily by method intended to reflect community health women and children. Both maternity services and care values as expressed at a series of public preventive services for children, for example, are hearings and meetings. categories of services that were ranked highly by the
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8 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Box 1-B--Categories of Services Used in the Prioritization Process and Examples of Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Category Description Essential services 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Acute fatal Maternity care Acute fatal Preventive care for children Chronic fatal Reproductive services Comfort care Preventive dental care Proven effective preventive care for adults Very important services 10. Acute nonfatal 11. Chronic nonfatal 12. Acute nonfatal 13. Chronic nonfatal Treatment prevents death with full recovery. Example: Appendectomy for appendicitis. Maternity and most newborn care. Example: Obstetrical care for pregnancy. Treatment prevents death without full recovery. Example: Medical therapy for acute bacterial meningitis. Example: Immunizations. Treatment improves life span and quality of life. Example: Medical therapy for asthma. Excludes maternity/infertility services. Example: Contraceptive management. Palliative therapy for conditions in which death is imminent. Example: Hospice care. Adults and children. Example: Cleaning and fluoride applications. Example: Mammograms. Treatment causes return to previous health state. Example: Medical therapy for vaginitis. One-time treatment improves quality of life. Example: Hip replacement. Treatment without return to previous health state. Example: Arthroscopic repair of internal knee derangement. Repetitive treatment improves quality of life. Example: Medical therapy for chronic sinusitis. Services that are valuable to certain individuals 14. 15. 16. 17. Acute nonfatal Treatment expedites recovery of self-limiting conditions. Example: Medical therapy for diaper rash. Infertility services Example: In-vitro fertilization. Less effective preventive care for adults Example: Screening of non-pregnant adults for diabetes. Fatal or nonfatal Treatment causes minimal or no improvement in quality of life. Example: Medical therapy for viral warts. SOURCE: Oregon Wpmmmt of Human Resources, Office of McdicdAssistance Programs, Salem OIU The Oregon MedcaidDemonstrmon Waiver Application, sdxnitted to the Health Care F~ing AbiJliStIdiOQ Aug. 16, 1991.
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Chapter I-Summary and Conclusions l 9 HSC. CT pairs in which treatment usually prevents death or restores the individual to a previous state of health also rank relatively high. Treatment for chronic conditions tends to rank slightly lower than similarly described treatment (e.g., treatment that prevents death without full recovery) for acute conditions. Cost is not a major determinant of CT ranking. For example, although several types of organ transplants rank low on the list and are uncovered, many other equally costly transplant procedures are ranked fairly high. In fact, more than one-half of CT pairs associated with high costs (as estimated by the HSC) are located in the top one-half of the list, while one-third of the lowest-cost CT pairs fall below line 587. 5 The process used to derive the list was intended to rely heavily on quantitative data regarding the outcomes of treatment and individuals preferences for various health states. Collecting these data was time-cons uming, and they were given considerable weight by the HSC, as evidenced by their use to initially rank CT pairs within categories. Despite this emphasis on quantitative measures of net benefit, however, the net benefit term associated with a given CT pair ultimately had surprisingly little effect on the final ranking of that CT pair on the prioritized list. Although the net benefit term remained relevant, in the end the strongest determinants of final rank were those that depended on the judgments of the Commissioners: the category rankings and the final line-by-line adjustment of the list. The importance of the line-by-line review in determin ing final ranking is especially notable. The HSCs perception was that this review was relatively minor in overall effect; staff members estimated that about one-fourth of CT pairs were moved in some way during this process (35,244). OTA analyses showed, however, that many CT pairs moved substantially during the course of this final review. Compared with their pre-review rankings (based on category assignment and net benefit), over one-half (53 percent) of CT pairs moved at least 25 lines from their original positions, and 24 percent of all CT pairs moved up or down at least 100 lines on the list. 6 Achievements of the Ranking Process and the List Oregon has successfully defined a novel way of categorizing health care services. In doing so, it tested concepts such as the integration of outcomes estimation and public health preferences in a practical policy setting for the frost time. The process of developing the prioritized list clearly involved both providers and consumers in Oregon in a public discussion of the relative value of different kinds of health care services. Whether or not the list is implemented in Oregon, it may prove to be a useful device in other States, and in the Federal arena, for stimulating a broader public discussion and enhancing political decisionmaking. One useful outcome of the prioritization process is that by laying health coverage decisionmaking open to public input and debate, it highlighted some of the basic controversies underlying such decisionmaking. For example, there is no national consensus regarding whether average values regarding what health services are important are more relevant than the values of certain heavy users of health care (e.g., the disabled community). Oregons process tended to emphasize the former (e.g., through the use of average public preferences from the health state preference survey), while the existing political process may often give more weight to the latter. Finally, simply the process of trying to identify less important or effective services could affect the way providers make decisions. The process of developing the list-and, if implemented, the list itself-might stimulate providers to justify more clearly to themselves and their patients the effectiveness of a given treatment, and to question that treatment if they find justification difficult. These effects would probably be gradual and hard to identify explicitly. Nonetheless, in the long run they could be a valuable contribution of a comprehensive examination of the usefulness of health care services. Problems of the Process and the List In its critique of the list, OTA identified three types of problems with the method chosen to prioritize health care services. The frost-level problems are those associated with the immaturity of the S High cost as used here means semices costing $40,000 or more; the lowest-cost CT pairs are those costing less than $1,000. 6 A to~ of 60 ~ P* ~~g~ fi~ ~vemge s~~5 M a result of MS adjus~ent (30 moved ahve line 587, ~d 30 moved bdOW).
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10 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal list and incomplete definition of CT pairs. These problems are relatively easy to solve once they are identified (although they would make the list difficult for providers to use if it were implemented before they were addressed). In fact, the HSC is currently considering technical corrections to the list, some of which are relevant to the issues below. These problems include: l l l Missing codes. Each condition is represented on the list by its ICD-9-CM code. 7 Many codes were intentionally left off the list, either because they refer to conditions to be incorporated into the list later (e.g., mental health conditions), or because they were nonspecific codes. Eliminating nonspecific codes would probably require many providers to change the way they code services, since the use of many of these codes is widespread when there is no definitive diagnosis. In addition, some codes for significant conditions were left off the list and must be added to make the list complete. Duplicate and illogically placed codes. Although there are a number of CT pairs in which code duplication is intentional (e.g., because the condition appears with different treatments at two places on the list), other code duplications are logically inexplicable and probably represent mistakes. Still other codes do not apparently belong in the CT pair to which they have been assigned. Apparently illogical relative rankings of CT pairs. Since the ranking process depended heavily on clinician, public, and HSC judgment, any individual clinician would undoubtedly have improvements to suggest, and the opinion of any one clinician cannot condemn the final ranking. Nonetheless, in a few cases the relative ranking of two CT pairs appears questionable on reasonably objective grounds. Some CT pairs in which medical therapy (usually tried first) is ranked lower than surgical therapy (a secondary line of therapy) for the same condition fall into this category. A second type of problem relates to the limitations of the different inputs to the ranking process. Eliminating these problems would not necessarily have changed the ranking of CT pairs in the list, given the way the list was derived. Nor does the existence of these problems suggest that decisionmaking under the current program is superior to that under the prioritization process. However, these limitations do suggest that the reproducibility of the inputs to the process is open to question. In particular: l l l l A Despite the considerable efforts of organizers, the community meetings held to inform the HSC about public values were not representative of community residents. Most (about two-thirds) of those in attendance were health care workers. The provider groups that furnished the HSC with health outcomes information had difficulty with the charge to present average outcomes, since patients in some CT pairs are very diverse. The groups were not uniform in their methods for deriving the information (e.g., use of the published literature, use of Oregonspecific data) or in the way they handled factors affecting outcomes (e.g., comorbidities). The outcomes information was intended to be representative of the opinions of practicing providers, since data from published clinical studies are not available to provide information on treatments for most CT pairs. Nonetheless, where published evidence does exist, it is sometimes at odds with the opinions of Oregon providers. Provider outcomes information was weighted according to public preferences. The survey used to evaluate peoples preferences for being in various health states had a high proportion (over one-third) of inconsistent responses. Average scores on the survey were used to represent preferences, but individuals scores for some preferences varied significantly by factors such as age, sex, and whether the respondent had experienced the health state in question. These differences raise questions regarding the application of average public preferences to resource allocation decisions. third set of problems relates to the use of CT pairs to define health care services and the use of the 17 categories as a contributing structure for ranking them. These problems are relatively intractable, because they cannot be solved without changing the very tools used to define the prioritized list. 71~.9-CM ~efem t. tie lnter~tio~j C[ass;jjcation Of D&-aSeS, g~ ReVisiOq ~ini~ MM~katiOn coding system fOr diilgnOSW (45).
PAGE 18
. Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions l 11 The 17 categories include a mix of servicespecific (e.g., maternity services) and condition/ outcome-specific (e.g., acute condition, treatment prevents death) categories. The servicespecific categories ranked high can include poor-outcome CT pairs that happen to include those services. The condition-specific categories, on the other hand, overlap to the point where they can be clinically meaningless, making CT pair assignment to a given category problematic. A recurrent condition, for example, might be legitimately categorized as either acute or chronic. Which category it is assigned to, however, could substantially affect its final rank. The use of CT pairs involves combining patients with heterogeneous conditions, comorbidities, and expected outcomes into the same group with the same ranking. The treatments included in a given pair are also often very broadly defined; the treatment in over one-half (51 percent) of CT pairs is defined as medical therapy or medical and surgical therapy. To avoid the latter problem entirely, CT pairs would have to be defined so specifically as to make them unworkable for any practical program purpose. Intermediate levels of definition might ameliorate this problem and still yield a workable list. Nonetheless, accepting the level of heterogeneity implied by only 709 CT pairs (or even many more pairs) means accepting that some patients with excellent expected outcomes with treatment must forego therapy, while other patients with patently worse treatment-specific prognoses receive it. This may be very difficult for both patients and clinicians to accept. Program Implications for Providers Providers Under the Current Program Oregons Medicaid program currently operates under a Federal waiver that permits the State to make heavy use of prepaid managed care providers. About 68,000 AFDC enrollees in 10 counties, or about 31 percent of all Medicaid participants, are served by providers paid on a per capita basis. (Enrollment in prepaid plans is mandatory for these beneficiaries in nine counties and optional in a tenth.) Nearly 12,000 of these beneficiaries are enrolled with the KaiserPermanente health maintenance org anization (HMO), which provides both inpatient and outpatient care (except dental care) to Medicaid enrollees on a prepaid basis. The remainder are served by 15 physician care organizations (PCOs), which are capitated for most outpatient, but no inpatient, services. 8 The remainder of Oregons current Medicaid population receives care that is reimbursed on an FFS basis (177). These participants include all Medicaid enrollees residing outside the 10-county managed care area, as well as non-AFDC enrollees within that area and some in-area AFDC enrollees that for various reasons (e.g., new eligibles who have not yet had time to enroll in a particular plan) are not receiving prepaid care. In addition, all PCO enrollees in the managed care counties receive their inpatient care and some outpatient services on an FFS basis. FFS hospital care for most Medicaid-covered inpatients is presently reimbursed according to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) (similar to the way Medicare pays hospitals). Outpatient hospital services are paid on a percent-of-actual-costs basis (the current rate is 59 percent). Certain rural hospitals are exempt from these payment limits and receive 100 percent of costs for most services. Hospitals serving a disproportionate share of Medicaid patients receive an additional DRG-based payment. Most primary care clinics are paid according to a fee schedule, but by Federal law federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and federally certified rural health clinics (RHCs) are exempt from this rule and must receive their full incurred costs (Public Law 101-239; Public Law 95-210). Physician services are also paid according to a fee schedule; current Medicaid fees in Oregon are close to the average for this program across the Nation, but Medicaid physician fees generally are lower than fees paid by other insurers (e.g., Medicare) (203). Oregons physician fees are frozen for the 1992-93 biennium. Physicians are not required to accept Medicaid patients, and available evidence suggests that many do not. A 1988 survey of members of the Oregon Medical Association found that while 59 percent said they accepted any Medicaid patients who
PAGE 19
12 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure 1-2Distribution CURRENT PROGRAM a (October 1991) of Oregon Medicaid Enrollees by Type of Delivery System: Current and Proposed Programs ANTICIPATED b UNDER DEMONSTRATION ly capitated plans Unrestrict fee-for-se 66.60/0 Fully capitated health plan 5.3% Case-managed fee-for-service 27.8% health plans 54.8% Partially capitated ashows distribution of entire Mediaid enrollee population, including aged, blind, and disabled recipients. In the current system, Oniy AFDC eligibles are enrolled in prepakt plans. bsh~ distrib~ion of Medicaid eligibles subject to the cknorwtraticm. Excludes aged, blind, and disabled enrollees who may be irduded in demonstration during the second year. It has not been decided whether aged, blind, and disabled enrollees, once subjeet to the prioritized list, would be required to enroll in prepaid plans. This figure reflects the distribution of enrollees anticipated by the ninth month of the demonstration. SOURCES: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medkal Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, T/w Oregorr Medbd DernorwfrtWorI Wah@r Appkafion, submitted to the Health Care Finandng Administration, Aug. 16, 1991; B. Tertwmr, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Department of Human Resourees, State of Oregon, Salem, OR, personal communication, Jan. 28, 1992. sought their care, 33 percent said they restricted their Medicaid practice and the remaining 8 percent did not accept any Medicaid patients (195). Changes Under the Proposed Demonstration Oregons proposed demonstration includes three major provisions intended to affect the way care is provided to Medicaid recipients (177). First, it would greatly expand the Medicaid population to be covered by mandatory prepaid managed care to all enrollees except those in an unspecified number of rural counties (i.e., those where adequate prepaid contracts cannot be negotiated) (see figure 1-2). 9 Providers would be fully capitated for all services (inpatient as well as outpatient) in at least the nine current mandatory managed care counties, and partially capitated (i.e., PCOs) in as many as possible of the remaining 27 counties in the State. All recipients not living in mandatory prepaid care counties would be enrolled with a primary care case manager, who would provide primary care services on an FFS basis and authorize all referrals. These delivery system changes would be phased in during the first 2 years of the demonstration program. The second major change alters the way payment rates to prepaid providers are calculated-a change the State hopes will be an incentive to participate in the program. Rather than calculating per capita rates that are based on rates for services in the FFS sector, the State would base the new prepaid rates on an actuarial estimate of the average reasonable costs, across all providers, of providing the covered services. 10 (This estimate of average reasonable costs assumes some savings from managed care.) The extent to which the new method of calculating rates would result in higher payment than under the current system is unclear, since the payment amount, the packages of services to be delivered, and the covered population are all different. The change in payment would apply only to prepaid care contractors; FFS providers would not 9 me s~te ~~cts ~t abut 15 Pmcent of emoll~s in the ~&tq pr~aid cm mu.nties would& enrolled with a pCm ~ manager for various reasons (e.g., because their need for care was so intensive that they exceeded the stop-loss cost threshold for the prepaid plan). 10 No~~ tit ~~ou@ ~ method is ~u~~y+ ac~te~y+ef~~ to M cost-b~~ paymcu~ it is not Won the itChU-d COStS h311Tt3d by anyone provider. A particular providers payments would thus not necessarily bear any relationship to that providers costs of rendering the serviees.
PAGE 20
Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions l 1 3 receive fee increases. 11 As under the current system, subcontractors to prepaid plans (e.g., hospitals, clinics) would receive payments that reflect their negotiating strength. Rural hospitals, FQHCs, and RHCs located in the mandatory prepaid counties would lose their special reimbursement protections under the demonstration as proposed; these providers would no longer be paid their actual costs unless they could negotiate such payment with the primary contractors (or unless they were themselves primary contractors, and their actual costs were lower than the per capita rates). The greatest payment boon to many hospitals, clinics, and physicians under the demonstration is presumed to come from a reduction in the number of patients who cannot pay for the services they receive. To the extent that poor patients who previously received uncompensated care would be covered by Medicaid, total provider income could increase. The third major change for providers would be the need to work within the prioritized list. It is not at all clear how the list would affect provider practice in the prepaid sector, since payment to these providers does not depend directly on the actual services rendered. Presumably, administrators in prepaid plans would simply make below-the-line services one set of a range of services and practices that physicians would be discouraged from providing. Some physicians in such plans might counter by redefining below-the-line conditions into covered CT pairs where possible to justify providing these services, but the balance of behaviors can only be a matter of speculation. FFS providers, on the other hand, would have a clear incentive to ensure that all services provided could be classified into above-the-line CT pairs, Their financial success under the new program would depend heavily on their ability to become intimately familiar with the list. Because different providers have different incentives and capabilities for dealing with the prioritized list, Medicaid recipients access to specific benefits could vary depending on where they live and who they see for care. Problems and Possibilities in the Proposed Delivery System Managed care, and especially prepaid managed care, has been of intense interest to policymakers and insurers interested in gaining some control over health care costs. The number of people enrolled in HMOs nationally has grown from less than 2 million to almost 34 million over the past two decades (92). Over 1 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in HMOs, and as of 1991 more than 1.6 million Medicaid beneficiaries were enrolled in risk-based prepaid health care plans (309). Another 1 million Medicaid participants were expected to be enrolled with primary care case managers by the end of 1991 (309). Although Oregon is only one of many States that has experimented with using managed care to provide services to its Medicaid population, the little information that is available suggests that its program has avoided some of the pitfalls encountered by others (238). The State believes that its current Medicaid managed care program has reduced State spending (41). The U.S. General Accounting Office is currently evaluating Oregons existing Medicaid managed care program in depth to identify more precisely its problems and successes. The great interest in managed care, coupled with the States past experience, implies that Oregon would be a logical choice for an experiment of comprehensive, statewide Medicaid managed care. (Arizona, the only other State in which all Medicaid care is delivered through managed care, has a very limited and unusual Medicaid program.) Still, there are a number of questions and potential problems that would deserve explicit attention (either at the planning or the evaluation stage) if the demonstration were to go into effect: l l Implementation of the proposed managed care expansionsThe State maintains that managed care expansion is on schedule (26). If there should be any future delays or problems, however, the costs of the program and the effect of the prioritized list might be different than anticipated. For example, if the contract process with prepaid providers takes longer than expected, or if recruiting primary care case managers is difficult, traditional unrestricted FFS billing could be more widespread during the demonstration than anticipated. Effects on safety net providersManaged care is of concern to many of the public primary care clinics that currently serve large Medicaid and uninsured caseloads (37). FQHCs and 11 Case managers would receive $3 per enrollee per month for the new case management services they would be required to provide.
PAGE 21
14 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal l RHCs would lose some key financial protections if they participate, and many of their actual-cost-reimbursed patients if they do not. Although they could expect to provide less uncompensated care, the financial benefits of this reduction to the clinics depend on whether it would be accompanied by a reduction in Federal subsidy funds and/or increases in Medicaid revenues. The State is encouraging public clinics to be capitated contractors themselves, but it is not clear that they have the expertise or the resources to assume the attendant financial risks. County health departments might similarly be unable to assume risk and be primary contractors due to lack of resources and the inability to meet other contractor requirements. Ability to retain participating providersThe State is counting heavily on the increased payment presumed possible through the new payment method to attract and retain participating Medicaid providers. The extent to which payments to prepaid providers would be-and would remain-high enough to keep providers in the program is an open question only answerable if the demonstration goes into effect. In the FFS sector, changes in initial and continued provider participation are similarly uncertain. The fact that fees would not change may mean that primary care provider participation would not increase. (Access to specialty care might increase, however, if case managers successfully negotiate referrals for their patients.) Program Implications for Beneficiaries Changes in Eligibility and Enrollment If the waiver is approved, Oregon would be the first State in the Nation to guarantee federally cofunded Medicaid coverage to all legal residents with incomes below the FPL. The new incomeonly eligibility criteria for Medicaid would mean that projected enrollment in the program would increase by more than 20 percent in the frost year and 72 percent by the fifth year of the demonstration program. (The increase in the fifth year is projected to be 59 percent if the employer mandate is in place.) Pregnant women and young children with family incomes up to 133 percent of the FPL are currently eligible for Medicaid, and they would remain eligible under Oregons proposal. One aspect of the proposal intended to reduce program and applicant paperwork, however, might affect some of these currently eligible individuals. Under the demonstration, eligibility for non-AFDC applicants would be based solely on simple gross family income. In contrast, at present, near-poverty pregnant women and children under age 6 can exclude certain types of expenses (e.g., some work-related child care expenses) in order to meet income qualifications. Some applicants who thus would have been eligible under current rules might be ineligible under the new program. The number of individuals who would be ineligible under the new rules is unknown. The State believes it to be very small (less than 1 percent of currently eligible pregnant women and young children) (253). On the other hand, one clinic estimates that over 9 percent of its patients who qualify because they are pregnant or are young children would be affected (see ch. 5) (1 14). The demonstration would also eliminate the current 3-month retroactive eligibility for nonAFDC Medicaid enrollees and would guarantee 6-month periods of continuous Medicaid coverage for all new eligibles except those receiving AFDC. Average length of eligibility in the program would probably increase somewhat compared with the present. Non-AFDC beneficiaries would all remain eligible at least 6 months, and beneficiaries with AFDC-based eligibility could still be eligible for Medicaid under the demonstration even if their incomes increased somewhat. Changes in Coverage and Access for the Newly Eligible Population For the people who would be newly eligible under the waiverthose who cannot qualify for Medicaid benefits under current rulesthe implications of the new eligibility and coverage rules are unambiguously good. These individuals would lose no coverage at all, since they have none now. They would gain coverage for all services included in CT pairs 1 through 587, as well as coverage for diagnostic services. The implications of the demonstration program for access to health care services for this population are likewise unambiguous. If medical care coverage has any relevance for access at all, people in this group would have access to a broad spectrum of care
PAGE 22
Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions l 15 not previously within their reach. At the least, they would have the right to demand care that currently depends on either their ability to pay for it out-ofpocket, or on the good will and generosity of individual providers. Changes in Coverage and Access for Current Beneficiaries Changes in Benefits-For current Medicaid eligibles, the changes in coverage are more complex. Certain benefits that lie above line 588 would be clearly new for adults: many preventive health services, dental services, and several types of organ transplants (adults are currently covered only for cornea and kidney transplants). Hospice care for the te rminally ill would also be a new benefit for both adults and children. 12 Lost benefits for current eligibles would include all services below line 587 that are now covered. For many below-the-line CT pairs, the real coverage lost would be negligible. In some instances, for example, the pair is empty i.e., those services are already never or rarely provided (e.g., aggressive therapy for anencephalic babies) 13 (215). In other cases, the service is significant but is not covered under current Oregon Medicaid rules (e.g., breast reconstruction after mastectomy [285]). Other below-the-line CT pairs, however, are for conditions whose treatment is now covered by Medicaid (if it is determined to be medically necessary ). At least five of these CT pairs include some life-threatening diagnoses for which clinicians believe some patients might be effectively treated. 14 Other uncovered CT pairs include painful, disabling conditions for which treatment can sometimes bring relief (e.g., trigeminal nerve disorders), and conditions for which treatment is believed to be sometimes curative (e.g., focal surgery for certain types of epilepsy) (10,67,294,31 1). One uncovered CT pair, removal of viral warts, can sometimes be a preventive measure against sexually transmitted disease and certain gynecological and anal cancers (317). 15 Implications for AccessFor most persons currently eligible for Medicaid, access to care would probably be different under the demonstration, but it is not clear whether it would be better or worse for the population overall. On the one hand, if the managed care system is implemented as planned, all beneficiaries would be assured of a provider who has agreed to see them-something that may not always happen at present. In addition, adults in particular would have coverage for significant services not previously available. Even where services would ordinarily be uncovered, they might be provided in the FFS sector if they could be upcoded to covered CT pairs, and they might be provided in either the FFS or the prepaid sector if the provider felt a professional responsibility to provide the care. On the other hand, just as under the existing Medicaid program, coverage for services may not always mean receipt of those services. For example, if waiting time before getting an appointment for routine preventive services is long, some patients might not receive the services (or the followup treatment for detected conditions) before they became ineligible for Medicaid benefits. Long waiting times for appointments might also affect the ability of pregnant women to receive early prenatal care. In addition, the incentives of a prepaid, capitated payment system may mean that some managed care providers may be less willing to provide some covered services than their FFS counterparts. The loss of previously covered benefits would certainly reduce access to these services. In some cases, the reduction may be desirable and even beneficial to the individual (e.g., if it reduces the provision of ineffective services). In other cases, however, it appears that some patients might lose access to useful and potentially effective services that are clearly utilized at present. Six of the most frequent diagnoses of Oregon Medicaid hospital 12 Hyperbaric oxygen &eatrnent and tissue expanders would also be new &nefitS und~ the pmpod Pm-. IS ~ ~encep~c babies, the ~~ is un&VelOped and absent at birth. 14 me five poten~ly fa~ ~Woses tit Me cu~fly cover~ and can IX effmtively treated include impetigo h~tiformis, my Whenia ~vis, Schmidts syndrome, viral pneumoni% and bone marrow transplants for non-Hodgkins lymphoma in children (3,17,21,38,44). (Transplants for non-Hodgkins lymphoma in adults and liver transplants for alcoholic cirrhosis are also low-ranked CT pairs in which treatment is sometimes lifesaving, but bone marrow and liver transplants are only covered for children under Oregons current Medicaid program.) Myasthenia gravis may ultimately be reclassifkd into a CT pair higher on the prioritized list as a result of changes currently being considered by the Health Services Commission (23). 15 ~~~ v~ w~ rmov~ is under co~ide~tion by tie Hsc, w~ch may relabel a cover~ CT pair to clarify m it CLUI include thk WMCt3 fOr men as well as women (23).
PAGE 23
16 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal inpatients in 1989, for example, related to CT pairs that are below the line. l6 Thus, current Medicaid beneficiaries would both gain and lose something under the proposed plan. It seems likely that both the gains and losses are less extreme for access than for benefits. G aining a benefit does not always imply access (e.g., if waiting times were to inhibit access to covered preventive services), and losing a benefit is not accompanied by a complete loss of access, either (e.g., because charity care would still exist). Three aspects of Oregons proposal that Oregons Medicaid program has not yet addressed in detail could have substantial implications for access to services: CT/DRG incongruities. It is not yet clear how hospital inpatients would receive coverage for diagnostic services related to uncovered conditions, because current hospital billing and payment practices do not separate diagnostic from treatment services. Under the proposed program, many hospitals would still be paid on an FFS basis (even within the prepaid care system), which means that reimbursement would be made on the basis of DRGs. But DRGs and CT pairs, on which coverage is based, are entirely unrelated to one another. There are many fewer DRGs, for example, and unlike CT pairs they include diagnostic as well as treatment services. The State intends to develop a mechanism to recognize inpatient diagnostic services specifically (212), but if it cannot do so promptly and adequately, beneficiaries access to these services could be compromised. Utilization review, To a large extent, access to services under the proposed demonstration program would be determined not by the prioritized list itself but by the as yet unknown or unspecified policies and practices of the Oregon Medicaid administrators and by individual providers. The extent to which the Medicaid office would conduct CT-pair-level utilization review under the new program, for example, is still unclear. Even where review criteria exist, the State may not be able to detect some practices of interest. In particular, some treatments for CT pairs below the line (e.g., durable medical equipment, prescription drugs) cannot easily be linked administratively with the conditions for which they were prescribed, since the bills do not include diagnoses. Guidelines and instructions for providers. The codes on the prioritized list itself are not sufficient to enable a provider to reliably determin e where a patients condition and treatment is most appropriately classified. For example, the only criteria for how to determine that a cancer patient is terminally ill (and therefore ineligible for treatment of the cancer) is that the patient has less than a 10 percent chance of surviving 5 years. Making this determin ation is up to the physician. Although it intends to do so, the State has not yet established detailed instructions or guidelines for providers using the list to determine which services are covered and under what circumstances. Program Costs Oregon estimates that the costs of the proposed demonstration (over and above the projected normal costs of the States Medicaid program) would be about $25 million during the first year and about $238 million over the 5 years of the waiver (table 1-2). Of this, the State would spend about $95 million, while the Federal Government would be responsible for the remaining $143 million (177). (The State estimates that the Federal Government would save $34 million in the Medicare program as an indirect effect of the Medicaid waiver, for a net Federal cost over 5 years of $109.6 million.) Costs specific to the demonstration project include the costs of increasing program enrollment and offering some new services, extra administrative costs, and other factors. Although the State predicts that the use of the prioritized list to reduce certain benefits and the use of managed care to control utilization would result in some offsetting savings, the demonstration is nonetheless expected to require a net increase in expenditures. OTA finds that the State of Oregon and its actuarial contractors have used a reasonable approach for the difficult task of estimating the costs of the proposed demonstration program. Nonetheless, the State may have underestimated 16 ~me diwo=S in~lud~: M~~~led; ~~fl~ vti inf~tion; in@~ inf~tion due to Otier organis~ not elsewhere chss~l~ WUk upper respiratory infectioru displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc, without myelopathy; and viral pneumonk
PAGE 24
Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions 17 Table 1-2Summary of Oregons Demonstration Cost Estimate (in millions of dollars) Year 1 Year 5 a 5-year FY 1993 FY 1997 total Projected cost of current program $925.9 $1,546.7 $6,041.8 Total program cost under demonstration b 950.8 1,581.7 6,280.1 Incremental Medicaid cost due to demonstration 24.9 35.0 238.3 d State Medicaid share 10.1 14.5 95.0 Federal costs (Medicaid only) e 14.8 20.5 143.3 Change in Medicare due to employer mandate 0.0 (17.6) (33.7) Total change In Federal Medicaid/Medicare costs 14.8 2.9 109.6 NOTE: Oregons cmt estimates as presented here are based on the original antiapated startup date of July 1, 1992. Estimates may change because implementation has been delayed on a month-tomonth basis pending HCFA approval of Oregons waiver request. Whe employer mandate is to take full effect by the fourth year of the demonstration, resulting in a presumed drop in Medicaid (and Medicare) costs in years 4 and 5 of the demonstration due to beneficiary coverage through employers, rather than public programs. %otal costs of Oregon Medicaid program, including services and populations not currentiy included under the demonstration. clncremental CONS of the demonstration presented here do not include the costs of including mental healthkhemical dependency services or the costs of services provided to elderly and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries. These services were not included in the original waiver application and their costs would be separately calculated at the time they would be included under the demonstration, dlnaemental Mgdi~id costs are assumed to increase through year 3, reaching $60 million that year, then decrease in years 4 and 5 due to the full implementation of the employer mandate. em= not include Fgdgra[ research cmts of demonstration WakJdiOn. SOURCE: Data from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The oregon Medkajd Demonstration Waiver Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. program costs, since crucial assumptions would tend to raise costs or reduce savings if the estimates used prove incorrect. Any delay in fully implementing the planned managed care system, for example, would reduce the expected program savings due to the use of managed care. Any inabilities of new managed care providers to actually meet savings expectations would have a similar effect. In addition, the administrative difficulties of determin ing below-the-line use of certain products and services (e.g., durable medical equipment, prescription drugs) means that if the use of these services is higher than accounted for in the cost estimate, overall patient care costs could be likewise somewhat higher than expected. Program costs could also be higher than expected if some techniTable 1-3-Examples of Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Excluded If Costs Were Underestimated by 5 Percent a Baseline threshold: CT pair 587 Per capita monthly cost: $129.44 New threshold: CT pair 503 New per capita month/y cost: $122.98 Examples of CT pairs excluded 504 506 514 515 525 531 533 534 544 546 552 554 555 569 572 573 586 567 Hernia (unobstructed) Muscular dystrophy Acute poliomyelitis Pituitary dwarfism Gallbladder anomalies Spontaneous and missed abortion Minor burns Allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis Spine deformities Disorders of bladder Foreign body in eye Closed fracture of epiphysis of upper extremities Congenital dislocation of hip Fractures of ribs and sternum Chronic sinusitis Lumbago Spondylosis and other chronic disorders of back Esophagitis Repair Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical and surgical treatment Medical and surgical treatment Medical therapy Medical therapy Repair and/or reconstruction Medical and surgical treatment Foreign body removal Reduction Repair and/or reconstruction Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical and surgical treatment Medical therapy aAssumes all cost savings to balance out the cost overrun would b achieved solely through reducing benefits. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment. Calculated from information in Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oregon Medicatd Demonstration Wwver Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. cal fixes to the program are necessary to avoid unintentional consequences of the initial list. For example, some effective services appear to be grouped in CT pairs with ineffective ones and ranked low; if this were freed by reassigning the codes for the effective services to higher ranked CT pairs, program costs would increase slightly. Although many factors that might increase costs would probably have fairly small effects, even small cost overruns could have significant implications for benefits. If all cost savings to balance out only a 5 percent cost overrun had to be achieved solely through reducing benefits, for example, more than 80 CT pairs would have to be eliminated from coverage (table 1-3). Some costs external to the program, but relevant to Federal fiscal concerns, may also have been underestimated. In particular, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has predicted a loss of Federal tax revenues if the State implements the associated mandate requiring small businesses to provide health insurance. (This revenue loss was not accounted for in the cost analysis, although savings predicted from this mandate were included. The
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18 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Box 1-C--Medicaid Waivers Requested by the State of Oregon To implement its proposed 5-year Medicaid demonstration program, the State of Oregon is requesting that the Federal Government waive 15 rules that it normally requires States to follow in order to qualify for Federal matching funds (33). Four of these waivers would be continuations of waivers already in effect in Oregon that enable the State to carry on its existing managed care demonstration program. 1 The other 11 waivers must be newly granted They are: 1. Amount, duration, and scope of services--Generally, all Medicaid recipients must have equivalent service coverage, with coverage unconnected to the patients condition or other circumstances. In the demonstration, some services (i.e., those below the line) would be denied based on a patients diagnosis. In addition, until the elderly and disabled populations are added to the program, covered services for these populations would differ from coverage for other recipients. 2. Uniformity--Federal rules require that a States Medicaid plan apply uniformly throughout all geographic areas of a State. Under Oregons demonstration, managed care plans and access to providers may vary between urban and rural regions and even within these regions. 3. Medically needy eligibility--States with medically needy programs must ordinarily make them available to at least children and pregnant women. Oregon proposes to eliminate the program for all populations enrolled in the demonstration program. 4. Income limitations--Federal rules prohibit Medicaid coverage for families with incomes greater than 1331/3 percent of the States Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) standard and for disabled persons whose incomes exceed 300 percent of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) income standard (unless they qualify as medically needy). Oregons proposed coverage of all persons with incomes up to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level would include some persons who would not be eligible under the usual Federal rules. 5. Eligibility standards--Persons who are categorically eligible for cash assistance through AFDC, SSI, and other qualifying programs but who are not receiving this assistance are subject to resource as well as income standards to determine their financial eligibility for Medicaid. Oregon, however, proposes to eliminate the resource standard and permit individuals and families to qualify for Medicaid solely on their 1 m fom ACVW W@Vm ahidy in effect in Oregon that would need to continue under the propoaed demonstration mWdve Federal Medicaid rules regarding: 1) a patients heedom to ChOOSC any C@ifkd ~OVidC!X, 2) leek-b 3) sharing with providers illly cost savings ecreased health service lltihd~ and 4) ease management. generated by d State maintains that Federal revenue loss from this l-C). OTA assessed whether Oregons proposal source would be negligible due to such factors as might be in conflict with provisions of other Federal increased tax revenues from providers.) Also, if statutes, which only Congress can waive, or might Oregons passage of Ballot Measure 5 17 decreases come in conflict with the U.S. Constitution, a barrier the State funds available to the Medicaid program, to its implementation that could be overcome only as it is predicted to do, the State may be unable to with a constitutional amendment. furnish its full share of demonstration funding even if program costs have been correctly estimated. With one possible exception, Oregons Medicaid Other Issues proposal appears not to conflict with the U.S. Constitution. This exception concerns provisions of Issues the Oregon plan that would change the States common law in such a way as to prohibit most legal applied to the U.S. Health Care recourse when a provider refuses to provide mediFederal Legal Oregon has Financing Administration (HCFA) for permission to cally necessary care that is not covered by Medicaid. waive provisions of the Medicaid statute that conThis could be interpreted by the courts as permitting flict with its proposed demonstration project (box a different level of legal protection against sub17 B~~t M~~~s is ~ S@tewi& referend~ p~s~ in Novem&r 1~ which p~s iII a rolltick of 1(MxI plUp(3~ @x&i OV17 5 yad K@lM the State to replace billions of dollars lost by local counties for school funds ffom the States general fund.
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Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions l 19 household income. The State would also change the rules regarding which household members incomes are countable for eligibility purposes. 6. Eligibility procedures--States are generally required to have Medicaid eligibility procedures no more restrictive than under the States AFDC plan. In addition, States are required to provide retroactive eligibility to certain categories of individuals (i.e., medical assistance applies retroactively for up to 3 months before the person actually applied for Medicaid). Under the demonstration, however, Oregon proposes to implement different eligibility rules and procedures for those persons receiving cash assistance (under AFDC, etc.) and those who are not. The latter group of persons would not qualify for retroactive eligibility, and their eligibility would be based only on gross income. 7. Freedom of choice Under the demonstration, most recipients would not be able to change providers at will but would be locked in to their chosen prepaid managed care provider, which could be changed only every 6 months. 8. Cavitation contract requirements-The Federal Government requires that prepaid health plans (PHPs) contracting to serve Medicaid patients meet specific requirements, including that the PHPs patient population beat least 25 percent non-Medicare and non-Medicaid patients. Oregon is requesting that the PHPs participating in the demonstration not be required to meet these standards. The State is also requesting waivers that would eliminate the need for the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to approve large contracts with PHPs (i.e., those where payment may exceed $100,000). 9. Upper payment limits for cavitation contract requirements Federal rules prohibit PHP payments that exceed estimated equivalent fee-for-service payments. Oregon requests a waiver of this requirement to enable incentive payments to certain PHI%. 10. Payment to Federally QualifiedHealth Centers (FQHCs)--State Medicaid programs must cover services provided in FQHCs, and they must provide facility-specific, cost-based reimbursement for these services. Under the demonstration program, however, some FQHCs might be part of PHPs and thus paid differently (and their services not uniformly available). 11. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) service mandate--States are usually required to pay for medical services when the need for that service is determined at an EPSDT visit (even if the State would not otherwise cover the service). This requirement must be waived if the demonstration is to proceed as planned, because some identified services might lie below the funded line (initially line 587 on the prioritized list). Finally, in addition to the specific waiver requests, Oregon requests that HCFA grant any other waiver that HCFA deems to be required in order to implement the demonstration as it is described in the proposal document. standard care-and possibly a different legal standnot very vulnerable to a challenge on the basis of ard of care-for Medicaid beneficiaries than is permitted for the remainder of the States population. Such a difference might possibly be interpreted as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (or of similar provisions of the Oregon State constitution). Several Federal statutes are relevant to Oregons proposal, including those requiring protections for human research subjects and those that prohibit dis crimination on the basis of race, disability, or age. The proposal appears to fall within the exceptions allowed by the human research subject protection statute for social demonstration programs (although one advocate suggests that language in a 1992 appropriations bill suggests otherwise) (222). The effects of the anti-discrimin ation statutes are not entirely clear-cut, but the proposal is probably these statutes unless in its implementation the denial of benefits falls disproportionately on protected groups (e.g., because the services they use tend to appear below the cutoff point on the list). Based on OTAs analysis of the list, this type of disparate impact is unlikely to occur with the line drawn at 587. If the line were to move upward due to funding shortfalls, the potential for such a challenge would increase. Some advocates have argued that, in its implementation, the proposal may also be vulnerable to challenge on the basis of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336) (150). The lack of case law involving this statute, however, makes it impossible to predict how future courts would react. The provision of SB 27 that exempts providers from liability if they refuse to provide uncovered but
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20 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal medically necessary services to Medicaid beneficiaries 18 also conflicts with existing Federal statutes that require most hospitals to provide basic emergency care to anyone in need. Thus, it is possible that hospitals (and possibly emergency room physicians) could be prosecuted under Federal statute for not providing some services even if they were exempted from liability under State law. Evaluation Issues Oregons demonstration proposal is ostensibly a health services research proposal. As such, a justification for funding the proposal would be to draw information useful to other States and to the Federal Government. In this context, the program has some significant drawbacks. Many of the potential applications of the information gleaned from the project relate to its components rather than its overall effects (e.g., Does the use of a prioritized list to define benefits reduce costs without harming the existing Medicaid population?). An evaluation of the project, however, is unlikely to have the power to disassociate the independent effects of service prioritization from the effects of managed care expansion and broader insurance coverage for the poor. In fact, a likely outcome is that no separate effect of the list on health status would be distinguishable at the current benefit threshold (even if one exists). If the threshold moves up the list to accommodate higher-than-expected program expenditures, the strongest detectable effect could well be a negative one for access, quality, and health status of current program beneficiaries. Given the limits of comparative data, it may not even be possible to detect the effect of the combination of these changes on many outcomes of interest. There are two other potential experimental contexts in which the demonstration might be viewed. First, the proposal can be viewed as a simple experiment designed to answer a single question: Is it possible, using the mechanisms Oregon would implement, to provide acceptable health care coverage to the poor, uninsured population without significantly raising costs to the taxpayer and to the health care system? Evaluating this question in the aggregate requires much less detailed data than evaluating the components and intermediate effects of the program, and the answer would be of interest to many researchers and policymakers. The danger of this approach is that as a research demonstration, its results could only be appropriately extrapolated in the aggregate. Other States could apply the results only if they, too, were willing to implement the total package that Oregon proposes. A second question is even further from the traditional bounds of health services research: Is health care coverage based on prioritization of health care services, with open public input, politically sustainable? If, for example, program costs were higher than expected, would the legislature actually be able to reduce benefits or increase revenues to fund it? Or would the plan evolve over time into simply another version of the current system, in which neither eliminating specific treatments nor raising taxes becomes politically feasible, and the State must resort once again to limiting eligibility and provider payment? If these questions could be answered, implementation of the proposal maybe of interest to some policymakers despite its potential drawbacks as a health services research project. CONCLUSIONS In designing its proposed Medicaid tion program and related changes to its demonstrahealth care system, the State of Oregon has achieved what few others have: a dramatic and comprehensive proposal to change the way health care is delivered that appears to be generally accepted by its residents and providers. The State has invested considerable resources into its unique Medicaid proposal. Many of the proposed changes have stimulated open public debate, and the lessons learned from the effort to develop a categorization of treatments and conditions are valuable ones. The States explicit attempt to integrate and incorporate outcomes information and broad public input is especially notable. The State believes that despite possible problems, the gains it anticipates from the proposal make the program worth trying. The immediate issue for the Federal Government, however, is not only whether the proposed changes should take place but whether Federal revenues should be used to fund them. Unlike the State, which is legitimately con18 ~taeS@ly, ~ Provision ~ &n c~~ in ~ch a way ~ to imply tit it might continue to apply to Mdhid providers even if the demonstration project does not go fonvard.
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Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions l 21 cerned primarily with the effects within Oregon, the Federal Government must consider the ways in which the information from the proposal might be useful to others. It must also consider the opportunity costs of funding Oregons proposal relative to other possible uses for those funds. Certain aspects of Oregons proposal hold promise as a potential demonstration of ways that health care costs might be constrained or health care access improved. The proposal to include all Medicaid enrollees in some form of managed care, with an emphasis on various forms of prepaid care that grade the degree of financial risk to the size and experience of the provider, is intriguing. Many health care payers have looked to managed care to reduce costs without endangering health, and there would probably be considerable interest in the results of an experiment that tested comprehensive managed care for Medicaid beneficiaries. Oregons past experience with managed care suggests that this State would be a reasonable location for such an experiment. The effect on provider participation of a changed method of payment likewise is of interest. Expanding coverage to all poor persons is clearly a benefit of the proposal. This component of the proposal is both the most expensive and the most likely to yield positive results. Aside from the simple benefit to those involved, there are some solid reasons to test coverage expansion as an experiment; for example, such a study might shed additional light on the links between health insurance, health care access, and health status. The move to simplify eligibility rules in conjunction with coverage expansion is also attractive, since it would be expected to increase program participation and reduce program expenditures relating to reviewing applications. However, the possibility that some pregnant women and young children might be ineligible for benefits under the new rules is a significant drawback of the demonstration as proposed, since it would almost certainly harm those affected. A simple remedy for this problem might be to increase the gross income eligibility level for pregnant women and children under age 6 applying to the program (e.g., to 150 or 185 percent of the Federal poverty level). Despite the many positive aspects of these components of the program, OTA has some serious reservations about the overall demonstration project as proposed. The most troublesome aspects are the prioritized list and the lack of any minimum level below which benefits may not fall. OTA has made no attempt to decide whether open rationing of health care services is desirable, or unnecessary, or inevitable. However, OTAs analysis of Oregons prioritization process and the resultant list of services suggests that if such a prioritization mechanism is adopted, classifying health care by general service categories and CT pairs in order to prioritize services is not an especially promising approach. The level of aggregation required by the CT pairs on Oregons list means that treatments effective or ineffective for specific patients still cannot be adequately discriminated. The prioritized list, while a potentially useful source of public opinion information to policymakers, would probably not be an effective internal cost-containment tool. The ranked list does enable overall program expenditures to be controlled by increasing or decreasing benefits. But the list itself does not necessarily encourage costefficient health care decisions to be made at the individual level. Diagnostic services, for example, are not prioritized; only existing review or management mechanisms (e.g., management practices of prepaid care providers) would limit their use. And despite the States attempt to rank aggressive therapies for some diagnoses (e.g., cancer) low when patients are termin ally ill, paradoxically the list does not preclude heroic procedures for these patients. A terminally ill patient would still be covered for last-minute life-saving therapies such as treatment for respiratory or cardiac arrest. This option would probably be desired by many patients, but it could not be expected to lower costs. In fact, assuming Oregons estimates of the cost savings that could be expected from managed care are correct, managed care might have a much larger effect on internal cost control than the prioritized list. A contribution of Oregons extensive efforts is its demonstration that outcomes and cost-effectiveness data, while extremely valuable for certain purposes, are inadequate for use as the buildingblocks of a ranking system of all services. More and better information on the outcomes of more health services would improve its usefulness, but it is unlikely that such information will ever be sufficiently comprehensive to enable all health care services to be objectively ranked. The value of such information lies in comparing the usefulness of
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22 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal particular sets of services on the margin--e.g., for use in guidelines, quality-of-care screens, or deciding whether specific individual services should be covered and under what circumstances. In fact, any comprehensive ranking system would, like Oregons, need to rely on judgmentand value-based decisionmaking. Because such a list cannot be derived from scientific evidence on effectiveness, outcomes, and cost, and because the replicability of the public meeting and survey information is still open to question, Oregons list would probably not be exactly reproducible in another State even if the identical process was undertaken. Agreement between two ranked lists might be similar at the bottom (since many people would agree that certain services are ineffective or futile), but differences might be much more substantial further up the list. Oregons intensive efforts to make public input a basis for detailed priority-setting demonstrate both the possibilities and the limitations of this process. The State successfully involved providers and consumers in a process to inform public decisionmaking regarding health care priorities. However, the validity of public input in any quantitative ranking is still subject to challenge. The use of public preference data to weight health outcomes has promise, but Oregons experience suggests that this method is not sufficiently developed to use as the basis for a detailed ranking system ready for implementation. The information from hearings and public meetings was clearly informative and useful in a ranking process that proved to be unavoidably subjective, but the meetings were not representative of the community despite the efforts of organizers. In fact, the level of effort Oregon undertook implies that proportional representation is probably not a standard possible to achieve under any system. Any attempt to change the way benefits are defined will involve tradeoffs of gains and losses, and Oregons proposal cannot be legitimately criticized on the grounds that there is a clear net loss to current beneficiaries. Current beneficiaries lose some current benefits, and a few would almost certainly be harmed in some way by this loss. But beneficiaries would also gain some new services under the demonstration, and they could still receive some uncovered services as charity care. At a benefit level set at line 587 on the prioritized list, the overall net effects of coverage changes on current Medicaid participants cannot be predicted with confidence. If the benefit threshold changes and reduces the number of covered CT pairs, however, it would become more likely that the proposed program would result in net harm to the health of current beneficiaries. This finding is troubling because the related finding that demonstration costs may have been underestimated raises the likelihood that coverage would be cut during the course of the waiver. (Lower future funding itself would not necessarily mean that current beneficiaries would suffer net harm, because they might have lost some benefits under the current program as well. But lower future funding combined with relatively higher funding required to sustain the new proposal would increase the likelihood of net harm.) In fact, the lack of a guaranteed minimum set of benefits below which coverage would not be allowed to fall is the most disturbing aspect of Oregons proposal. 19 If program expenditures are higher than predicted, and if the passage of Ballot Measure 5 and internal budget priorities prohibit the State from making up the difference, the Federal Government would be faced with three possibilities. First, it could undertake to fund the difference out-of-pocket, covering Oregons population at the expense of funding other health care experiments elsewhere in the Nation. Second, it could permit the benefit package to be cut, increasing the likelihood that Medicaid beneficiaries would be harmed by the demonstration. Third, it could withdraw or condition its continued approval and either modify the demonstration substantially or permit it to end, reducing the demonstrations usefulness for the purpose of research. In summary: 1. Oregons efforts to develop a proposal to make radical changes to its Medicaid program have yielded valuable information about the usefulness of outcomes data and public input in prioritizing services. The ranking process may also have value as a way to better inform policymakers and to enhance provider and 19 ~contr~~ at present the Federal Governm ent requires that States coverat least some mandatory benefits and populations in order to receive Federal filnding.
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Chapter 1--Summary and Conclusions l 23 patient awareness. Nonetheless, other States would not be well-advised at this time to rely on Oregons particular CT-based prioritization method to categorize and rank services. The list itself cannot be applied in other settings with equivalent meaning. Also, the list discriminates poorly among effective services at the individual level, and it would probably not be ineffective internal cost-containment mechanism in FFS practice settings. 2. At a coverage level set at line 587, health care access under the proposed program would be improved for newly eligible participants and would not be clearly either better or worse for most current beneficiaries. Current beneficiaries would be more likely to be harmed if the number of covered CT pairs was reduced. 3. If implemented as proposed, the demonstration program may yield relatively little useful information about the different effects of service prioritization, comprehensive managed care, and comprehensive insurance coverage for the poor. A somewhat more modest experiment testing the effects of the managed care and coverage expansions alone would yield more specific information while providing most of the benefits of the current proposal. (The Oregon proposal in its entirety might still be valued as a political experiment, however.) 4. If the full demonstration is approved, some specific components deserve attention to ensure that the program is fully ready to implement. Examples include: The need for detailed instructions for providers on how to use the list; The need to reconcile hospital DRG-based billing, CT pairs, and covered diagnostic services; The need for more extensive baseline data for assessing program effects (particularly in the areas of utilization in the existing prepaid system, utilization and health status of the currently uninsured, and baseline health measures for specified subgroups of patients that could be significantly harmed if their treatments are not covered); The difficulties that public health clinics may face as they try to become part of the managed care system; and l The possibility that some pregnant women and young children who would qualify for coverage under the current program would be ineligible under the proposed new eligibility rules. 5. Specifying a threshold below which coverage would not be allowed to drop and gaining greater confidence that Oregon could meet its financial responsibilities under the waiver would also improve the programs chances of success.
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Chapter 2 Context of the Oregon Proposal
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Contents Page INTRODUCTION . . . Population and Income . Health Status and Resources MEDICAID IN THE UNITED Eligibility . . . . Benefits . . . . Program Costs and Spending State Responses . . . THE UNINSURED . . The Problem . . . Barriers to State Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATES AND OREGON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oregons Efforts To Expand Health Care Access 21. 2-2. 2-3. 2-4. Figures Percent Increase 1%0-90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 27 27 28 28 29 30 31 32 32 34 35 Page . . . . . . . . 27 Percent Distribution of Population by Race/Ethnicity, Oregon vs. United States, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Medicaid Recipients Share of Medicaid Spending, by Recipient Group, 1990 . 31 Status, Oregon vs. United States, 1990 ..; . . 1... . . 33 Tables Page 2-1. Summary of Recent Federal Medicaid Mandates . . . . . . . . 29 2-2. Mandatory and Optional Services Covered by the Oregon Medicaid Program, 1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
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Chapter 2 Context of the Oregon Proposal INTRODUCTION Oregons Medicaid proposal is the States unique response to the changing health care system. This chapter will explore the context of the Oregon proposal by reviewing the States demographic composition and health status indicators, the dilemmas of the Medicaid program, and the problem of an increasing uninsured population. Population and Income In 1990 the State of Oregon had approximately 2.8 million residents (278). Most lived in the metropolitan areas in the western part of the State; more than 68 percent resided in the Portland and Salem county areas. During the 1970s, the State underwent a major population increase, growing by 26 percent, but in the past decade growth has slowed dramatically (figure 2-l). The populations of Portland and Salem, however, continued to increase, by 23 and 33 percent, respectively, from 1980 to 1990. Approximately 91 percent of the Oregon residents are white, much higher than the national rate of 76 percent (277). While Oregon has fewer minorities overall than the national average, it has a slightly Figure 2-lResident Population, Percent Increase 1960-90 Percent increase 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 25.9 18.3 9.8 m.. 7.9 1960-70 1970-80 1980-90 D United States EJ Oregon DATA SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Sfatisti&l Abstract of the United States: 1991 (lllth Edition) (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1991). larger proportion of Native and Asian Americans (figure 2-2) 0 The median age of Oregonians is 34.5 years, higher than the U.S. average of 32.6. Oregons proportion of young residents is about the same as in the country as a whole (25 percent under age 18), but the State has a higher proportion of elderly residents (14 vs. 12 percent age 65 and over in Oregon and the United States, respectively) (278). In 1989, Oregons median household income was higher than the national average ($30,003 vs. $28,910) (280), while per capita personal income in both current and constant dollars was slightly less than the national average ($13,422 vs. $14,948 in current dollars) (283). Oregons average annual growth of personal income between 1988 and 1989 was slightly higher than the national average (4.7 vs. 2.9 percent), but it was lower throughout most of the 1980s. Over the 3 year period 1988-90, Oregon averaged 10,3 percent of persons in poverty, substantially lower than the U.S. average (13.5 percent in 1990) (282), Health Status and Resources By most measures of infant health, Oregon babies are slightly better off than babies nationwide. Compared with U.S. figures, Oregon has lower rates of low-birth-weight infants, inadequate prenatal care, and infant mortality (16 1). The number of teenage pregnancies in Oregon is also relatively low (11.4 per 1,000 live births to women under age 20, ranking 25th in the Nation), although it has been increasing recently, reversing the trend of the early 1980s (161). Overall mortality rates (adjusted for differences in age distribution) are also slightly lower in Oregon than the national average. (Unadjusted mortality rates are higher, since the population of Oregon has fewer young adults (18 to 24 years old) and more adults over age 65 than the national average) (278). Oregon, however, has a higher (unadjusted) mortality rate for cerebrovascular disease, cancers, several vascular disorders, and suicides. Some of Oregons statistical advantage in health status indicators may be due to its low proportion of racial minorities.
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28 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure 2-2Percent Distribution of Population by Race/Ethnicity, Oregon vs. United States, 1990 / \ American ,Indian 1.3% Hispanic 9.0% OREGON UNITED STATES DATA SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census Bureau Completes Distribution of 1990 Redistricting Tabulations to States. press release, Washington, DC, Mar. 11, 1991. Membership in a racial or ethnic minority in the United States is associated with poorer overall infant health measures and higher mortality rates associated with AIDS/HIV (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/human immunodeficiency virus), cancer, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, and cardiovascular disease (151,152). Oregon has fewer hospitals and physicians per capita than the national average. In 1990, the State had 268 hospital beds per 100,000 residents, with an occupancy rate of approximately 64 percent (6,209). By comparison, the United States averaged 353 hospital beds per 100,000 persons and had an average occupancy rate of 69.6 percent (6,209). Oregon had 220 physicians per 100,000 individuals (approximately one practicing physician per 455 Oregonians), compared with the national average of 240 physicians per 100,000 residents. About 80 percent of Oregons hospital beds, and about 80 percent of its practicing physicians, are located in metropolitan areas (188). MEDICAID IN THE UNITED STATES AND OREGON The Medicaid program was instituted to fill the gaps of private health insurance by protecting vulnerable populations otherwise unable to afford coverage. The program is jointly funded by Federal and State governments; however, each State administers its own program within Federal guidelines. Eligibility Medicaid originally covered certain categorically eligible low-income groups: women and children receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and poor aged, blind, and disabled persons receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Reforms in eligibility standards for Medicaid since 1984 have broadened the population qualifying for coverage (table 2-1). Federal rules now require States to extend Medicaid eligibility to pregnant women and children under age 6 with incomes up to 133 percent of the Federal poverty level. Children born after September 30, 1983 who are over 6 years old are eligible if their family incomes are up to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level. Thus, by 2002, all poor children under age 19 with incomes up to the Federal poverty level will be covered. States must also extend coverage to families in AFDC-Unemployed Parent (AFDC-UP) programs, which provide welfare for two-parent families with one unemployed parent. States have the option of expanding coverage to pregnant women and infants up to age one with incomes up to 185 percent of the Federal poverty level. The current Medicaid program in Oregon covers the mandatory populations: aged, blind, and disabled individuals receiving SSI, AFDC families, pregnant women and children under 6 years old with incomes less than 133 percent of the Federal poverty level, and families with unemployed parents receiving AFDC. It also covers the optional medically needy population of children under 18 and
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Chapter 2-Context of the Oregon Proposal l 29 Table 2-l-Summary of Recent Federal Medicaid Mandates Year Legislation and description 1984 Deficit Reduction Act (Public Law 98-369) l Expanded coverage to include all pregnant women qualifying for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and all children 5 and under with family income up to AFDC levels. 1986 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (Public Law 99-272) l Eliminated categorical restrictions for pregnant women. l Allowed States to cover pregnant women and children up to age 5 with incomes up to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level. l Instituted presumptive eligibility: temporary coverage for prenatal care. 1987 1988 1989 1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (Public Law 100-203) Allowed States to extend coverage to pregnant women and infants with incomes up to 185 percent of the Federal poverty level. l Allowed States to cover children under 5 up to the poverty level, with phase-in coverage for children under 8 in poverty. Instituted nursing home reform requiring States to: 1. Determine level of care for each patient, 2. Improve nursing aide training, 3. Institute pre-admission screening for mentally ill and mentally retarded patients, and 4. Comply with Federal standards. Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act (Public Law 100-360) l Required States to pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and repayments for qualified Medicare beneficiaries whose income is up to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level and whose resources are up to two times the Supplemental Security Income level. Instituted spousal impoverishment plan to protect the savings of noninstitutionalized spouses. Mandated Medicaid coverage of pregnant women and infants up to age 1 with incomes below 100 percent of poverty by July 1990. Family Support Act (Public Law 100-485) l Required States to continue covering families losing AFDC benefits as a result of increased income for 12 months. Made AFDC-UP, coverage for two-parent families with one unemployed parent, mandatory. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (Public Law 101-239) l Required States to extend Medicaid to all pregnant women and children born after September 30, 1983 up to age 6 with incomes up to 133 percent of the Federal poverty level, superseding the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act. l Set requirements for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (EPSDT), Medicaids preventive care program for children under age 21. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (Public Law 101-508) Required States to gradually extend coverage to all children born after September 30, 1983 until they reach age 19 in families with incomes below poverty. l Required States to pay Medicare premiums for qualified Medicare beneficiaries with income levels between 100 and 110 percent of poverty by January 1993; the income level rises to 120 percent of poverty in January 1995. Allowed States to institute limited coverage for home care of elderly persons who would otherwise be institutionalized and also fund home and community-based services for mentally retarded persons. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992, pregnant women who spend down into poverty due to high medical bills. The State does not cover the optional category of pregnant women and infants with incomes between 133 and 185 percent of the Federal poverty level. The population concentration of Oregon is reflected in the Medicaid population. Of the more than 150,000 projected Medicaid enrollees for FY 1993, fewer than one-third live in rural, nonmetropolitan counties (182). Benefits Under Federal rules, all States must provide a standard benefit package to the categorically needy (those receiving AFDC and SSI benefits) that includes: physician services, x-ray and laboratory services, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, family planning, home health care and skilled nursing facilities for adults, rural health clinic services, nurse-midwife services, and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) serv-
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30 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 2-2Mandatory and Optional Services Covered by the Oregon Medicaid Program, 1991 Mandatory Services l Inpatient hospital services Outpatient hospital services l Physician services l Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment services for children under age 21 Family planning services and supplies Laboratory and x-ray procedures Skilled nursing facility and home health care services for adults (i.e., 21 years and older) Rural health clinic services Services of certified nurse-midwives and pediatric and family nurse practitioners Service of federally qualified health centers receiving funds under sections 329, 330, or 340 of the Public Health Service Act Optional Services Covered by Oregon l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Case management Additional home health services Services of other licensed practitioners, including psychologists, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, and naturopaths Clinic services Other diagnostic, preventive, and rehabilitative services Prescription drugs Intermediate care facility services for mentally retarded persons Eyeglasses, prosthetic devices, and orthopedic shoes Private duty nursing Inpatient psychiatric care for those under age 21 and care in institutions for mental diseases for adults aged 65 or eider Physical, occupational, and speech, hearing, and language disorder therapies Other medical or remedial care recognized under State law, including personal care in the home, transportation and emergency services, home and skilled nursing facility care for those under age 21, and respiratory care services Home or community-based services under a waiver Respiratory care services for ventilator-dependent individuals Services for persons aged 65 or eider in a mental institution Transplant services (Oregon limits transplants to cornea and kidney for adults; for those under 21, Oregon rovers a professionally determined range of nonexperimental transplant services) Additional services for pregnant women: needs assessment, case management, nutritional counseling, and home services Optional Services Not Covered by Oregon Dental care for adults Hospice services Preventive screening services for adults Christian Science nurses Organ transplants for adults (other than cornea and kidney) a TO the ext~t they are authorized to praCkS IMKh state h Or re@dOn. SOURCES: U.S. Department of Health and Human Serviees, Health Care Finanang Administration, Division of Intergovernmental Affairs, Medicaid Servicas State by State, HCFA Pub. No. 02155-90 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, October 1990); Oregon Department of Human Resources, Off&e of MedicaiAssistanee Program, Saiem, OR, Mediet4d and the State of Oregon Medieal Assistance Programs, (OMAP3061), January 1991. ices for children. States that cover the medically 2-2). The State currently covers prescription needy l must also provide a benefit package for this only for SSI medically needy adults (177). group that at minimum includes prenatal care and delivery for pregnant women and ambulatory care for children. States may supplement the standard packages with an array of optional services. In 1990, Oregon provided all mandatory services and an additional 27 optional services (out of a possible 31). Of the 27, 22 were provided for both categorically and medically needy recipients. Oregon did not cover screening services, nursing facilities for individuals over 65 in mental hospitals, Christian Science nursing, or hospice care (table Program Costs and Spending drugs Nationally, approximately 45 percent of Medicaid funding comes from the States, with the remainder provided by the Federal Government. By law, individual States contribute from 17 to 50 percent of their programs expenditures for services, depending on the States per capita personal incomes. In fiscal year (FY) 1991, 17 States contributed the maximum match of 50 percent, and 14 States contributed less than 30 percent (287). Oregons anticipated 1992-93 I Ihe medically needy are individuals who are eligible for medical, but not fmncial, assistance (287).
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Chapter 2-Context of the Oregon Proposal l 31 State contribution will be 37.6 percent, or $278 million, a slight increase from its 1991 total of 36.5 percent (8,165). Medicaid program costs, following national health spending trends, have increased dramatically over the last 20 years in all States. Increases have been a result of both program expansions and health care cost inflation. Since FY 1987, total Medicaid expenditures have risen a minimum of 10 percent annually (291). Total Medicaid spending in the Nation, excluding administrative costs, was more than $68 billion in FY 1990, a growth of almost 20 percent from FY 1989 (291). State Medicaid funding grew 13 percent from 1988 to 1989 and 18 percent from 1989 to 1990. In Oregon, State Medicaid spending increased almost 19 percent from 1989 to 1990 (290). One of the consequences of these increases is that States have had difficulty predicting the programs costs accurately (147). In FY 1990, 26 States, including Oregon, overspent their allotted Medicaid budgets by $662 million (97). In FY 1990, total Medicaid expenditures in Oregon increased to nearly $541 million, of which approximately $200 million was State-funded (290). In 1991, Medicaid expenditures accounted for almost 14 percent of the States budgets nationwide. Compared with this average, Oregon spent a relatively low proportion of its budget on Medicaid slightly over 9 percent (147). This spending covered services for approximately 227,000 State Medicaid beneficiaries. Oregons average program cost per Medicaid beneficiary was $2,283, lower than the national average of $2,568 (290). Despite federally mandated eligibility expansions that have increased coverage for pregnant women and children, a large portion of program spending continues to be consumed by other beneficiaries. The difference in spending for different groups of beneficiaries is largely explained by Medicaids major role in funding long-term care. Over 45 percent of nursing home care in 1990 was funded by Medicaid. Persons aged 65 and over constituted 13 percent of the programs population but consumed over 34 percent of Medicaid dollars. From 1980 to 1990, long-term care spending increased by 10 percent, or $8.2 billion (207). In 1990, Oregons Figure 2-&Medicaid Recipients Share of Medicaid Spending, by Recipient Group, 1990 Percent 50 43.9 1 34.1 38.3 24.3 = Medicaid recipients ~~~~~ Medicaid dollars NOTE: Percentages may not equal exactly 100 due to rounding error. DATA SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Serviees, Health Care Financing Administration, HCFA 2082 data from the Statistical Report on Medical Care: Eligibles, Recipients, Payments and Serwices, Section D (2), Eligibles for Medical Care by Age, Race/Ethnieity, and Sex, Baltimore, MD: Health Care Financing Administration, Dec. 24, 1990. proportion of Medicaid expenditures spent on longterm care was slightly higher than the national average (40.9 vs. 38.6 percent) (290). Children in the United States, for example, received less than 13 percent of total (Federal/State) Medicaid dollars in 1990, while they made up almost 44 percent of the Medicaid population (figure 2-3). State Responses States have resorted to a variety of measures to offset program expenditure increases resulting from Federal mandates, health care cost inflation, and other sources. Some have reduced optional benefits and optional enrollee categories. For example, Oregon eliminated all dental services for adults in 1991 due to budget constraints. Another common cost reduction strategy has been to freeze or lower reimbursement to providers. Upon 1981 changes in the Federal Medicaid rules (Public Law 97-35), for example, most States replaced their cost-based retrospective hospital payment systems with some form of prospective reimbursement. 2 Broader use of alternative delivery systems (e.g., those using some form of managed care) also has become a common strategy to constrain spending. By 1991, 47 States used a prospective payment system for Medicaid hospital services, and 23 States had implemented 2 In nearly half of these States, a method based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) is used (103). Ore.gom as well as 20 other States, reimburses based on these diagnosis-specific, prospective rates (207).
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32 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal some form of prepaid managed care, covering nearly 900,000 beneficiaries (207,217). A decade of payment controls has led to low Medicaid reimbursement for many services. In Oregon, for example, hospitals received only 59 percent as much for services rendered to Medicaid patients as they received under Medicare in 1990 (the second lowest rate in the country after Illinois (207). The so-called Boren Amendment provision of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (OBRA 1981, Public Law 97-35), however, requires that hospitals and nursing homes be paid reasonable and adequate rates. As of April 1991, providers in 21 States had sued for inadequate reimbursement. The Oregon Association of Hospitals brought suit against the State of Oregon in 1991. The two parties reached an out-of-court settlement in which the State agreed to pay approximately $64 million over a 2-year period to compensate for underpayment of inpatient services provided to Medicaid patients (156,157). About $24 million (36.6 percent) of the settlement will come from State funds, in accordance with the States matching rate for Medicaid program funding. States have also commonly imposed limits on covered benefits as a means of controlling costs. These limits may be in the form of either copayments for services, caps on the number of physician visits or days of hospitalization, or the need for prior authorization for certain services. Twenty-two States, including Oregon, require prior authorization for procedures such as organ transplants and hemodialysis (203). Several States have at one point limited office visits, home visits and emergency room visits for nonemergencies. As of 1985, 35 States (not including Oregon) had used some form of cost sharing (primarily copayments for prescription drugs). 3 In addition to these widely used strategies for program cost control, some States have cut back optional services and eligibility categories to reduce budget deficits. A survey of 32 States found that 6 States made both expansions and reductions in their Medicaid programs for FY 1992. Eight States reduced services and/or eligibility, 11 States expanded services and/or eligibility, and 7 States made no changes (8). Illinois, for example, eliminated its Aid to Medically Indigent Program, which was completely funded by the State. Maine lowered its medically needy income limit from 133 to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level and also reduced the income limit for AFDC recipients (8,66). In Oregon, the State cut coverage for nonpregnant, AFDC-related adults under their medically needy program and reduced coverage for medically needySS1 adults by restricting coverage to prescription drugs only. Several States have recently proposed even more dramatic changes in their Medicaid systems. The State of Maryland, for example, will soon require all Medicaid recipients to have a personal primary physician. This program is an effort to extend access to preventive measures and limit the use of emergency facilities for routine care (82). To complement their attempts at cost control, States have also tried to increase their Federal Medicaid resources. Some States, for example, have augmented their Medicaid funds through the collection of voluntary contributions and provider taxes. By applying such funds to the State share, States have been able to secure more Federal matching funds. In some States, providers that contributed regained some or all of their contributions in the form of increased Medicaid reimbursement (225, 226). The Federal and State governments reached an agreement in November 1991 that eliminates Federal matching funds for most provider donations and provider-specific taxes (225,226). Governors have also asked for some lenience in complying with the Federal mandates. In February 1991, the National Governors Association (NGA) asked for a 2-year delay in implementing the changes from OBRA 1990 to give States sufficient time to assess the depth of the recession and the opportunity to develop long-term solutions for the restructuring of the Medicaid program (101). NGA also resolved that the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) must publish final regulations before States should be required to implement changes. THE UNINSURED The Problem For all of its rising costs, Medicaid has not solved the problem of ensuring that Americans have financial access to health care. According to current 3 Some small cost savings have been realized, but there is no evidence regarding cost sharings effects on utilization (103).
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Chapter 2---Context of the Oregon Proposal l 33 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Figure 2-4-Health Insurance Status, Oregon vs. United States, 1990 Percent of Modulation with insurance type 10.8>. 0 m zz&ibk!!2i Private Medicare Medicaid Other Uninsured Oregon ~~;] United States SOURCE: S. Raetzman (cd.), Reforming the Hea/th Care System: State Profiles 1990 (Washington, DC: American Association for Retired Persons, 1991). estimates, the uninsured population in the United States in 1990 increased to 34.7 million, up from the 1989 estimate of 33.4 million (279,281). While there has also been an increase in the proportion of the population receiving Medicaid (from 8.6 percent or 21 million people in 1989 to 9.7 percent or 24 million in 1990), many poor people still lack insurance coverage. Nonetheless, 59 percent of the Americans that lack insurance coverage are employed or dependents of employed persons (279). Many of the uninsured workers are either self-employed or work for small companies with fewer than 25 employees (60). Other uninsured individuals lack coverage because of preexisting conditions and their inability to either qualify or pay for private coverage. About 14 percent of all children aged 17 years old and under lack any form of health insurance coverage (279). The rising number of uninsured persons has become a prominent issue in the national health care debate. Existing proposals for providing and funding their care include such ideas as expanding public programs, tax break options, universal access to health insurance or services, and an employermandated pay-or-play system (26,49,61,65). Increased coverage, however, will probably increase costs further. Some observers have suggested that eventually the United States must ration services to reduce health care spending (l), although not all share this view (126,214). Oregon has reason to reflect the national mood of concern. In 1988, the most recent year for which equivalent data are available, Oregons rate o f uninsured persons was higher than the national average (15.6 vs. 14.1 percent) (figure 2-4). Oregonians are more likely to be covered by private insurance, but they are slightly less likely to be covered by Medicare or Medicaid than are U.S. residents in general (209). Oregon estimates that at present approximately 400,000 to 450,000, or 16 percent, of its residents lack any health insurance coverage (177) Approximately two-thirds of these uninsured persons are employed (or dependents of employed persons) and one-third have incomes that fall below the Federal poverty level. A 1986 study of uninsured individuals in Oregon dete rmined that the typical uninsured Oregonian was a female, single parent, poorly educated, and employed in retail or service for a small, non-union company (199). Concern for the uninsured population stems from some evidence that lack of insurance decreases health care access (71). For example, Hadley et al. determined that an individuals condition on hospital admission, use of resources during hospitalization, and likelihood of death all varied according to health insurance status (71). In this study, uninsured people were more likely to be admitted for conditions with a relatively high expected risk of death and less likely to have discretionary procedures performed. Researchers have also shown that uninsured individuals have shorter average lengths of hospital stay and fewer physician visits per year (89,228). A recent study has also associated newborns insurance coverage with resource allocation in hospitals. Newborns without insurance received fewer services than Medicaid-covered newborns, who in turn received less care than privately insured newborns (22). The tendency of those without insurance to delay treatment and to not receive preventive care may lead to poorer health outcomes in this population (50). Loss of Medicaid benefits has been shown to adversely affect both the access to care and the health status of poor adults with diabetes and hypertension (132). Although the evidence support-
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34 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal ing the link between poorer health and uninsuredness is strong, it is not definitive. 4 Barriers to State Solutions A few States have implemented ambitious programs to address the problems of their uninsured populations. Hawaii, for example, requires all employers to provide health insurance to their employees. Employees who work at least part time qualify and share the costs of their coverage (128). Hawaii has also developed a program for citizens who have fallen through the gap of the employer-based coverage and the Medicaid program. The State Health Insurance Program is subsidized by both the State government and private insurance companies. It provides care to approximately 30,000 individuals who are mostly dependents of low-income workers and seasonal workers (128). In 1988, Massachusetts passed a universal health bill which included an employer mandate that would have required employers to provide insurance or pay into a fund for their workers. However, implementation of the law has been delayed and is in jeopardy of being repealed (20). Since 1990, about one-fifth of the States, including California, New Jersey, and Oregon, have begun to offer or have considered enacting tax credit programs to small employers providing coverage. In addition, almost 40 percent of the States have enacted high-risk pools for individuals who cannot obtain health insurance due to chronic illness or other preexisting conditions (139). Solutions for reducing the uninsured population such as these depend primarily on State financing. Increasingly, however, States have cited limited funds, their duty to maintain balanced budgets, 5 and overall fiscal distress as impediments to expanding such programs. Several factors have influenced the States overall financial outlook. According to NGA and the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), the Federal Government has decreased its aid to cities and States, which has placed a higher burden on the States to help local governments (147). NGA and NASBO also claim that many States used increased revenue from the mid-1980s to implement new programs; however, once revenue growth slowed in the late 1980s and 1990s, many States began to use reserves to fund ongoing programs. In an effort to end FY 1991 with balanced budgets, 29 States cut almost $7.5 billion from their budgets. Oregon cut a total of $40.6 million (147). The total year-end balance for FY 1991, the amount of resources States have available at the end of the fiscal year, was at the lowest level since 1983 (147). The national total year-end balance as a percent of expenditures was 1.5 percent. Only 15 States, mostly concentrated in the midand far west, had balances of 5 percent or more, while 19 States had balances of less than 1 percent (147). Oregon was one of the 15 States with relatively large balances. The national economy has been in a recession: unemployment rates have risen, personal income growth has slowed, and State balances are at an all-time low (147). According to NGA and NASBO, the recession has hit the Eastern States the hardest, while the Western States have been somewhat less affected (147). According to NGA and NASBO, Oregon leads the West in spending growth, 6 and personal income growth in that region continues to be the highest in the Nation. Nonetheless, NGA and NASBO conclude that decreases in the State ending balances [place] all the States at an increased risk (for budget shortfalls) should the economic recovery be stalled for long (147). Oregons funding problems may deepen as a result of a statewide referendum passed in November 1990. Ballot Measure 5 phases in a rollback of local property taxes over 5 years, and it requires the State to replace billions of dollars lost by local counties for school funds from the States general fired. The referendum is expected to result in a tax loss of $540 million in the 1991-93 budget cycle, $1.7 billion in the 1993-95 biennium, and $2.9 billion in the 1995-97 budget cycle (185). The Governors office expects the State to have $3.1 billion for all expenditures other than schools in the 1991-93 budget cycle, $2.6 billion in 1993-95, and $1.9 billion in 1995-97 (269). Because of Measure 5, Oregons tax burden will fall considerably. In FY 1989, Oregon ranked 22d in per capita tax collections ($1,806 in Oregon vs. 4 An ongoing OTA study is e xamining the relationship between insurance coverage and access to care. S Forty-nine States am required by their State constitutions to balance their budgets (147). s Spending growth is defined here as an increase in the amount spent by States general funds.
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Chapter 2-Context of the Oregon Proposal l 35 $1,888 in the United States). Under full implementation of Measure 5, Oregons ranking will most likely fall to the bottom fifth of the Nation (185). By law, the State of Oregon must balance its budget; therefore, the State must either cut the budget or increase taxes to compensate for the new obligation to replace local revenue losses. Since 84 percent of the States general fund is already supported by personal income taxes, the passage of Measure 5 has encouraged discussion about restructuring Oregons tax system, including instituting a sales tax (122). Oregons Efforts To Expand Health Care Access In 1987, the Oregon State legislature voted to end Medicaid coverage for organ transplants, an optional service. These funds were intended to be used instead to cover another optional service-prenatal care for approximately 1,200 pregnant women and basic care for 1,800 children under the poverty level medical program (225). 7 Oregons decision became highly publicized when two children were denied transplants. One infants family moved out of the State to receive the transplant. The family of the other child, a 7-year-old boy with leukemia, attempted to raise the funds, but the child died before his familys efforts to raise $100,000 for the operation succeeded. (At the time of his death the boy was not medically eligible for the procedure (79,84,225 ).) Following the transplant debate, Oregon Health Decisions (OHD), a nonprofit organization, held a series of 19 community discussions on priorities for health care. 8 A Citizens Parliament summarized the results of the community deliberations and issued 15 principles that were then used to form lists of health services, ranked in order of importance, for 4 distinct age groups (i.e., infants, children, adults, and elderly). Another group, composed primarily of medical and legal experts, compiled the four lists into one prioritized list that was intended to inform the State legislature, insurance companies, and others concerned with health care resource allocation (186). A report including the list and accompanying actuarial estimates was submitted to the Oregon State legislature. This report and another report from the Governors Commission on Health Care were the roots of the Oregon effort to reform health care. Oregons recent effort to extend health insurance coverage to its citizens is a compilation of several pieces of State legislation targeted at various groups of uninsured Oregonians. Several of the principles developed by the OHDs Citizens Health Care Parliament are incorporated into this package of health care legislation. The Health Partnership Act (Senate Bill (SB) 935) provides tax credits to small businesses that have not previously provided health insurance coverage to their employees. By 1995, all employers must either provide coverage to their employees or pay into a pool that would provide coverage. If 150,000 people gain insurance between 1989 and 1993, then employer coverage will remain voluntary. The State has committed to making health insurance more affordable to small employers through the Health Insurance Reform Act (SB 1076). Oregon also hopes to provide statewide health care cost data to providers through the Health Resources Commission Act (SB 1077). Persons who do not qualify for Medicaid and cannot obtain insurance because of preexisting health conditions are covered under the State Health Risk Pool Act (SB 534), which mandates that coverage be available to these individuals at a premium rate no higher than 150 percent of the rate for other individuals. Finally, the Oregon Medicaid Demonstration Act (SB 27) expands coverage to all individuals with incomes below the Federal poverty level by: 1) funding a prioritized list of medical services, 2) instituting managed care programs in all service areas, and 3) ensuring adequate payment to providers (177). This proposal, which requires Federal approval to qualify for Federal Medicaid matching funds, is the subject of the remainder of this report. 7 See glossary for definition of poverty level medid. s OHD had earlier conducted 300 community meetings throughout the State to discuss health cam access, cost control measures, allocation of public funds, disease prevention and patient autonomy and dignity (43).
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Chapter 3 The Prioritized List Contents Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 THE PRIORITIZATION METHOD . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Step 1: Creating the List of CT Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Step 2: Gathering Information on Treatment Benefit, Duration of Benefit, and Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Step 3: Ranking Categories of Health Services . . . . . . . . . 46 Step 4: Placing CT Pairs in Service Categories . . . . . . . . . 48 Step 5: Ranking CT Pairs Within Categories . . . . . . . . . 49 Step 6: Final Line-by-Line Review of CT Pairs . . . . . . . . 49 Defining Basic Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Future Changes to the Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . 50 DETERMINANTS OF CT PAIR PLACEMENT ON THE PRIORITIZED LIST . 51 Effect of Adjustment of the List by the HSC . . . . . . . . . 51 Determinants of Final Placement of CT Pairs on the List . . . . . . 52 Characteristics of the List . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 CRITIQUE OF THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS . . . . . . . . 64 Completeness of the Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Appropriateness of Aggregation of Conditions and Treatments Into CT Pairs . . 64 The Use of Categories in Prioritization . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Accuracy of Outcomes Information Supplied by Clinicians . . . . . . 66 Use of Health Outcomes Information To Place CT Pairs Into Categories . . . 68 Incorporation of Oregonians Health State Preferences Into the Measurement of Treatment Outcomes . . . . . . . . . . 69 Incorporation of Community Values . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Factors the HSC May Consider When Issuing Another Prioritized List in 1993 . 73 The Implications of Integrating Additional Services Into the Prioritized List . . 74 EVALUATING THE PRIORITIZED LIST . . . . . . . . 74 Clinical Critique of the Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . .......76 The Prioritization Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Determinants of CT Pair List Placement . . . . . . . . . . 76 Critique of HSC Prioritization Process . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Clinical Critique of the Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . 77 (continued on next page)
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Contents-Continued Boxes Box Page 3-A. Examples of Condition-Treatment Pairs . . . . . . . . . . 41 3-B. ICD-9-CM and CPT-4 Coding of Chronic Otitis Media Condition-Treatment Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 3-C. Prioritization Using a Cost-Effectiveness Formula . . . . . . . 43 3-D. Weights Associated With Functional Limitations and Symptoms Included on Oregons Telephone Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 3-E. Calculating Net Benefit Using the Example Chronic Otitis Media--Eustachian Tubes/Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy/Tympanoplasty . . . . . 45 3-F. The 17 Service Categories Used in the Prioritization Process . . . . . 46 3-G. Health Care Values Elicited at Community Meetings . . . . . . 49 3-H. Listing of the Essential Condition-Treatment Pairs Moved Below Line 587 and CT Pairs Valuable to Certain Individuals Moved Above Line 587 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 3-I. Condition-Treatment Pairs Whose Coverage Status Changes as a Result of Ranking Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 53 3-J. The 27 Condition-Treatment Pairs Affecting Children That Fall Below Line 587 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 3-K. The 10 Condition-Treatment Pairs Primarily or Only Affecting Women That Fall Below Line 587 . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Figures Figure Page 3-1. Relationship of Category Assignment and Net Benefit With Condition-Treatment Pair Rank for the Adjusted and Unadjusted Lists . . . . . . . . 55 3-2. The Relationship Between Net Benefit and Rank Within Categories for the Adjusted List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 3-3. Median Net Benefit by Category and Quartile Within Category . . . . 60 Tables Table Page 3-1. Condition-Treatment Pair Rank by Category . . . . . . . . 50 3-2. Effect of List Adjustment on Location of Condition-Treatment Pairs . . . 52 3-3. Condition-Treatment Pair by Category and Location on the List . . . . 56 3-4. Net Benefit Scores by Category . . . . . . . . . . . 57 3-5. Correlation Between Order of Condition-Treatment Pairs Within Categories If Determined by Rank or by Net Benefit . . . . . . . . . 60 3-6. Net Benefit by Rank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 3-7. Condition-Treatment Pair Age Cohort by Rank . . . . . . . . 62 3-8. Condition-Treatment Pair Age Cost Interval by Rank . . . . . . 62 3-9. Provider and Specialty Groups Submitting Health Outcomes Data to the Health Services Commission . . . . . . . . . . . 68 3-10. Functional Limitation and Health State/Symptom Weights, Standard Deviations, and 95 Percent Confidence Intervals . . . . . . . . . . 70 3-11. Differences in Oregons Preference Weights by Medicaid Status, Poverty, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Sex, Experience With Problem, and Metro/Nonmetro Residence . . . . . . . . . ....*..** 71
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Chapter 3 The Prioritized List INTRODUCTION Central to Oregons proposed Medicaid demonstration project is a list of 709 health services, prioritized by relative importance considering public preferences and values. The impetus to systematically prioritize health services can be traced to the public debate following the Oregon legislatures decision in 1987 to reallocate Medicaid funds away from expensive organ transplants that benefit relatively few and toward expanded access to prenatal care. With the passage of the Basic Health Services Act in 1989, the legislature committed itself to further expansions in access to health care, and set in place a process to rationally define health benefits. 1 Oregons efforts to prioritize health services coincide with a new national focus on health care effectiveness and outcomes research. The U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), for example, is supporting medical outcomes research and health care guideline development in an effort to promote quality care and identify and limit use of ineffective services (295). While AHCPR is supporting focused research on particular conditions or treatments using traditional approaches (e.g., meta-analysis, analysis of geographic variation), Oregons appointed Health Services Commission (HSC) used a novel approach to evaluate virtually all medical treatments in less than 2 years. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Oregons prioritization of health services is important because it represents the first attempt to broadly apply cost-effectiveness analysis to health resource allocation decisionmaking. A careful analysis of the process used to generate the list and of the reasonableness of the relative order of specific items on the prioritized list is important because under the demonstration, the Medicaid benefit package could change during the demonstration-i. e., the coverage line initially set to include the first 587 conditions and their associated treatments could move up or down the list according to the availability of resources. The remainder of this chapter is divided into five sections. The first section provides a detailed description of the HSCs prioritization process. The second section discusses the relative importance of various steps in the process. Section three provides a critique of the process and discusses its strengths and weaknesses. The fourth section focuses on the prioritized list itself and discusses its merits, irrespective of the process used to generate it. The final section s ummarizes OTAs findings and conclusions. THE PRIORITIZATION METHOD As part of the Basic Health Services Act, a Health Services Commission* made up of health care providers and consumers was charged with preparing: a list of health services 3 ranked by priority, from the most important to the least important, representing the comparative benefits of each service to the entire population to be served (Senate Bill [SB] 27). The HSC was given little guidance on how to prioritize, but was directed to: actively solicit public involvement in a community meeting process to build a consensus on the values to be used to guide health resource allocation decisions (SB 27). The HSC completed its charge and on May 1, 1991 issued a prioritized list of 709 services, following nearly 2 years of deliberation. Several prioritization methods were considered by the HSC, and a preliminary list based on a cost-effectiveness approach issued in May 1990 reflected its work in progress. i Ch. 2 includes a discussion of the Oregon legislatures 1987 transplant decision and subsequent State activities that led to the inclusion of prioritization in the Basic Health Services Act. 2 The 11 HSC members responsible for developing the 1991 prioritized list included 5 physicians (including 1 doctor of osteopathy), 4 health care consumers, a public health nurse, and a social service worker. Members are appointed by the Governor and confiied by the Senate. 3 A health service was defined as an intervention related to a specific condition expected to maintain and/or restore an individuals health or well-being. Each health service listed is presumed to include all necessary ancillary and supportive services (193). Health services include: provider services and supplies, inand outpatient hospital services, and health promotion and disease prevention services. -39-
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40 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal The HSC used both formal (e.g., collection and evaluation of data) and informal (e.g., judgment calls) methods to rank order a comprehensive list of health care treatments. Six steps were used to create and rank the list: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The HSC, with input from health care provider groups, created a list of 709 conditiontreatment (CT) pairs using diagnostic and procedure codes. For each CT pair, the HSC gathered information on treatment benefits and costs associated with that pair. The HSC ranked 17 categories of services (e.g., acute fatal, treatment prevents death and facilitates full recovery; preventive care for children) according to societal values elicited at public meetings. It used a group consensus method to reach agreement on the category rankings. The HSC put each CT pair into one service category, considering such factors as the expected outcome given treatment and whether the condition was acute or chronic. Within each category, CT pairs were ranked according to the expected net benefit of treatment. Finally, in a line-by-line review, the HSC examined each CT pairs public health impact, treatment-related outcome and cost, and relation to health care values expressed at community meetings. Based on this review, the HSC selectively moved items up or down the list. Each of these steps is described in detail below. To clarify Oregons method, an example of a CT pair from the prioritized list is provided: chronic otitis media (i.e., inflammation of middle ear) -eustachian tubes/tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy/tympanoplasty [ranked 355 of 709 CT pairs]. Step 1: Creating the List of CT Pairs Fifty volunteer provider groups 4 coupled disease and procedure codes 5 to generate an initial list of approximately 1,600 CT pairs to be ranked. Through the use of broad diagnostic and treatment groups, the HSC was able to reduce the original list of 1,600 CT pairs to 709 CT pairs, a selection of which is shown in box 3-A. (The full list is included in app. D.) CT pairs only include treatments because all medically reasonable diagnostic services would be covered under the demonstration. In some cases, the HSC grouped disease codes together into one CT pair when treatment of different diseases were believed to have similar costs and outcomes. Conditions are usually broadly defined and include several specific ICD-9-CM codes. 6 For example, all forms of muscular dystrophy are included in one CT pair (line 506). Treatments were also broadly defined. In fact, more than one-half (51 percent) of the CT pairs have the treatment specified as medical therapy or medical and surgical treatment. Medical therapy includes any non-procedure-related care, such as office care, general inpatient care, and ancillary services (120). 7 Many conditions are listed multiple times with different procedures. Chronic otitis media, for example, is listed twice: once with specific procedures and again with medical therapy. The specific conditions and treatments included in the two CT pairs related to the care of chronic otitis media are shown in box 3-B. Step 2: Gathering Information on Treatment Benefit, Duration of Benefit, and Cost For each CT pair, the HSC gathered information regarding: the expected net benefit of treatment, l the duration of treatment benefit, and q Provider groups represented most licensed practitioners in the State including, for example, the professional societies of dermatologists, surgical subspecialists, and acupuncturists (see table 3-9). s The following coding manuals were used to ideatify conditions: International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM); and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSMMD-3). The Physician Current Procedural Terminology, Fourth Edition (CFT-4) codes were used to identify treatments. The American Dental Association codes were used for dental conditions and treatments. 6 ICD.9.CM codes c~ss@ c~c~ conditio~ ~d dis~e d~~tions. 7 Medical therapy includes ancillary services such as hospital services, laboratory services, prescription drugs, radiology, medical supplies, therapies, vision and hearing services, medical transportation, case rnanagemen~ home health services, and hospice services, which are provided, if they are medically necessaq to the treatment of the condition (193).
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List l 41 Box 3-AExamples of Condition-Treatment Pairs Rank Condition Treatment 1 Pneumococcal pneumonia, other bacterial pneumonia, Medical therapy bronchopneumonia, influenza with pneumonia 50 Acute myocardial infarction Medical therapy 100 Injury to blood vessels of the thoracic cavity Repair 150 Diabetes mellitus, Type I Medical therapy 200 Diseases and disorders of aortic valve Aortic valve replacement, valvuloplasty, medical therapy 250 Atrial septal defect, secundum Repair septal defect 300 Congenital hydronephrosis Nephrectomy/repair 350 Open wounds Repair Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory polyarthropathies Medical therapy 450 Deformities of foot Fasciotomy, incision, repair, arthrodesis 500 Cancer of esophagus, treatable Medical and surgical therapy 550 Dental services (e.g., insufficient room to restore tooth) Restorative dental service 600 Absence of breast after mastectomy as treatment for neoplasm Breast reconstruction 650 Oral aphthae Medical therapy 700 Gynecomastia Mastopexy 709 Anencephalous and similar anomalies and reduction Life support deformities of the brain SOURCE: Oregon Health Services Commission Prioritized Health Services LisL Sale@ OR May 1, 1991. treatment-associated costs. scribed patient outcomes in terms of these health These three pieces of information were initially states an-d the public expressed their opinions about components of a cost-effectiveness formula used to experiencing these same health states during the rank CT pairs on a preliminary list. (The attempt to survey. A treatments net benefit reflects both rank CT pairs by the cost-effectiveness formula is clinicians estimates of treatment effects and condescribed in box 3-C.) The initial attempt to rank CT sumers' perceptions of the desirability of experiencpairs according to cost-effectiveness was abandoned ing those effects. and only one component of the initial formula, the expected net benefit of treatment, was important to the final ranking methodology. Expected Net Benefit of Treatment The HSC measured CT pair net benefit in terms of how treatment changes quality of life for the typical patient within a CT pair. To assess treatment-related changes in quality of life, clinicians estimated the probability of dying or experiencing various health states (i.e., symptoms or functional limitations) for patients treated and not treated for the specified condition. These estimates were then weighted according to public opinions elicited from a telephone survey of Oregon residents. Information from clinicians and the public could be combined because they had as a common element a list of 29 health states. Clinicians deClinician Outcome Information--Groups of CT pairs were assigned to one of the 50 volunteer provider groups. These groups represented most State-licensed practitioners and included the professional societies representing physicians (e.g., internal medicine, dermatology, surgery and surgical subspecialties) and other practitioners (e.g., chiropractors, acupuncturists). For each CT pair, the provider groups estimated for two hypothetical cohorts-patients with and without treatment-the probability in 5 years of being in the following five states (the probabilities adding to 1): 1. Perfect health, 2. Morbidity state 1, 3. Morbidity state 2, 4. Morbidity state 3, and 5. Dead.
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42 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Box 3-BICD-9-CM and CPT-4 Coding of Chronic Otitis Media Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs ICD-9-CM code and description CPT-4 code and description CT pair 355--Chronic Otitis Media Eustachian tubes/ 381.5: eustachian salpingitis tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy/ 381.6: obstruction of eustachian tube tympanoplasty 381.7: patulous eustachian tube 42820: tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy; under age 382.1:chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media 12 382.2: chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media 69400: eustachian tube inflation, transnasal; with 382.3: unspecified chronic suppurative otitis media catheterization 69401: same as 69400, but without catheterization 69405:eustachian tube catheterization, transtympanic 69410: focal application of phase control substance, middle ear (baffle technique) 69631: tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy (including canalplasty, atticotomy and/or middle ear surgery), initial or revision; without ossicular chain reconstruction 6%32: same as 69631, but with ossicular chain reconstruction, (e.g., postfenestration) 69633: same as 6%31, but with ossicular chain reconstruction and synthetic prosthesis (e.g., partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP), total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP)) CT pair 397--Chronic Otitis Media Medical therapy 381.5: eustachian salpingitis 90000-99999: all medicine CPT codes (excludes 381.6: obstruction of eustachian tube anesthesiology, surgery, radiology, and 381.7: patulous eustachian tube pathology and laboratory procedures) 382.1: chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media 382.2: chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media 382.3: unspecified chronic suppurative otitis media SOUR(ZB: Ameriean Medical &SOaatl OQ PhysicWs Current Procedural Terminology, Fourth Edition, (CPT-4)@ieago, IL: AMA, 1990); Oregon Health Serviees Commis sionj Saleq OR Prioritized Health Serviees LisL May 1, 1991; World Health Oq@zatiow International Clas@fication of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clirucal Mod#ications (Ann Arbor, MI: Edwmds Brothcxs, Inc., 1980). Providers described the three morbidity states pain in ear or trouble hearing, and having trouble using six functional limitations and 23 symptoms learning, remembering or thinking clearly). (box 3-D). 8 9 Children with chronic otitis media who undergo a middle ear procedure, for example, were assessed to have a much higher probability of being in perfect health in 5 years than untreated children (0.91 vs. 0.50), and to be less likely to experience functional limitations and symptoms (see box 3-E). Providers described this particular condition using one functional limitation (being limited in usual recreational activities) and two symptoms (having Public Opinion About the Functional Limitations and SymptomsPublic opinions regarding the health states (i.e., the six fictional limitations and 23 symptoms) were obtained through a randomdigit-dialed telephone survey of 1,001 Oregon residents. Survey respondents were asked to imagine themselves to be permanently affected by the functional limitations or symptoms and to rate the g The fictional limitations and symptoms were adapted from those on a quality of well-being instrument developed by R.M. Kaplan and colleagues (106). 9 Providers could select up to one symptom and three functional limitations (one from each category mobility, physicaL social) for each morbidity state. If more than one symptom could be assigned to the morbidity state, providers selected the chief complaint associated with the condition.
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. Chapter 3-The Prioritized List c 43 Box 3-C--Prioritization Using a Cost-Effectiveness Formula A cost-effectiveness formula was used to order a preliminary prioritized list in May 1990: C/(NB X D), where C = treatment cost; NB = net benefit of treatment or the expected change in patients quality of life with treatment; and D = expected duration of treatment benefit (in years). Treatment Costs Estimates of the costs associated with a given condition-treatment (CT) pair (e.g., hospital, ancillary services, pharmacy, etc.) were based on information from the Oregon Medicaid Management Information System. Clinicians provided additional cost data as needed. Cost estimates were usually intended to include those anticipated over the remaining life of the patient. For treatments without a lifetime benefit, costs were estimated for the expected duration of the treatment benefit (e.g., hip replacements confer a benefit for about 10 years). Each CT pair was assigned a cost, which was the midpoint of 1 of 14 cost ranges. Treatment Net Benefit A treatments net benefit was estimated using clinical prognostic data and public opinions regarding a set of functional limitations and symptoms. (See description in text.) Duration of Treatment Benefit The duration of benefit was expressed in years. If a treatment had a lifetime benefit, the duration of benefit would be the remaining life expectancy (life expectancy was set at 75 years). If a treatments effect was short-term, benefit duration was defined as the period until the next treatment would be required (e.g., hip replacements confer benefit for about 10 years). Provider panels estimated the median age range of diagnosis for each condition and the midpoints of the ranges were used in estimating duration of benefit. Applying the Cost-Effectiveness Formula The cost-effectiveness formula values for the chronic otitis media-eustachian tubes/ tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy/tympanoplasty" CT pair areas follows: Formula terms Formula values Treatment cost (C) . . . . . . $1,500 Net benefit of treatment (NB) . . . . .241 Duration of treatment benefit (D). . . . 69 years According to the formula, C /(NB X D), the value for chronic otitis media--eustachian tubes/tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy/tympanoplasty would be 90.20 (i.e., $1,500 per 16.63 quality-adjusted life years). The value 90.20 can be interpreted as the cost of adding 1 quality year of life associated with procedures for chronic otitis media. SOURCE: OftIce of Technology Assessment 1992. limitation/symptom on a scale from zero, which is best health state as 90 and rated trouble as bad as death, to 100, which represents good health. 10 Early in the interview, respondents were asked to rate a best health state described as having no restrictions on movement or activity, and no health problems. Weights for each symptom 12 were calculated as an average of the difference between ratings of the best health state and each symptom. If, for example, an individual rated the talking as 72, the difference between the best health state and a health state including trouble talking would be 18 (i.e., 90 72). This value represents one individuals perception of the amount taken away from best health if he or she had trouble talking. The weights for each health state are shown inbox 3-D. (As shown in the box, the average ratings were divided by 100 so that they could be 10 smptom~ were pmwnt~ t. ~spondents one at a tie, but functional limitations were presented in COmbfitiOn (e.g., respondents -Y ~ve ~ asked to rate simultaneously having a mobility, physical activity, and a social activity functional limitation). 11 seventy-eight ~rwnt of respondents gave a value of 100 to the best health state. 12 FmctiO~ ~~tion and ~ptom ~e@ts ~~e ~~cu~ted somew~t ~er~fly. FUIICtiO~ s~t~ were pr~ated to the respondents k a IMXtCd format-respondents rated having three functional limitations, then two of the three, and then just one. The weight for functional state C, for example, was calculated by subtracting the value for having functional states A and B from the value of having functional states A, B, and C.
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44 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Box 3-D-Weights Associated With Functional Limitations and Symptoms Included on Oregons Telephone Survey Survey item Weight Functional limitations Mobility Ml. Have to stay at hospital or nursing home . . . . . . . . . . . -0.049 M2. Cannot drive a car or use public transportation . . . . . . . . . . -0.046 Physical activity PI. Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else . . . . . . -0.560 P2. Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control . . . . . . . -0.373 Social activity S1. Need help to eat or go to the bathroom . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.106 S2. Are limited in the recreational activities you may participate in . . . . . . -0.062 Health states/symptoms H1. H2. H3. H4. H5. H6. H7. H8. H9. H1O. H1l. H12. H13. H14. H15. H16. H17. H18. H19. H20. H21. H22. H23. Have losses of consciousness from seizures, blackouts, or coma . . . . . . Have a bad burn over large areas of your body . . . . . . . . . . Have drainage from your sexual organs and discomfort or pain . . . . . . Have trouble learnin g, remembering or thinking clearly . . . . . . . . Have difficulty in walking because of a paralyzed or broken leg, but you have no other limitations on activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints . . . . . . . . Have pain while you are urinating or having a bowel movement . . . . . . Have stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea . . . . . . . . . . . Experience a lot of tiredness or weakness . . . . . . . . . . . Cough, wheeze or have trouble breathing . . . . . . . . . . . Are often depressed or upset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have headaches or dizziness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have an itchy rash over large areas of your body . . . . . . . . . Have trouble talking, such as a lisp, stuttering or hoarseness . . . . . . . Have pain or discomfort in your eyes or vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix . Are overweight or have acne on your face . . . . . . . . . . . Have pain in your ear or trouble hearing . . . . . . . . . . . Are on prescribed medicine or a prescribed diet for health reasons . . . . . . Wear glasses or contact lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with sexual interest or performance . . . . . . . . . Cant stop worrying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with the use of drugs or alcohol . . . . . . . . . . -0.114 -0.372 -0.325 -0.367 -0.253 -0.253 -0.299 -0.370 -0.275 -0.318 -0.326 -0.305 -0.297 -0.188 -0.248 -0.215 -0.217 -0.055 -0.248 -0.276 -0.215 -0.455 1 me HSC ~i~ ~ v~ue of O to ~s ~~ s~e b~~ it ~ou@ its use doubl~o~~ mofiidity =kted with COllditiOIIS d because it did not consider taking medications a serious problem (243). lhe weight as calculated from the survey was -0.123. SOURCE: Oregon Health Services Commissio% Sal~ OR Prioritized Health Services List May 1, 1990.
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Box 3-E-Calculating Net Benefit Using the Example Chronic Otitis MediaEustachian Tubes/ Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy/Tympanoplasty Without treatment WRh treatment QoL QoL QoL QoL State P FLfSb WeighP value d (P X value) P FL/Sb WeighF value d (P X value) 1. Death . . . . 0.15 .000 0.000 0.0000 2. Morbidity state 1 . . 0.25 S2 -0.062 0.571 0.1428 H4 -0.367 3. Morbidity state 2. . . 0.10 H17 -0.217 0.783 0.0783 4. Morbidity state 3. . . 5. Perfect health . . . 0.50 0.000 1.000 0.5000 Z (P x QoL value) . 0.7211 0.01 -1.000 0,000 0.0000 0.05 S2 -0.062 0.571 0.0286 H4 -0.367 0.03 H17 -0.217 0.783 0.0235 0.91 0.000 1.000 0.9100 z (P x QoL value) . 0.9621 NOTE: Net benefit is the difference between the value of X (P x OoL value) for patients with (.9621) and without (.7211) treatment, or .2410. a p proba~lity of being instate. b FDS functional Iimitation.kymptom associated with health state (see box 3-D for description of health states). C weightthe weight the pub]~ assigns t. the fu~tional limitatio~symptom. can ~ interpret~ as the amount t~en away from parf~t health (vaiuecf as 1 ) associated with the presence of a functional Iimitationkymptom. Weights for all telephone survey items are shown in box 3-D. d QLvalue_qua\ityof Iifevalue (1 +Weight). When there ismoret~n one fumti~al limitation or symptom ~~gn~tothestate, weightsare added kfore summing to 1. Cafl bS interpreted as the value associated with the state on a scale from O (death) to 1 (perfect health). SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992, based on data from the Oregon Health Services Commission, May 1, 1991. r Y 5-
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46 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal incorporated into the clinician outcomes data which were scaled from 0 to 1.) 13 More detailed information on the conduct and analysis of the survey is provided in appendix C. As shown in the example in box 3-E, the net benefit of treatment is the difference between the value of (~ (P x QoL Value)) for patients with and without treatment for chronic otitis media, or 0.2410 (i.e., 0.9621 0.7211). (See table footnotes for explanation of equation variables.) Net benefit can vary from zero, indicating no benefit of treatment, to 1, indicating that treatment results in changing a patients status from death to perfect health. Step 3: Ranking Categories of Health Services The HSC used a group consensus method to rank 17 categories of health care services (e.g., preventive care for children, comfort care) (see box 3-F), taking into consideration values expressed at public hearings and community meetings. Public Hearings Between September 1989 and February 1990, the HSC heard testimony from approximately 275 people at 12 public hearings held throughout Oregon (191). The HSC was charged to solicit testimony from advocates for seniors, handicapped persons, mental health services consumers, low-income Oregonians, and providers of health care (SB 27). The Oregon Health Action Campaign (OHAC), a coalition of organizations, provided outreach, assistance in writing testimony, and transportation to the hearings in an effort to encourage low-income persons and others most likely to be directly affected by the legislation to testify at the hearings (204). Health care providers and administrators made up approximately one-third of those testifying at the HSC public hearings (191). This group included naturopaths, chiropractors, nutritionists, homeopaths, physicians, massage therapists, social workers, nurses, and midwives. A diverse group of 125 consumers provided testimony at the HSC hearings, often as advocates for specific services, such as organ transplants. In addition, approximately 50 representatives of advocacy and special interest groups testified in the interests of renters, migrant workers, community groups, the elderly, the disabled, and a variety of other constituencies (191). Many offering testimony recommended that specific services should receive high priority .14 The services most frequently mentioned by consumers and providers alike were: 15 l l l l l l l l Preventive health care (especially well-child care), Mental health care services, Prenatal care, Family planning, Dental care, Chemical dependency services, Primary care, and Care for chronic, nonacute conditions. Major topics of discussion at the public hearings included (191): l l l l l Financial barriers to health care, Special health service needs of minority populations, Need for higher provider reimbursement, Effective health care delivery (e.g., case management), and Need for broader Medicaid coverage to increase consumer choice of nonphysician providers (e.g., midwives, naturopaths, acupuncturists). Community Meetings In early 1990,47 community meetings were held throughout the State to discuss what types of health care Oregonians felt might constitute a common good (91). 16 The goal of the community meetings was to build consensus on the values to be used by the Health Services Commission to guide health resource allocation decisions (SB 27). 13 ~c ~vmgerafig~ were divldedby 1~ (~~~ ~sign~to perfecth~~) even ~o@122peKxntof r~ponde!r.lts gave IOw(XMiIlgStO the kt health state. The HSC incorrectly reported that individual best health state scores (and not 100) were used in the deno minator (193). The weights shown in box 3-D are expressed as negative values because they represent the amount associated with the condition that the public thinks should be subtracted fkom perfect health (score of 1). 14 Fewp@cipan@ fidiat~ w~chs~ic~ sho~dreceive Iowpriority, ~OU@ some s~ed tit hey thought there were expendable IIldCd SeXVkXS. 15 Oher ~ation~ Smius includ~: ~u~tion ~rapy ad co~e~; HrV/~Ds servi~s; inf~ty services; abortions; ~tment of morbid obesity; geriatric care; medical equipment and supplies, such as eyeglasses, dentures, and hearing aids; and prescription drugs. lb At lemt one mee~ was held in every county in the Stite.
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. Chapter .3-The Prioritized List 47 Box 3-FThe 17 Service Categories Used in the Prioritization Process Category Description Essential services 1. Acute fatal . . . . . Treatment prevents death with full recovery. Example: Appendectomy for appendicitis. 2. Maternity care . . . . Maternity and most newborn care. Example: Obstetrical care for pregnancy. 3. Acute fatal . . . . . Treatment prevents death without full recovery. Example: Medical therapy for acute bacterial meningitis. 4. Preventive care for children . Example: Immunizations. 5. Chronic fatal . . . . . Treatment improves life span and quality of life. Example: Medical therapy for asthma. 6. Reproductive services . . . Excludes maternity/infertility services. Example: Contraceptive management. 7. comfort care . . . . . Palliative therapy for conditions in which death is imminent. Example: Hospice care. 8. Preventive dental care. . . . Adults and children. Example: Cleaning and fluoride applications. 9. Proven effective preventive care for adults . . . . . . Example: Mammograms. Very important services 10. Acute nonfatal . . . . Treatment causes return to previous health state. Example: Medical therapy for vaginitis 11. Chronic nonfatal . . . . One-time treatment improves quality of life. Example: Hip replacement. 12. Acute nonfatal . . . . Treatment without return to previous health state. Example: Arthroscopic repair of internal knee derangement. 13. Chronic nonfatal . . . . Repetitive treatment improves quality of life. Example: Medical therapy for chronic sinusitis. Services that are valuable to certain individuals 14. Acute nonfatal . . . . Treatment expedites recovery of self-limiting conditions. Example: Medical therapy for diaper rash. 15. Infertility services . . . . Example: In-vitro fertilization. 16. Less effective preventive care for adults . . . . . . Example: Screening of nonpregnant adults for diabetes. 17. Fatal or nonfatal . . . . Treatment causes minimal or no improvement in quality of life. Example: Medical therapy for viral warts. SOURCE: Oregon Health Services Commission SalenL ORj Prioritized Health Semices List, May 1, 1991. The community meetings were conducted for the tative of their counties, and that those to be affected HSC by Oregon Health Decisions (OHD), a nonby SB 27 participated in the meetings (91). 17 profit organization that since 1983 has organized Approximately 1,000 people attended 47 commucommunity forums to discuss ethical issues related nity meetings, where attendance ranged from 7 to to health care, including the problem of allocation of 132 participants (on average, there were 20 particiscarce resources. Trained volunteers organized meetpants). ings, provided outreach and publicity, and served as Meeting participants were informed that the facilitators at meetings. OHD attempted to ensure Oregon legislature had passed three new laws which that community meeting participants were represenwould expand access to health insurance, but that: 17 ~m=ch tmk me fom of English and Spanish ~~ge flyers, post~s, pI-WS releases, and radio and tdt3VkiOII Spots (259).
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48 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal [while] many more people will be served, there may not be enough money to provide all the services that people may want. For this reason, the law requires that health services be ranked in order of importance. In order to do this the Health Services Commission has asked for your help in telling them what values are most important to you and society (91). Community meetings followed a standard format that included viewing a slide show presentation, 18 completing a questionnaire designed to elicit health care values, evaluating certain types of treatment, and participating in group discussions. The questionnaire presented eight theoretical health care situations, such as the following: After three heart attacks, a patient is getting worse despite taking several medications daily. An operation to put in a pacemaker would probably help the hearts rhythm but not the general condition of the heart, The day to day activities of the patient may improve. A heavy user of crack cocaine wants help for drug addiction. Immediate treatment will help stop use. A month of intensive in-hospital treatment and outpatient treatment for a year will help stop the alcohol and drug use for the long term. Participants also classified as essential, very important, or important nine categories of care, such as treatment of conditions where the health care is likely to extend life by more than two years or to improve the persons quality of life, and treatment not likely to extend life or make any big improvement in quality of life."19 Group consensus on health care values (box 3-G) was achieved following these structured activities and group discussions (91). HSC Group Consensus The HSC ranked the 17 health service categories according to community health care values using a modified Delphi 20 method that included five steps (194): 1. Commissioners individually rated each health service category on a scale from 1 to 10 on each of three attributes: l value to the society, l value to an individual at risk of needing the service, and l whether the service is essential to a basic 2. 3. 4. 5. health care package. Commissioners received a report stating where their individual responses fell within the distribution of group values. Commissioners met to discuss how value judgments were made. Commissioners reconsidered, and sometimes adjusted previously submitted individual responses. Finally, Commissioners met and reordered some categories based on their best collective judgment. Step 4: Placing CT Pairs in Service Categories The HSC placed each of the 709 CT pairs within one (and only one) of the 17 service categories. Eight of the categories are service-specific and include CT pairs related to such services as childrens preventive care or reproductive care. The remaining nine service categories are defined by whether the condition is fatal, whether it is acute or chronic, and whether the treatment prevents death, returns patients to previous health, improves life span, or improves quality of life. Commissioners classified CT pairs as acute or chronic and then applied an algorithm based on health outcomes information to initially place CT pairs into these nine categories. Fatal conditions, for example, were those that without treatment resulted in at least a 1 percent mortality rate. Full recovery was defined as at least 90 percent of those surviving with treatment are asymptomatic or with a treatment [benefit] value of at least 0.9. The chronic otitis media--eustachian tubes/tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy/tympano18 me Slide show de~~ the ~WoSe of the comm~~ mee~gs and d~cribed the pot~~ r~uction under the ticgon Basic Health Services Act in the number of uninsured residents. Also discussed was the current system of cost-shifting in which insured individuals absorb some of the costs of uncompensated care (91). 19 p~cipants were ~~ct~ t. place @ of the tie categories of me fito each of the three classification (i.e., essential, very importan~ or important). The results of this exercise were not tabulated. 20 me De.phi teC@ue is us~ to ob~ the most reliable co~~sus of option from a group of experts, COXISen,WIS k i3ChkVd dkl Ml iterdh% process where group members offer written individual opinions, discuss group opinion, and then revise individual opinions (227).
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List 49 Box 3-G-Health Care Values Elicited at Community Meetings PreventionPreventive services such as prenatal care and childhood immunizations were unanimously agreed upon as essential. l Quality of life--Services that enhance emotional and physical well-being, as well as extend life, were generally thought to increase quality of life and should receive higher priority than those that only extend life. l Cost effectiveness-Cost-effective treatments were given high priority, although some community members disagreed that cost alone should be a primary determinant in prioritization. The importance of independence and ability to perform daily activities was mentioned at Ability to function three-fourths of the community meetings. EquityEquity was described as a fundamental belief that everyone should have equal access to adequate health care. Discussions of equity raised various objections to the prioritization process-many participants, for instance, thought that health care services should be available equally to all segments of society. There was support for increased Federal funding for health care services, and some advocated the establishment of a national health insurance plan. Other equity issues discussed included increasing access to treatment services in rural communities and universal access to health care for children. Effectiveness of treatment-Participants agreed that treatments with proven efficacy and those that improve quality of life should be prioritized over those less likely to have successful outcomes. Benefits many-Services that benefit many should receive higher priority than those for whom few benefit, according to participants. Mental health and chemical dependencyPrevention, including drug education, was more highly valued than treatment services. While mental health and chemical dependency services were frequently discussed at meetings, there was some ambivalence regarding societys obligation to provide substance abuse services. Some participants, for example, felt that treatment was appropriate only in cases where patients were motivated to undergo treatment, and that recidivism needed to be considered in cases of repeat offenders. Personal choice-Some community members expressed a desire for increased choice of type of providers, while others wanted more patient and family autonomy in making medical treatment decisions. Participants indicated that society is obligated to provide treatments and services that Community compassion alleviate pain and suffering (e.g., hospice care). Impact on society-Treatments for infectious diseases and for alcoholism or drug abuse are examples of services that yield societal as well as individual benefit (discussed at approximately half of the community meetings). Length of life-Prolonging life was viewed as important, but a treatments value is limited if extending life sacrifices quality of life. Personal responsibility-Personal responsibility was viewed as the individuals obligation to society to seek appropriate health education and treatment services, and to generally take responsibility for ones health. Individuals taking responsibility for their health should receive priority, and those whose illnesses are related to lifestyle, such as alcoholand drug-related conditions, a low priority if health care services are rationed. SOURCE: R. Hasnain and M. Garland, Health Care in Common: Report of the Oregon Health Decisions Community Meetings Process, Oregon Health Decisions, Portlan4 OR, April 1990. plasty CT pair has a treatment-associated benefit Step 5: Ranking CT Pairs Within Categories value of 0.9621 (see box 3-E) and was placed in the Within each category, CT pairs were ranked service category chronic nonfatal, one time treatment improves quality of life. according to the treatments net benefit (see step 2). Following this initial assignment of CT pairs into Step 6: Final Line-by-Line Review of CT Pairs categories, the HSC extensively reviewed category The HSC conducted a line-by-line review of the placement and selectively moved some CT pairs to list to identify CT pairs that might be appropriately other categories. moved up or down the list (i.e., either within its
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50 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 3-l-Condition-Treatment (CT) Pair Rank by Category Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (709) aTheHSC~~~ered~tegOrieS I.gtobeessential, categories 10-13 very important, andeat~ories 14-17 valuable tOCerh_dn Individuals. Total percentages may not add to exactly 100.0 due to rounding error. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Services Commission. category range or into another category range). In this final review, the HSC used professional judgment, its interpretation of community values, costbenefit ratios, and cost alone to alter the order of CT pairs on the list. 21 Defining Basic Health Care While not required to do so, the HSC provided some guidance to the legislature on what health services it considered to constitute a basic set of benefits. Basic health care was defined as a floor beneath which no person should fall (193). They categorized each service on the list as essential, very important, or valuable to certain individuals and recommended that all essential and most very important services be covered (193). The HSC, in its May 1, 1991 report, recommended that the legislature fund health services included in categories 1 through 9 (considered essential) and most services in categories 10 through 13 (considered "very important"). CT pairs in categories 14 through 17 are considered valuable to certain individuals but significantly less likely to be cost-effective or to produce substantial longterm gain (193). The HSC defined basic health care from a societal perspective rather than from the individuals perspective and noted that: [W]hat is essential for the overall well-being of society may not meet the desires of specific individuals. Responding to the needs of both society and the individual may mean earmarking more funds for investment in Oregons medical assistance programs than has previously been the case (193). The legislatures decision to fund services through line 587 follows the coverage recommendations of the HSC. With the line drawn at 587, covered services include all but eight essential CT pairs and most (81 percent; 224 out of 275) very important services. All but five CT pairs valuable to certain individuals are listed below line 587 (table 3-l). An ex amination of the eight uncovered essential services and the five covered valuable to certain individuals CT pairs shows that they probably represent CT pairs that were incorrectly placed in categories 1 through 9 or 14 through 17, respectively (box 3-H). Medical therapy for hepatorenal syndrome, for example, was placed in category 3 and was initially highly ranked on the unadjusted list (CT pair 166). However, this condition is regarded clinically by many as untreatable, and the HSC moved the CT pair down to line 606. Future Changes to the Prioritized List The HSC continually reviews health outcomes and effectiveness data and is to reissue a revised list every 2 years when the legislature meets. Technical amendments to the list could be made in the interim. New medical technologies or inadvertent omissions from the list could be added through such a process. 22 Mental health and chemical dependency services are to be incorporated into the 1993 prioritized list, and some services for the aged, blind, and disabled are expected to be incorporated. 23 21 AS ~~ of ~ f~ ~tep, ~ch physici~ on he HSC was assign~ about zoo ~ p~s to review. me HSC reviewd the list and moved iteInS Up and down the list based on group consensus following a consideration of HSC clinician recommendations and community values (e.g., number who may potentially benefit alleviation of pain and suffering) (120). 22 me HSC p~m t. issue a revis~ list including t~hni~ ~en~ents in my 1992, Any c~g~ Mth significant cost implications r-e apprOVd of the legislature or its emergency board (244). Z lhe HSC plans to ftize an integrated list in summer 1992 (244).
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List 51 Box 3-H-Listing of the Essential 1 Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Moved Below Line 587 and CT Pairs Valuable to Certain Individuals 2 Moved Above Line 587 Rank Category Condition Treatment Essential CT pairs that are not covered 606 3 Hepatorenal syndrome Medical therapy 607 5 Other deficiencies of circulating enzymes (alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency) Lung transplant 608 5 Lethal midline granuloma Medical therapy 609 5 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Medical therapy 610 5 Cancer of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts Liver transplant 687 2 Intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhage of fetus or neonate Medical therapy 690 5 Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver Liver transplant 691 5 Non-Hodgkins Iymphomas Bone marrow transplant (5-6 loci match) CT pairs valuable to certain Individuals that are covered 352 14 Pilonidal cyst with abscess Medical and surgical treatment 358 14 Acute conjunctivitis Medical therapy 396 14 Infective otitis externa Medical therapy 424 17 Ophthalmic injury: Lacrimal system laceration Closure 434 14 Body infestations (e.g., lice, scabies) Medical therapy 1 ~~ntialn CT pairs are those in eatqories I-9 (s* bx s-a. z CT pair$ ~lua~e to eerhin individuals are those in eat~orfes 14-17 (we boX 3-F). SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Serviess Commission. DETERMINANTS OF CT PAIR contiguous on the adjusted list, suggesting that more PLACEMENT ON THE than 25 percent of CT pairs were selectively moved. PRIORITIZED LIST While a movement of one CT pair up the list shifts all CT pairs below its new placement down, this shift As described in the last section, the 709 CT pairs should often have been counterbalanced by movewere ranked first by service category and then by net ment of another CT pair down the list. Many of the benefit within category. The HSC then applied a reasonableness test to subjectively reorder some CT pairs. This section presents analyses of CTspecific data (e.g., CT pair category assignment, net benefit values) to dete rmine which steps of the prioritization process were most important in determining CT pair placement on the list. Finally, HSC data on such CT pair-associated characteristics as age and cost are used to describe the distribution of CT pairs on the list. Effect of Adjustment of the List by the HSC The HSC reported that about 25 percent of CT l pairs were moved from their ranked position on the list (i.e., after being ranked frost by category and then within category by net benefit) (35,244). Inspection of CT pairs as finally ordered (i.e., adjusted) and as ordered by category and net-benefit ranking alone (i.e., unadjusted) show that almost every CT pair shifted from its original position after adjustment. Furthermore, virtually no blocks of CT pairs remain CT pairs that were not selectively moved should therefore have stayed in the same relative position. Table 3-2 shows the extent of CT pair movement resulting from adjustment. Fewer than one-half (47 percent) of CT pairs stayed within 25 lines of what would have been expected if the ranking procedure had been used without adjustment. Nearly onequarter (24 percent) of CT pairs moved at least 100 lines up or down the list following adjustment. Factors strongly associated with the movement of CT pairs were: Category--The most extreme movements occurred in categories 1 through 9 (essential) 24 and 10 through 13 (very important) 25 CT pairs in categories 14 through 17 (valuable to some) tended not to move; more than three-quarters (78 percent; 52 out of 67) of category 14 through 17 CT pairs stayed within 25 lines of the unadjusted ranked position. Only five category 14 through 17 CT pairs shifted up to 24 Two.~d~ (68 ~rcen~ 62 out of 91) of CT pairs moved down 100 or more beS Ne ti CakgOfia 1 ~ough 9. 2s Two_~ds (67 ~rcen~ 48 out of72) of CT pairs moved up 100 or more Mes Me ~ categories 10 ~u&@ 13.
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52 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 3-2Effect of List Adjustment on Location of Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs* Final adjusted CT pair position Percent (number) relative to unadjusted position of CT pairs Moved down 100 or more lines . . 12.9 (85) Moved down 50 to 99 lines . . . 5.8 (38) Moved down 25 to 49 lines . . . 5.0 (33) Moved down 1 to 24 lines . . . 18.0 (119) Not moved . . . . . . 1.7 (11) Moved up 1 to 24 lines . . . . 26.8 (177) Moved up 25 to 49 lines . . . . 9.7 (64) Moved up 50 to 99 lines . . . . 9.5 (63) Moved up 100 or more lines . . . 10.6 (70) 100.0 (660) NOTE: Based on analysis of 660 CT pairs; net-benefit value missing for 49 CT pairs. a Movement of CT pairs from the position expected if ranking followed category pl~ementand net benefit. If the adjusted position is 100 and the unadjusted position was 50, for example, the CT pair is said to have moved down 50 lines. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data l l from the Oregon Health Serviees Commission. line 587 or above to be covered, and only eight category 1 through 9 CT pairs shifted down to below line 587 to the uncovered range. These 13 CT pairs are shown in box 3-H. Cost 26 Most CT pairs (60 percent; 15 out of 25) associated with the highest costs (i.e., $100,000 or above) moved down the list at least 100 line spaces following adjustment. CT pairs associated with the lowest costs (i.e., less than $1,000) were more likely to move up than down (62 percent moved up; 35 percent moved down; 3 percent did not move). Age 27 Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of CT pairs that were moved down 100 or more lines affected adults (ages 19 to 70), while over one-third (35 percent) affected children or infants. 28 Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of the CT pairs that moved up at least 100 lines affected primarily young and middle-aged adults (ages 19 to 55). If ranking had been without HSC adjustments, 30 uncovered CT pairs would have been covered and 30 covered CT pairs would not have been covered given the line 587 cutoff point determining g the initial benefit package (box 3-I). Changes in coverage would be more extensive if the coverage line were higher. At line 500, for example, 102 CT pairs change coverage status (i.e., 51 would shift above and 51 would shift below line 500). Determinants of Final Placement of CT Pairs on the List OTA examined the relative roles of category placement, net benefit values, and the judgments of the HSC in determining g the final order of CT pairs on the prioritized list. Category Placement--Figures 3-la and b show the relationship between the ranked position (1 through 709) and CT pair category placement for the unadjusted and final adjusted list, respectively. Figure 3-la shows a step-like pattern because on the unadjusted list, all category 1 CT pairs are ranked highest, then category 2 CT pairs and so on. Figure 3-lb shows jagged steps because the HSC moved some CT pairs up and down the list, beyond the proximity of other CT pairs of the same category. Despite the extent of movement, the final ranking follows category placementmost category 1 through 9 CT pairs are highly ranked and most category 14 through 17 CT pairs are low-ranked (table 3-3). Statistical tests confirm this; CT pair category assignment is highly correlated with final list placement (correlation coefficient 0.85). 29 Net Benefit-Net benefit influenced ranking in two ways: it was considered when CT pairs were assigned to categories, and it was used to initially rank CT pairs within categories. How net benefit and other health outcome measures are related to category assignment is discussed later. This section describes the importance of net benefit in determining rank and rank within category on the adjusted list. Figures 3-lc and 3-id show the relationship between rank and net benefit for the unadjusted and final adjusted lists, respectively. In the unadjusted case (figure 3-lc), the series of disconnected slopes show the ranking of CT pairs by category, and within category from the highest to lowest net benefit scores. The peak of each slope is the highest net 26 me HsfJ ~signed each CT pair to 1 of 14 Cost @egO1ieS. 27 fich ~ P* ~m ~ssiwed an we ~ategow ~q~sent~ me age ~hort us@y ~ecte(f by tie condition and associated tratm~t. !% table 3-7 for ages included in categories. 2 S CT ~~s fiw~g tie eld~ly (over we 70) ac~~t~ for 1 ~~nt of CT pairs moved do~ 100 or more h%. ~ conelation of 0.85 is significant at p = 0.001 (1-@l~).
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Box 3-I-Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Whose Coverage Status Changed as a Result of Ranking Adjustment Adjusted Unadjusted rank rank Condition Treatment CT pairs covered by adjusted ranking that would not have been covered by unadjusted ranking l 352 646 Pilonidal cyst with abscess 358 656 Acute conjunctivitis 387 607 Lyme disease 390 605 Atopic dermatitis 391 592 Contact dermatitis and other eczema 392 596 Acne 396 670 Infective otitis externa 397 598 Chronic otitis media 401 604 Gout 402 615 Crystal arthropathies 423 638 Osteoporosis 425 593 Disorders of refraction and accommodation 434 662 Body infestations (e.g., lice, scabies) 469 600 Endometriosis without hysterectomy 483 611 Osteoarthritis and allied disorders 486 613 Menopausal management 534 606 Allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis 537 608 Pelvic pain syndrome 571 588 Brachial plexus lesions 572 590 Chronic sinusitis 574 597 Dysmenorrhea 578 599 Raynaud syndrome 580 601 Urticaria, chronic 581 602 Keratoderma, acquired; acquired acanthosis nigricans, striae atrophicae, other and unspecified hypertrophic and atrophic conditions of skin 586 589 Spondylosis and other chronic disorders of back Medical and surgical treatment Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical and surgical treatment Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical and surgical treatment Medical therapy Medical therapy other than hormone replacement Medical therapy Medical and surgical treatment Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical therapy Medical and surgical treatment 587 591 Esophagitis Medical therapy
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Box 3-l-Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Whose Coverage Status Changed as a Result of Ranking Adjustment-Continued Adjusted Unadjusted rank rank Condition Treatment CT pairs not covered by adjusted ranking that would have been covered by unadjusted ranking 588 599 600 601 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 621 625 645 652 654 687 689 690 691 692 694 706 577 463 514 506 166 267 351 235 409 416 421 462 467 434 525 486 510 489 455 581 582 530 97 518 263 329 515 403 522 Intervertebral disc disorders Hydrocele Absence of breast after mastectomy as treatment for neoplasm Spastic dysphonia Hepatorenal syndrome Other deficiencies of circulating enzymes (alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency) Lethal midline granuloma Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Cancer of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts Hematoma of auricle or pinna and hematoma of external ear Enophthalmos Acute Iymphadenitis Congenital anomalies of female genital organs Generalized convulsive or partial epilepsy without mention of impairment of consciousness Varicose veins of lower extremities Disease of capillaries Anomalies of relationship of jaw to cranial base, major anomalies of jaw size, other specified and unspecified dentofacial anomalies Congenital anomalies of the ear without impairment of hearing Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders Cervical rib Benign intracranial hypertension Food allergy Sublingual, scrotal, and pelvic varices Intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhage of fetus or neonate Sensorineural hearing loss Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver Non-Hodgkins Iymphomas Obesity Benign polyps of vocal cords Prolapsed urethral mucosa Thoracic-lumbar Iaminectomy, medical therapy Medical therapy, excision Breast reconstruction Medical therapy Medical therapy Lung transplant Medical therapy Medical therapy Liver transplant Drainage Revision Incision and drainage Surgical treatment Focal surgery Stripping/sclerotherapy Excision Osteoplasty, maxilla/mandible Otoplasty, repair& amputation TMJ surgery Surgical treatment Medical therapy Medical therapy Venous injection, vascular surgery Medical therapy Cochlear implant Liver transplant Bone marrow transplant (5-6 loci match) Gastroplasty Medical therapy Surgical treatment 1 only 26 of 30 CT ~~r~ are li~t~. me 4 nli~t~ CT pairs ~nn~t ~ i~ntifi~ fr~m th~~ that have no net benefit ~ign~ to them (i.e., their undjustd rank @nnot b determined). SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Services Commission.
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Chapter 3-The Prioritized List l 55 n I 1 T ,!, ,! 11 ,1 /
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56 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 3-3-Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs by Category and Location on the List Number of Location on list Category CT pairs 1-99 100-199 200-299 300-399 400-499 500-599 600-709 Percent of CT pairs within ranges Essential 1-9 . . . 366 26.8 26.0 26.2 11.5 1.6 5.7 2.2 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 8 . . . 9 . . . 64 48 61 4 182 4 1 1 1 79.7 45.8 32.8 50,0 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.9 25.0 50.8 25.0 20.9 75.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 4.7 12.5 3.3 25.0 46.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 12.5 6.6 0.0 16.5 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 2.1 1.6 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 0.0 3.3 0.0 9.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1 1.6 0.0 3.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Very important 10-13 . . 275 0.4 1.8 1.5 20.0 33.5 26.9 16.0 10 . . . 60 0.0 8.3 3.3 25.0 31.7 25.0 6.7 11 . . . 106 0.0 0.0 0.9 16.0 56.6 13.2 13.2 12 . . . 28 3.6 0.0 0.0 32.1 14.3 50,0 0.0 13 . . . 81 0.0 0.0 1.2 17.3 11.1 38.3 32.1 Valuable to certain individuals 14-17 . . 68 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.4 2.9 7.4 85.3 14 . . . 31 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.7 3.2 12.9 74.2 15 . . . 4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 25.0 75.0 16 . . . 1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 17 . . . 32 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.1 0.0 96.9 Total . . 709 14.0 14.1 14.1 14.1 14.1 14.1 15.5 SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Services Commission. Total Percentages may not add to exactly 100.0 due to rounding error. benefit score for that category. Peaks are highest (i.e., they approach 1.0) in categories 1 through 9 and are at their lowest in categories 14 through 17 (i.e., none exceed 0.5). The trend of declining net benefit with increasing category is expected because net benefit was considered when CT pairs were assigned to categories. There is a wide range of net benefit scores within each category, especially categories 1 through 9. While CT pairs in categories 1 through 9 include most (84 percent) CT pairs with high net benefit scores (i.e., 0.5 or higher), as many as one-quarter (26 percent) of category 1 through 9 CT pairs have benefit scores lower than 0.2 (table 3-4). The HSC adjustment moved almost all CT pairs from their original position. Many CT pairs moved out of their categorys range on the list or were reordered within their categorys range. Figure 3-id shows the effect of this reordering-there are now wide fluctuations in net benefit by rank and the slopes seen in figure 3-lc have largely disappeared. Statistical tests confirm that following adjustment net benefit loses importance in determining CT pair rank. Although the adjusted and unadjusted rankings are highly correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.87), 30 the strength of this relationship is largely explained by CT pair category assignment. Category assignment alone is highly correlated to final list placement (correlation coefficient = 0.85). 31 Net benefit determined CT pair order within categories on the unadjusted list. If CT pairs are analyzed by category, does this relationship still hold for the adjusted list? Figures 3-2A through 3-21 show net benefit among CT pairs within categories (ordered by rank within category). The wide fluctuations in net benefit persist in all but two categories some CT pairs in categories 10 and 11 show net 30 Correlation of 0.87 is sign.itlcant at p = 0.001 (1-tiikd). SI Correlation of 0.85 is significant at p = 0.001 (1-@l~).
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Table 3-4-Net Benefit Scores by Category SOURCE: Office of Technology ksessment, 1992; based on data from the Oregon Health Services Commission. l
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58 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure 3-2The Relationship Between Net Benefit and Rank Within Categories for the Adjusted List A. Category 1 1.0 I 0.9 0.8 ~ 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 1 Rank within category 1 56 1.0 0.9 0.8 C. Category 3 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.1 B. Category 2 0.9 0.8 1 Rank within category 3 54 1.0 D. Category 5 1 I 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 1 Rank within category 2 39 benefit gradually declining with increasing rank (see figures 3-2e and 3-2f). Figure 3-3 summarizes the relationship between within-category net benefit and rank showing median net benefit for categories and quartiles within categories. The expected decline in median net benefit as rank increases is seen in several categories (i.e., categories 5, 11, 12, 13, and 17). 32 Statistical tests show that following adjustment, CT pair rank within category is poorly or moderately correlated to rank based on net benefit (table 3-5). ~ 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 1 Rank within category 5 174 While net benefit is not, in itself, highly correlated with list placement, 33 of note is that none of the CT pairs below line 600 has a high net benefit term (i.e., 0,6 or above) and 88 percent (84/96) of CT pairs with high net benefit terms are above line 300 (see table 3-6). While a high net benefit term seems to be associated with high placement on the list, a low net benefit term (i.e., less than 0.2) is not associated with low placement. In fact, more than one-third (35 percent) of CT pairs with such low net benefit scores are above line 400. 34 32 ~other ~xpted trend jS tit the medim net ~nefit for ~tegories in the. es~nti~ r~e (i.e., Categories 1 through 9) are generally higher@ those in the important range (i.e., categories 10 through 13), which are in turn higher than the median net benefit for ~ pairs in the important to individuals range (i&., categories 14 through 17). Category 2, maternity services is an exceptiotiits median net benefit is lower than that of categories 10 through 13. 33 A rof CT pairs based on tie net &nefit term alone is only moderately correlated to the adjusted (COITekUiOn COCfflClent = 0.47, Si@CiUlt at P = 0.001 (l-tailed)) and unadjusted list (correlation cmfflcient = 0.41, signitlcant at p = 0.001 (l-tailed)). ~ The re~tively IOW net-~nefit terms msociati with some of the highly ranked CT pairs may be explained because avoidmce of d~ti does not always contribute to large changes in net benefit (35,244).
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Chapter 3-The Prioritized List l 59 E. Category 10 ~ 0.7 -j 1 Rank within category 10 56 F. Category 11 1 Rank within category 11 104 G. Category 12 0.6 1 I 0.5 5 0.4 J 0.3 z z 0.2 0.1 0.0 ~ 1 Rank within category 12 26 0.8 0.6 5 I 0.4 3 0.2 0.0 H. Category 13 L ;. 1 Rank within category 13 1. category 14-17 0.4 I /l 6 1 Rank within category 14-17 62 SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Orsgon Health Services Commission.
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60 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 3-5-Correlation Between Order of Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Within Categories if Determined by Rank or by Net Benefit a Correlation between CT pair order within Percent of variation explained Category Number of CT pairs in category category by rank and net benefit by net benefit 1 . . . . . 2 . . . . . 3 . . . . . 5 10 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 11 . . . . . 12 . . . . . 13 . . . . . 14 . . . . . 17 . . . . . 56 39 54 174 56 104 26 78 31 31 a Analysis is limited to those cat~ories with more than 10 CT pairs. Correlation is between order of CT pairs within category as ranked by the Oregon H*lth Services Commission and order expeeted if ranked by net benefit. b Correlation is significant at p -.01 (I-tolled). SOURCE: Offia of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Serviees Commission, Figure 3-3-Median Net Benefit by Category and Quartile Within Category Median net benefit 0 ~ I :Lrkhtid 3 5 10 11 12 13 14 17 Category and category quartile ~ Category + Category quartile SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Services Commission. Characteristics of the List The distribution of CT pairs on the list can be described by three CT pair-associated characteristics: age, 35 sex, 36 and treatment-associated costs. 37 CT Pair Rank by Age-CT pairs related to children generally rank fairly high on the list. Nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of infant-related CT pairs, one-half (50 percent) of child-related CT pairs, and one-third (34 percent) of adolescent CT pairs are located within the top 300 lines (table 3-7). CT pairs associated with infants, senior adults (age 56 to 70), and the elderly (age 70 and older) are least likely to be toward the bottom of the list (i.e., below 587). The 27 CT pairs affecting infants, children, and adolescents falling below line 587 are shown in box 3-J. 38 Ranking of CT Pairs Affecting Women-CT pairs affecting women also tend to rank relatively high on the prioritized list. Nearly all CT pairs can affect women (89 percent; 634 of 709), but 59 (8 percent) can be classified as primarily or only affecting women. 39 Of these, 41 percent (24 of 59 CT pairs) fall within the top 300 lines of the list and 17 percent (10 of 59 CT pairs) fall below line 587 (box 3-K). CT Pair Rank by CostNearly one-half (46 percent; 25 of 55 CT pairs) of high-cost CT pairs (i.e., $40,000 and above) are found within the top 300 lines of the list and as many as one-third of low cost CT pairs (i.e., less than $1,000) fall below line 587 (table 3-8). 35 c~c~n ~~ne~ ~ ~egon p~vided ~omtion on he age goup us~y ~~~d by the CT p~. Some of the @afric age mhofi assignments made by the Oregon clinicians were incorrect according to an OT4 clinical reviewer (235). For example, rheumatic fever (CT pair 145) was inappropriately omitted as a pediatric ~ pair and cataract (CT pair 337) was inappropriately included as a primarily pediatric CT pair. ~ OTA clinicd contractors identifkd CT pairs unique or common to women (14). 37 me HSC used ~omation from C~C~S and the off~ce of Medic~ Assistmce ~c)~~s (Ow) to est~te CT pfi-msOC&t4 COSt gTOUp@S. 3 S More ~ oneq~er (Z* ~runt; 9D2) of CT ptis affecting adolescents and more than 1 iII 10 (15 percent; 1 lf16) CT P* ~~fig c~~~ fall below line 587 on the list (table 3-7). 39 CT p~s ~ P-Y or o~y$ ~~tfig women ~ fho~ for which women tie up at l-t 75 PCXCent Of d patients (14).
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List l 61 U) a+ coy m+ 0). 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 000 0)$ coo 040 r-vu) yo C9mln 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 000 @ 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 *. ao$$ ml Cno mu -ill-i 03 a a inuioi Ww C9C9C9 0). *CN Cocia 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 . . . ,.. . . . 0.. . ,.. . E s C3
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Table 3-7--Condition-Treatment (CT) Pair Age Cohort a by Rank Age group CT pair rank Infancy Children Adolescent Young adult Middle-age Senior adult Elderly Percent (count) 1-300 . . . 65.9 (56) 50.0 (38) 34.4 (11) 36.2 (77) 38.1 (69) 38.1 (32) 25.0 (2) 301-587 . . . 25.9 (22) 35.5 (27) 37.5 (12) 42.3 (90) 41.4 (75) 50.0 (42) 62.5 (5) 588-709 . . . 8.2 (7) 14.5 (11) 28.1 (9) 21.6 (46) 20.4 (37) 11.9 (lo) 12.5 (1) Total . . . 100.0 (85) 100.0 (76) 100.0 (32) 100.0 (213) 100.0 (181) 100.0 (84) 100.0 (8) NOTE: n = 679; number of missing observations_ 30. Total percentages may not add to exactiy 100.0 due to rounding error. a Infanq ~ than age one; ~ildren -1-10 y=rs old; adolmnt 11-18 years o~; young ~ult 19.35 years o~; middl~ag~ 36-55 years Old; smior adult 56-70 yeWS Oid; dddy = OVer 70 years old. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, based on data from the Oregon Health Servicea Commission, 1991. Table 3-8-Condition-Treatment (CT) Pair Cost Interval a by Rank cost CT pair rank up to $1,000 $1,000 to 4,999 $5,000 to 17,999 $18,000 to 39,999 $40,000 to 99,999 $100,000 and over Percent (count) 1-300 . . . 22.7 (25) 29.0 (47) 46.0 (104) 67.3 (76) 60.0 (18) 28.0 m 301-587 . . . 43.6 (48) 52.5 (85) 40.3 (91) 19.5 (22) 30.0 (9) 52.0 (13) 588-709 . . . 33.6 (37) 18.5 (30) 13.7 (31) 13.3 (15) 10.0 (3) 20.0 (5) 100.0 (110) 100.0 (162) 100.0 (226) 100.0 (113) 100.0 (30) 100.0 (25) NOTE: n = 666; number of missing observations -43. Total percentages may not add to exactly 100.0 due to rounding error. a The @egon Health services timmission estimated the cost interval for each CT pSir. SOURCE: Office of Technobgy Asessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Services Commission.
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List l 63 Box 3J-The 27 Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Affecting Children That Fall Below Line 587 1 Rank Condition Treatment 594 Sprains, strains and non-allopathic spinal lesions: thoracic, lumbar Medical therapy and sacrum acute 614 Congenital anomalies of female genital organs Surgical treatment 618 Anomalies of relationship of jaw to cranial base, major anomalies of jaw size, Osteoplasty, maxilla/mandible other specified and unspecified dentofacial anomalies 619 Congenital anomalies of the ear without impairment of hearing Otoplasty, repair and amputation 624 Cavus deformity of foot Medical therapy, orthotic 625 Cervical rib Surgical treatment 634 Obesity Nutritional and lifestyle counseling 639 Herpes simplex without complications Medical therapy 640 Testicular and polyglandular dysfunction Medical therapy 649 Diaper or napkin rash Medical therapy 652 Food allergy Medical therapy 660 Internal infections and other bacterial food poisoning Medical therapy 662 Viral, self-limiting encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis Medical therapy 663 Acute tonsillitis Medical therapy 667 Aseptic meningitis Medical therapy 668 Infectious mononucleosis Medical therapy 669 Other nonfatal viral infections Medical therapy 670 Acute pharyngitis and laryngitis and other diseases of vocal cords Medical therapy 675 Vitiligo, congenital pigmentary anomalies of skin Medical therapy 680 Agenesis of lung Medical therapy 685 Ichthyosis Medical therapy 687 Intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhage of fetus or neonate Medical therapy 692 obesity Gastroplasty 693 Congenital cystic lung-severe Lung resection 705 Constitutional aplastic anemia Medical therapy 708 Extremely low birth weight (under 500 gm) and under 23 week gestation Life support 709 Anencephalous and similar anomalies and reduction deformities of the brain Life support 1 This listing is ~~ ~ data su@i~ bythe HSC. The HSC rn~ have misidentified some CT pairs as prindpdiy aff*tin9 ~i~ren (e.g., o~~ty) (see reference 235). SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Services Commission. Box 3-K-The 10 Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Primarily or Only Affecting Women That Fall Below Line 587 1 Rank Category Condition Treatment 598 15 Anovulation (infertility) Medical therapy 600 11 Absence of breast after mastectomy as treatment for neoplasm Breast reconstruction 603 15 Tubal disease Microsurgery 614 11 Congenital anomalies of female genital organs Surgical treatment 645 13 Benign intracranial hypertension Medical therapy 666 14 Vulval varices Vascular surgery 672 17 Old laceration of cervix and vagina Medical therapy 681 17 Gallstones without cholecystitis Medical therapy, cholecystectomy 683 17 Sicca syndrome Medical therapy 696 15 Tubal dysfunction and other cases of infertility In-vitro fertilization, GIFT 2 1 CT ~air~that ,,p~manly or only? aff~twomen are those for~~h women make iJp at l~st 75 percent of all patients (we ref. 14). 2 Gamete intrafallopian transfer. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on 1991 data from the Oregon Health Services Commission.
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64 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal CRITIQUE OF THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS This section presents the results of OTA analyses designed to answer the following questions: l l l l l l How complete is the prioritized list? Are all important health care services included? How appropriately are conditions and treatments aggregated into CT pairs? Should category assignment be an important determin ant of CT pair order on the prioritized list? How accurate is CT-specific outcomes information provided by panels of clinicians? Are the publics health state preferences appropriately integrated into the prioritization process? Were community values appropriately assessed and incorporated into the prioritization process? Completeness of the Prioritized List Virtually all conditions are accounted for in the prioritization process, according to a study conducted to assess the lists completeness. OTA identified a systematic sample of ICD-9-CM codes 40 and checked inclusion of these codes on the prioritized list or on the Missing ICD-9 Code Report provided by the HSC (192). The missing code report includes 948 ICD-9-CM codes intentionally omitted from the prioritized list, representing roughly 10 percent of all ICD-9-CM codes. In all but one case, the sampled codes, or the more detailed subcodes, were found on either the prioritized list or the missing code list. OTA reviewed selected conditions listed on the Missing ICD-9 Code Report 41 and found that most omitted codes either represent conditions or treatments initially excluded from prioritization (e.g., mental health conditions) or are nonspecific codes that the HSC intentionally omitted from the list (e.g., ICD-9-CM code 459, other disorders of circulatory system). By omitting the nonspecific codes, the HSC hoped to encourage clinicians to use specific codes. Currently, all codes ending in require manual review prior to payment (170). Some conditions represented on the missing code list, however, probably represent errors. The codes for secondary hypertension (ICD-9-CM code 405) and hypertensive renal disease (ICD-9-CM code 403), for example, should probably have been included within CT pairs 147 (hypertension and hypertensive disease) and 148 (hypertensive heart and renal disease), respectively. Similarly, impetigo (ICD-9-CM code 684) 42 and carbuncle and furuncle (ICD-9-CM code 680) should probably have been included in CT pair 217, infectious skin conditions. Some missing codes may represent more serious omissions. The following are examples of conditions that will probably have to be reviewed by the HSC and formally added to the list through its technical review process: benign neoplasms of the eye (ICD-9-CM code 224); disorders of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance (ICD-9-CM code 276); 43 visual disturbances (ICD-9-CM code 368); and chronic laryngitis (ICD-9-CM code 476). Appropriateness of Aggregation of Conditions and Treatments Into CT Pairs Ideally, patients falling within any given CT pair should have similar clinical experiences with treatment. According to OTAs review of CT pair content, however, 44 CT pairs are so broadly defined that in many instances patient outcomes can vary substantially within a CT pair. Heterogeneity within CT pairs can often be traced to outcome differences expected by patient characteristics such as age and comorbidity. Some patient subpopulations within high-ranking CT pairs have as poor an expected outcome as patients falling into below-the-line CT 40 A ~s~mtic -Ie of 39 ICD.9.CM three+iigit codes (representing 4 percent of a total of 910 thredi@ codes) WaS sekcted from The International Cfasszfication of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification. Every 25th code was selected following a random start. Excluded from this sample were E codes used to classify injuries and disease s caused by external events (e.g., railway and motor vehicle accidents) and V codes used to class~ procedures that do not fall into either the numerical or E code categories. 41 OTA a~~d w IS I thr~di~t ICD-9-CM codes listed in the Missing ICD-9 Code Report (192). 42 Impetigo herpetiformis is listed on line 591. 43 me HSC fi comidefig~~g anew CTpfi for d~rders of fl~~ el~trolyte, and acid-~b~~ce to the revised ht tht k expected tO k klld in h&y 1992 (35). 44 me c~c~ review Wm ~de~en on OTAs be~by fo~ physicians (NO ~te~sts ad ~0 mtricim) who reviewed the endre pfiOfitiZd list (14,80,235). For this and other analyses, the clinical contractors were instructed to use readily available published information (e.g., review articles, medical textbooks) and consultations with experts.
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Chapter 3-The Prioritized List l 65 pairs. Conversely, some patient subpopulations within low-ranking CT pairs probably have as good a prognosis as those falling within above-the-line CT pairs. This issue is explored further in a later section of this chapter, which provides the results of a clinical evaluation of the list. Specific types of clinical problems with CT pair content include: 45 l l l Heterogeneous conditions within CT pairs-CT pairs often include several ICD-9-CM codes that describe conditions with very different consequences. CT pair 95, for example, includes myocarditis, pericarditis, and endocarditis, which differ in their clinical implications and their responses to treatment. CT pair 663, medical therapy for acute tonsillitis, includes both viral pharyngitis (a simple sore throat) and gangrene of the tonsils. Even within an ICD-9CM code there can be markedly different clinical states. Patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (a single ICD-9-CM code), for example, range from having no urinary symptoms to experiencing very severe symptoms, such as urinary retention. Inappropriate grouping of CT pairs-Some CT pairs include clinical conditions that are themselves diverse, with widely different implications. Line 264, for example, includes diseases of white blood cells, some of which are trivial or benign while others are lifethreatening. Line 640 includes testicular hyperfunction, which may require no treatment, and Schmidts syndrome, which is fatal without treatment of the adrenal insufficiency, and for which the treatment is inexpensive and completely effective (31 1). Lack of information on comorbidity--Some CT pairs are commonly associated with other illnesses, making their ranking problematic. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (CT pair 102), for example, is often a secondary result of a primary condition such as cancer or infection. It is difficult to evaluate this secondary condition without knowledge of the underlying primary condition. Age is a predictor of treatment outcomes for many conditions, yet only two conditions are split into separate CT l l l l pairs by age to distinguish childhood from adult forms of disease (i.e., hearing loss and acute lymphocytic leukemia). The HSC was concerned that making distinctions by age might be interpreted as dis criminatory (244). Inappropriate separation of CT pairsSome CT pairs are so similar that separating them seems unnecessary. CT pairs 11, 100, and 119, for example, represent surgical repair for injuries to major blood vessels (i.e., upper extremity, thoracic cavity, lower extremity) that have similar outcomes and could have been grouped together. Other CT pairs are inappropriately separated on the list if clinical outcome itself is the only criterion. Liver transplantation for nonalcoholic liver failure is widely separated from transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver (line 366 and 690), despite similar success rates (299). A more reasonable distinction could have been made based on liver failure associated with hepatitis B virus or cancer (14). Inappropriate prognostic stagingFor some CT pairs, attempts to distinguish among different grades or stages of the same disease are inadequate or inappropriate (e.g., cancers, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, burns). Cancer is categorized as treatable or nontreatable, the latter being defined as treatment results in less than a 10 percent chance of survival in 5 years. ICD-9-CM/CPT-4 code mismatchThere are substantive inconsistencies between the ICD-9CM or CPT-4 codes listed and the verbal diagnosis or treatment descriptions listed for some CT pairs. So-described treatable dementia (line 230), for example, includes some codes for dementias that some clinicians would not consider effectively treatable (i.e., ICD-9CM 290.40, multi-infarct dementia and ICD-9CM 291.2, alcoholic dementia) (14). Apparent coding errors-There are numerous examples of duplicate or misplaced ICD-9CM or CPT-4 codes. If uncorrected, some coding problems could contribute to misinterpretation of the scope of conditions or treatments included in the CT pair. 46 45 me HSC ~ fi he prW=S of corrmtig some technical errors and plans to issue a revised fist h MW 1W2 (2~). 46 OTA ~~c~ ~vlewm and ~ obste~~~n.gynecolo@t com~~t were ~ble to comprehend one CT pair (line 672, medical therapy for old laceration of cervix or vagina).
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66 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal To better understand how often these types of problems occurred, OTAs contractors analyzed a systematic sample of 35 CT pairs. 47 Nearly one-third (10 of 35) of sampled CT pairs encompass such a wide variety of conditions that available information from the literature on condition-specific outcomes could not be interpreted to provide reliable CT pair outcome estimates. Comorbidity or other factors were noted to substantially affect the outcomes of over one-third (14 of 35) of sampled CT pairs. One-half (18 of 35) of sampled CT pairs had at least one of these problems (i.e., heterogeneous CT pair or CT pair substantially affected by comorbidity or other factors). The Use of Categories in Prioritization ACT pairs health service category assignment is an important determin ant of CT pair placement on the prioritized list. OTA critiqued the use of health service categories as a prioritization tool and then assessed the category assignment of a sample of CT pairs. The 17 health service categories used to rank CT pairs were a useful organizational tool for the HSC, but their use has some inherent drawbacks because of the inability of the categories to distinguish conditions on grounds that are clinically meaningful. The distinction between acute and chronic conditions in 8 of the 17 categories, for example, is clinically irrelevant to its importance. If two conditions, one acute and episodic (e.g., vaginal infections), the other chronic (chronic cystitis), both have similar outcomes with treatment, there is little clinical reason one should be ranked above the other. Other distinctions between categories may also be poor indicators of clinical importance. Categories 11 (i.e., chronic nonfatal, one-time treatment improves quality of life) and 13 (chronic nonfatal, repetitive treatment improves quality of life), for example, differ only because one treatment needs to be repeated and the other doesnt. The HSC prioritized category 11 CT pairs because they represent services that are likely to be less costly (i.e., only performed once) and more convenient for patients (244). To assess whether the classification system was ambiguous, OTA had clinician reviewers examine the categorization of a systematic sample of 35 CT pairs. Two CT pairs were viewed as being assigned to the wrong category (lines 112 and 412). Another six CT pairs assignments were viewed as possibly correct, but given the nature of the condition, the CT pair could easily have been assigned to another category. Otherwise the clinicians agreed with CT pair assignment to categories. OTA concludes that some CT pairs placement (as many as one in five) into categories are at least debatable. Given that category placement had important implications for final ranking, some CT pairs could probably be justifiably moved on the list. Accuracy of Outcomes Information Supplied by Clinicians Net benefit was not as important a determinant of CT pair placement on the list as other aspects of the prioritization process. Nonetheless, the outcome information provided to the HSC by clinicians was a vital conceptual part of the process. This section explores whether that information was accurate and could have been used reliably. OTAs clinician contractors evaluated morbidity and mortality data for a systematic sample of 35 CT pairs. These data are integral to the calculation of CT pair net benefit values. OTA reviewers found that the net benefit value assigned to most CT pairs (22 of 35 CT pairs) was difficult to justify based on available published information. When the direction of the discrepancy could be determined, there were as many overestimates of net benefit as underestimates. Reviewers also assessed the appropriateness of the set of health states available to characterize morbidity. For more than one-half of sample CT pairs (19 of the 35), the assigned health states were viewed as inadequate descriptors of morbidity (e.g., the symptoms of stroke and glaucoma, CT pairs 252 and 332 respectively, are not well defined by the list of health states). Pediatrician reviewers felt that the health states failed to account for the unique developmental and physiologic concerns of children (e.g., problems of weight gain, failure to thrive). Reviewers also noted several instances where health states were erroneously assigned to a condition (e.g., cough, wheeze, or trouble breathing assigned to anal fissure, line 432). 47 OTA se]wt~ as ~rcmt systemtic sample of 709 CTpairs for this and other analyses. Every 20th ~pairon the list W* selected fmma~dornly selected starting point.
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Chapter 3-The Prioritized List 67 While outcomes assessment by this method may vary among individuals according to experience and opinion, the OTA reviewers assessments demonstrate that at best it is a highly subjective process. Several specific aspects of the outcomes gathering process that may have contributed to inconsistencies in outcomes assessment are discussed below. Provider panels varied in size and methods. There were no requirements regarding the composition or size of the clinician panels, which ranged from 3 to 14 members (244). Since the literature suggests that group judgments vary according to group size and composition, each panels outcome assessments might have been different if a group of a different makeup had been assembled (48,69). Clinician panels were given a uniform charge with explicit instructions on how to provide outcomes information, but the actual methods adopted by various panels to complete their charge varied. Clinicians generally provided information based on their training, experience, and clinical judgment, but sometimes they made a special review of the professional literature, especially when considering new methods of treatment, such as transplants. % The type of data available to assess outcomes varied. Rarely, Oregon-specific data were available to help assess outcomes. For example, treatment outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) 49 and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) 50 for coronary artery disease (CAD) were obtained by ex amining a historical database containing information from approximately 20,000 patients who had been treated with CABG or PTCA at one hospital in Portland, Oregon. There was little attempt to identify clinician bias in reporting treatment outcomes. The HSC assigned groups of CT pairs to provider panels according to their specialty. Neonatologists, for example, were assigned CT pairs related to the critical care of newborns, and cardiologists were assigned cardiovascular-related CT pairs. Each CT pair was assigned to only one panel. CT pairs that could fall under the domain of both internists and specialists (e.g., ischemic heart disease, diabetic care) were usually assigned to the more specialized provider group. Specialist data could have been systematically reviewed by other clinician groups (e.g., pediatric review of neonatology data) to identify whether specialists tend to overestimate the effectiveness of their treatments. A systematic primary care provider review might have been helpful, as these providers may be most familiar with the outcomes of many interventions at the 5-year endpoint specified by the HSC. The HSCs five primary care clinicians reviewed outcomes information and all participating panelists had an opportunity to review the HSC finalized list. Important physician groups did not participate in the process. A list of clinician groups that provided outcomes information is shown in table 3-9. Two primary care provider groups, general pediatricians 51 and family practitioners, decided not to provide information on CT pair-specific treatment outcomes. Both the pediatricians and family practitioners informed the HSC that outcomes data for primary care treatments were generally unavailable, but they encouraged the HSC to get more readily available nonprimary care outcomes data from specialty or subspecialty groups. Clinicians providing outcomes information were not representative of Oregon physicians. Clinician panel participants were generally representatives of the States professional societies. The general internists that participated, for example, were senior officials of the Oregon Society of General Internal Medicine. The clinical opinions of these officials might differ from those of nonparticipating physicians. Nonetheless, the HSC made a concerted effort to ensure participation from as many volunteer clinicians as possible. Factors affecting outcomes (e.g., age, comorbidity) were not handled consistently among panels. As anticipated, the clinician groups often had difficulty providing outcomes information for average patients and split CT pairs by such factors as age and 4S CWciaM reli~ on tie professio~ literature for only 4 to 5 percent of their outcome judgments (244). 49 C~G iS ~ opa~tive pr~edme in ~~Ch ~ vein from tie leg is removed and surgi~y fiplant~ in a COrOnary artery tO bypaSS all obstruction. 50 ~CA is a nonoPmtive ~temention fi ~~ch a b~loon on tie end of a ca~eter is ~ead~ into an obs~ction of a coronary artery and inflated mpidiy to crack the obstruction. 51 p~~c~m ~rOvided ~o~tionon fie ~g and fr~uency of well-chiJd care visits. one pediatrician provided outcomes ~ormation on oti~ media treatment (35).
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68 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 3-9-Provider and Specialty Groups Submitting Health Outcomes Data to the Health Services Commission (HSC) a Acupuncture Adult infectious disease Allergy Burn care Cardiovascular surgery Cardiology Chiropractic Cornea transplant Dentistry Dermatology Diabetes Endocrinology Gastroenterology General surgery Genetics Hyperbaric oxygen Metabolic specialists Internal medicine Morbid obesity Naturopathy Neonatology Nephrology Neurology Neurosurgery Nurse practitioners Obstetrics and gynecology Oncology Ophthalmology Oral surgery Orthopedics Osteopathy Otorhinolaryngology Pain management Pediatrics b Pediatric cardiology Pediatric infectious disease Pediatric rehabilitation Pediatric surgery Physicians assistants Plastic surgery Podiatry Poison control Psychiatry Radiology oncology Rehabilitation & physical medicine Rheumatology Thoracic surgery Transplant surgery Trauma Urology a This list includes clinician groups that completed structured worksheets prepared by the HSC to collect treatment-related outcomes information. Otherclinician groups provided information to the HSC at pubiicmeetings and in correspondence. b General pectiat~ians from the Oregon Pediatric Society provided information to the HSC on the pericdiaty of well-child visits. One pediatrician provided outcomes data for the acute otitis media CT pair. SOURCE: D. Coffman, researcher, Oregon Health Services Commission, Salem, OR, personal communication, Dec. 17, 1991. comorbidity. 52 53 The internal medicine provider panel, for example, provided outcomes information for: l l l Patients who had only the condition in question, Patients with other complicating conditions, and The average elderly patient (1 12). Cardiology specialists also stratified their outcomes. They provided their outcome estimates for CABG and PTCA interventions for CAD based on the New York Heart Association classification of the patient at the time of diagnosis. 54 Other panels, on the other hand, provided more general outcomes information. Where panels provided detailed information, the detail was often lost in the final CT pair list. The HSC extensively reviewed outcomes information provided by the panels and grouped many treatments and conditions into general categories. The physicians on the HSC used their judgment to revise outcomes estimates when information from several CT pairs were grouped. Revised data sheets were sent to provider panels with an accompanying memo asking them review the outcomes information and the appropriateness of service category placements. Outcomes information supplied by some of the specialty groups were subjected to review by a clinician who had not participated in the initial process. The outcomes assessment method may have underestimated the value of treatments for acute conditions. Clinician panels provided outcomes information for treatment effects at 5 years. Many acute conditions may be resolved eventually without treatment (e.g., sprains and strains), but treatment effectively relieves immediate symptoms. With the estimate of the effects of treatment and lack of treatment set at 5 years, some treatments effective in the short term are not identified as effective. In the example of sprains and strains, comparing the 5-year outcomes of no treatment with treatment would indicate no benefit, assumin g the sprain or strain would resolve itself eventually. The benefit of immediately alleviating symptoms such as pain is not captured. Use of Health Outcomes Information To Place CT Pairs Into Categories Much of the health outcomes information obtained from clinician panels was inconsistent with the published literature or contradicted OTA contractors clinical judgment, and yet the information was used to assign most CT pairs to categories. This may, in part, explain why OTA clinicians found CT pair category assignment to be debatable in 20 52 Comorbid conditiom are coexisting health problems that tend to worsen the patients overidl chnictd condition. 53 me HSC ~ticip~ted tit c~cian panels wo~d have problems ~d iDS&UCtiOIM to pmek s~~d that, (I]t is understood tht some OutCOIIle data may be subjective in nature. A disease may be bimodal with signiilcsntly different outcomes occurring dependent on age of onset or vmy according to the extent of the disease at the time of presentation (stage). If this is the case, please use two or more lines to define the condition .Please think of the average patient that presents with this conditiow not the extremes. 54 ~eNewYo~H~Assoc~tion ~~s~lcation systems~a~~patients wi~c~ fito four sep~tecategones depending on their type and SeVCT@ of symptoms.
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List l 69 percent of the sample of CT pairs they reviewed. Even if one assumes that the health outcomes information was an accurate reflection of clinical practice in Oregon, there are some apparent inconsistencies in CT pair category assignment. Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of CT pairs in category 12, for example, have high with-treatment benefit scores 55 (i.e., 0.9 or above), despite being defined as conditions for which treatment is without return to previous health. The health outcomes estimates appear to be consistent with category 17 placement where all 31 CT pairs have low net-benefit values (less than 0.4) indicating minimal or no improvement in quality of life. Incorporation of Oregonians Health State Preferences Into the Measurement of Treatment Outcomes An innovative aspect of the HSC prioritization method is the incorporation of public perceptions of health states into the assessment of treatment outcomes. Public preferences for health states were obtained from a telephone survey and average preference weights were then incorporated into the estimate of a CT pairs net benefit. Neither net benefit nor the incorporated survey weights were important determinants of CT pair list placement, but the effort to measure public health state preferences was an important conceptual aspect of the prioritization process. The preference weights derived from the telephone survey have a number of problems that render them inadequate representations of true public preferences as applied in Oregons prioritization process (OTA analyses of the survey are described in more detail in app. C): More than one-third of respondents (381 of 1001) gave inconsistent responses, indicating that they had difficulty with the telephone interview. More than one-quarter (27 percent) of respondents, for example, provided illogical responses to the nested questions pertaining to functional limitations. One example of such a response is giving a less-favorable score to a l l health state defined by one fictional limitation (e.g., used a wheelchair) than to a health state including that and an additional limitation (e.g., used a wheelchair and needed help going to the bathroom or eating). Respondents with inconsistent responses were significantly more likely to be insured through the Medicaid program, have incomes at or below the Federal poverty level, and be members of a racial/ ethnic minority group. The HSC decided to use all values from the survey, despite the logical inconsistencies of some responses. According to OTA analyses, however, adjusting the data for inconsistencies does alter the weights and had net benefit been used to rank CT pairs within category, the order of some CT pairs would have changed had adjusted weights been used. 56 But even if the survey-derived weights were adjusted, evidence of respondent confusion might invalidate their use. Respondent confusion may account for the presence of some counter-intuitive weights. Having stomach aches, vomiting, or diarrhea (-0.370), for example, was viewed as comparable to having a bad burn over large areas of the body (-0.372). For many states, individual scores varied widely from the average, suggesting either that there is general disagreement regarding the implications of the specified health states or that health states were too broadly defined (table 3-10). 57 Many of the health states include a wide range of conditions (e.g., coma and fainting are included in the same health state), and it is possible that different weights would have been obtained if health states had been more precisely defined. Weights differ significantly by respondent sociodemographic characteristics such as age and sex and according to whether the respondent had experienced the health state. Among the trends noted are that: respondents who had experienced the health state in question viewed 55 Net ben#lt is tie difference between the assessed bemzfit with and without tr~tment. 56 ~ ~~ted 49 ~ p~s (7 ~rcent of 709 CT ptis) would move 10 or more lines if adjusted wei@s were used instead of ~d@st~ wei@s. These shifts would not have changed coverage status with coverage set at line 587. 57 ~e Vfition of fidivldu~ ~egon smms ~ reported in @ble 3.10 ~ of tie we @@de ~ is typi~ly feud in preference m~ s. Available evidence suggests that while individuals within groups express differences in preference, preference weights are relatively constant ffom group to group (260).
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70 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 3-10-Functional Limitation and Health State/Symptom Weights, Standard Deviations, and 95 Percent Confidence Intervals Oregon Standard Confidence Survey item weight deviation interval a Functional limitation Mobility Ml. Have to stay at hospital or nursing home. . . . . . . M2. Cannot drive a car or use public transportation . . . . Physical activity PI. Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else . P2. Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control . . Social activity S1. Need help to eat or go to the bathroom. . . . . . . S2. Are limited in the recreational activities you may participate in. . Health states/symptoms HI. H2. H3. H4. H5. H6. H7. H8. H9. H1O. H11. H12. H13. H14. H15. H16. H17. H18. H19. H20. H21 H22. H23. Have losses of consciousness from seizures, blackouts, or coma. Have a bad burn over large areas of your body ... . . . Have drainage from your sexual organs and discomfort or pain . Have trouble learning, remembering, or thinking dearly . . . Have difficulty in walking because of a paralyzed or broken leg, but you have no other limitations on activity. . . . . . Have a painful or weak rendition of the back or joints . . . Have pain while you are urinating or having a bowel movement. ... Have stomach aches, vomiting, or diarrhea . . . . . Experience a lot of tiredness or weakness. . . . . . Cough, wheeze, or have trouble breathing . . . . . Are often depressed or upset . . . . . . . . Have headaches or dizziness . . . . . . . . Have an itchy rash over large areas of your body . . . . Have trouble talking, such as a lisp, stuttering, or hoarseness . Have pain or discomfort in your eyes or vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix. . . . . . . . . . Are overweight or have acne on your face ., . . . . . Have pain in your ear or trouble hearing . . . . . . Are on prescribed medicine or a prescribed diet for health reasons Wear glasses or contact lenses . . . . . . . . Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep . . . . . Have trouble with sexual interest or performance. . . . . Cant stop worrying. . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with the use of drugs or alcohol . . . . . -0.049 -0.046 -0.560 -0.373 -0.106 -0.062 -0.114 -0.372 -0.325 -0.367 -0.253 -0.253 -0.299 -0.370 -0.275 -0.318 -0.326 -0.305 -0,297 -0.188 -0.248 -0.215 -0.217 -0.123 b -0.055 -0.248 -0.276 -0.215 -0.455 .137 .112 .257 .246 .146 .099 .175 .265 .240 .235 .210 .210 .236 .239 .201 .224 .234 .221 .227 .202 .212 .227 .204 .183 .166 .218 .246 .216 .290 (-0.057, -0.041) (-0.054, -0.038) (-0.575, -0.543) (-0.389, -0.357) (-0.1 16, -0.096) (-0.068, -0.056) (-0.126, -0.102) (-0.388, -0.356) (-0.341, -0.309) (-0.381, -0.353) (--0.267, -0.239) (-0.267, -0.239) (-4.315, -0.283) (-0.386, -0.354) (-0.287, -0.263) (-0.332, -0.304) (-0.340, -0.312) (-0.319, -0.291) (-0.311, -0.283) (-0.200, -0.176) (-0.262, -0.234) (-0.229, -0.201) (-0.229, -0.205) (-0.135, -0.1 11) (-0.065, -0.045) (-0.262, -0.234) (-0.292, -0.260) (-0.229, -.201) (4.473. -0.437 a The 95 ~r~nt~fiden~ interval shows the range of values that should include the true weight 95 pereent of the time. The eOnfkdenCe interval k -kulated by taking the weight +/two times the standard error. b The Health serv~= Commission deeided not to use this weight (stext). SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992, based on analyses of 1990 telephone survey data supplied by the Oregon Health Serviees Commission. 12 health states more favorably than those who instead of weights for the entire sample, the had not experienced them (e.g., having diffirelative position of 45 CT pairs (6 percent of culty in walking); increased age was associated 709 CT pairs) would have changed by 10 or with less favorable scores for 11 of the health more lines. Following these shifts, six CT pairs states (e.g., have trouble talking); males viewed would have changed coverage status with 3 health states as being significantly worse than coverage set at line 587 (three would have did females (e.g., trouble with sexual interest or moved up to be covered, three would have performance) 58 (table 3-11). moved down to lose coverage). Selective use of If net benefit had been used to order CT pairs womens weights for health conditions such as within categories and the weights of those who dysmenorrhea (CT pair 574) also would affect had experienced the health state were used the ranking of some CT pairs. 59 M Womm viewed three health states as being signillcantly worse than did men (e.g., hsving a bd bin). S9 Fore-le, menview~ ~xw~e~@-ge~m sex~org~ ~ se~dy-tionless favorfilyhntid women. US@ wOmenS wdghtS for these symptoms, which are associated with dyamenorrheq would have the effect of moving that CX pair down the list by 10 lines (see app. C, box C-5, for net benefit calculations for this CT pair).
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Table 3-1 lDifferences in Oregons Preference Weights by Medicaid Status, Poverty, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Sex, Experience With Problem, and Metro/Nonmetro Residence a Medicaid Experience Residence Survey items status b Poverty c Race/ethnicity d Age e Sex f with problem g metro/nonmetro h Functional limitations Mobility Ml. Have to stay at hospital or nursing home . . M2. Cannot drive a car or use public transportation . Physical activity PI. Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else . . . . . . . P2. Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control . . . . . . . Social activity S1 Need help to eat or go to the bathroom . . . S2. Are limited in the recreational activities you may participate in. . . . . . . . Health states/symptoms J J J J J J HI H2. H3. H4. H5. H6. H7. H8. H9. H1O. H11. H12. Experience loss of consciousness due to seizures, blackouts, or coma. . . . . . . . Have a bad burn over large areas of your body. . Have drainage from your sexual organs and discomfort or pain . . . . . . . Have trouble learning, remembering, or thinking dearly . . . . . . . Have difficulty in walking because of a paralyzed or broken leg, but you have no other limitations on activity . . . . . . . . Have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints . . . . . . . . . Have pain while you are urinating or having a bowel movement . . . . . . . Have stomach aches, vomiting, or diarrhea. . Experience a lot of tiredness or weakness . . Cough, wheeze, or have trouble breathing . . Often depressed or upset . . . . . Have headaches or dizziness . . . . . 7 J J J J J J J J
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Table 3-n-Differences in Oregons Preference Weights by Medicaid Status, Poverty, Race/Ethnicity, Age, Sex, Experience With Problem, and Metro/Nonmetro Residence a --Continued Medicaid Experience Residence Survey items status b Poverty c Race/ethnicity d Age e Sex f with problem g metro/nonmetro h H13. H14. H15. H16. H17. H18. H19. H20. H21 H22. H23. J J J J J J 7 J J 7 .$ a Multivanate ana@eS (analySiS of variance) were S~ t. ~=s whether item.specif~ weights varied significant~ (itibt~ by &ecks) by respondent characteristics. b Those reporting anyone in the household hokting a Medicaid card were coded as being a Medicaid participant (n*). c Those living at or below the Federal poverty level (FPL) were coded as poverty level (n=90). d Bla&~, Ameri=n Indians, ~ental~, H~pan~, and those rewfling mix~ hefltage were ~~ as being minority group members (n+5). Minority grOIJp membOrS pOr~iVOd needing help for self-care (s1) (p.01 ) more favorably than nonminority group members and perceived recreation limits (S2) (.02), sexual organ discomfort (H3) (p=.02), ear pain (Hl 7) (p-.O4), and sleep problems (H20) (p=.03) less favorably than nonminority group members. 0 Age w= trmt~ ~ a ~ntinuous variable. ~ age ina~~, there were more favorab~ weights for hospital stays (Ml) (p.01 ), needing heip for se!f~re (S1 ) (pD.008), and sexual dysfunction (H21 ) (.02). As age incxeased, there were less favorable weights for burns (H2) (.006), sexual organ di scomfort (H3) (P.03), urinationkkfecation pain (H7) (~-03), stomach aties (H8) (P-.000), tiradne= (H9) (p-.O5), cough (H1O) (P=.000), headacheddizziness (H12) (p-.000), rash (H13) (pd02), trouble talking (H14) (p.02), overweight/acne (H16) (p-.003), and trouble with drugs/alcohol (H23) (p=.01 ). f ~men (~598) Mewd three states ~ king signifi=nt~ worse than d~ men (n_403): needing help for self~re (S1) (@.02), IOSS of consciousness (HI ) (~.w2), and bUrnS (H2) (p-.004). Men viewed three states as being significantly worse than did women: using a walker or wheelchair under own control (P2) (p-.O2), sexual organ discom fort (H3) (p-.O2), and sexual dysfunction (H21) (p.005). g Weights are significantly morefavorable for respondents with experience with the condition than forthosewithout such experience for 12conditions: using awalkerorwheelchair under own control (P2) (n=78) (p-.000), trouble learnin@remembering (H4) (n-l 21) (p-.005), difficulty walking (H5) (n=138) (p-.Ol2), stomach aches (H8) (n=381 ) (p-.O3), tiredness,lweakness (H9) (n-230) (~.05), cough (Hl O) (n-290) (~.000), headaches/dizziness (HI 2) (n=385) (p=.005), ovemmightkme (Hl 6) (n436) (p-.007), prescdption medicationaldiet (H18) (nd36) (p.000), glasses (H19) (nA83) (.002), sleep problems (H20) (n439) (p-.O2), and sexual dysfunction (H21 ) (n-84) (p-.Ol ). h weight~of r=~ents of metmplitan ar~ (SMAs) (n-&) were signifi~ntly more favom~ethan Weights of nonmetm resid~ts (n_324)f0rrwmtiOna[ aCtiVity limitations (S2) (p-.O2), sexual organ dkcmfort (H3) (pdkl), and cough (H1O) (p-.009). SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992, based on analyses of survey data supplied by the Oregon Health services Commission, 1990.
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List 73 That Oregons preference weights varied by sociodemographic and health experience should not be surprising. Kaplan and his colleagues report negative correlations between individuals preference scores and age, number of chronic medical conditions, number of reported symptoms or problems, number of physician contacts, and dysfunctional status (109). Such differences, however, raise questions regarding the appropriate use of the weights (e.g., whether womens weights should be used to assess conditions affecting only women). 60 In addition to problems related to the validity of the weights themselves, there are two potential problems with how the weights were applied: l l The list of 29 defined health states were used by both the clinicians providing outcomes information and the survey respondents valuing those health states. However, the descriptions of the health states that the clinicians used were more lengthy and often substantially different from those used for the survey. For example, when providing outcomes information, clinicians could use the descriptor pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness, or other discomfort in chest, stomach (including hernia or rupture), side, neck, back, hips, or any joints or hands, feet, arms, or legs. For the telephone survey this symptom was abbreviated to have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints. The weights from the survey might have been less favorable if the more extensive description of symptoms had been used. Different clinical endpoints were defined for the survey and for clinicians supplying outcome information. Clinicians were told to estimate outcomes that would be expected to occur in 5 years, while survey respondents providing health state preferences were told to assume that the health state was permanent. Although some symptoms or functional limitations present at 5 years are probably permanent, some of the weights might have been more favorable if respondents had assumed that the health condition described was not necessarily permanent. Furthermore, some immediate consequences of treatment (e.g., alleviation of pain following surgery) that may be important to patients are not accounted for using the clinicians 5-year endpoint. Incorporation of Community Values Incorporating community values into the prioritization process was an important goal of the Oregon Basic Health Services Act, and the HSC attempted to become informed of public values through both public hearings and community meetings. Despite a concerted effort to solicit the views of the population most likely to be affected by the demonstration (i.e., Medicaid recipients, those without medical insurance), the majority of community meeting attendees (69 percent) were health care providers (91). Although these individuals may have tried to express the needs of their patients, they also had their own interests to express. On the other hand, given the nature of the values discussed at the meetings (see box 3-G), it is unlikely that different values would have been expressed had the socio-demographic composition of the group been different (e.g., the high prioritization of services for mothers and children and the low prioritization of infertility services) (83,105). Regardless of the representativeness of the meetings, the HSC category rankings do seem to reflect the values expressed at them. Potentially life-saving treatments, maternal and child health services, preventive services, dental services, and treatments that improve quality of life were highly ranked categories, while treatments for conditions for which minimal or no improvement in quality of life is expected were generally ranked low. Factors the HSC May Consider When Issuing Another Prioritized List in 1993 Some of the criticisms raised in this section have been acknowledged by the HSC, which is making technical amendments to the list. The list issued May 1, 1991 is not unchangeable. The legislation stipulates that the list be under continual review and a new list issued every 2 years. Some factors that may be considered or considered more fully in the future include (193): @ Differen@s between the Oregon weights and those measured by Kaplan (preferences of San Diego County, California residents were assessed in the mid1970s) are discussed in app. C.
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74 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal l l l l l l l l l l l l Comorbidity, Severity of illness, Public preference for immediate versus future health benefits, Ranking preventive services according to their relative effectiveness, Societal impact of the prevention of contagious disease, Societal impact of fertility/birth control measures, Personal responsibility for condition, Condition incidence and prevalence, Discounting of future costs and benefits, Costs of health maintenance when a Life is saved, Costs of non-treatment or of alternative treatments (e.g., dialysis instead of liver transplant), and Social costs (e.g., unemployment due to disability). The Implications of Integrating Additional Services Into the Prioritized List Mental health and chemical dependency (MHCD) services would be incorporated into the 1993 version of the list, and some services for the aged, blind, and disabled are expected to be integrated. The HSCs MHCD subcommittee prioritized 51 MHCD services using a similar approach to the HSC and issued an integrated list of 760 health and MHCD services. 61 The subcommittee recommended that at a minimum the frost 39 of the 51 MHCD services be covered (244). Actuarial estimates are not yet available for the integrated list, but including expensive MHCD services may require substantial additional expenditures to maintain coverage of the current list of 587 health services (96). The process of identifying and prioritizing services for the aged, blind, and disabled is just beginning so it is unclear how their inclusion might affect the prioritized list. EVALUATING THE PRIORITIZED LIST Clinical Critique of the Prioritized List A clinical review of the list was undertaken on OTAs behalf by four physicians (two internists and two pediatricians) who reviewed the entire prioritized list (14,80,235). For this and other analyses, the clinical contractors were instructed to use readily available published information (e.g., review articles, medical textbooks) and consultations with experts. An informal review of the entire list identified the following problems associated with its use: l l l Ranked too lowThere are numerous examples of CT pairs that are more effective or clinically important than other nearby CT pairs. Examples of CT pairs where clinicians may find it hard to accept noncoverage for treatment include medical therapy and thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (line 593), 62 and medical therapy for chronic bronchitis (line 643), sarcoidosis (line 644), and sprains and strains (lines 653 and 655). Ranked too highThere are numerous CT pairs that are less effective or clinically important than other nearby CT pairs. Examples include line 495, excision of ganglion of tendon or joint, which is usually a trivial condition, and line 606, medical therapy for hepatorenal syndrome, for which treatment is generally regarded as ineffective. Related treatment rankings-Some alternative treatments for the same condition are inappropriately ranked given the usual sequence of current practice. In some cases, surgical therapy is ranked above line 587 and medical therapy ranked below line 587. Surgical treatment for peripheral enthesopathies (CT pair 493), for example, is covered, while medical therapy is not (CT pair 642). 63 Clinicians generally try medical therapy, and proceed to surgery only if medical therapy fails. Such rankings create counterproductive incen61 TIE HSC plans to ftize an ~te~td ht summer 1992 (244). 62 ~ HSC iS Co~i&@ mo~ my~~~a ~vis from he 593 to &tW&n ~es 159 ~d 160 w pm of the tNhIlic~ tlIIleIldIIlent PKxXSS. ThiS change is expected to be refleeted in the May 1992 revised list (190). 63 me HSC, ~ pm of tie t~~~ ~~dm~t pr~~s, is ~mid~g r~ef~g CT pfi 493 ~d moving it down the liSt to bChVWXl hlCS 531 d 532. The redefd CT pair would include surgical treatment for all peripheml enthesopathies. Medical therapy for peripheral enthesopathies would remain uncovered at line 642 (190),
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Chapter 3-The Prioritized List 75 tives for providers, encouraging expensive and invasive therapy. Heterogeneous patients within CT pairsPatients within many CT pairs are heterogeneous with respect to expected outcomes and therefore some subgroups of patients within CT pairs below the line could be expected to benefit from treatment. Physicians may have difficulty denying potentially beneficial treatment to some of these patients. CT pair 640, for example, includes testicular hyperfunction, which may require no treatment, and Schmidts syndrome, which is fatal without treatment of the adrenal insufficiency and for which the treatment is inexpensive and completely effective (311). Distinctions between some CT pairs are very subjective--Distinctions between some CT pairs, such as cancer and HIV-related CT pairs, require very subjective and arbitrary judgments of clinicians. There are 27 site-specific cancer CT pairs above the coverage line specified as treatable. Line 688 specifies treatments for cancer of various sites with distant metastasis where treatment will not result in a 10 percent 5-year chance of survival. A similar distinction is made for HIV disease. Medical therapy for HIV disease is covered at line 158, but it is not covered if the patient is in the end stages of HIV disease (CT pair 702). End-stage HIV disease is defined as the last 6 months of life. Comfort care would be available for terminal untreatable conditions. It may be difficult for clinicians to classify a condition as untreatable or terminal. In fact, a determination of a poor prognosis for patients is often made only after a patient fails to respond to treatment. Inseparability of treatment from diagnostic evaluation For some CT pairs, the treatment is largely inseparable from a reasonable diagnostic evaluation. In the case of surgery for peritoneal adhesions (line 508), for example, the diagnosis is made at the time of laparotomy, the surgical procedure employed to treat the condition. Many opportunities to upor down-codeDecisions to categorize patients by CT pair is in many cases subjective so that upor downcoding could easily occur. Sometimes a CT pair is split according to severity of illness. Lung resection for congenital cystic lung disease, for example, occurs twice on the list, once for the mild or moderate form (CT pair 212) and once for the severe form (CT pair 693). The distinction between mild or moderate and severe is subjective, and clinicians could make such distinctions according to their inclination to treat. In other cases, the treatment might not be covered for the patients immediate condition, but if the physician coded the patient according to his or her underlying or secondary condition, the treatment could be covered. Cholecystectomy is an uncovered treatment, but it is sometimes indicated for patients with sicklecell anemia. The surgery might be covered if coded as a treatment for sickle-cell anemia (CT pair 160). Treatment of terminal cancer is not covered, but when such patients experience a complication such as anemia or intestinal blockage, that treatment could be covered under higher ranking CT pairs. Empty CT pairs--Some treatments ranked near the bottom of the list represent ineffective care that in practice is rarely provided, giving their lack of coverage little meaning. Oregon neonatologists are not now, for example, providing aggressive medical treatment to anencephalic babies (CT pair 709), or to extremely low-birth-weight babies that are considered nonviable (babies weighing less than 500 grams and born at less than 23 weeks gestation) (CT pair 708) (57). Confusion regarding where certain conditions and their treatments are on the list Until the list is corrected and provider instructions for using it completed, coding errors and inconsistencies would lead to confusion as physicians try to locate specific conditions or treatments on the list. Many CT pairs have duplicate or missing ICD-9-CM or CPT--4 codes. ICD-9-CM code 722.7 (intervertebral disc disorder with myelopathy), for example, appears within two CT pairs, one above and the other below the line (CT pair 58&medical and surgical treatment for spondylosis and other chronic disorders of back, and CT pair 588-thoracic-lumbar laminectomy or medical therapy for intervertebral disc disorders). It is unclear what the intent for coverage is for this condition, Another source of confusion is inconsistency between the CT pair descriptions and the ICD-9-CM or CPT-4 codes listed within the CT pair. Treatable dementia (line 230), for example, includes conditions that
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76 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal some clinicians would not consider effectively treated (e.g., multi-infarct dementia). It is not surprising that OTA clinical reviewers found numerous examples of CT pairs that, in their opinion, were ranked either too high or too low, given that the ranking was dependent on the judgments of HSC commissioners. Clinicians may have difficulty using the list as it now stands, either because of its ambiguities or because it forces clinicians to accept judgments that may not coincide with their own or do not seem applicable to individual patients. The clinical consequences to beneficiaries of applying the prioritized list are discussed in the following chapters. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The Prioritization Process The HSC prioritized CT pairs using a two-staged ranking process, followed by a reordering of selected CT pairs on the list according to its judgment. In the first stage of the ranking process, CT pairs were assigned to 1 of 17 health service categories. The categories were then ranked using a group consensus method intended to reflect community health care values expressed at public meetings. In the second stage, CT pairs were ranked within categories by a net benefit term, which indicates the likely improvement in health-related quality of life associated with treatment for the specified condition. Its calculation integrates information from two principal sources: health care providers assessments of treatment outcomes, and Oregonians health state preferences elicited through a telephone survey. Following the two-staged ranking, the HSC used its best judgment to reorder some CT pairs. Selected CT pairs were moved up and down the list either within or beyond the range of their original category placement. Determinants of CT Pair List Placement OTA concludes that CT pair order on the prioritized list was determined largely by judgment-based HSC rankings of service categories and hand adjustments of the list. The hand adjustments of the list were extensive; the HSC moved nearly onequarter (24 percent) of CT pairs at least 100 lines up or down the list. CT pair health service category assignment remains an important determinant of CT pair placement on the prioritized list, but HSC adjustment of the list reduced the importance of net benefit, which had been used to order CT pairs within categories. Given that rankings depended on HSC judgments, it is unlikely that the exact rankings of the final list would be reproduced if a similar process were undertaken by others. That the list may not be replicable does not itself necessarily condemn its use in Oregon, but it does imply that the list cannot be adopted by other States and retain whatever meaning it has. Given that Oregons prioritized list is widely discussed as an example of rationing, it is important to note that certain factors often discussed as part of rationing are relatively unimportant to the list. For example, CT pair-related cost and cost-effectiveness were not important determinants of CT pair order on the list. Nearly one-half of the highest-cost CT pairs are found within the top 300 lines of the list, and as many as one-third of low-cost CT pairs fall below line 587. The relative order of some CT pairs may appear counterintuitive to some if the list is viewed from a cost-effectiveness perspective. Simple and inexpensive-to-treat sprains and strains, for example, fall below the coverage line while expensive transplants generally fall above the line. Also, the relative effectiveness of diagnostic tests were not considered as part of prioritization-all diagnostic tests are included in a hypothetical CT pair O. Other mechanisms that area part of Oregons plan (e.g., utilization review, managed care) are to control any inappropriate use of diagnostic services. Finally, while the list does seem to concentrate some conditions for which treatment is regarded as ineffective at the bottom of the list, the list itself does not effectively eliminate what many would consider futile care. For example, although the list does prioritize comfort care over the treatment of terminal cancer, a patient with complications of terminal cancer (e.g., anemia, surgical treatment of an intestinal blockage) could be treated under the plan. Critique of HSC Prioritization Process Community Meetings and Public Hearings-The community meetings and public hearings held as part of the prioritization process provided an important opportunity for the public to raise issues and participate in the process. Some of the public values expressed at these meetings seem to be reflected in the list. However, the views expressed at
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Chapter 3--The Prioritized List l 77 the community meetings may not be representative of a cross section of Oregon residents. Despite a concerted effort on the part of meeting organizers to reach out to populations likely to be affected by the demonstration, the majority of participants were health care providers. A potential liability of using a focus group or town meeting approach to setting priorities is that irrespective of whether balanced representation is achieved, various stakeholders are likely to skew the outcomes. Treatments affecting subpopulations might suffer if majority consensus or well-funded special interest groups drive resource allocation decisions. If the demonstration proceeds, awareness of the importance of the prioritized list would be raised and providers and various interest groups would probably lobby the HSC for special consideration. Representatives of the HSC expect this to occur (244) and point out that such efforts routinely occur on a national basis (e.g., lobbying Congress for Medicare coverage for certain services). The HSC would require technical and analytic expertise to judge the validity of interest group claims to avoid being swayed by biased or faulty data. Such expertise would be needed both for the biannual preparation of a new list and for the technical amendment process that would occur in the interim. The HSC now has a very small technical staff, and Ballot Measure 5-related cuts may reduce the available staff by as much as 25 percent, limiting the HSCs ability to provide necessary analytic support (191). Treatment Outcomes Information-Net benefit was not as important a determinant of CT pair placement on the list as other aspects of the prioritization process. Nonetheless, the outcome information provided to the HSC by Oregon clinicians and the public preferences elicited by telephone were vital conceptual parts of the process. The HSC relied on panels of clinicians to provide outcomes information based primarily on their own clinical judgment rather than extensive reviews of the medical literature. OTA clinician reviewers disagreed with most of the outcomes information for a sample of CT pairs they ex amined, suggesting that outcomes assessment by this method is a highly subjective process that may vary substantially among individuals according to experience and opinion. It was difficult for Oregon clinicians to provide outcomes information in accordance with their own experience because individual CT pairs often aggregated a wide range of conditions and treatments, and because there was no way to systematically capture the effects of factors such as age and comorbidity on outcome. Several specific aspects of the outcomes gathering process may have also contributed to errors and inconsistencies in outcomes assessment (e.g., the fact that clinician panels providing outcomes information differed in composition, size, and methods). One of the most innovative aspects of Oregons prioritization process is the integration of quality-oflife measures into treatment outcome assessments. A uniform set of health states were used to describe all treatment outcomes, making it possible to compare such diverse treatments as medical therapy for diaper rash and bone marrow transplantation for leukemia. Clinician-supplied outcomes information was specified in terms of the presence or absence of these health states, which were in turn weighted according to public preferences or the relative desirability of experiencing the health states (as determined by a statewide phone survey). Using the weights allows the prioritization of a treatment that avoids a particularly dreaded symptom over another treatment that avoids a less onerous one. OTA analyses of the telephone survey responses and the resultant weights, however, suggest that it is premature to apply these measures to resource allocation decisions. More research on eliciting weights (e.g., in-person vs. phone interviews), defining health states to be measured, and methods to calculate weights are needed before they can be applied with scientific validity. Clinical Critique of the Prioritized List From a clinical perspective, a weakness in the prioritization methodology is the reliance on broadly defined service categories (e.g., chronic fatal, acute non-fatal). These categories were an important determinant of CT pair order on the list, but they are clinically problematic because many of the distinctions among categories are not useful measures of treatment importance (e.g., acute vs. chronic, repetitive vs. one-time treatment). On the other hand, the service-defined categories (e.g., reproductive health, dental services) were a useful organizational tool which enabled the HSC to incorporate
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78 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal public values elicited at community meetings and hearings. For example, the HSC was able to rank high womens and childrens services and rank low treatments for infertility. A major problem with the list is that many diverse conditions are aggregated into CT pairs and many CT pairs include conditions of varying severity and responsiveness to treatment. The HSC used its judgment to rank CT pairs for the average patient within the CT pair. From the perspective of the patients and physicians using the list, however, the list may seem unreasonable when applied to individuals because of the level of aggregation of conditions and treatments within CT pairs. There are numerous examples of patient subpopulations within below-the-line CT pairs that might benefit substantially from treatment, and there are other examples of patient subpopulations within above-the-line CT pairs for which treatment might be ineffective. Clinicians and patients may have difficulty accepting the validity of the list when the patients treatment falls below the line, but the treatment is expected to improve the condition because of the patients unique clinical circumstances. Lastly, there are numerous technical errors in the list that if not corrected could contribute to misinterpretation of the scope of conditions or treatments included in CT pairs on the list. In s ummary, a quantified prioritization process incorporating net-benefit values was not possible, in part because accurate health outcome information is not yet available for most treatments. Even if such data were available, however, it would be difficult to apply in the Oregon context because of the variety of conditions and treatments included in many CT pairs and the inability for CT pair-based outcomes estimates to account for such factors such as age and comorbidity. If CT pairs were disaggregated to better specify conditions on such factors as comorbidity and better define patient populations by factors such as age, the list could number in the tens of thousands and the subjective processes used by the HSC would become unmanageable. One group that has attempted to use a clinician consensus process to generate outcomes for certain procedures, for example, has enumerated as many as 2,000 indications for hysterectomy alone (33). If conditions were disaggregated, a more systematic or quantified approach than that used by the HSC would have to be used. Even if a quantified approach were developed to rank even a much less extensive list, however, the list might not serve as a useful guide to health benefits-it would be nearly impossible to actuarially price such a list and it would be impractical for clinicians to use it. Furthermore, difficult ethical questions would arise as rankings by treatment effectiveness would certainly be influenced by such factors as age and presence of disability. Applying cost-effectiveness analysis to a list made up of CT pairs is also problematic. CT pairs are defined so broadly that clinical approaches of widely varying costs and effectiveness are buried within a single CT pair (e.g., treatment is often defined as medical or surgical therapy, which could include anything from an office visit to invasive surgery). Quantifying costs and benefits and adjusting for quality of life over a lifetime for all health services are daunting tasks which are theoretically possible but unlikely to be achieved in the near future. Information will be available incrementally to help guide specific health resource allocation decisions and to improve physician-patient counseling and decisionmaking. The Oregon prioritization process has provided some valuable lessons. Public awareness of limited health care resources has been raised and a concerted effort was made to identify the medical and social value of treatments as assessed by community physicians and patients. Refinements and variations of the process could be used to: define the extremes of coverage (i.e., highly prioritized care and futile or socially unimportant care), guide utilization management programs, and focus the efforts of the health service research community.
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Chapter 4 Implications for Health Care Providers Contents Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 CURRENT STATUS OF PROVIDERS IN OREGON . . . . . . . 81 Provider Supply, Distribution, and Financial Characteristics . . . . . 81 Current Medicaid Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 HEALTH CARE DELIVERY UNDER THE DEMONSTRATION . . . . 94 Providers in the Proposed System . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Distribution of Enrollees by Delivery System . . . . . . . . . 97 Cavitation Rate Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 IMPLICATIONS OF DEMONSTRATION CHANGES FOR PROVIDERS . . 101 Delivery System Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Reimbursement Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Impact of the prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Overall Implications for Provider Participation . . . . . . . . 108 Issues for Selected Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Organizational and Financial Implications . . . . . . . . . 114 Impact of the Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Issues for Selected Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 (oonflnuedon nexfpage)
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Contents-Continued Tables Table Page 4-1. Number and Size of Oregon Short-Term General Hospitals by Geographic Area, Current (1991) Medicaid Delivery System Status, and Anticipated Delivery System Status Under the Proposed Demonstration . . . . . . . 82 4-2. Net Operating Margins of Oregon Short-Term General Hospitals, 1987 and 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 4-3. Location, 1990 Patient Population Characteristics, and Proposed Status Under the Demonstration of Oregons Federally Qualified Health Centers . . . 84 4-4. Insurance Coverage and Income Characteristics of Patients in Oregon Primary Care Clinics, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . 85 4-5. Number of Physicians per 100,000 Population: United States and Oregon, Selected Years, 1980-90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 4-6. Number of Primary Care Physicians per 100,000 Population, by Specialty: United States and Oregon, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . 87 4-7. Distribution of Physicians Participating in Oregons Fee-for-Service Medicaid Program, by Annual Medicaid Billings, 1990 . . . . . . 88 4-8. Proportion of Oregon Physicians Reporting an Unlimited Medicaid Practice by County, 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 4-9. Oregon Medicaid Reimbursement Methods for Selected Services in the Fee-for-Service Delivery System, 1991 . . . . . . . . . 91 4-10. Current Status of Physician Care Organization Involvement in Providing and Managing Services for Medicaid Clients, 1990 . . . . . . . 92 4-11. Current and Proposed Oregon Medicaid Delivery System by County . . . 98 4-12. Distribution of Oregon Medicaid Enrollment by Eligibility Category and Health Care Delivery System: 1993 Without Demonstration, 1993 Demonstration Startup, and 1993 Demonstration Steady State . . . . . . . . 99 4-13. Breakdown of Preliminary Cavitation Rates for Providers in the Oregon Medicaid Demonstration in State Fiscal Year 1993: Rates for Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties for All Demonstration Eligibles Under 100 Percent of the Federal Poverty Level Except General Assistance . . . . . . 100 4-14. Cavitation Rates for Prepaid Health Providers in Oregon: Current and Proposed Benefit Packages . . . . . . . . . 104 4-15. Coverage of Selected Optional Medicaid Services, Oregon vs. Other States, October 1, 1989.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
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Chapter 4 Implications for Health Care Providers INTRODUCTION Implementation of Oregons proposed Medicaid demonstration would affect providers of health care organizationally, financially, and clinically. Any impact of the proposed demonstration on providers of care is likely to have a resultant impact on Medicaid beneficiaries access to care-either primary access or access to specific services. (Implications for beneficiary access to care are discussed further in chapter 5.) Of the many changes proposed under the demonstration, four are likely to have pronounced effects on providers: l l l l Not Enrollment expansion, Restructuring of the delivery system, Changes in methods and rates of provider reimbursement, and Implementation of the prioritized list of health services as the Medicaid benefit package. l all of these changes would be fully in place at program startup. Enrollment expansions are expected to occur over a period of approximately 3 years (see ch. 5). Delivery system and reimbursement reforms are expected to be completed within the first 2 years. The prioritized list, however, would be in place from the very beginning. The ultimate impact of the demonstration on providers would depend on the combined effect of all of these changes and would probably vary greatly among individual providers. This chapter provides a framework for predicting provider response to the demonstration by examining the possible effects of proposed changes for different types of providers in the State. First, it provides an overview of Oregon health care providers and the current Medicaid delivery system. Next, it s ummarizes the proposed delivery system and payment changes under the demonstration and speculates about their possible implications for different types of providers. Finally, the chapter discusses provider issues related to the implementation of the prioritized list as a benefit package. It also discusses the level of data collection efforts and other administrative tasks that providers (and the Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP)) 2 would need to take on in order to enable an evaluation of the demonstration. It is important to note that, at the time this report was written, many aspects of Oregons implementation process had yet to be developed. The goal of this chapter is first to describe the proposed changes in detail, and then to point out issues of potential concern for providers based on the Office of Technology Assessments (OTA) understanding of the development of Oregons plan to date. Some of these concerns appear to be relatively simple ones to address, and some are already under consideration by OMAP; others seem less tractable. CURRENT STATUS OF PROVIDERS IN OREGON To understand how the proposed demonstration might affect health care providers in Oregon, it is helpful to ex amine their current involvement in Medicaid as well as the broader climate in which they function. This section describes the supply and distribution of providers in Oregon and, where possible, their financial characteristics and participation in Medicaid. It then describes how health care is delivered and paid for under Oregons current Medicaid program. Provider Supply, Distribution, and Financial Characteristics Hospitals There are 66 short-term general community hospitals in Oregon. 3 Of these, 30 are in Oregons 8 metropolitan counties. Of the 36 hospitals in nonmetropolitan areas of the State, 24 have fewer than 50 beds (155). Table 4-1 shows the distribution of hospitals by county and size. 1 Another change that would affect providers is the States proposed waiver of liability for not providing to Medicaid patients those medically necessary semices that fall below the cutoff point on the prioritized list. This provision is discussed in ch. 7. 2 OMAP is the agency within the Oregon State Department of Human Resources that is responsible for administering the Medicaid program. 3 Data presented in this section are for short-term general community hospitals only.
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82 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 4-l-Number and Size of Oregon Short-Term General Hospitals a by Geographic Area, Current (1991) Medicaid Delivery System Status, and Anticipated Delivery System Status Under the Proposed Demonstration 1 0 Available data suggest that the viability of a number of hospitals in the State is tenuous. For example: l l l The average occupancy rate for community hospitals in Oregon is significantly lower than the U.S. average (56.8 vs. 66.8 percent in 1990) (6). One metropolitan county and 8 of the 25 nonmetropolitan counties had average hospital occupancy rates below 30 percent (162). Although net operating margins 4 of Oregon hospitals generally improved between 1987 and 1990, certain classes of hospitals (e.g., hospitals of 6 to 24 beds, government hospitals) on average reported negative operating margins in 1990 (table 4-2). Operating margins of type A and type B rural hospitals have improved over the last 4 years, perhaps due to the implementation of Federal and State policies that exempt them from prospective payment for inpatient services and percent-of-cost limits for outpatient services. Operating margins l of type C rural hospitals, which do not benefit from reimbursement protections, have declined. In 1990, 23 of the States hospitals reported negative operating margins, with 9 hospitals reporting margins worse than percent (155). All but 7 of these 23 hospitals were in nonmetropolitan counties. Although all hospitals serve at least some Medicaid patients, certain hospitals serve more than others and, hence, are more dependent on Medicaid revenues than their counterparts. For example, in 1990: l l The total number of Medicaid inpatient discharges in Oregon was 38,513. 6 Of these, 26,115 (67 percent) were from Oregons 10 Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals (162). Medicaid represented 11.6 percent of total inpatient discharges and 10.2 percent of total inpatient days in Oregon hospitals. Types of hospitals with a greater than average proportion of Medicaid inpatient discharges and days were Medicaid 4 See glossary for definition of net operating margins. s Ref~s to class~lcatio~ develop~ by the State of Oregon for Medicaid reimbursement exemptions and other resource allocation purpo$%. Typ3 A hospitals were exempt from prospective payment for inpatient services for all years represented in table 4-2. Type B hospitals were exempt from prospective payment for inpatient services beg inning in 1989. Both type A and type B rural hospitals are reimbursed at 100 percent of costs for inpatient savices (based on individual hospitals Medicare cost reports). Type C rural hospitzds are not eligible for these reimbursement protections (161a). b Discharges with Medicaid listed as primary source of pay. Excludes discharges from the two Kaiser Perman ente hospitals.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 83 l Table 4-2Net Operating Margins of Oregon Short-Term General Hospitals, a 1987 and 1990 Number of Net operating margin Hospital category hospitals, 199@ 1987 1990 All hospitals . . . . . . . . Metropolitan ., . . . . . . Nonmetropolitan. . . . . . . Rural class A c . . . . . . . Rural class B . . . . . . . Rural class C . . . . . . . Nonrural hospitals . . . . . . Number of staffed beds 6 to 24 . . . . . . . . 25 to 49 . . . . . . . . 50 to 99 . . . . . . . . 100 to 199.,.... . . . . . . 200 to 299...,.. . . . . . . 300 to 399...... . . . . . . 400 to 499...... . . . . . . Ownership Private, for profit. . . . . . . Nongovernment, not-for-profit . . . Government, State or local . . . . Medicaid disproportionate share (DSH) status DSH . . . . . . . . All other hospitals. . . . . . . 66 28 38 9 19 13 25 8 24 10 15 1 4 4 (8) (39) (19) (10) (56) 2.56% 2.63 2.63 -1.68 -3.11 4.95 2.98 -16.87 0.42 5.80 2.92 3.49 -1.49 6.68 -0.43 5.20% -11,10 NA NA 2.58%. 2.41 3.04 1.25 -0.10 2.87 2.79 -13.20 2.10 4.94 3.51 1,69 -3.52 7.64 2.32 4.26 -6.60 -3.66 4.20 NOTE: NA= notavailable. a Includes all short-term general hospitals in oregon except mititary and Veterans Administration hospitals. b~ismlumn reflects the 1990 totals foreati grouping. Numbers forpnoryears were slightly different. cseetefl(fwtnote 5)foradefinition of oregonrural hospital classifications. SOURCE: PreparedbytheOregonAssociation ofHospitals, Salem,OR,usingdata fromthe 1990American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Hospitals and 1990 audited finandal statements from Oregon hospitals. disproportionate share hospitals (22.9 and 22.0 percent of discharges and days, respectively), government hospitals (18.2 and 18.6 percent), type C rural hospitals (16.7 and 11.5 percent), and type B rural hospitals (13.6 and 12.0 percent) (162). Medicaid represented 11.9 percent of total inpatient charges for all hospitals. Types of hospitals significantly exceeding this average included hospitals of 200 to 400 beds (where Medicaid represented about 15 percent of charges), State or local government hospitals (16.2 percent), and Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals (22.9 percent). Hospitals below the average included rural hospitals (6.9 percent for class A), hospitals that were not a part of a multihospital system (8. 1 percent), and hospitals that did not have Medicaid disproportionate share status (7.0 percent) (162). The distribution of outpatient visits by source of pay appears to differ from that of inpatient visits. Small rural hospitals and Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals had a greater proportion of outpatient visits than inpatient discharges attributed to Medicaid (10.9 vs. 6.9 percent for rural class A, 15.0 vs. 13.9 percent for disproportionate share), while the reverse was true for all other hospitals (162). The higher use of outpatient services by Medicaid patients in rural hospitals could be due to the limited availability of office-based health care services in these areas, although no empirical data exist to support this theory. The differences noted could also be due in part to inconsistencies in how individual hospitals report outpatient visits. Primary Care Clinics Primary care clinics in Oregon include federally qualified health centers (FQHC S ), 7 federally certified rural health clinics (RHCs), county health T FQHCS are clinics funded under sections 329, 330, and/or 340 of the Public Health Service Act, or other public clinics that serve similar clients, as designated by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (Public Law 101-239, Public Law 101-508). They include community health centers (section 330), migrant health centers (section 329), and health centers for the homeless (section 340).
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Table 4-3-Location, 1990 Patient Population Characteristics, and Proposed Status Under the Demonstration of Oregons Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) a Percent of Percent of Percent of users Total PHS a County/ users with users below who have PCO/FCHP status d unduplicated grant metro status b / no health Minority Age 100 percent Medicaid Clinic name Under users, 1989 source No. of clinic sites insurance status distribution of FPL C coverage Now demonstration Clinica del Carino 2,182 329 Hood River Hispanic 70.0?/ 0-19 44.0% PCOs by and Nonmetro 71% Black 0.3% 20-64 54.0% 70% 14% None start of 330 1 Other nonwhite 0.8% 65+ 2.0% year 3 Clinica del Vane 3,794 329 Jackson Hispanic 70.0 0-19 41.5 PCO FCHPs Metro 91 Black 0.5 20-64 57.0 70 NA optional mandatory 1 Other nonwhite 0.5 65+ 1.5 by startup Hermiston 3,312 329 Umatilla Hispanic 38.0 0-19 51.0 PCOs by Community Clinic Nonmetro 60 Black 0.5 20-64 46. 0 60 16 None start of 1 Other nonwhite NA 65+ 3.0 year 3 Milton-Freewater (New clinic 329 Umatilla Hispanic NA 0-19 NA PCOs by Clinic in 1990) Nonmetro 30 Black NA 20-64 NA NA 15 None start of 1 Other nonwhite NA 65+ NA year 3 Multnomah Co. 38,332 330 Multnomah Hispanic 3.8 0-19 57.0 21 in PCOs FCHPs Health Department and Metro 82 Black 16.3 20%1 41.0 79 a PCO, 340 14a Other nonwhite 12.6 mandatory mandatory 65+ 2.0 1.8 not by startup Salud Medical 8,075 329 Marion Hispanic 60.3 0-19 48.0 PCOs FCHPs Clinic and Metro 71 Black NA 2044 51.0 74 11 330 1 Other nonwhite 1.0 mandatory mandatory 65+ 1.0 by startup SORHN 2,827 330 Klamath Hispanic 1.0 0-19 40.0 PCOs Nonmetro 39 Black 1.0 20-64 47.0 77 29 None by 2 Other nonwhite 24.0 65+ 13.0 startup Valley Family NA 329 Malheur Hispanic NA 0-19 NA PCOs by Health Care Inc./ Nonmetro Black NA 20-64 NA NA NA None start of Nyssa 2 Other nonwhite NA 65+ NA year 3 Virginia Garcia 8,494 329 Washington Hispanic 88.5 0-19 46.0 PCOs FCHPs Clinic Metro 87 Black 0.1 20-64 53. 0 92 8 mandatory mandatory 1 Other nonwhite 0.2 65+ 1.0 by startup West Salem Clinic 6,891 330 Marion Hispanic 15.0 0-19 23.0 PCOs FCHPs and Metro 26 Black 2.0 20-64 53. 0 68 35 340 1 Other nonwhite 3.0 mandatory mandatory 65+ 24.0 by startup Clackamas Co. (New clinic LookClackamas Hispanic 10.0 0-19 59.0 PCOs FCHPs Health Department in 1991) alike Metro 74 Black 0.8 20-64 41.0 63 22 2 Other nonwhite 1.1 mandatory mandatory 65+ 0.0 by startup NOTE: NA not available. a FQHC~ are Clini= fu~~ u~er s=tions 3X (migrant health ~nters), 330 (community h~lth centers), and/or 340 (health care for the homeless) of the Public Health Service Act (see text). Other public clinics can also qualify under a look-alike provision if they provide similar services. b Refers t. metrowlitan or nonmetmpolitan status (Bureau of Census definition) of county in which clinic is located. c FpL F~ral pOverfy level.
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d @not= ~m~~ ~e~ ~livey ~ i n that ~un~ ~r the &monstmtmnPCO. @ysidan ~re organization (a partial~ ~pitat~ plan); FCHP fully cavitated health plan. Currentfy, prepaid plan enrollment is mandatory for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) eligibles in a 9-unty area and is optional in a tenth county. As of March 1991, four FQHCS (Multnomah County Health Department, Clackamas County Health Department, Virginia Garcia Clinic, and Clinicadel Vane) were partiapating as PCOS and an additional two (Salud and West Salem clinics) were participating as subcontractors to a PCO. Under the demonstration, enrollment in prepaid delive~ systems would apply to all eligibility groups (see text). FCHPS would be the required mode of service delivery in nine (urban or urban-adjacent) caunties. Other counties are targeted for PCO contract negotiations, although Oregon has not stated in which counties PCOS will be mandatory. The dates in the far right-hand column reflect the time at which OMAP had anticipated PCO and FCHP contracts to be finalized in that county. The original anticipated date forprcqram startup was July 1,1992. Contract negotiations have since been delayed on a month-to-month basis pending approval of the waiver by the U.S. Health Care Finanang Administration (see text). e The Multnomah ~Unty Health Department is composed of seven COmmUnity clinic SiteS and SWWl School-bed sit-. f Cla&m= County Health Department was designated as an FQHC in octo~r 1991. SOURCES: Oregon Primary Care Association, unpubiisheddata derived from Bureau of Common Reporting Requirements reports filed by federaltyfunded clinics and reports from individual clinics, prepared for the Office of Technology Assessment August 1991; Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oregon Md@dDwonstratbn WahmrApp/ication, subrnittedto the Health Care Financing Administration Aug. 16,1991 ;T. Troxel, Director, Public Health Division, Clackamas County Department of Human Services, Portland, OR, personal communication, Mar. 16, 1992. Table 4-4-insurance Coverage and Income Characteristics of Patients in Oregon Primary Care Clinics, 1990 a Number and percent of clinics who reported b that the percentage of their patients having the characteristics listed below was: Total number o-lo% 11-2070 21-30% 31-40% 41-50% 51-60% 61-7070 71-80% of clinics 81-90% 91-100% No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % with valid No. % No. % No. % No. % responses Insurance coverage: Medicaid coverage . 17 30.3 16 28.6 14 25.0 3 5.4 3 5.4 0 0.0 1 1.7 2 3.6 0 0.0 0 0.0 56 Medicare coverage. 13 43.3 5 16.7 5 16.7 1 3.3 3 10.0 2 6.7 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 3.3 30 Private insurance . 20 51.3 3 7.7 6 15.4 4 10.3 4 10.3 2 5.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 39 No health insurance 4 8.1 3 6.1 10 20.4 4 8.1 2 4.1 2 4.1 8 16.3 3 6.1 4 8.2 9 18.5 49 Income characteristic: Have incomes below 100 percent FPL C . 3 6.5 2 4.4 2 4.4 3 6.5 10 21.7 6 13.0 7 15.2 5 10.9 4 8.7 4 8.7 46 Pay nothing for clinic services . 10 25.5 2 5.1 7 18.0 0 0.0 7 18.0 2 5.1 1 2.6 2 5.1 1 2.6 7 18.0 39 a Bas~ on a lggo sumeyto~~h 97clini= (all nonprofit) respond~. These dini~ induded@coUnty C(inia, 10 dool-b~dclinb, 11 federally qualified health centers (FQHCS), 2 Indian Health Servics clinics, and 25 other twes of clinics. Only 43 of the total 97 clinics reported paymentinsurance coverage data. b C[inb were ~k~ t. rewflfiat per~ntage of all their patients in 1990 fit the cat~ories list~ on the left-hand side of this ta~e. percentag~ of patients do not add to 100 due to overtap between categories of insurance coverage and income characteristics. c FPL Federal poverty level. SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Health Policy, Salem, OR, unpublished data from the June 1991 Primary Care Clinics Survey.
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86 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal departments (CHDs), and other public and private clinics. These clinics have traditionally played a key role in providing basic primary care services to the Medicaid population. There are 11 FQHCs in Oregon, located in both urban and rural areas (table 4-3), and 17 RHC S 8 The 11 FQHCs include clinics with community health center, migrant health center, and health care for the homeless funding, as well as one county health department designated under the so-called look alike provision (table 4-3). 9 All FQHCs use an income-based sliding-fee scale for their uninsured patientssome patients may pay the full charge, while others pay nothing. To subsidize uncompensated care, these clinics rely on Federal grant dollars and cross-subsidies from patients who do have health insurance, including those with Medicaid coverage. Data derived from quarterly utilization reports for 1989 and 1990 10 show that, in the 11 FQHCs, anywhere from 26 to 91 percent of patients seen in a given clinic had no health insurance, and from 8 to 35 percent had Medicaid coverage (table 4-3). The proportion of patients below the Federal poverty level (FPL) ranged from 60 to 79 percent (table 4-3). OTA was unable to obtain service capacity, financial, or patient demographic data for RHCs. Other primary care clinics include Indian Health Service clinics and 35 CHDs. Data for these facilities are scarce. In a 1990 survey of all nonprofit primary care clinics conducted by the Oregon Primary Care Association, a few such clinics reported patient financial and insurance information (table 4-4). Most clinics reporting data claimed that somewhere between 11 and 30 percent of their patients had Medicaid coverage. The majority also reported that the proportion of their patients with incomes below the FPL ranged from 40 to 100 percent (table 4-4). A CHD in Clackamas County reported that one-third of its operating budget came from Medicaid (261). Table 4-5-Number of Physicians a per 100,000 Population: United States and Oregon, Selected Years, 1980-90 Number of physicians per 100,000 residents Percent Year United States Oregon difference 1980 . . . 202 182 .0% 1986 . . . 227 209 -8.0 1988 . . . 231 219 -5.0 1990 . . . 240 220 -9.0 a [ndudes both allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (~) @YsiUans. SOURCE: Oregon Health Sciences University, Office of Rural Health, Physician Resources /n ~egon: A Summary Report (Portland, OR: Oregon Health Sciences University, September 1991), table 1-1. Professional Providers PhysiciansAs of December 31, 1990, there were an estimated 6,241 practicing physicians 11 in Oregon (188). Of these physicians, 84 percent practiced in the 10 Medicaid managed care counties (counties where Oregon currently requires most Medicaid beneficiaries to enroll in prepaid health planssee Current Medicaid Program, below); the remainder practiced in other areas of the State (189). Oregon has historically lagged behind the United States in supply of physicians relative to the population. Although the gap lessened somewhat during the 1980s, 1990 data indicate that it may be growing again (table 4-5). In 1990, 117 (47.7 percent) of Oregons 241 cities and towns had no physician (188). All of these were places of fewer than 5,000 residents (188). Three counties (Gilliam, Wheeler, and Sherman) had no physicians in either 1980 or 1990 (188). A larger proportion of Oregon physicians are in primary care specialties than in the United States as a whole. For example, Oregon has 40 general or family practitioners per 100,000 residents, compared with 28 per 100,000 for the United States (table 4-6) (188). In Oregons metropolitan counties (where prepaid plan enrollment is mandatory for all AFDC eligibles under the current Medicaid pro8 RHC certification for purposes of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement was authorized by the Rural Health Clinics Act of 1972 (Public Law 95-210). These clinics are entitled to reimbursement at 100 percent of reasonable cost for their savices from both Medicaid and Medkare if they meet certain requirements (e.g., they must use midlevel practitioners at least 50 pereent of the time). 9 Two of tie CWCS titi community he~~ ~ntm (section 330) funding also receive grants under section 340 of the Public Health fkrviee Ad (health care for the homeless ). 10 ~ese rep~ me r~fi~ x a con~tion of obFederal grant dollars. They are collected by regional offices of the Department of Health ~ Human Services. I I hclud~ both ~opa~c (MD) physicians and osteopathic W) physicti.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers 87 Table 4-6-Number of Primary Care Physicians a per 100,000 Population, by Specialty: United States and Oregon, 1990 United States Oregon Number of Number per Number of Number per Specialty physicians 100,000 residents physicians 100,000 residents General/family practice . . . . 69,339 28.0 1,119 40.1 Obstetrics/gynecology . . . . . 32,278 13.0 346 12.4 Pediatrics. . . . . . . . 38,231 15.4 315 11.3 Internal medicine . . . . . . 94,674 38.3 918 32.9 a ln~~es both allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) ~Ysi~ans. SOURCE: Oregon Health Selenees University, Office of Rural Health, Physic/an Reswrces in Oregon: A Summary F?eport(Portland, OR: Oregon Health seienees University, September 1991). gram), 41 percent of physicians are in a primary care specialty. 12 In Oregon's nonmetropolitan counties (only two of which are currently under the Medicaid prepaid managed care system), 51 percent were in primary care (189). Despite the relatively high prevalence of primary care physicians, a recent study by the Oregon Office of Rural Health cited a conspicuous [geographic] maldistribution of physicians in the State (188). A State tax credit of $5,000 offered to physicians who practice in rural shortage areas has reportedly enhanced rural physician retention in recent years (187). Nonetheless, the study notes a declining supply of primary care physicians statewide, and a declining supply of physicians overall in rural areas between 1986 and 1990 (188). Medicaid Participation-In a recent national study of Medicaid physician participation conducted by the Physician Payment Review Commission, Medicaid officials in Oregon reported problems with physician participation in rural areas and among providers of obstetric services (203). When asked what factors inhibited participation, Medicaid directors from the 51 programs surveyed most frequently cited low fees, malpractice insurance premiums, and complex billing procedures (203). Empirical data on Medicaid participation are scarce for Oregon physicians as well as for physicians nationally. Medicaid physician participation data typically derive from one of two sources: Medicaid claims databases, or physician surveys. Data based on Medicaid claims may overstate participation because they count physicians who submit only a single claim (203). Physician survey data are problematic because physicians themselves tend to overstate their level of participation (1 17). OTA was able to obtain data from each of these sources for Oregon physicians, as described below: l l Data from OMAPs claims database and State medical licensing board counts of practicing physicians in Oregon indicate that 76.2 percent of all practicing physicians in the State were paid directly by Medicaid for at least one service in 1990. 13 The degree of participation among these physicians can be illustrated further by examining their distribution by annual Medicaid billings (table 4-7). Approximately 40 percent of all participating physicians billed Medicaid for $5,000 or less. In a 1988 survey of all physician members of the Oregon Medical Association (OMA) (195), 14 59.5 percent of responding physicians reported that they accepted all Medicaid patients; 33 percent said they restricted their Medicaid practices; and the remaining 7.5 percent said they did not accept any Medicaid patients (195). The percentage of respondents reporting unlimited Medicaid practice is shown by county in table 4-8. Physicians in rural areas tended to have a higher rate of unrestricted Medicaid practice than their urban counterparts (195). Implementation of prepaid plans for Medicaid enrollees in urban areas probably accounts for much of this difference. Uncompensated CareInformation on physicians uncompensated care costs are similarly scarce and problematic. In the same 1988 OMA survey 12 -W ~me SPC1~tieS me defined here as family practice, general practice, general pediatrics, general inteti medic~e, ~d obste~cs and gynecology. 13 1t ~m not pOSS1ble t. ~~m~te Sepaate ~ate~ by s~ial~ due to duplication problems, Appm&ately ZO pereent of M physicians on file at OMAP listed more than one specialty on their record (252). 1A ne reswnse rate was 28.9 pereent (1,249 responses).
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Table 4-7Distribution of Physicians Participating in Oregons Fee-for-Service Medicaid Program, by Annual Medicaid Billings (Fee-for-Service System Only), 1990 b Annual billed charges to Medicaid for services performed and paid $1 to $1,001 to $5,001 to $10,001 to $25,001 to $50,001 to Over $1,000 $5,000 $10,000 $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 Total -------------------------------------------Percent of participating physicians----- ---.---- All physicians (MD and DO) . 17.4 20.3 13.7 24.7 15.3 4.6 3.9 100.0 Primary care physicians . 18.1 23.4 13.9 22.5 12.5 4.7 5.0 100.0 General/family practice . 19.8 22.1 12.9 23.3 13.7 5.5 2.7 100.0 Internal medicine . . 21.0 26.7 15.5 25.6 8.9 1.9 0.4 100.0 Pediatrics . . . 14.9 23.9 11.8 17.4 16.3 6.5 9.3 100.0 Obstetrics/gynecology d . 9.6 17.0 14.4 17.5 13.6 7.6 20.3 100.0 All other physicians . . 16.4 17.4 13.7 27.4 18.0 4.4 2.7 100.0 NOTE: Percentages may not add to exactly 100 due to rounding. a part~ipating ~ysi~anm is ~fin~ here as a ~ys~ian who performed at least one pad Medicaid service in 1990. Includes physician providers in Washington, id+o, Nevada ad California who provided services to Oregon Medicaid patients. b fidu~s se~=s n~ ~llow~ b y ~Ap. lnd~es all Med&jd ~nroll~s seen in the fee-for-ser~a system, r~ardless of voluntary or mandatory enrollment in a prepaid plan. Average number of undu~i~t~ enrollees seen is exp~ted to be less in counties where enrollment in a prepaid plan is mandatory for AFDC enrollees, because physicians in prepaid plans do not bill OMAP directly for most services. C Pnmary=re indu~s M~and Dos who listed on e of th&rsp~alties as general pra~ti~, family pr~ti~, internal med~ine, p~iatri~, o&tetri~, gyn~logy, Obstetrics/gyn&ZOlOgy, or did not list a specialty. d lnclu~s ~ys~iam who list~ ~ one of their specialties gynecology, obstetrics, or obstet~gyn~l~y. e lnclu~s all Mm ad ~ MO l~t~ a s@alty other than, or i n addition to, one of the primary ~re sp~ialties de~ribed in footnote C. mere is du~iation between prif?laly and nonprimary care physicians because approximately 20 percent of physicians on file with OMAP list more than one specialty. SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resour@s, offi~ of Medi~l &istan~ Pmgra~, Salem, C)R, data on 1990 physiaan participation in Medicaid, provided to the Office of Technology Assessment Nov. 14, 1991.
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Chapter 4----Implications for Health Care Providers l 89 Table 4-8-Proportion of Oregon Physicians Reporting an Unlimited Medicaid Practice by County, 1988a Percentage of physicians Proposed delivery in area who do Average percentage system status under not limit their of practice devoted Number of Percent demonstration b /county Medicaid practice c to Medicaid surveys sent responding Fully capita ted health plans b Benton . . . . . . 63.5% 8.9% 121 28.994. Clackamas . . . . . 55.0 10.0 203 29.6 Lane . . . . . . 55.8 11.5 395 30.4 Linn . . . . . . 58.6 15.1 85 34.1 Marion. . . . . . 52.9 10.8 310 33.5 Multnomah . . . . . 48.5 10.2 1,835 22,9 Polk . . . . . . 42.9 15.0 22 31.8 Washington . . . . . 46.7 5.3 251 28.7 Yamhill . . . . . . 76.0 12.7 74 33.8 Physician care organizations (PCOspartially capitated) b Baker . . . . . . 33.3 Clatsop . . . . . . 66.7 Columbia . . . . . 80.0 coos . . . . . . 53.6 Crook . . . . . . 100.0 Deschutes . . . . . 67.4 Douglas . . . . . 68.9 Haney . . . . . . NA Hood River . . . . . 62.5 Jackson . . . . . 62.5 Jefferson . . . . . 100.0 Josephine . . . . . 48.1 Klamath . . . . . 59.1 Lincoln . . . . . . 58.8 Malheur . . . . . 54.4 Sherman . . . . . NA Tillamook ...,... . . . 57.1 Umatilla . . . . . 60.0 Union . . . . . . 76.5 Wasco . . . . . . 62.5 5.0 18.3 22.3 13.3 17.5 10.7 11.7 NA 12.0 10.8 21.7 16.1 12.9 26.0 12.5 NA 12.5 15.0 12.0 16.1 12 29 14 81 8 133 125 5 19 219 5 65 65 35 35 NA 14 63 39 41 50.0 29.6 35.7 34.6 50.0 32.3 36.0 0.0 52.6 29.2 60.0 41.5 33.8 48.5 31.4 NA 50.0 47.6 43.6 39.0 Case-managed fee-for-service b Curry . . . . . . 100.0 25.0 10 10.0 Grant . . . . . . 66.7 NA 3 100.0 Lake . . . . . . 100.0 40.0 5 20.0 Morrow . . . . . NA NA NA NA Wallow . . . . . 66.7 7,5 5 60.0 NOTE: NA-notavailable. a~~onamafl su~eyof afl physician members ofthe Oregon Medical Association. Response rate was 28.9 percent (l,249 total responses). blndi@tes ant~ipat~ m~eofM~i~M health servi~s delivery bythee~ofthe s~ndyear of the &monstration (according totimehne inWdVer application). AlthoughtheState exp=ts~se-managdfe*for-setimtobetheprima~mdeofsewkedeHve~underthedemontration inthefivecounties irtdicated, itwouidexecwte prepa.ticontracfs inthose areaswith anywilling andqualified providers(175). Lfnderthecwrent Medicaid prograrn,Aidto Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) Medicaid reapients in Clackamas, Benton, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill counties are required to enroll in a prepaid health plan. Prepaid plan enrollment is optional for AFDC recipients in Jackson County. In all other counties, Medieaid pays for services on a fee-for-service basis. c per~ntage of physidans who reported they accepted any Medieaid patient who came to their office. d Of all physicians rew~ing unlimit~ M~i~id Practim, the average percentage of their practi~ they reported was made Up of Medicaid patients. SOURCE: Oregon Medical Association, Portland, OR, Bridging The Gap: The Role of Oregon Physicians in Uncompensated Care, 1989. cited above, 83 percent of responding physicians survey, OMA estimated total uncollected practice reported that they sometimes offered care at reduced revenues due to free care or reduced fees of fees, 15 and 68 percent reported that they waived fees physicians in Oregon to be appro ximately $239 for some patients. 16 Primary care physicians were million (195). Because physicians did not indicate more likely than specialty physicians to report the insurance status of patients for whom they reduced or waived fees. Based on the results of this reduced or waived fees, however, this estimate 15 4 R~uA fm relative to the kdivid~ physicians typical charge fOr a given SWiU. lb For w physic~ repofig waived fees, the average number of patients per year for whom they Wtived fefi wm 47 (195).
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90 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal probably greatly overestimates the amount of uncompensated care costs that would be offset by expanded coverage under the proposed demonstration. Other Professional Providers--Other providers eligible for direct fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement under Oregon Medicaid include nurse practitioners, optometrists, chiropractors, naturopaths, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. 17 Data on the supply of selected providers in Oregon follow: l l l l In 1990, there were an estimated 792 nurse practitioners (including nurse midwives) licensed in Oregon (163). Of these, 100 (12.6 percent) resided out-of-State; 601 (75 percent) resided in the 10 managed care counties (see below); and the remaining 91 (11.4 percent) resided in other Oregon counties (163). 18 Approximately 80 percent of NPs in Oregon have the authority to prescribe at least some medications (198). In 1990, there were 457 optometrists, 358 (73 percent) of whom are in the 10 managed care counties, with the remaining 27 percent in other areas of the State (196). As of 1988, there were 1,827 professionally active dentists 19 in the State, 1,466 (80 percent) of whom practiced in the 10 managed care counties (5). As of July 1991, there were approximately 850 chiropractors in the State (158). Their rural/ urban distribution was not available, but 382 (44 percent) had addresses in either Portland, Salem, or Eugene (158). Current Medicaid Program The Oregon Medicaid program currently operates through three delivery systems. The first is the traditional FFS system. The other two are variations within Oregon Medicaids ongoing prepaid health plan (PHP) system: one, a fully capitated 20 plan (the Kaiser Permanente-Northwest Region health maintenance organization (HMO)); the other, a system of partially capitated plans. Fee-for-Service Health Care The FFS system serves individuals in all Medicaid eligibility categories in 26 of Oregons 36 counties as well as non-AFDC 21 (and 15 to 20 percent of AFDC) enrollees in the 10 counties where prepaid plans have been implemented for AFDC eligibles (see below). AFDC eligibles enrolled in partially capitated prepaid plans in these 10 counties also receive many services through the FFS system. In the FFS system, OMAP controls utilization through prior authorization for selected services (e.g., physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy services; home health services; selected diagnostic and treatment codes) and through other limits (e.g., an 18-day annual limit on inpatient hospitalization for adults). Case management is covered for prenatal and maternity care services. All services are paid according to OMAPs established methods of payment, which are summarized for some key facilities in table 4-9. FFS physicians are paid according to a fee schedule. A recent comparative analysis of State Medicaid physician payment rates showed that, for a bundle of 18 services, 22 Oregons payment was equal to the average for all States in 1989 and represented 75 percent of the Medicare allowed charge for the same services in the previous year (203). FQHCs are exempt from fee schedule reimbursement for primary care services rendered to Medicaid patients. Instead, they receive facility-specific costbased reimbursement on a per-encounter basis in accordance with provisions of the Omnibus Budget 17 ~ySic~ ~sismts ~ re~m~ under the supemising physicians provider n*r. 18 Da@ on dis~bution of NPs by practice location or Setting were not available. 19 ~Clu& both fill-tie and part-time dentists. m ~icaplht~ p~n refers t. a provider that rmeives periodic (in this case mOnthly) payment in advance to cover M or W* ~s f d* e services it provides to an individual patient (i.e., per capita payment). The provider assumes fwncial risk for patients whose actual costs exceed the payment amount. 21 Ad t. Families with Dependent ~dren. 22 Ffor 18 semlce~ were grouped into 9 s-ice types: office visits, hospi~ visits, emergency room VkitS, COtiSldUitiOIIS, X-liiy SelViWS, ekctmcardiograms, psychiatric services, obstetrical services, and surgical and other procedures. Fees for total obstetrical care (vaginal and caesarean section deliveries) were excluded from this analysis because many States could not report fees for these services. Fees for each service type were combined in proportion to their Medicaid utilization to create a typical Medicaid fee for each State (203).
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers 91 Table 4-9-Oregon Medicaid Reimbursement Methods for Selected Services in the Fee-for-Service Delivery System, 1991 Type of service Reimbursement method Physician services. . . . . Fee schedule (fees frozen for 1991-93 biennium) Hospital inpatient. . . . . Prospective, DRG-based rate for most hospitals; certain rural hospitals exempt from prospective payment and reimbursed at 100 percent of costs a b ; ; certain specialty hospitals also exempt from prospective payment and reimbursed according to special contracts with OMAP; Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals receive 5 to 25 percent DRG rate increases depending on their Medicaid caseload Hospital outpatient. . ., . . Percent of cost a (59 percent for the 1991-93 biennium); certain rural hospitals exempt from percent of cost limits and reimbursed at 100 percent of Cost a b Rural health clinic services c . . Per visit, 100 percent of costs b Federally qualified health centers d . Per visit, 100 percent of costs a Durable medical equipment . . Fee schedule Home health services. . . . Per-visit fee schedule Physical, occupational, and speech therapy . . . . Fee schedule ABBREVIATIONS: DRG diagnosis-related group; OMAP. Office of Medical Assistance Programs. a CO.StS deternlin~ from Medicare cost reports. b Type A ~ral ~spital~ reim~r~~ at 100 Permnt of costs for inpatient and outpatient services (excluding lab and x-ray); type B rurai hospitals reimbursed at 100 pereent of cost for inpatient services onty (excluding lab and x-ray). c Rural h=lth ~[in~ as f~erally ~flifi~ for purposes of Medicare and Medieaid reimbursement (42 CFR 440.20(b)). d F~rally ~ualifi~ h~lth c~ter~ include federally ~n~ ~mmunity health centers, migrant h~lth @nters, health centers for the homeless, and took-alike dinies (see table 4-3). Public Law 101-239 and Public Law 101-508 mandate 100 percent facility-specific cost-based reimbursement for services provided in these clinics (see text). SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, provider services reimbursement guides and updates, provided to the Office of Technology Assessment in 1991. Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA-89). 23 OMAP has implemented these reimbursement provisions for FQHCs in the FFS system. For the two FQHCs that serve as subcontractors in the prepaid system, OMAP intends to reconcile any differences between actual reimbursement from the prepaid provider and reimbursement allowable under OBRA-89 at the close of the State fiscal year (213,259,306). 24 currently, the vast majority of Oregons 66 short-term general acute-care hospitals are reimbursed directly by OMAP for all covered services rendered to Medicaid patients. Exceptions are the two hospitals owned by Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, which are paid by the Kaiser Permanente HMO for services rendered to Medicaid eligibles enrolled in that HMO; and several other hospitals that are paid negotiated rates by physician care organizations (PCOs) for certain outpatient services rendered to PCO enrollees. Of the hospitals reimbursed directly by OMAP, 32 25 are reimbursed on a prospective, diagnosis-related-group (DRG)-based system for inpatient services and on a percent-ofcost 26 basis for outpatient services (2 13). Institutions exempt from prospective reimbursement for hospital inpatient and percent-of-cost limits for hospital outpatient services include: l l Specialty hospitals, which are reimbursed according to the terms of unique contracts with OMAP; and Rural hospitals (defined essentially as hospitals of fewer than 50 beds that are located more than 10 miles from a town of more than 10,000 residents), which are reimbursed as follows: Type A rural hospitals percent of cost for all inpatient and outpatient services 27 and 23 oB~-89 @bfiC ~w 101.239) ~u~es s~te Me&~(f prog~ to pay 100 prcent of r~omble cost for services provided by FQHCS ~d RHCs-aprovision meant to protect the fucial viability of these safety net primary care providers. Facility-specflc per-encounter reimbursement rates are based on average costs for all patients seen at each facility in a given year. M me ~. c~cs ~ve ~e~y rWeiv~ ~te~ ~oncd~tion from OMAP; finaI reconctiation for the fiit YW in which KIHC reimb~ent protections were in effect in Oregon (State fiscal year 1991) had not yet occurred at the time this report was written. 25 ficludc~ tie ~. ho~i~ ow~ b y -r Fo~dation Hospi~s. ~e~ hospi@s r~ive ~~~~ment direcdy fiOm OMAP (at regtlh FFS rates) for services rendered to patients not enrolled in the Kaiser Permanence HMO. 26 Cost w on hospitis Medicare cost reports. ~ ficludes ~borato~ and x-ray services, which are reimbursed according tO a fee sch~~e.
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92 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 4-10-Current Status of Physician Care Organization (PCO) Involvement in Providing and Managing Services for Medicaid Clients, 1990 Number of PCOs that are PCOs required to case manage OMAP or OMPRO a prior Service capitated for service fee-for-service delivery approval required Physician . . . . . . All Laboratory . . . . . . All Radiology . . . . . . . All Hospital outpatient. . . . . None Hospital inpatient . . . . . None Prescription drugs . . . . . 1 Dental c . . . . . . . 4 Chiropractor. . . . . . . 4 Podiatrist . . . . . . All Nurse practitioner/nurse-midwife........ All physical therapy . . . . . 1 Speech, language, and occupational therapy. . . . . . . None Optometrist . . . . . . None Home health . . . . . . None Durable medical equipment/oxygen . None Yes Yes Yes b No Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes a OMAp. offi~ of Mdi~I Assistance programs; OMPRO Oregon Medical Peer Review Organization. b The Primay=re physician must~teorauthorizeall prescriptions. There isabuilt+nfinanaai incentive toccmtroi Utili=tion of prescription drugs. EXCeSSive utilization of prescription drugs causes a decrease in the pool of money available for an individual plans savings incentive payment (see text). c Four pcos are ~~tat~ for dental se~~s. In addition, rough~ 1 0,000 to 15,000 Medicaid beneficiaries are enrobd in dental care Or9ankatiOnS. The Kaiser Permanente-Northwest Region HMO is not capitated for dental services. SOURCE: L. Read, Director, Prioritized Health Care Systems, Offieeof Medieal Assistance Programs, Oregon Departmentof Human Resources, Salem, OR, personal communication, July 10, 1991. Type B rural hospitals percent of cost for all inpatient services and most outpatient services. 28 For hospitals qualifying for Medicaid disproportionate share (DSH) payments by virtue of Medicaid utilization criteria, DRG rates are increased depending on the hospitals share of Medicaid patients relative to the State average for all hospitals (144). 29 There were 10 such qualifying hospitals in Oregon in 1990 (see table 4-2) (155). 30 Total Medicaid DSH payments to hospitals in Oregon (State share only) increased by 67 percent between fiscal years (FY) 1989 and 1990 and by an additional 131 percent between FY 1990 and FY 1991 (144). 31 American Hospital Association data show that the 1989 Medicaid hospital payment-to-cost ratio 32 was lower in Oregon than in any other State except Illinois (59 percent in Oregon compared with a national average ratio of 78 percent) (207). Medicaid outpatient hospital services reimbursement rates have decreased significantly in recent years-horn 75 percent of costs in the 1987-89 biennium to 65 percent in 1989-91, and finally to 59 percent in the current biennium (223). In a recent out-of-court settlement of a Boren Amendment lawsuit brought against the State by the Oregon Association of Hospitals, OMAP agreed to pay $64 million over the 1991-93 biennium to compensate for previous underpayment (156,157) (see ch. 2). Prepaid Plans In December 1984, Oregon received a Federal regulatory waiver under section 1915(b) of the Social Security Act to implement a managed care n ficludes hbomto~ and x-ray semices (reimbursed on a fee schedule) and outpatient serviees provided to general aSSiStiCe Clients (reimbmCd at 59 percent of cost). 29 For hospi~s ~~ ~ti~tion betw~n 1 and 2 s~&d dev~tio~ of tie me~, tie DRG mte increases 5 percent fOr hospitals 2 tO 3 sti~d deviations above the meu 10 percent; for hospitals greater than 3 standard deviations above, 25 percent (144). w Hospi@s cm dso qfor DSH sta~5 based on their low-income utilization rates (144). In 1990, no megon hospiti were desi~ted ~ DSH under these rules (213). 31 FY 1989 act@ FY 1990 estimated, FY 1991 pmJeCted. 32 ~clude5 Papent and co5t for@~ ~patient ~d outpatient s~ices. Dam obtiti from tie American Hospital Associations 1989 hINId SUIVCy of Hospitals. Medicaid costs estimated by multiplying hospitals reported Medicaid charges by each hospitals overall cost-to-charge ratio (203). 33 See ch$ 5 for a description of the various Medicaid eligibility categories.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers 93 system for its AFDC 33 Medicaid enrollees. 34 Enrollment in prepaid plans in Oregon has since increased to the current level of some 68,000 AFDC Medicaid enrollees 35 (approximately 54 percent of the total AFDC enrollment and approximately 31 percent of total Medicaid enrollment 36 in 1991), making it second only to Arizona in the proportion of its Medicaid population enrolled in PHPs (252). These PHPs include one fully capitated HMO and 15 PCOs in which selected outpatient services, but not inpatient services, are capitated. At present, enrollment of AFDC clients in a PHP is mandatory in nine counties (seven of which are in metropolitan statistical areas) and optional in a tenth county. All non-AFDC eligibles and all eligibles residing outside this 10-county area receive services on an unrestricted FFS basis. Even in areas where enrollment in a PHP is required, some AFDC eligibles are still in the FFS system. At any given time, roughly 20 percent of the AFDC eligibles in the nine mandatory managed care counties receive health care on an FFS basis (40,212). These eligibles include: l l l l l Individuals who have other sources of insurance coverage and are exempt from mandated enrollment in a PHP; Pregnant women who become Medicaideligible in their third trimester and who elect to continue receiving FFS services through delivery; New AFDC eligibles, who may take up to 2 months to become enrolled in a PCO or an HMO after becoming eligible; Individuals who elect to disenroll from their previous plan and have not yet been enrolled in another plan; 37 and Individuals who exceed their PHPs stop-loss limit in any given year (see below) (40). Fully Capitated PlansA single HMO-Kaiser Permanence, Northwest Region-serves approximately 11,60038 AFDC eligibles under the current program. Kaiser Permanence is prepaid on a capitated basis for all acute health care services except dental services. The cavitation rate is currently set at 100 percent of FFS equivalent costs. 39 Partially Capitated PlansAs of October 1991, there were 15 PCOs serving approximately 56,400 AFDC eligibles in the 10-county area (252). PCOs are prepaid on a capitated basis for a basic package of services that includes physician services (including podiatry, osteopathic, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant services), laboratory, radiology, and EPSDT 40 services. Between 1985 and 1989, OMAP reported savings of $7.5 million relative to expected FFS payments for PCO enrollees (41). 41 The PCOs are made up of anywhere from 4 to 280 primary care physicians (305). Some are experienced managed care providers (e.g., Capitol Health Care, a well-established independent practice association (IPA) that also has private fully capitated business), others are primary care clinics (four FQHCs currently participate as PCOssee table 4-3), and still others are loose associations of primary care physicians who are organizationally bound merely by virtue of their contract with OMAP (245). The annual contract stipulates a maximum Medicaid caseload per PCO, based on the number of primary care physicians available. Risk is managed through a stop-loss mechanism whereby enrollees whose health care costs exceed an established threshold in a given year leave the PCO and receive the remainder of their services through the FFS system. PCOs have the option of receiving capitated payment and assumin g risk for services other than 3.I ~egon ~ ~~w ~b~~ an extended waiver tit permi~ it to expand mandato~ enrollment hl prepaid plain to o~er categories of efigiblm. ~ date, however, Oregon has only enrolled AFDC eligibles in the prepaid system. 35 Emollment m of october 1991. Includes 11,580 Medicaid eligibles enrolled in the Kaiser pe~ ente HMO on a full-risk basis. Medicaid enrollment in Kaiser Permanence is authorized by Federal statute and hence is not officially part of Oregons current 1915(b) waiver program. % TOM emol~ent hcludes elderly, blind, disabled, generrd assistance, medically needy, etc. 37 ~ he Cunent sy~tem, -c eli@ble5 ~ ~n&tov mamged care co~ties Cm ch~se &ween at least two prepaid health platIs. 38 ~o~ent as of October 1991 (252). 39 Qlmtion rates for ~~ p-y and fi~y capi~~d plans are W on ex~t~ FFS COS~ of an actidly @vdent Cli~t pOpdatiO~ prOJeCted using utilization data for AFDC Medicaid enrollees in the FFS system (41). There is no separate administrative allowance for prepaid plans in the current system. @ UIY and ~ritic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services fOr ChddZn. 41 Savtigs were attributed p~ y to reduction of unnecessary inpatient services by PCOS, but also to reduction of unnecessary outpatient and prescription drug services (41,177).
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94 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal those in the basic package, but few of them have done so to date. Currently, four PCOs are capitated for chiropractic services, four for dental services, one for physical therapy services, and one for pharmaceutical services (table 4-10) (213,252). In addition, all PCOs are required to act as gatekeepers to preapprove all nonemergency inpatient and outpatient hospital services. 42 To provide an incentive for decreased hospital inpatient and outpatient and prescription drug services utilization, OMAP shares savings relative to FFS equivalent costs 43 50/50 with the PCOs. Utilization of certain other services is controlled by OMAP directly through prior authorization (e.g., physical, occupational, and speechlanguage therapy; home health services-see table 4-9). A forthcoming U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) study will focus more closely on the role of prepaid managed care delivery systems in the current Oregon Medicaid program. Even if the waiver is not granted, OMAP has indicated that it intends to expand its current PCO program, adding more plans and increasing enrollment (177). Utilization Data Collection in PHPs--One of the incentives for providers to serve Medicaid patients through PHPs is reduction of the paperwork and other red tape associated with FFS Medicaid (17,143). However, this often comes at the expense of collecting detailed, consistent utilization data, which is useful for program evaluation. A few State Medicaid PHP demonstrations (e.g., Tennessee, Arizona) have tried shadow billing 44 in order to better evaluate differences in utilization and access between FFS and PHP enrollee groups. Oregon chose not to do so in the current system in order to maintain the incentive of reduced billing and data collection requirements (212). Until October 1990, in fact, PHPs in Oregon were not providing any systematic utilization data to the State. Since October 1990, PCOs have been required to submit quarterly reports to OMAP detailing utilization for selected services (166). Services identified are groups of procedure codes that reflect different services types of interest+. g., EPSDT and physician office services (166). The first data were not reported until the end of the first quarter of 1991, and data reported for the third quarter of 1991, although obtained from all PCO providers, were still incomplete and inconsistent as of December 1991 (310). 45 Information on the utilization of noncapitated (i.e., FFS) services by PHP enrollees is available through OMAPs claims database. For noncapitated services, OMAP provides plans with monthly reports of utilization by their enrollee population by type of service (166,213). Such reports help OMAP and the PHPs confirm that all referral services were preapproved by the primary care physician. Dental Services Although most Medicaid enrollees receive dental services on an unrestricted FFS basis, 46 a growing number receive them through one of two types of managed care arrangements: PCOs that are capitated for dental services, or special dental care organizations (DCOs) that provide services on a prepaid, capitated basis. As of February 1992, 28,479 clients were enrolled in three DCOs and four PCOs that cover dental services (213). OMAP is in the process of expanding DCO enrollment (252). HEALTH CARE DELIVERY UNDER THE DEMONSTRATION The State of Oregon projects that, in year 1 of the demonstration, an additional 46,800 people would be covered by Medicaid-a 31 percent increase over projected enrollment in the existing Medicaid pro42 ~g~y, PCOS *o c= -managed physical, speech-language, and occupational therapy services, but prior authorization by OMAP is now required for these services (see table 4-9). 43 Sav@s me ~c~ated ~ ~ompfig ~~~tion of ~~e ~~i~s by KO ~llees with uwon by ~ ac-y equivalent glollp of FPS Medicaid enrollees. 44 ~~s~ow billing is a practice in whi~ p~p~d providms m ~uh~ to submit dummy claixns that provide data as detailed as those required on FFS claims forms (e.g., patient characteristics, date of service, diagnoses, specific procedures performed, provider identilcation). M ~~ou~ & U from tie ~t qu~m of 191 me ~Ft~ t. ~p~ve (310), & bm~ Mtegorim reprm~tti would not be @lcient to serve as a baseline for detailed measurement of the impact of service prioritization under the demonstration (see ch. 8). 46 Undm the Cment M~c~d ~~ in @goq most den~ c= for ad~ts is not ~ve~. The proposed demonstration would expand coverage for dental care to the entire Medicaid population.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers 95 gram for that year (177). 47 By the final year, an additional 120,000 people are expected to be covered beyond projected enrollment for that year without the demonstration (42, 177). 48 To accommodate the expanded number of Medicaid eligibles and to control the costs of providing their care, Oregon would expand its prepaid managed care system significantly. The proposed expansions would not merely entail increased enrollment in existing plans; rather, they would entail a complete restructuring of the current system and the creation of a number of entirely new fully capitated plans to provide services to a Medicaid population nearly twice as large as that currently served. The proposed expansions include: l l l l Converting some existing PCOs to fully capitated plans, Expanding enrollment in existing prepaid plans and contracting with new fully capitated plans 49 to serve the expanded Medicaid population, Developing new PCOs in some rural areas, and Implementing a case-managed FFS system in rural areas where prepaid care arrangements are not feasible. OMAP would require that all prepaid plans have adequate referral mechanisms and subcontractual arrangements to provide the full range of services covered under the benefit package (174). Providers in the Proposed System The levels of risk and other characteristics of providers in the proposed system, as described in the waiver application, would be as follows (177,212): 1. Fully capitated health plans (FCHPs) 50 FCHPs would provide and pay for all inpatient, outpatient, and ancillary services (with the exception of select optional services 51 ) either directly or through subcontractors. The State would pay hospital claims on behalf of any FCHP that is permitted such an option in its contract. 52 FCHPs would be the required mode of delivery in the 9-county area currently served by PCOs and one HMO. A. B. Full-risk contract-Provider is at full risk for individual patient losses. Only federally qualified HMOs would be allowed to participate at this level of risk. Buffered-risk contractProvider purchases insurance against high-loss patients either directly from the State or from a private insurer. A provider could choose among the following three levels of stop-loss insurance. 1. 2. 3. High--Annual $10,000 deductible, 5 percent plan-paid coinsurance, and a cap of $100,000 on stop-loss eligible expenses. In other words, the plan is liable for 100 percent of per-enrollee costs up to $10,000; for 5 percent of costs between $10,000 and $100,000; and for none of the costs in excess of $100,000. MediumAnnual $15,000 deductible, 10 percent coinsurance, and a $100,000 cap. Low--Annual $30,000 deductible, 20 percent coinsurance, and a $100,000 cap. Other risk protections for FCHPs would include: reduced liability for persons who are hospitalized at the time of their enrollment; 53 a fixed additional 47 pement ficreme b~d on ~mol~ent prOjwtiom for State ~ 1993. me ori~ wet date for program startup was July 1, 1%2 (the beginning of State FY 1993). Because OMAP had not obtained waiver approval from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) by the end of January 1992 as expected, it has announced that it will delay program startup on a month-to-month basis pending approval (e.g., if approved at the end of February 1992, startup would have been Aug. 1, 1992) (256). 4S me 120,~ P ro j ec tio n does not ~sume implementation of tie employ~ ~date (~c~. 1 ~d s). Ethe employer mandate k fully hllplementd, projected Medicaid enrollment for the final year would be 96,400. 49 Some Pmswctive fully ~apitated pl~ ~~dy ~ve co~erci~ HMO busfims; oth~ -y have no experience as fidl-risk providexs (212). Xl Here ad elsewhme ~ ~s chapter, fully capitat~ pl~s ~der the pmpos~ syst~ are ref~ed to as F~s rather H?vfoS. we Kai~ Permanence, the only current Medicaid prepaid provider capitated for the full range of services, is a federally qualified HMO, some filly capitated providers under the new system would probably not be. SI Optional swlws for FCHp cavitation include dental, materfity case managemen~ abortiom family planning, certain contraceptive and psychiatric prescription drugs, and patient transportation (175). m ~s option ~o~d & tie av~able to s~lerF~s and FCHPS located in noncompetitive hospital markets. nese Pla~ ~Pitation rates wo~d be adjusted to reflect prevailing Medicaid hospital payment rates (DRGor cost-based, depending on the hospital) and OMAP would bill the plan for the cost of claims paid (177). w ~s protection would not apply to newborns whose mothers were enrolled on the day of b~ (177).
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96 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal payment for each maternity case occurring above a specified average limit; and adjustment of cavitation rates by eligibility cohort (see below). 2. Physician care organizations PCOs would be paid on a per capita basis for all outpatient physician, laboratory, x-ray, and preventive services. Additional services such as prescription drugs, physical therapy, and dental care could be either included or excluded from the PCO cavitation rate. Hospital inpatient and outpatient services 54 would be preauthorized by the PCO but would be billed to and paid by OMAP at prevailing Medicaid FFS rates. PCOs would be the preferred mode of delivery in all non-FCHP counties where there is critical mass for enrollment. A. B. c. First level of risk: fewer than 500 enrollees These PCOs would not be paid a cavitation rate, but would instead be reimbursed at prevailing FFS Medicaid rates for PCO services. They would still be fully responsible for managing care of enrollees according to PCO contract provisions and would still receive 40 percent of any estimated savings for hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and prescription drug services relative to an actuarially determin ed FFS target. This no risk approach is designed to protect new, small plans as they enter the system. OMAP does not anticipate that many PCOs would remain at this level of risk for long, Second level of risk: 500 to 999 enrollees or 1,000 or more enrollees and less than 12 months experience as a contractorThese PCOs would be paid on a per capita basis for PCO services and would retain 50 percent of any estimated savings for hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and prescription drug services. Third level of risk: 1,000 or more enrollees and at least 12 months experience as a contractorThese PCOs would be paid on a per capita basis for PCO services and would retain 60 percent of any estimated savings for hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and prescription drug services. They would also beat partial risk for the noncapitated services they case manage-the State would withhold a payment penalty, limited to the lesser of half of the excessive cost or 10 percent of the PCOs cavitation rate, if the cost of noncapitated services used by their enrollees is higher than actuarially targeted. 3. Case-managed fee-for-service Physicians and other providers would be paid on an FFS basis at prevailing Medicaid rates for all covered services. Case-managed FFS would be the mode of service delivery in those rural counties that lack a sufficient enrollee population to make the PCO model feasible, and for patients in other counties who dont enroll in PHPs. A designated primary care case manager (PCCM) would preauthorize any nonemergency care provided by other individuals or institutions. PCCMs would be paid a small flat per capita fee ($3 per enrollee per month) for the administrative costs of management. Most PCCMs would be primary care physicians, although nurse practitioners and physician assistants would also be allowed to participate. PCCMs would be required to: l l l l l l l Provide routine primary care services; Deliver emergency medical treatment or refer the patient to another appropriate source of care when the PCCM is unavailable; Conduct emergency admission review within 24 hours of receiving notice that a patient has undergone an emergency hospitalization, to confirm appropriateness and initiate discharge planning; Develop an adequate referral network to ensure access to the full spectrum of covered services, refer patients to appropriate specialists, and preapprove all referral care; If possible, admit and discharge hospital patients or oversee their admission and discharge by a specialist; Maintain a central medical record for each enrollee; and Participate in program-wide oversight, monitoring, and quality assurance activities as directed by OMAP (177). For catastrophic-cost patients, OMAP itself would offer supplemental case-management services (e.g., designate central managers for patients in special M &clU&g professional components of hospital outpatient services.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers 97 categories, such as those with AIDS 55 ). The agency would also provide oversight of PCCMs and preauthorize certain elective procedures. The explicit goal of the State of Oregon is to encourage provider participation in prepaid managed care wherever possible (177,212). The spectrum of risk arrangements proposed for PHPs reflects this goal and provides a strategy for gradual conversion to prepaid health care for the entire State. Groups of FFS physicians are encouraged to form PCOs and, if their enrollment is below 500, can continue to receive FFS reimbursement for the first 12 months as they build their patient base and become more familiar with the system. After that, they can proceed to assume higher levels of risk under partial cavitation or become full-risk plans if they so desire. Ultimately, OMAP hopes to extend prepaid health care to even the most rural areas of the State (212). Although not described in the waiver application, the current dental managed care system would also be expanded under the demonstration, with PCOs and FCHPs being given the option of cavitation for dental services. Enrollees in plans not capitated for dental services would receive their dental care on an FFS basis or through an expanded DCO system (212). Distribution of Enrollees by Delivery System In a nine-county area containing seven of Oregons eight metropolitan counties, OMAP intends to enter solely into fully capitated contractual arrangements (table 4-11 ) at one of the varying levels of risk described above. Selected other counties are targeted for PCO contract negotiations, and enrollees in the remaining counties would choose or be assigned to PCCMs. Although OMAP expects that certain counties will not have sufficient caseloads to make prepaid arrangements feasible, it intends to execute prepaid contracts with any qualified, willing providers in these counties (175). Table 4-12 illustrates the magnitude of proposed delivery system changes. According to State sources, the over 56,000 Medicaid beneficiaries currently enrolled in PCOs would automatically be transferred to FCHPs at program startup (212). Non-AFDC current eligibles and new eligibles would be enrolled in FCHPs, PCOs, or with PCCMs, depending on their geographic location and other characteristics. By program steady state, 54.8 percent of all beneficiaries are projected to be enrolled in FCHPs; another 17.4 percent in partial-risk PCOs; and the remainder (27.8 percent) in case-managed FFS (table 4-12) (40). Implementation of the case-managed FFS system, which would affect mostly the rural areas of the State, is expected to take considerably longer than the enrollment of clients into PHPs (40). OMAP estimates that all enrollees not in a prepaid plan would be enrolled with a PCCM by the 10th month of the demonstration (212). The frost-year cost estimates assume that some eligibles in case-managed FFS areas will receive noncase-managed FFS care for the first nine months of the demonstration (40). overall, cost estimates assume that delivery systems in each county will be operational roughly by the target dates shown in table 4-11.56 Cavitation Rate Calculation OMAP released preliminary cavitation rates to prospective prepaid providers on November 26, 1991 as part of an official request for application (RFA) (175). The proposed rates were revised on February 7, 1992, to correct for errors in expected length of eligibility and utilization patterns of the demonstrations eligible population (176). 57 The rates, developed by OMAP in conjunction with the actuarial firm Coopers & Lybrand, reflect the anticipated cost of providing all covered services (i.e., diagnostic services and all services in conditiontreatment (CT) pairs 1 through 587) during the startup year of the demonstration within a prepaid managed care setting. While cavitation rates for prepaid providers in Oregons current Medicaid program are based on Medicaid FFS equivalent costs, the new rates are based on a detailed actuarial f Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. S6 me on~te for ~rowm ~~p Wm July 1, 1992, OMAp intends to delay fiplemen~tion of tie preptid system on a month-to-month basis pending fd approval (e.g., stzu-tup date would have been Aug. 1, 1992 if waiver had been approved by the end of February 1992) (256). 57 me ~on=tiom re~ted ~ a subs~n~ ~crwe in he est~t~ rates for pov@ level m~c~ (PLM) women and a slight d~~ in the rates for PLM children ( 175, 176).
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98 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 4-1 l-Current and Proposed Oregon Medicaid Delivery System by County Delivery system County 1991 Proposed under demonstration Metropolitan counties b Clackamas . . . . . . Lane . . . . . . . Marion . . . . . . Multnomah ... . . . . Polk . . . . . . . Washington . . . . . Yamhill . . . . . . Nonmetropolitan counties b Baker . . . . . . . Benson .,...... . . . . Clatsop . . . . . . Columbia . . . . . . coos . . . . . . . Crook . . . . . . . Curry . . . . . . . Deschutes . . . . . . Douglas . . . . . . Gilliam . . . . . . Grant . . . . . . . Harney . . . . . . Hood River . . . . . Jackson Jefferson . . . . . . Josephine . . . . . . Klamath . . . . . . Lake . . . . . . . Lincoln ...,.... . . . . Lien . . . . . . . Malheur . . . . . . Morrow . . . . . . Sherman . . . . . . Tillamook . . . . . . Umatilla . . . . . . Union . . . . . . . Wallowa . . . . . . Wasco . . . . . . Wheeler . . . . . . FFS PHP mandatory (AFDC only) FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS PHP optional (AFDC only) FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS PHP mandatory(AFDC only) FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS PCOs by start of year 3 FCHPs by startup PCOs by start of year 2 PCOs by start of year 2 PCOs by middle of year 2 PCOs by startup Case-managed FFS by startup e PCOs by startup PCOs by start of year 2 Case-managed FFS by startup e Case-managed FFS by startup e PCOs by startup PCOs by start of year 3 FCHPs or PCOs by startup d PCOs by startup PCOs by startup PCOs by startup Case-managed FFS by startup e PCOs by start of year 2 FCHPs by startup PCOs by start of year 3 Case-managed FFS by startup e PCOs by start of year 3 PCOs by startup PCOs by start of year 3 PCOs by startup Case-managed FFS by startup e PCOs by start of year 3 Case-managed FFS by startup e ABBREVIATIONS: AFDC. Aid to Families With Dependent Children; FCHP fully capitated health plan; FFS = fee-for-service; OMAP. Office of Medieal Assistance Programs; PCO physiaan care organization (partially capitated health plan); PHP prepaid health plan. a me dat~ i n the far right-had column ref[~t the time atwh~h oMAp h~ ant~ipat~ pco and FCHp ~ntracts to be finalized in that county. The original antiapated date for program startup was July 1, 1992. Contract negotiations have since been delayed on a month-to-month basis pending approval of the waiver by the U.S. Health Care Finandng Administration (see text). b Metropolitan and nonmetropcditan areas as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. C In the ~rrent M~@~ manq~ are system, AF~ r~i@ents are quir~ to enroll in 1 of 15 PCOS or in the Kaiser Permanence HMO. d The r~uest for ap~i=tion sent t. prov~er~ Nov. ~, 1991 indi~tes that ~th PCO and FCHP ~ntr~~ would bS negotiated in Jackson County. e Although OMAp exp=~ ~~-manag~ FFsto be the primary m~ of serv~e delivery un~rthe demonstration in these counties, it h= indicated it would execute prepaid contracta with any willing and qualified providers. SOURCES: L. Read, Director, Prioritized Health Care Systems, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Oregon Department of Human Resouroes, Salem, OR, personal communications, July 10 and Dec. 3, 1991; Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medieal Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oregon hfedicakd Demonstration ~verAppkafkm, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration Aug. 16, 1991; Oregon Department of Human Resourees, Office of Medieal Assistance Programs, ~egon Health P/an: Prepdd Hea/th P/an %qJest for App/icaf/ens, (Salem, OR: OMAP, Nov. 26, 1991); L. Read, Director, Prioritized Health Care Systems, Office of Medical Asslstanee Programs, Oregon Department of Human Resources, Salem, OR, letter to E.J. Power, Office of Technology Assessment, Mar. 4, 1992. analysis of both private and Medicaid claims, description of the process outlined in the November adjusted to exclude costs of services below line RFA. The document indicates that inclusion or 587. 58 Although language in OMAPs waiver appliexclusion of some of the basic services may be cation suggested that rates would be negotiated with negotiated, but the service-specific rates calculated prepaid providers, rate setting is a more accurate by Coopers& Lybrand are not negotiable (175).
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 99 Table 4-12Distribution of Oregon Medicaid Enrollment by Eligibility Category a and Health Care Delivery System: 1993 Without Demonstration, 1993 Demonstration Startup, b and 1993 Demonstration Steady State Delivery system c Eligibility category FCHP PCO CMFFS-Man FFS-Man CMFFS FFS Total Average fiscal year 1993 without demonstration b AFDC . . . . . . 6.17 38.56 General assistance . . . 0.00 0.00 PLM adults . . . . . 0.00 0.00 PLM children . . ... . 0.00 0.00 New categorical eligibles . . NA NA New noncategorical eligibles . N A NA Total . . . . . 6.17 38.56 Average fiscal year 1993 at demonstration startup b AFDC . . . . . . 34.48 10.37 General assistance . . . 0.89 0.19 PLM adults . . . . . 0.96 0.51 PLM children . . . . 2.79 1.47 New categorical eligibles . . 2.91 0.93 New noncategorical eligibles . 10.60 3.38 Total . . . . . 52.63 16.85 Average fiscal year 1993 at demonstration steady state b AFDC . . . . . . 26.30 8.21 General assistance . . . 0.98 0.21 PLM adults . . . . . 1.05 0.40 PLM children . . . . 3.11 1.18 New categorical eligibles . . 4.89 1.56 New noncategorical eligibles ., 18.45 5.88 Total . . . . . 54.78 17.44 Percent of enrollees in system 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0,00 0.00 0.00 0.00 NA NA NA NA 0.00 0.00 5.79 2.59 0.67 0.08 0.70 0.11 2.03 0.31 0.68 0.00 2.47 0,00 12.33 3.09 6.09 0.00 0.21 0.00 0.26 0.00 0.76 0.00 1.14 0.00 4.29 0.00 12.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 NA NA 0.00 6.20 0.18 0.36 1,03 0.78 2.86 11.41 7.00 0.20 0.39 1.15 1.32 4.97 15.03 36.69 1.76 3.98 12.84 NA NA 55.27 2.97 0.08 0.16 0.47 0.00 0.00 3.69 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 81.42 1.76 3.98 12,84 NA NA 100,00 62.40 2.10 2.80 8.10 5.30 19.30 100.00 47.60 1.60 2,10 6.20 8.90 33.60 100.00 ABBREVIATIONS: NA not applicable; FCHP fully capitatad health plan; PCO = partially capitatad health plan; CMFFS = case-managed fee-for-service (i.e., individuals enrolled with a primary care case manager (PCCM) who manages their fee-for-service care); CM FFS-Man individuals in areas of the State where enrollment in a prepaid plan is mandatory who receive their care on a CMFFS basis; FFS-Man = individuals receiving services on an unrestricted fee-for-service basis in areas of the State where enrollment in a prepa.kf health plan is mandatory; FFS individuals receiving services on an unrestricted fee-for-service basis in areas of the State where enrollment with a PCCM is mandatory; AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children; PLM poverty level medical. a ~igi~lity ~t%orie~ i n this ta~e ~rr~w~ t. standard M~@id eligibility ~t~ories and not to the cat~ories US~ by ~~on Offb of Mdical AsSi.stam Programs to calculate cavitation rates under the proposed demonstration. b Dat~ refl=torlginal anticipat~ program sta~up date of Ju& 1, 1992 program startup h= ~n delay~ on a month-to-month basis pending H~lth Care Financing Administration approval of the waiver (see text). Fiscal year 1993 startup and steady-state enrollment estimates differ due to assumptions regarding the pace of uptake of eligibles into the various delivery systems. Oregon assumes steady state would be achieved by the end of the 9th month of the demonstration. C Enrollment distribution by &livev System was caiculat~ by coopers & Lybrand bas~ on information provid~ by the Oregon offi~ of Medical Assistance Programs. SOURCE: Coopers & Lybrand, Oregon Mediaid Basic Health Services Program: Calculation of Per Capita Costs Report (San Francisco, CA: Coopers & Lybrand, May 1, 1991), exhibits 24-A, 24-B; Coopers & Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, unpublished data provided to Office of Technology Assessment, September 1991. There are a total of 40 separate basic cavitation Geographic regions: rate estimates under the plana partial and full 1. cavitation rate for each of four eligibility groups in each of five geographic regions, as follows: 2. Eligibility groups: 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. All Medicaid enrollees eligible under the demonstration with incomes below 100 per4. 5 cent of the Federal poverty level (FPL) except Portland tri-county area (Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties). Linn, Benton, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties. Lane County. Jackson, Josephine, and Douglas Counties. All other counties. for general assistance enrollees. Each cavitation rate is broken down into specific Poverty level medical (PLM) adults with categories of mandatory (i.e., must be capitated) and incomes between 100 and 133 percent FPL. optional (plans have the option of receiving capiPLM children under age 6 with incomes tated payment) services. Table 4-13 illustrates this between 100 and 133 percent FPL. breakdown for eligibility group 1 in region 1. General assistance enrollees. Prospective providers can use tables such as this to
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100 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 4-13-Breakdown of Preliminary Cavitation Rates for Providers in the Oregon Medicaid Demonstration in State Fiscal Year 1993: Rates for Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties for All Demonstration Eligibles Under 100 Percent of the Federal Poverty Level Except General Assistance a Fully capitated health plan covered services Physician care organization covered services Physician Basic . . . . . . . . . Therapeutic abortion b . . . . . . Maternity. . . . . . . . . Somatic psychiatry. . . . . . . Family planning b c . . . . . . Subtotal . . . . . . . . Outpatient Basic . . . . . . . . . Maternity. . . . . . . . . Somatic psychiatry. . . . . . ... Subtotal . . . . . . . . Prescription drug Basic . . . . . . . . . Family planning b c . . . . . . Psychiatric b . . . . . . . . Subtotal . . . . . . . . Inpatient Basic . . . . . . . . . Family planning b C ., . . . . . . Nursing facility.. . . . . . . Hospice . . . . . . . . Maternity . . . . . . . . Subtotal . . . . . . . . Dental b . . . . . . . . . Maternity management . . . . . . Vision . . . . . . . . . Home health service . . . . . . Physical/occupational therapy . . . . Transportation (ambulance). . . . . . Transportation (other) b . . . . . . Miscellaneous medical b . . . . . . Total service cost d .... . . . . . Administrative cost e . . . . . . Total with administration cost . . . . Maternity/newborn withhold f . . . . $23.13 0.75 8.81 0.14 1.12 33.95 11.80 0.29 0.07 12.16 6.05 0.33 0.18 6.56 28.54 0.01 0.00 0.01 14.02 42.58 14.64 0.19 0.88 0.25 0.26 0.69 0.52 0.73 113.41 7.24 120.65 -8.84 Basic services Physician Basic . . . . . . . . . . Maternity. . . . . . . . . . Subtotal . . . . . . . . Outpatient Professional . . . . . . . . Maternity . . . . . . . . . Lab and x-ray... . . . . . . . Subtotal . . . . . . . . Total of mandatory services . . . . Administrative fee g . . . . . . Total with administration fee . . . . Maternity/newborn withhold f . . . . Optional services Dental b . . . . . . . . . Maternity management. . . . . . Outpatient somatic psychiatry b . . . . Outpatient--facility b . . . . . . . Physical/occupational therapy b . . . . Physician therapeutic abortion b . . . . Physician family planning bc . . . . . physician somatic psychiatry b . . . . Prescription drugs--basic b . . . . . Prescription drugs--family planning b c . . . Prescription drugs--psychiatric b . . . . Transportation (ambulance) b . . . . . Transportation (other) b . . . . . . Vision b ....,.... . . . . . . . $23.13 8.81 31.94 1.33 0.29 3.52 5,14 37.08 4.00 41.08 -2.30 14,64 0,19 0,07 6.94 0.26 0.75 1,12 0.14 6.05 0.33 0.18 0,69 0.52 0.88 a Rates shown reflect~justments forfunding through line 5870f the prioritized liStand fOrantiCipated managedmre=tings. blndicates optional services, subject to negotiation regarding inclusion inmntract. cReflects 6.8 percent r~uction for universal dientaccess to famiiypianning setices. dTotalbased on theassumption that ail services areinduded in the ca@tation contract. eA6permnt a d m i n ist ra t i ve cost al~wanceforafl capitatedservices isiflclddforful~~pitatd healthplans. fT~~~thheldfromthetotal ~@tation r at e andaW~~toward afundto support prep~d plans With adispmportionately high share of maternity/newborn cases. 9Administrativecostforphysician care organiztions is setataftatfee of $4 per enrollee permonth. SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Oregon Hea/fh P/arr: Prepaid Hea/th P/arr/?equest for ApphkationsAddifionalh?formafion (Salem,OR:OMAP, Feb. 7,1992). estimate the rates they would receive under the duration of a PHPs contract (78). This would demonstration. Final rates would be different, howchange under the demonstration in order to allow ever, because these estimates do not reflect certain greater expenditure control by OMAP in the event of applicable premium deductions (e.g., high-risk maany changes in the benefit package during a contract ternity and newborn care, stop-loss insurance). cycle. Under the demonstration, cavitation rates In the current prepaid system in Oregon, capitawould be subject to change at any time during the tion rates are set annually and are fixed for the contract cycle, either as the result of technical
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 101 amendments to the list, legislative amendment of the benefit package, or other unspecified amendments to the prepaid contracts (174). PHPs would be entitled to a minimum of 30 to 60 days notice 59 before the new rates went into effect, and they would be allowed to terminate their contracts on 30 days notice on the condition that they facilitate full transfer of all their enrollees to alternative providers (173, 174). However, the model PCO/FCHP contract states that financial loss would not be considered sufficient cause for termination of contract (174), IMPLICATIONS OF DEMONSTRATION CHANGES FOR PROVIDERS Delivery System Changes Implementation of prepaid managed care systems generally involves changes in the distribution of enrollees among existing providers; limitation of enrollees freedom of choice among practitioners; changes in provider payment and participation; and shifts in incentives to overor underprovide services. In Medicaid to date, mandatory enrollment of eligibles in prepaid and managed care delivery systems has been allowed only under waiver authority due to concerns about possible negative effects some of these changes might have on quality and accessibility of Medicaid services. Oregon has operated one of the largest prepaid Medicaid programs in the country for the last 7 years in and around its metropolitan areas. Because the demonstrations predicted costs and effects depend heavily on the assumption that most enrollees will be in prepaid managed care, the capacity of this system to accommodate an estimated 120,000 new eligibles is critical. preliminary results of a study being conducted by GAO indicate that the current managed care system in Oregon appears to have avoided many of the pitfalls of similar systems in other States (238). However, GAO has recommended that the proposed demonstration not begin until Oregon has more fully developed the expanded managed care infrastructure (e.g., until it has executed provider contracts sufficient to cover projected new enrollees) (238). Timeline and Plans for Delivery System Development of the delivery system would be a gradual process. As of November 1991, OMAP had entered into preliminary negotiations with prepaid providers (252). PHP contract negotiations for the entirety of the proposed prepaid system, however, are not anticipated to be complete until the end of the second year of the demonstration (table 411) (177). The original deadline date for contract applications was February 7, 1992, but this has been changed to 2 weeks after approval by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) of the States request for waivers (213). Awards of the first round of contracts, originally scheduled to occur between May 18 and June 15, 1992, have been delayed on a month-tomonth basis pending HCFA approval (256). OMAP requested that all providers interested in participating submit a nonbinding letter of intent to participate by February 7, 1992 (256). Based on letters of intent received as of February 12, 1992, OMAP estimated a capacity to serve 190,000 enrollees through prepaid plans at program startup (212). Actual capacity cannot be predicted until OMAP has reviewed the full applications, accounted for any duplicate counts of primary care physicians (e.g., physicians associated with more than one plan), and negotiated contracts. As of March 17, 1992, OMAP had not yet received any applications (212). However, many providers who have expressed interest in participating reportedly have their referral and subcontract mechanisms in place or are well on their way to establishing them (212). Underestimation of enrollment increases could impede OMAPs ability to enroll the anticipated proportion of eligibles in PHPs, unless additional capacity (i.e., more prepaid providers) could be developed. The State assumes that the geographic distribution of new eligibles would be the same as the geographic distribution of current eligibles, with the demonstration leading toa31 percent increase in enrollment in each county during the first year compared with the expected enrollment without the demonstration (182). OMAP officials claim that development of additional capacity in the ninecounty area where prepaid plans have already enrolled the majority of AFDC patients-and where g Thirty days if changes are due to technical amendments; 60 if they are due to legislative changes in the benefit package (174). IXI ms es~[e is k~ on plans indication of the n-r of primaq care physicians that they would have available to serve Medictid enrollees, using a ratio of one primary care physician per 1,200 enrollees or fraction thereof (175,212).
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102 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal the bulk of the newly eligible population would reside-would be less problematic than in some of the outlying areas where delivery has been strictly FFS to date (212). Distribution of PHP Enrollees by Eligibility Category PHPs that attract a greater proportion of high-cost patients would be at a financial disadvantage compared with those that attracted lower cost patients, a phenomenon known as adverse selection. To help protect PHPs from adverse selection, OMAP would: Develop a separate cavitation rate for each of four eligibility categories, to reflect average differences in cost between patients in each category (see above) (175); Require each PHP to accept any enrollee that selects it, regardless of eligibility category (175); Adjust cavitation rates for certain predictable events (e.g., pregnancy) (175); and Provide stop-loss insurance for other costoutlier patients (e.g., in the event of costly catastrophic conditions that cause costs per patient to exceed a predetermined threshold) (177). At least in the early stages of the demonstration, the inability of providers to predict the distribution of their enrollees by eligibility category may affect PHPs ability to budget and subcontract for specific services, which could in turn have an effect on beneficiary access and quality of services provided. The issue of distribution of enrollees across eligibility groups is not unique to Oregon. However, because existing prepaid providers experience is limited to AFDC enrollees under the current benefit package, and because proposed cavitation rates are calculated for nontraditional eligibility categories, the level of uncertainty for new prepaid providers in Oregon is likely to be greater than it would be under a more traditional Medicaid managed care demonstration. To assist providers in anticipating the distribution of their own enrollment, OMAP has sent prospective providers lists of anticipated eligibles by rate category and geographic location (212). Reimbursement Changes A major selling point of the demonstration to providers in the State has been the promise of enhanced reimbursement (177). There is little question that aggregate Medicaid payments to health care providers in Oregon would increase under the proposed demonstration, but whether individual providers would see a net increase in Medicaid revenue after costs is unclear. In both the prepaid and FFS parts of the proposed system, providers are expected to experience costly increases in administrative responsibilities. They may also be providing more services, or services to more people. Most providers in the managed FFS system would not receive payment rate increases, although expanded eligibility may reduce some of the existing uncompensated care burden. Providers in Oregon are likely to experience changes in their gross Medicaid revenues due to increases in and redistribution of the eligible population. It can be assumed that, under the proposed demonstration, some providers who currently see Medicaid patients would lose these patients to other providers due to unwillingness or inability to participate as PHPs or subcontractors. This phenomenon is common to any shift from unrestricted FFS to prepaid managed care. At the same time, many providers who currently participate (as well as some who do not) are likely to maintain or increase their Medicaid caseload under the demonstration due to expanded eligibility and redistribution of eligibles between providers. However, increased caseloads would only bring increased net revenues if: 1) they displaced current uncompensated care losses, and/or 2) payment rates under the demonstration were greater on average than current reimbursement rates. Case-Managed FFS System Payment rates for specific services in the casemanaged FFS system would not increase. Most providers in the case-managed FFS system would continue to be paid according to prevailing Medicaid rates, many of which have been frozen or reduced for the current biennium (see table 4-10). 61 The only reimbursement enhancements in the case-managed 61 F= for ~hy~i~~ ~d ~~ other categol-i~ of providem wme fro~n for the 1991-93 biennium. OMAP d~s not intend to ck~e the~ FFs rates under the demonstration (212). A few categories of providers received CPI (co nsumer price index) increases in their FFS rates. Hospitals paid on a DRG basis have seen an increase in reimbursement for inpatient care as a resuh of a recent out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit brought against the State (see ch. 2). Hospital outpatient reimburse ment was reduced from 65 to 59 percent of costs for the 1991-93 biennium. Pharmacies will see a cost-of-goods update twice monthly, but the dispensing fee has been frozen. Dentists received increase s for certain procedures (212).
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 103 FFS system would be: 1) the additional $3 per enrollee per month for primary care case managers, and 2) any additional reimbursement realized as a result of new coverage for services previously provided, or patients previously seen, free of charge. For sole providers in areas with sparse population and many newly insured persons, expanded eligibility may mean de facto increases in revenue. OMAP's decision not to extend reimbursement rate increases to the FFS portion of the delivery system represents a conscious effort to move more providers into the prepaid arena (212). If they succeed in achieving and maintaining a statewide prepaid delivery system, the lack of payment increases for FFS providers would no longer be an issue. However, 25 percent of the Medicaid population is anticipated to be under case-managed FFS at program steady state. This 25 percent would be relatively concentrated in the more remote rural counties where OMAP is not aggressively targeting prepaid contracts. Ass uming that the demonstration would entail a 31 percent increase in enrollment in each of these counties, lack of reimbursement rate increases could have negative implications for provider participation in FFS and, hence, beneficiary access to care in those areas if providers were not willing to accept additional Medicaid patients at prevailing rates. An official of the Oregon Medical Association recently characterized current FFS reimbursement rates as woefully inadequate, and suggested that the Oregon demonstration would penalize rural physicians by not extending to them enhanced reimbursements (30). It is not clear how much of an incentive the additional $3 case management fee would be to participation by PCCMs. Prepaid System Estimated cavitation rates appear to be roughly comparable to those currently offered to prepaid Medicaid providers (table 4-14). A true comparison is difficult, however, because the rates reflect a demographically dissimilar population, a significantly different benefit package, and a new ratesetting methodology. Current cavitation rates for PCOs, which are based on Medicaid FFS-equivalent costs for a similar population, range from $30.16 to $37.00 per month for AFDC clients. 62 For the most comparable eligibility category under the proposed system (non-general assistance clients with incomes below 100 percent of the FPL), estimated PCO rates for basic services 63 range from $36.59 to $44.42 per month ($32.59 to $40.42 per month if one excludes the $4 administrative allowance) 64 (table 4-14). Current prepaid contractors who plan to participate under the proposed system can make a rough comparison between current and proposed rates for certain services and patients (e.g., those services and patients for which they have previously received capitated reimbursement). Both new and existing providers, however, are likely to have greater difficulty anticipating the costs of other patients (e.g., general assistance and PLM clients). The extent to which the new rates would represent increases in reimbursement to PHPs would depend on a number of factors, including: l l l l The extent to which PHPs are able to cut costs by curtailing the provision of noncovered services or through other means, The extent to which their current uncompensated care load is displaced by newly covered patients or services, The extent to which cavitation rates cover actual costs of patient care, and The extent to which new rates adequately compensate for any increased administrative tasks they must assume under the demonstration. For subcontractors in the prepaid system (e.g., physician specialists, hospitals, providers of ancillary services), higher payment would depend on the ability of these providers to negotiate such rates with prepaid plans. There are no floors or other guidelines for subcontractor rate negotiation. 65 Under the current managed care system in Oregon, hospitals that provide outpatient services to Medicaid patients under subcontract to PCOs have generally been paid at rates equivalent to those they could expect if they were paid directly by OMAP (52). This practice, 62 mere is n. administrative allowance for prepaid providers under the current system. 63 See table 4-13 for a description of PCO basic WXVi@S. 64 ~ese fiWes reflwt the ~thhol~nce for tie matefity we reins~nce pool, but tiey do not reflect any applicable stop-loss iIISUHIIICe pmfnillm deductions. 65 me proposed C.apitation rates reflect newly calculated reasonable cost for subcontracted services (e.g., hospital services, home health services, pharmacy services); however, OMAP has not established a policy whereby PHPs would be required to reimburse their subcontractors at these levels.
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104 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 4-14--Capitation Rates for Prepaid Health Providers in Oregon: Current and Proposed Benefit Packages a Monthly capitation rates as of October 7, 1991 (AFDC only) a Fully capitated health plan (FCHP)--Kaiser Permanence, Northwest Region: $84.16 to $98.54 Physician care organizations (PCOs): b $30.16 to $37.00 Proposed monthly capitation rates under the demonstration for State fiscal year 1993, including administrative allowance: c Range d Eligibility category: e FCHP PCO Ail eligibles with incomes under the Federal poverty level (FPL) except general assistance . . . . . . . . $109.32 to $129.81 $36.59 to $44.42 Poverty level medical (PLM) adults with income 100 to 133% of FPL . . . . . . . . . $603.49 to $701.10 $234.87 to $293.40 PLM children (i.e., less than 6 years of age) with income 100 to 133% of FPL . . . . . . . . . . . $180.64 to $209.67 $47.16 to $58.78 General assistance . . . . . . . . . . $259.03 to -$287.34 $52.91 to $63.14 ABBREVIATIONS: AFDC-Aidto Families with Dependent Children; FCHP-fullycapitated health plan; PCO physician careorganizaton (partially cavitated health plan). a Although presented side by s.~e in this table, current and proposed cavitation rates are not directly comparable because they were Cahdatad from different data sets and represent significantly different benefit packages. There is no administrative allowance in the current system. b Rates in~~e bsic services only (physician, lab, x-ray, early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment Pm9r@. c Cavitation rates ~ ~tirnated by @opers & Lybranct using a mixture of private and Medicaid claims databases (see ref. 40). They refl~t FCHP ~ver~ services (including all optional services) and PCO basic services (see table 4-12) for lines 1 through 567 on the prioritized list of health services. The rates in this table do not reflect applicable premium deductions for: 1) maternity and newborn cases, or 2) stop-loss protection. They do include a 6 percent administrative allowance for FCHP services and a $4 per enrollee administrative allowance for PCO services. d Represents range among the five different geographic are= for which OMAp h= ca~ulated ~parate cavitation rates (see text). SOURCES: State of Oregon, Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Prepaid Hea/th P/an Request for &/ic@ions A&itional Information (Salem, OR: OMAP, Feb. 7, 1992); Coopers& Lybrand, &sgon MedibaidBasic Health Services Program: Cakwlation of Per Capta Costs Report(San Francisco, CA: Coopers& Lybrand, May 1, 1991); B. Terhaar, Operations Project Manager, Prioritized Health Care Systems, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Oregon Department of Human Resources, Salem, OR, personal communication, Dec. 4, 1991; L. Read, Director, Prioritized Health Care Systems, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Oregon Department of Human Resources, Salem, OR, letter to E.J. Power, Office of T=hnology Assessment, Mar. 4, 1992. however, is negotiated by the plan and the hospital rather than the result of a formal policy decision by OMAP (212). Another potential issue for PCOs under the demonstration is the ability of OMAP to measure savings for noncapitated services due to PCO case management. Under the proposed plan, PCOs would receive a percentage of any savings achieved through reduced utilization of covered noncapitated hospital outpatient, hospital inpatient, and prescription drug services, measured against predetermined target costs for an actuarially equivalent FFS population (see above) (177). In other States, the ability to perpetuate such incentives in partial cavitation arrangements has been hampered by erosion of the FFS base against which actual utilization is measured (143). This problem might be of particular concern in Oregon, because by the time the demonstration is at steady state, the State intends to have all eligibles enrolled in some form of managed care. Also, measurement of total savings must be detailed enough to discount savings from service prioritization. Under the current system, savings are calculated by comparing utilization of broad service categories. OMAP claims that, although difficult, such a comparison is actuarially feasible, and that the primary purpose of such a mechanism-to provide an incentive for prepaid providers to control costswould still be served (212). Impact of the Prioritized List Implementation of the prioritized list of services, by design, is likely to influence the way physicians and other health care practitioners diagnose and treat their Medicaid patients. The impact of the list may differ depending on the delivery system in which the practitioner operates. To get a better sense of how clinical practice might be affected by the list, OTA had several physicians evaluate the list in light of their own clinical experience. The contractors findings, presented in more detail in chapter 3, include concerns regarding:
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 10 5 The clinical appropriateness of ranking certain CT pairs either above or below the line, Dissatisfaction with the use of broadly defined service categories in the prioritization process, and The inadequacy of the list at valuing the relative effectiveness of specific treatments for certain patient subpopulations. If physicians serving Medicaid patients under the demonstration share these concerns and feel the list either prevents them from providing appropriate or necessary care or forces them to provide alternative treatments they feel are less appropriate, they may respond by attempting to code claims or encounter data forms for potentially uncovered conditions into alternative CT pairs (see ch. 3). If physicians or other health care providers are unable or unwilling to code conditions into alternative CT pairs, they might either deny treatment or choose to absorb the cost of providing that treatment themselves. According to the clinical contractor evaluations and OTAs own analyses of list coding, there appear to be many opportunities for alternative coding of below-the-line conditions into covered CT pairs. If alternative coding is more extensive than anticipated in the cost estimates (see ch. 6), savings from prioritization may not be as great as anticipated. Noncovered services range from inexpensive treatments such as elastic bandages and splints for strains and sprains to extremely costly treatments such as liver transplants for alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver (see ch. 3). 66 List Interpretation and Coding Issues The ability of providers and OMAP to interpret coding used in the list has implications for program evaluation and costs, provider reimbursement and financial risk, and beneficiary access to specific services. 67 In completing claims and encounter data forms, providers would not indicate the CT pair into which they felt it appropriate to classify a patient. Forms would be completed and coded much as they are now, using ICD-9-CM 68 diagnostic and CPT-4 69 procedure codes (212). Based on this information, OMAP would decide whether or not to pay a claim or, in the case of encounter data, would classify encounters as either covered or noncovered services for purposes of program evaluation and determination of stop-loss thresholds or PCO incentive payments (88,212). Since September 1989, OMAP has been upgrading its claims and data processing capabilities (212). As of the end of January 1992, however, OMAP officials had not yet finalized a strategy for processing FFS claims against the list (212). At that time, they were reportedly considering developing a computer program that would focus primarily on below-the-line CT pairs rather than one that would categorize each paid claim by CT pair (212). Whether submitting FFS claims or providing OMAP with detailed encounter data, providers would need to have an intimate understanding of list coding. Providers may also need to change the way they code claims in order to more clearly associate specific diagnoses with specific treatments. There are a number of reasons why providers may have difficulty interpreting the list and coding their claims or encounter data accordingly. First, numerous coding duplications on the list (many of them appropriate, others apparently unintentional) could lead providers to misinterpret the scope of conditions or treatments included in CT pairs, which could in turn influence their decision as to whether or not to treat the patient. The list contains many ICD-9-CM code duplications, with some codes appearing in five or more CT pairs. overall, 291 of 709 CT pairs contain at least one diagnosis code that is repeated in at least one other CT pair. Second, the distinction between primary and secondary conditions in certain CT pairs is vague and could be misinterpreted by physicians. For example, CT pair 708 reads end-stage HIV 70 disease-medical therapy, and lists the full range of medical therapy CPT-4 codes. According to the 66 CoSt ~S~teS for tie dem~~~ti~n ~mme tit a s~ ~fion of ~low-~e.l~e servi~s wotid still be provided, but it is &fCd? tO fLRWSS whether these estimates are realistic. See ch. 6 for a detailed discussion of how demonstration costs were estimated and how the assumptions may affect providers in the FFS and prepaid delivery systems. 67 For a gene~ discussion of program evaluation issues, see ch. 8. ~ IntermtioM/ Classification o~Diseases, 9th l?ditiou ClfiCd Modification (316). 69 Cment pI-O~A Terminology (CPT) codes, 4th revision (7a). m~ uman imrnunodeficiency virus.
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106 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Oregon Health Services Commission (HSC), the intent was only to deny treatment for the primary diagnosis (i.e., to deny payment for azidothymidine (AZT) or any other approved drug for the treatment of HIV infection) (1 18). However, physicians might interpret the CT pair to mean treatment for a number of HIV-related conditions that are in fact included in CT pairs above the line. Third, it remains unclear how OMAP intends to make noncodable distinctions (e.g., treatable vs. nontreatable cancer, end-stage HIV disease) when processing claims. As of late January 1992, both the HSC and officials within OMAP indicated that they were considering leaving these distinctions to the discretion of the physician (77). While such a strategy would increase physicians autonomy in making these distinctions, it could also decrease OMAPs ability to achieve anticipated cost savings if physicians chose to code these patients liberally into covered CT pairs. Finally, hospital claims forms typically contain multiple diagnosis and treatment codes. To accurately determine which procedures were performed for which diagnoses-a determination that could ultimately affect coverage--claims forms and encounter data requirements may have to be refined. Ambiguities such as these suggest that development of extensive and detailed CT pair assignment guidelines is at least as important as correcting specific coding problems on the prioritized list. As of the end of January 1992, OMAP had just begun the process of revising the existing FFS provider guidelines to reflect the new benefit package (77,212). According to the OMAP official responsible for coordinating revision efforts, the strategy will be to focus on services that are not covered and to clarify potential ambiguities with specific examples (77). 71 Differences by Delivery System Because they face denial of payment on a claim-by-claim basis, providers in the case-managed FFS system would be most directly affected by implementation of the prioritized list. For providers in the prepaid system, the effect could be dampened by lack of immediate claims oversight. For example, in an independent practice association -type plan that subcontracts with physicians and does not internally monitor covered vs. noncovered services, physicians maybe at greater liberty to treat below-theline conditions. On the other hand, some PHPs may adopt strict internal policies to deny payment for (or provision of) noncovered services. Whether PHI% promote or resist such policies could depend on a number of factors, including: 1) the extent to which providers believe that cutting below-the-line services can save them money, 2) the extent to which OMAP monitors line-specific utilization of PHP enrollees, and 3) providers belief that certain noncovered services are indeed medically necessary and should be performed. Kaiser Permanente-Northwest Region, a large HMO that has indicated an intent to participate under the demonstration, has indicated that, while it might adopt policies to deny services for certain below-the-line conditions (e.g., specific surgical treatments), it might continue to provide others-either out of moral obligation or because certain services (e.g., splints and bandages for sprains supplied during an office visit) would be practically impossible to monitor (100). Other PHPs especially those that lack the financial resources or will to absorb costs associated with noncovered Medicaid services-might deny below-the-line treatments to a greater extent than larger providers. Potential variability among providers in adherence to the prioritized list as a benefits package could lead to inequalities in beneficiary access to services for specific conditions. Indeed, some level of inequality in access exists already between FFS and PHP Medicaid patients. Kaiser Permanence claims that it routinely provides hospice and adult preventive services to its current Oregon Medicaid enrollees, even though these are not covered benefits under the current Medicaid program (100). An evaluation of cost savings in Oregons PHP program between 1985 and 1989 found PHP enrollees overall utilization of hospital (both inpatient and outpatient) and prescription drug services to be lower than that for an equivalent FFS population (41). To term these differences inequalities would be to ignore one of the original goals of the PHP program: to reduce utilization of unnecessary and costly services through managed care. Decreased inpatient utilization in the current PHP system is defined broadly and attributed to better 71 Fore~p]e, tie m~c~-s@c~provider@ de~es might clarifytha~ although a&,gressive treatment fortermimd C~eriS nOt COVer~ a !W.@td procedure to remove a bowel obstruction ina terminal cancer patient orpalliativechemotherapy would be covered (ifOMAP wem to adopt such a policy).
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 107 management of care by primary care physicians (41). Broadly defined differences in beneficiaries utilization of services, however, fail to capture serviceand condition-specific differences in access that could result from inconsistencies in adherence to the benefit package. Although the list may have a more direct financial impact on FFS providers, its implementation could also affect providers in the prepaid system, who would be required to submit detailed encounter data in a format similar to FFS claims (175). Understanding the mechanics of the list would also be important for PHPs if they wanted to monitor the extent to which their subcontractors (e.g., hospitals) provide noncovered services. OMAP has no plans to develop specific tools to aid prepaid providers in their internal claims or service management (212). Each prepaid provider would presumably be responsible for interpreting and implementing the list within its own service structure. Implications of Future Changes in the Benefit Package If, in the event of future budgetary constraints, the coverage line moved above 587, implications for providers would also be likely to vary by delivery system. In the FFS system, providers would be denied direct payment for specific services. In the prepaid system, the cavitation rates would decrease, with a corresponding decrease in service liability. If PHPs were unwilling and unable to make up for possible rate decreases, either by cutting additional services or through various forms of crosssubsidization, they might opt out of the program. Providers in the State have expressed reasonable satisfaction to date with the benefit package and proposed cavitation rates at line 587. As in any prepaid health care environment, however, providers may opt out if they feel the rates are too low. It is impossible to predict the threshold (either in terms of the rate or the benefit package) below which providers would no longer be willing or able to participate in the Oregon demonstration. Data Collection Under the Demonstration: Issues for Providers Collection of detailed encounter data from PHPs would be critical to evaluation of the effects of service prioritization and managed care expansions on program costs, beneficiary access to care, quality of care provided, and any relevant health outcomes measures. 72 It would also help risk-based providers in their internal financial management by enabling them to track both patientand service-specific utilization and costs. Documenting patient-specific utilization would enable providers to avail themselves of stop-loss protections offered by the State. Efforts to track service-specific costs would enable providers to develop their own cost-containment strategies. In late November 1991, OMAP informed potential prepaid providers that they would be required to submit detailed encounter data to OMAP for purposes of utilization monitoring and program evaluation (175). Encounter data would include the patients name, Medicaid ID number, treating professional, date of service, diagnosis, services provided, and plan payment amount and would have to be reported-preferably electronically-within 60 days of the date of service (175). Because the proposed encounter data requirements are essentially the same as information requirements on current FFS claims forms, new prepaid providers who currently see patients in the FFS system would not need to undergo major adjustments to comply with encounter data collection requirements. For some existing prepaid providers, however, significant adjustment would be required. The inability of PHPs in the existing managed care system to submit even the most basic quarterly utilization data for Medicaid enrollees in a consistent manner (310) is not encouraging. Nonetheless, most current prepaid providers have reportedly accepted the need for these requirements and are willing to comply (212). At least one large prepaid provider, however, has requested that OMAP grant it a waiver from the specified encounter data reporting requirements under the demonstration. Kaiser Permanence objects to the requirement because it would entail the development of a new data collection system and the reporting of confidential patient information (19). PHPs are expected to bear the cost of putting the necessary data collection and utilization review systems in place. The proposed cavitation rates (table 4-14) reflect increased administrative costs associated with data collection and other administrate See ch. 8 for a gener~ discussion of program evaluation issues.
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108 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal tive tasks, but OMAP acknowledges that the administrative allowances would probably only be sufficient to cover operational costs (212). OMAP intends to have staff available to provide technical assistance to PHPs to aid them in meeting data collection and other administrative requirements (177,212). OMAP also intends to collect information from primary care case managers and PHPs about what noncovered services they provide to clients (175). How they would accomplish this is unclear. If providers felt that reporting the provision of noncovered services might result in either increases in the benefit package or increases in their payment rates, they might feel an incentive to overreport these services. If, however, providers felt that such reporting might jeopardize their reimbursement in any way (e.g., reduce cavitation rates or PCO incentive payments), they might tend to underreport. Overall Implications for Provider Participation To accommodate the almost twofold increase in Medicaid enrollment under the demonstration, provider participation in both the prepaid and FFS systems would have to increase. Although it is impossible to predict with any certainty what provider participation would be like under the demonstration, factors that may influence participation deserve ex amination. These factors, which are discussed throughout this chapter, are summarized briefly here for the prepaid and case-managed FFS delivery systems. Prepaid System Key factors in initial participation by prepaid providers include attractiveness of payment rates, level of commitment to providing care to poor populations, capacity for increased caseloads, providers perceptions of the appropriateness or feasibility of implementing the prioritized list of services, and the ability of providers to meet the terms o f prepaid contracts. Adequate long-term participation would depend on additional factors, including the ability of prepaid providers to: 1) control costs through below-the-line exclusions and effective patient management, 2) comply with the (not unreasonably) stringent standards of performance set forth by OMAP, and 3) adapt to possible reductions in cavitation rates mid-cycle. Participation of subcontractors would depend on their ability to negotiate acceptable arrangements and rates with prepaid plans. PCOs in the current system have already established referral and subcontracting arrangements for basic services; however, the vast majority of these PCOs would be required to convert to FCHPs at program startup, entailing development of new subcontractual arrangements for inpatient and other care not currently capitated for PCOs. As noted earlier, OMAP has obtained letters of intent to participate as FCHPs from many of these plans. However, the plans abilities to shoulder increased risk for patient care over the long term has yet to be tested. Case-Managed FFS System In the case-managed FFS system, financial and organizational incentives for provider participation would not differ as greatly from the current system as they would for prepaid providers. Furthermore, the case-managed FFS system would be the primary mode of service delivery only in the most rural parts of the State, where the number of providers particularly secondary and tertiary care providers is already limited. Referral patterns, to the extent that they exist at all, are fixed by default and have already been at least informally established. For example, a primary care physician in a sole-hospital area with only a limited number of geographically accessible specialists has few options when it comes to secondary or tertiary care referrals. Providers in rural areas who have difficulty maintaining adequate caseloads of charge-paying or otherwise insured patients are likely to welcome the opportunity to receive reimbursement for a larger number of low-income patients. Nonetheless, the additional responsibilities required of PCCMs (e.g., 24-hour availability, preauthorization of all care) could act as disincentives to participation if they are perceived as burdensome by providers. The wide geographic dispersion of patients and limited availability of secondary and tertiary care providers may present an additional challenge to PCCMs in establishing adequate referral networks for newly assigned patients. In addition, rural physicians maybe less able than their urban counterparts to take on additional administrative responsibilities because they are less likely to be able to afford support staff to assist them in these functions.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers 109 One possible advantage of case-managed over unrestricted FFS health care delivery is that it can increase beneficiary access to care by providing a guaranteed point of contact for patients (17,143), In several other States where case-managed FFS systems have been implemented, increased access (e.g., more specialty care referrals) has also led to increased per patient costs because these systems were not as successful in changing physician practice patterns as those that put physicians at risk (143) 0 Experience in other States also indicates that case-managed FFS and PCO systems have not always been successful at recruiting providers in underserved areas (143). A 1987 evaluation of Medicaid case-managed FFS programs in six States found that achieving adequate participation by primary care practitioners was problematic and slow and had the net effect of limiting the States ability to achieve anticipated case management savings (17). The shortage of health professionals in rural areas is a nationwide problem, however, and not one that the Oregon proposal set out to address. Understanding the current extent of provider participation in rural areas of Oregon would be helpful in assessing the potential impact of the proposed demonstration in the case-managed FFS delivery system. Unfortunately, little is known about the extent to which providers currently participate in the Medicaid FFS system. 73 An advisory group established by OMAP to guide case-managed FFS implementation met for the frost time in early December (212). Implementation of the prioritized list may also present problems in case-managed FFS, at least at the outset. OMAP has indicated a commitment to minimizing the hassle factor for providers by keeping as many as possible of the burdens of list complexity transparent to providers and by working collaboratively with providers in the case-managed FFS system (212). However, the difficulties inherent in implementing the prioritized list of services in the FFS system may increase the hassle factor in claims payment somewhat during the first year or two of the demonstration. Issues for Selected Providers Hospitals Under the proposed demonstration, both the amount and the immediate source of Medicaid reimbursement are likely to change for the majority of hospitals. Perhaps the most pronounced change would be the offset of current uncompensated care costs due to expanded eligibility. Hospital reimbursement would also change due to addition and elimination of services from the benefit package, changes in reimbursement rates, and reductions in inpatient and outpatient services utilization due to the expansion of managed care. The net balance of these changes for hospitals, however, is impossible to predict at this time. Many hospitals would shift from State-set DRG rates to rates negotiated with prepaid providers. Thirty hospitals 74 would receive most of their payment for inpatient and outpatient care from FCHPs. An additional31 hospitals in the PCO areas would negotiate payment for certain outpatient hospital services rendered to PCO enrollees with the PCOs, but they would continue to receive the prevailing payment rates for inpatient services (either DRGor cost-based) directly from OMAP. 75 Hospitals may find it difficult to anticipate the magnitude of expected Medicaid revenues for a number of reasons. First, managed care may reduce hospital utilization. Indeed, the State has projected that, purely as a result of managed care incentives, nonmaternity/newborn-related inpatient hospital costs would decrease by 25 percent for FCHP enrollees, 13 percent for PCO enrollees, and 9 percent for case-managed FFS enrollees (178). These projections are based on its reported experience with the current PHP program and cost studies done by Coopers & Lybrand. In testimony presented before Congress in September 1991, the Congressional Budget Office and GAO questioned the validity of these estimates (237,238). 73 A ~omprehaS1ve S~dy of pC.ae practitioner availabfi~ fi ~ch of the S@tes 125 health semi~ m~s tis Hendy been completed by the Oregon OffIee of Health Policy. The results of this study should help determine whether there is sufficient capacity in the system to handle the estimated 120,000 newly eligible Medicaid enrollees. 74 &cludes the ~. ~Sm Fou&tion hospi~, which tie ~~dy ~der fu~ c~i~tion ~qemen~ ~~ Medicaid for patients tXllVkd ill tie Kaiser-Permanente-Northwest Region HMO. 75 ~rd@ t. o~, appro~~ly one-~d of oupatient s~i~s reimbursement for~o enrokes is subject to negotiation. me req ~~ thirds are paid on an FFS basis by OMAP (212).
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110 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Second, although cavitation rates reflect the reasonable cost of hospital inpatient and outpatient services for covered CT pairs, OMAP has not established a floor for FCHPs hospital reimbursement rates. Hospitals recently succeeded in obtaining increased Medicaid reimbursement from the State as the result of a lawsuit filed under Boren Amendment provisions (156,157) (see ch. 2)-a fact that might put hospitals in a stronger position to guard themselves against inadequate reimbursement from PHPs. As noted earlier in this chapter, financial data indicate that a significant number of Oregon hospitals-particularly small rural hospitals-are already in financial distress. A number of these hospitals are currently exempt from prospective payment and instead receive facility-specific, cost-based reimbursement (see table 4-9). Under the demonstration, some of these hospitals would lose these statutory protections because, according to State officials, the statutes have been interpreted as applying only when payments are made directly by the State and are not likely to be upheld for hospitals receiving payment from PHPs (52,134). If the demonstration is approved, payments to these rural hospitals should be monitored closely. For hospitals that continue to be reimbursed on a DRG basis, implementation of the prioritized list poses an additional reimbursement problem because DRGs do not adequately distinguish between covered and noncovered services provided during the course of a single hospital stay. For example, for a patient who receives treatment for several conditions during the same hospital stay (e.g., intravenous AZT for HIV infection and intravenous antibiotics for pneumocyctis carinii pneumonia), it may be impossible to determine from the hospital claim form which treatment is being provided for which diagnosis. Of particular concern is the ability of the payment system to distinguish between diagnosisand treatmentrelated inpatient charges. Oregon has stated that, under the demonstration, all Medicaid patients are entitled to a full diagnosis of their condition, even if treatment for that condition is not covered (177). Under the current system, however, diagnostic and treatment charges are bundled into a single diagnosisrelated payment. If a treatment for a covered condition is incorrectly attributed to a noncovered condition on the basis of claims coding, payment may be inappropriately denied. There are a number of below-the-line conditions where extensive inpatient diagnostic procedures might be required to confirm the diagnosis (e.g., exploratory surgery or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for certain cancers). If hospitals were denied payment for these procedures, the financial consequences could be serious. As of January 1992, Oregon had not yet developed policies to address payment of diagnostic services provided in an inpatient hospital setting where treatment was also provided for a noncovered condition (212). Publicly Funded Primary Care Providers Publicly funded primary care clinics (e.g., FQHCs, RHCs, county and local health departments) have played a major role to date in serving Medicaid and uninsured patients in Oregon and throughout the country. Federal, State, and local subsidies have supported them in this role, and payments from Medicaid often represent a substantial proportion of their budgets. If demonstration enrollment increases took place without any changes in the delivery system, most of these providers would probably see increases in their Medicaid revenues due to expanded eligibility. As proposed, however, the demonstration could end up having a negative rather than a positive financial impact on some of these clinics. Like other providers, they would be forced either to assume risk as primary contractors, negotiate with other prepaid plans as subcontractors, or serve an increasingly limited number of Medicaid patients in the FFS system. A state law passed in 1991 76 would guarantee a limited role for publicly funded clinics under the proposed system by requiring prepaid providers to subcontract with them for point-of-contact services for immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases, and other communicable diseases. Their ability to participate as full-scope primary care providers, however, is less certain. Publicly funded providers are likely to have difficulty meeting requirements for participation as primary contractors for a number of reasons, the foremost of which is that they may be less able than larger providers to assume full or partial risk for patient care due to limited financial resources. Tfj Oregon Semte Bill 760, 1991.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 111 Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health ClinicsImplementation of the proposed managed care expansions would have significant implications for FQHCs and RHCs. All 11 FQHCs (table 4-3) and 14 of the 17 RHC S 77 are in areas where OMAP has indicated it would implement prepaid health care delivery (177,197). The 6 FQHCs in areas where FCHPs would be mandatory represent a total of 19 individual clinic sites, serving an estimated 65,586 unduplicated persons (both Medicaid and non-Medicaid) in FY 1989. 78 Four of these FQHCs operate as PCOs in the current managed care system (see table 4-3), but they would have to convert to FCHP status in order to maintain primary contracts under the demonstration. The 5 FQHCs in areas where PCOs would be implemented represent 7 individual clinic sites that served at least 8,321 unduplicated persons in 1989. 79 OBRA-89 (Public Law 101-239) mandated that FQHCs receive facility-specific cost-based reimbursement from the State for services they provide to Medicaid patients. Each clinics reimbursement rate is determined by calculating the average cost per patient encounter across all patients over the course of a year. RHCs are entitled to the same type of reimbursement under Public Law 95-210. The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA-90) 80 reinforced OBRA-89 reimbursement protections by mandating that FQHCs participating in Medicaid prepaid delivery systems receive the same payment per encounter to which they are entitled when paid directly by the State. OBRA-90 also mandated that, whenever States require Medicaid patients to enroll in prepaid plans, at least one of the plans available in any given area either be an FQHC or subcontract with an FQHC for the provision of primary care services. Under the proposed demonstration, Oregon is seeking a waiver from cost-based reimbursement provisions for FQHCs and RHCs and from OBRA90 FQHC guaranteed access provisions (177,257). These waivers would give the State greater latitude in choosing prepaid contractors and would enable OMAP to pay FQHCs and RHCs the same rates that they would pay other providers under the demonstration. If these waivers are granted, the impact o n FQHCs and RHCs in prepaid areas would depend on a number of factors, including: l l l l The ability of the clinics to: 1) assume either full or partial risk for the care of their Medicaid enrollees, or 2) negotiate successfully with FCHPs and PCOs in their service area to act as subcontractors for primary care services; The extent to which the clinics currently depend on Medicaid revenues; The extent to which current sliding-scale patients in the clinics would be newly eligible under the demonstration; 81 and How OMAPs cavitation rates or rates negotiated with FCHPs under subcontract compare with their actual costs. If unable to obtain prepaid contracts, FQHCs and RHCs might be able to continue serving Medicaid patients under subcontract to other prepaid providers. OMAP would encourage but not require prepaid providers to subcontract with these entities for services other than immunizations and point-ofcontact services for sexually transmitted and other communicable diseases (175). However, participation as subcontractors introduces further uncertainties regarding the adequacy of reimbursement, because the proposed waiver of OBRA-89 and OBRA-90 provisions would relieve OMAP of its current obligation to reconcile differences between subcontractor rates and FQHCs actual costs for services. In Oregons current prepaid system, 2 of the 11 FQHCs see patients under subcontract to a PCO. Both are paid according to the PCOs fee schedule for all covered services, and both contend that their average per-encounter reimbursement from the PCO falls well below their FQHC entitled rate (219,259), although OMAP has disputed this claim (213). To comply with Federal law, OMAP intends to reconcile the difference between the amount paid by the m FoU ~cs me in arm slated for FCHP implementation the r~ aining 10, in areas where OMAP intends to execute prepaid contracts. 78 cl~c-~ COWW He~& ~p~ment &d not r~ofi users ~ 1989 b~a~e it was not d~i~ted a.s an FQHC ~til October 1991 (261). 79 Two of ~ew five FQHCs ~d not repofi users for 1989. Swar &ta were not available for ~CS. W ~bllc ~w lo~_508. 8] FQHCS tit receive ~Pmt he~th center ~~ my ~ less 1&ely to ~nefit from expand~ e@jbfl@ ~der the demonstration beCaUSe. many of their patients may not meet the Federal Medicaid residency requirements and thus would not be eligible for coverage (259). See ch. 5 for furthex discussion of eligibility issues.
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112 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PCO and the amount each clinic would have received for its services in the FFS system (212,259). If unable to participate in the prepaid system, the remaining option for FQHCs and RHCs would be to serve as PCCMs for clients not enrolled in managed care plans (estimated to be 15 to 20 percent of clients in prepaid plan areas and 100 percent of clients in counties with no prepaid plans). In the PCCM system, FQHCs would continue to be reimbursed according to OBRA-89 provisions (257). However, the Oregon Primary Care Association and some of its member clinics have expressed concern that, should HCFA grant Oregon a blanket waiver from cost-based reimbursement provisions, OMAP could exercise this waiver in the case-managed FFS delivery system as well (259,306). OMAP has suggested that FQHC and RHC reimbursement would be as high if not higher under the demonstration (255). If this is the case, then the only argument for waiving OBRA-89 and OBRA-90 provisions is an administrative one: it would simplify provider payment under the demonstration by removing the need for facility-specific cost estimates and payment reconciliation. However, facilityspecific rates would still need to be determined for FFS payment purposes unless a blanket waiver were granted, and reconciliation could be accomplished on an annual or semiannual basis to minimize the administrative burden for OMAP. The issue of FQHC and RHC reimbursement and participation under the demonstration is critical because, if the demonstration ended, these clinics would need to resume their significant role as safety net providers. For some clinics, loss of patients to other prepaid providers under the demonstration could mean significant losses in Medicaid revenues, which currently account for over 30 percent of the total operating budget at some sites (261). If losses of existing Medicaid patients as well as some currently indigent patients who would become eligible under the demonstration bring the operating volume of these clinics below a viable threshold, their ability to serve the remaining indigent population (e.g., migrants and individuals with incomes over 100 percent FPL but without insurance) could be compromised. This potential problem could be remedied through year-end reconciliation by OMAP of differences between FQHC rates and PHP rates paid to qualifying clinics, as it is in the current system. Alternatively, OMAP could require PHPs themselves to pay the clinics actual costs. In addition, OMAP could provide PHPs with stronger incentives or requirements to subcontract with publicly funded facilities. County and Local Health Departments--County and local health departments have also played a major role in providing certain services (e.g., eligibility screening, immunizations, health screening, maternity case management) to the Medicaid and uninsured population in Oregon (212,252). The ability of these and other publicly funded facilities to participate under the demonstration could be hampered by a number of factors. First, budgetary retrenchment in the State could lead to hard dollar losses for county health departments (CHDs) and other State-funded facilities in the near future. Under Ballot Measure 5, 82 Oregons 35 CHDs have seen and will probably continue to see decreases in direct subsidy from the State that could threaten their overall financial viability (259). This could further limit their ability and willingness to assume risk as prepaid providers in the proposed system. In the case-managed FFS system, CHDs would be allowed to participate as PCCMs and be paid according to OMAPs prevailing FFS rates, provided they had the appropriate staff (i.e., physicians and/or nurse practitioners) to assume case management responsibilities. However, CHDs are typically not staffed or otherwise equipped to provide the full range of core primary care services required of a PCCM. Several other issues may also present barriers to participation of publicly funded clinics in the proposed demonstration. First, their historical difficulty in recruiting and retaining physicians could limit their ability to maintain a stable primary care physician population, as required in the prepaid contract. For example, many FQHCs are staffed by physicians serving their obligations under the National Health Service Corps scholarship program (273). The attrition rate of these physicians is high, and FQHCs have difficulty competing with the salaries and benefits available in other settings (273). 82 See ch. z for a description of Oregons Ballot Measure 5.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers l 113 Second, a few clinics have expressed concern that the public-private differential in the State capon tort liability (an overall cap of $200,000 for public agencies 83 and a $500,000 cap on noneconomic damages for all other providers) will discourage private entities from entering into patient care arrangements with them in the prepaid system (259,261). Because of Oregons joint and several liability 84 statute, providers not protected by the $200,000 overall cap could conceivably be vulnerable to unlimited economic liability for malpractice cases in which they shared responsibility for patient care with a publicly funded provider. It is not at all clear how much of an issue this would be under the proposed demonstration. Multnomah County Health Department, an existing PCO subject to the $200,000 liability cap, has been able to circumvent this problem, and it currently has referral arrangements with several hospitals (both public and private) in its service area (213,259). At the same time, Clackamas County Health Department, an FQHC that would like to participate as a PHP in the proposed system, claims that the sole hospital in its service area refuses to enter into arrangements and is citing liability concerns as the reason (261). Third, some clinics have expressed concern that, even if able to negotiate prepaid contracts, they may be affected by adverse selection in spite of the preventive measures taken by OMAP (259,261). These clinics fear that they may attract a disproportionate number of high-risk patients (e.g., migrant farm workers, homeless patients, drug abusers) within a given eligibility category, either because patients find it easier to access services in these settings or because these settings provide services not available elsewhere (e.g., interpreters) (153,259). This potential problem could be closely monitored by both the clinics and OMAP. If stop-loss and other protections proved inadequate, problems could be addressed through rate adjustment. Finally, clinics are concerned that, once enrolled with a prepaid health plan, patients may still show up at their doors for care, either because they are accustomed to accessing services there, because they feel it is more convenient, or because they have had difficulty obtaining an appointment with a physician in their prepaid plan (259,261). Because publicly funded clinics are required by State and/or Federal law to see all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, they fear they could be forced to see these patients but be unable to demand reimbursement from the patients prepaid plan for services provided (259,261). 85 Again, it is not clear how much of a problem this would be under the demonstration, but it is an issue that may deserve some monitoring should the program go into effect. Alternative Providers of Care In Oregons FFS Medicaid system, enrollees who prefer nontraditional sources of care have been able to seek medically necessary care from any provider recognized by OMAP. Oregon has been more liberal than most other State Medicaid programs in allowing FFS reimbursement for services of nontraditional providers (see table 4-15). All States are required to reimburse for the services of doctors of osteopathy 86 and for pediatric and family nurse practitioners under Medicaid. 87 Under the proposed demonstration, OMAP would continue direct reimbursement for medical services delivered by these and other alternative providers in the case-managed FFS system as long as those services were preauthorized by the PCCMs. In addition, OMAP would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to serve as PCCMs. Expansion of physician-controlled managed care systems, however, would probably result in reduced opportunities for participation by certain nontraditional providers of care (e.g., chiropractors, naturopaths). This phenomenon is characteristic of managed care systems generally. Some alternative provider 83 ~C1udeS ~W~, m~cip~, and State facfities (including Oregon Health Sciences University), but nOt fd=~y fid~ c~cs Wfl~Y. For example, Multnomah County Health Department is an FQHC, but it is subject to the public agency cap by virtue of its county funding status (259). 84 jo~t ~d sevm~ liabill~ refe~ to tie ability of a plaintiff to sue one or more parties for a tort d tie ri$$t of a Pl~~ to ~U~t be tie compensation from a single entity. 85 F~yp_ ~W1ce5 ~ tie exception. Under tie propo~d demo~tratio~ e~o]]~ wo~d tive urliv~al access tO thCSe Semices and FQHCS would be paid on an FFS basis for providing them to any Medicaid patient. 86 ~tors ofo~teopa~y ~os) @cup appro~tely5 ~rcmtof tie to~ physici~popfition iII the United States (273). In general, State li~m~ boards recognize the DO degree as equivalent to the MD (aIlopathic) degree. 87 As of July 1, 1990, ~1 S@te5 were ~fi~ to provide dir~t Medicaid reimbur~ment for pediatric and ftily nurse practitioners (Public Law 101-239). Oregon had already exercised its option to do so prior to this time.
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114 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 4-15-Coverage of Selected Optional Medicaid Services, Oregon vs. Other States, October 1,1989 Total number of Medicaid programs that cover service (N = 56) Oregon Categorically needy All Medicaid Categorically needy All Medicaid Type of service only a eligibles only a eligibles Podiatrist . . . . . . 12 32 Yes optometrist . . . . . . 16 36 Yes Chiropractor. . . . . . . 8 21 Yes Other practitioner . . . . . 11 30 Yes Private duty nursing . . . . 8 20 Yes Dental . . . . . . . 13 34 Yes Physical therapy. . . . . . 10 29 Yes Occupational therapy . . . . 5 23 Yes Speech/language/hearing . . . 8 28 Yes Case management . . . . . 6 25 No No Respiratory care . . . . . 3 6 Yes Personal care . . . . . . 7 19 Yes alnd~e~ag~,b~nd,ordiWbl~i~iv~ualSa@famflieSa~chfldrenwhomeetfinan~ale~gibflity requirementsforAidtoFarnilieswith D~~d@Chfldren, Supplemental Security Income, or an optional State supplementary coverage population. b ln~~es ~th ~tegoncally ne~y ad ~~~ally n~dy eligibl~. M~i~lly neq eligi~es are ag~, Mind, or disabi~ individuals or families and children whose income is above the categorically needy eligibility limits but which, after deduction of expenses incurred for medical services covered under the Medicaid program, falls within limits set by the State Medicaid program, permitting the individuals to become eligible for Medieaid. States are allowed to establish separate coverage restrictions for medieally needy eligibles. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human services, Health Care Finanang Administration, Office of Research and Demonstrations, Program Statistkx:A.4edkare andMed&dData Book, 1990, HCFAPub. No. 03314 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, March 1991), table 4-6. groups have begun to organize themselves in anticipation of the managed care expansions. For example, chiropractors in Oregon have formed an independent practice association and have already entered into subcontracts with one or more of the current prepaid Medicaid providers. 88 They have also approached OMAP to discuss the possibility of becoming a full-fledged PHP (320). Within the prepaid system, however, participation of and access to these and other practitioners (both physicians and nonphysicians) would ultimately depend on the referral policies and staffing preferences of individual PHPs. SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS Organizational and Financial Implications Oregon anticipates that 75 percent of beneficiaries under the demonstration would receive care on a prepaid basis, while the remaining 25 percent would receive case-managed FFS care. Although OMAP has a good track record in the development and management of prepaid managed care systems thus far, with approximately 31 percent of all Medicaid patients currently enrolled in prepaid plans, achieving the anticipated level of prepaid plan enrollment and maintaining g it for the duration of the demonstration may be difficult. To qualify and remain viable, prepaid providers would have to be able to control costs through below-the-line exclusions and effective patient management, adapt to possible reductions in the benefit package and cavitation rates, and comply with OMAPs stringent standards of performance. Although letters of intent to participate indicate the potential to achieve the anticipated capacity, OMAP had not received any full applications as of March 1992. Shifting from FFS to prepaid Medicaid would result in redistribution of some patients among providers, with some providers maintaining or increasing their caseloads and others seeing a decrease. If the demonstration were put into place, the effects of this redistribution on the financial viability of critical providers (e.g., publicly funded primary care clinics) should be closely monitored. To encourage providers support and participation in the demonstration, Oregon promised them reimbursement increases. Reimbursement increases would be focused on prepaid providers. The extent to which individual providers would see a net increase in payment relative to costs, however, is unclear. Proposed cavitation rates, which are based on estimates of average reasonable costs for covered 88 As not~ eulier in ~s c~pter, A of the 15 existing FCOS are capitated for chiropractic services.
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Chapter 4--Implications for Health Care Providers 115 CT pairs, cannot be compared easily with current rates because they reflect costs of a substantially different benefit package and a demographically dissimilar population. Furthermore, while expansion of prepaid health care would improve predictability and strengthen control of overall program costs from the States perspective, providers may have difficulty anticipating their own net Medicaid revenues during the initial years of the demonstration. Careful tracking of utilization and costs from program startup would be essential to long-term provider viability. Providers might require significant technical assistance from OMAP in these efforts. Subcontractors in the prepaid system would see increases relative to prevailing FFS reimbursement rates only if they were able to negotiate higher rates with prepaid plans; OMAP has not established a floor for subcontractor rates under the demonstration. Provider participation in the case-managed FFS system, which is expected to serve approximately 25 percent of demonstration eligibles, maybe harder to increase than that in the prepaid system, since payment for individual Medicaid services would remain at prevailing FFS rates. Oregon has indicated current problems with FFS provider participation in rural areas of the State, where most FFS delivery would occur under the demonstration. To help offset additional case management responsibilities, primary care case managers would receive an additional payment of $3 per enrollee per month. How much of an incentive this additional payment might be for participation in rural areas cannot be predicted. Impact of the Prioritized List Orienting providers to the list would not be a trivial undertaking. Diagnostic and procedure codes used in the list, although familiar to providers in current practice, are inadequate to make distinctions between many CT pairs. Detailed, extensive guidelines would be required in order for providers to accurately and consistently interpret the list. As of the end of January 1992, OMAP had just begun to develop new provider guidelines, but their level of detail is not known. Because they face denial of payment on a claim-by-claim basis, providers (both professional and institutional) in the case-managed FFS system would feel the financial impact of the prioritized list more directly and may respond to it behaviorally in a different reamer than their counterparts in the prepaid system. Differences in providers adherence to the prioritized list could lead to unequal access to specific benefits across as well as within the proposed delivery systems. Under cavitation, cutting services from the benefit package would mean reducing prepaid reimbursement rates, presumably in proportion to reductions in provider service liability. It is difficult to anticipate the threshold below which prepaid providers would no longer be willing to participate. This threshold would probably vary depending on the financial and other characteristics of individual providers. Issues for Selected Providers Publicly funded primary care clinics may find it difficult to participate in the proposed managed care system because they may lack the resources necessary to assume full or partial risk for patient care. Reductions in current Medicaid caseloads could limit the ability of some of these clinics to maintain sufficient operating volume. Closing clinics could in turn endanger access to care for the remaining medically indigent population (e.g., persons with incomes just over the poverty level who cannot qualify for Medicaid). State and Federal Medicaid officials should ensure that these safety net providers remain financially stable throughout the demonstration. Possible strategies for doing so include maint aining the Federal reimbursement and patient freedom of choice protections for rural health clinics and FQHCs and offering stronger guarantees that existing publicly funded providers could participate under the demonstration. Most hospitals should benefit under the demonstration due to reductions in uncompensated care. However, billing and payment methods for inpatient services would need to be amended to permit distinctions between covered and noncovered services provided during the course of a single hospital stay. Hospitals that would continue to be paid according to the current DRG system under the demonstration (about half of all hospitals in the State) could face denial of payment for a number of diagnostic and other covered services for patients whose principal diagnosis falls below line 587. In
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116 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal corollary, OMAP could end up paying for below-thenontraditional providers of care (e.g., chiropractors line services to the extent that they are masked by and naturopaths) in the Medicaid system. Physician covered DRGs. OMAP has indicated that it will case managers in both the prepaid and FFS systems address this problem. may be less likely to allow patients to use alternative The proposed managed care expansions would sources of care than patients might choose for probably limit opportunities for participation of themselves under an unrestricted FFS system.
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Chapter 5 Implications for Beneficiaries Contents Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOW THE OREGON MEDICAID POPULATION WOULD CHANGE . . . Current Eligibility Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . Rules Under the Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ACCESS TO CARE UNDER THE DEMONSTRATION . . . . . . The Newly Insured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How Oregon Medicaid Benefits Would Change Under the Waiver . . . . Current Oregon Medicaid Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . Coverage Under the Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Medical Conditions Among Oregon Medicaid Beneficiaries . . . SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEMONSTRATIONS PARTICIPANTS . . . . . . . . . Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benefits and the Prioritized List . . . . . . . . . . . . The Role of the Delivery System . . . . . . . . . . . 119 119 119 123 128 133 133 133 135 135 141 152 152 152 154 A Critical Evaluation Is Essential . . . . . . . . . . . 154
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ContentsContinued Figures Figure Page 5-1. Current Medicaid Eligibility in Oregon . . . . . . . . . . 122 5-2. Proposed Demonstration Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . 126 5-3. Oregon Medicaid Demonstration Enrollment Projections . . . . . 131 5-4. Projected Concentration of Medicaid Eligibles in Oregon, FY 1992 . . . 134 Tables Table Page 5-1. Mandatory and Optional Eligibility Groups Covered by the Oregon Medicaid Program, 1991 . . . . . . . . . . . 120 5-2. Monthly Income Standards for Medicaid Benefits for a Family of Three as a Percentage of the Federal Poverty Level, January 1991 . . . . 124 5-3. Oregon Medicaid Program: Estimated Average Length of Eligibility, Before and After the Proposed Demonstration in a 1-Year Period . . . 129 5-4. Oregon Medicaid Enrollment for FY 1991 and Projected for FY 1993, With and Without the Demonstration, by Eligibility Group . . . . . 130 5-5. Race and Ethnicity of the Oregon Medicaid Population, FY 1990 . . . 131 5-6. Projected Oregon Medicaid Enrollment by Age and Sex, Under the Proposed Demonstration, FY 1993 . . . . . . . . 132 5-7. Proposed New Benefits Under the Oregon Medicaid Demonstration . . . 136 5-8. Oregon Medicaid Coverage of Adult Preventive Services: Demonstration vs. Current Benefits l . . . . . . . . . . 137 5-9. Oregon Medicaid Coverage of Ancillary Services Under the Proposed Demonstration . . . . . . . . . . 139 5-10. Examples of Below-the-Line Condition-Treatment Pairs With Limited Anticipated Impact on Beneficiaries Health l . . . . . . . . 140 5-11. Examples of Uncovered Condition-Treatment Pairs With Clinical Significance and No Possible Alternatives for Coverage . . . . . . . . 142 5-12. Examples of Uncovered Condition-Treatment Pairs With Clinical Significance and Possible Alternatives for Coverage . . . . . . . . . 143 5-13. Inpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Common Principal Diagnoses, FY 1989 . 146 5-14. Inpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Common Principal Diagnoses for Children Under Age 18, FY 1989 . . . . . . . . . . 147 5-15. Inpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Costly Principal Diagnoses, FY 1989 . 148 5-16. Inpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Reposed Demonstration: Most Costly Principal Diagnoses for Children Under Age 18, FY 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 5-17. Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Commo n Principal Diagnoses, FY 1989 . . 151 5-18. Utilization of Physician Services by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Common Principal Diagnoses for Children Under Age 18, FY 1989 . . . . . . . . . . 153
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Chapter 5 Implications for Beneficiaries INTRODUCTION This chapter examines Oregons proposed waiver from the perspective of those who would participate in the new program. The aim of this analysis is not a defense or evaluation of the status quo. The focus here is on how the demonstration might affect current and, to a lesser extent, new Medicai d participants compared with the existing program. The first part of the chapter analyzes in detail the effects of the States proposed new eligibility rules and describes how the makeup of Oregons Medicaid population would change under the demonstration. The second part examines key elements of access to care, focusing on the prioritized list, its effect on benefits, and particularly, the implications of withdrawing funding for below-the-line conditiontreatment (CT) pairs. It also presents available data that help assess how often current Oregon Medicaid participants might experience an uncovered condition. The final part of the chapter reviews the overall implications for beneficiaries of expanding eligibility, establishing Medicaid benefits based on the prioritized list of health services, and reforming the delivery system. HOW THE OREGON MEDICAID POPULATION WOULD CHANGE Oregon proposes to extend Medicaid eligibility to all of its poor population. This reform is significant not only because it broadly expands participation in the Oregon Medicaid program (by more than 20 percent in the first year alone), but also because it eliminates the historic categorical approach to Medicaid eligibility. Oregons demonstration, if approved, would be the first to use Federal matching funds to make Medicaid available to all the poor regardless of age, marital status, family relationship, or pregnancy. Oregons proposal seeks to cover not only people in traditional assistance categories (e.g., poor single women with children) but other groups as well, including single men, childless couples, and two-parent families whose incomes are within the Federal poverty level (FPL). This section will review the details of current Oregon Medicaid eligibility requirements, compare them with eligibility rules under the proposed waiver, and assess the implications of the new waiver rules for current Medicaid participants. Current Eligibility Requirements Eligibility for the current Oregon Medicaid program is determined by federally defined mandatory and optional categories of the poor as well as State-determined income standards for participation. Recent congressional mandates to expand coverage of pregnant women and children have weakened the link between Medicaid and the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) cash welfare program (see ch. 2). Still, the rules of access to Medicaid, throughout the country, remain focused on children, pregnant women, and recipients of either AFDC or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash assistance. Single men and childless couples, regardless of how poor or how medically vulnerable, are denied access to Medicaid unless they are also elderly or disabled. Mandatory Groups The Federal Government mandates coverage of certain groups and allows coverage of a number of optional categories. The federally mandated coverage groups include (see table 5-1) (301): l l l AFDC participants-single-parent families who receive AFDC cash assistance or who have been terminated from AFDC cash assistance because of increased earnings or hours of employment within the last 12 months; l Unemployed-parent families-families whose principal breadwinner is recently unemployed and who meet AFDC income and asset requirements; Poverty level medical (PLM) women and children 2 pregnant women and children up to 1 APDC is a Federal-State program that provides cash assistance to needy children and/or their caretaker relatives when there is deprivation of a child due to the absence, incapacity, or unemployment of a parent. 2 ~cpoveW level me~c~ (pLM) i5 he tem USd by the Oregon Medicaid program to describe thk ETOUp of PreWnt women and Young ctil~eW which was mandated Medicaid coverage under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-239).
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Table 5-1--Mandatory and Optional Eligibility Groups Covered by the Oregon Medicaid Program, 1991 Federally mandated groups Optional groups covered by Oregon Optional groups not covered by Oregon Families and children Single-parent families receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) cash assistance. Families terminated from AFDC cash assistance because of increased earnings or hours of employment (limited to 12 months). Unemployed parent families who meet the State AFDC income requirements. Children for whom adoption assistance or foster care maintenance payments are made. Pregnant women and children up to age 6 whose family income is Iess than 133 percent of the Federal poverty level (FPL). All children born after September 30, 1983 whose family income is less than 100 percent of the FPL. Other groups Aged, blind, or disabled individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other more restrictive criteria established by the State under the 209(b) option. Certain severely disabled individuals terminated from SSI because of earnings from employment. Medicare recipients with family incomes under 100 percent of the FPL (coverage limited to payment of Medicare premiums, coinsurance, and deductibles). Working disabled individuals under 200 percent of Families and children Medically needy: pregnant women and children under age 18. Other groups l l l l Individuals in nursing facilities who would be eligible for SSI if they lived at home. individuals in nursing facilities who are eligible for Medicaid because income Is less than 300 percent of SSI. Individuals receiving home and community-based services under a waiver (Oregon covers Aged and Disabled under Senior and Disabled Services Division and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Services Division waivers). Aged, blind, or disabled individuals receiving only optional State supplements (Oregon covers individuals receiving Oregon Supplemental Income Program payments). Medically needy elderly (65 or older), blind, or disabled. Medically unemployable adults who receive general assistance (not eligible for Federal funding). Families and children l l l l l Children between 18 and 21 years old in AFDC families. Pregnant women and children up to age 1 between 133 percent and 185 percent FPL. Children aged 9 to 21 of two-parent families whose income is below AFDC standards but who do not otherwise qualify for AFDC. Medically needy children between the ages of 18 and 21. Medically needy adults who are not pregnant, aged, blind, or disabled. Other groups Aged, blind, or disabled individuals under 100 percent of the FPL who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. Disabled children underage 19 who are cared for at home in lieu of institutional care but whose family income is above the eligibility limits of SSI. the FPL (coverage limited to payment of Medicare Part A hospital insurance premiums). SOURCE: Oreaon Department of Human Resources. Office of Madical &istance Prowams, Salem, OR. Medicaid and the State of Oregon Medical Assistance Programs, (OMAP3061 ), January, 1997 and M. Waid, Addendum: A Brief Summary of the Madicaid Prografi, H~a/th Qre t%amng F/etiew1990 Annual Supplement, Baltimore, MD,-Dscembar, 1990.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries 121 l l age 6 whose family income is less than 133 percent of the FPL and all children up to age 19, born after September 30, 1983, whose family income is less than 100 percent of the FPL; Foster care children--children for whom adoption assistance or foster care maintenance payments are made under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act; and Certain aged, blind, and disabled individuals. Optional Groups Of the eligibility options allowed under Federal Medicaid rules, Oregon covers medically needy pregnant women and children under age 18 and certain groups of the elderly, blind, and disabled (see table 5-1) (168). 3 States have the option to offer Medicaid to the medically needy when their family income and resources lie above the AFDC need standards if they also meet the categorical requirements of the program (e.g., an absent parent or disability). 4 Each State has the right to set its own medically needy eligibility standards as long as they do not exceed 133.33 percent of the maximum AFDC assistance thresholds for similarly sized families. Through a spend-down provision, individuals with incomes above the medically needy standard also may become eligible if their medical expenses are high enough to reduce their countable income below the medically needy maximum. Oregon also provides a general assistance program of limited health care benefits (without Federal funding) to medically unemployable adults who would not be disabled long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits (168). 5 Although Federal Medicaid options permit coverage, the current Oregon program does not cover AFDC children between 18 and 21 years of age; pregnant women and infants under age 1 with family incomes between 133 and 185 percent of the FPL; children aged 9 to 21 of two-parent families whose incomes meet income eligibility standards but who are categorically ineligible (often referred to as Ribicoff children); 6 and the medically needy, ages 18 and older, other than those described above (168). Oregon Income Standards for Medicaid Eligibility In 1991, the FPL was $928 per month for a family of three. 7 Figure 5-1 shows the monthly income levels required to obtain Medicaid in Oregon. Income criteria vary widely with the applicants demographic characteristics and can even differ among individuals within the same family. Pregnant women, infants, and young children (under age 6) are eligible if their family incomes are under 133 percent of the FPL. Children from age 6 to 8 must live in families with incomes under 100 percent of the FPL to be eligible for benefits. 8 Children 9 to 17 years old who meet AFDC categorical requirements are limited by the medically needy monthly income standard of $613 for a family of three (66 percent of the FPL). 9 Young people overage 18 and nonelderly adults (unless pregnant) must meet AFDC categorical requirements and are subject to the most sbin3 In July 1991, budgetary constraints led the Oregon State legislature to eliminate coverage of nonpregnant medically needy AFDC adults and curtail medkallyneedy coverage of the aged, blind, and disabled. Benefits for the latter groups now include only: 1) prescription drugs provided in a pharmacy, and 2) mental health and alcohol/drug treatment semices provided by community mental health and alcohol/drug programs (171). Although 36 States had medically needy programs in 1990, it is not ~own how many were as restrictive as Oregons (4). Medicaid regulations require that States which cover the medically needy must at least provide a minimum level of services, including premtid and delivery services for pregnant womeu ambulatory services for children under 18, and home health services to those individuals entitled to skilled nursing facility services. State plans that include services in mental health institutions, or in intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, must offer a broader range of services to the medically needy. 4$ ~CategonC~y ~~y~ refers t. &o= Who Me M~Caid.eligible b~ause hey below to ce~ categories of poor people, such ~ those Who are a member of a family with dependent children where one parent is absen~ incapacitated, or unemployed. 5 The general assistance recipients are not entitled to Medicaid-funded hospital care but are eligible for outpatient and prescription drug benefits. 6 CRibi~fi c~&m> we -~ for fo~~ s~tor A~ Ribkoff, the sponsor of legislation authorizing coverage for this group. 7 The 1991 FPL is used here because it was the poverty guideline that was in place at the tie Oregon submitted the waiver application. The 1992 FPLis$11,570, or $964 per mon~ for a family of three in the contiguous 48 States (57 FR 5456). The Federal Government has established separate poverty levels for both Alaska and Hawaii ($14,460 and $13,310, respectively) because of their unique economic conditions. 8 The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508) mandated that State Medicaid programs cover all children under age 19 who were born after September 30, 1983 and whose family income is less than 100 percent of the FPL. By the year 2002, coverage of all children under age 19 will be universal (270). At presen~ only & to 8-year-olds are affected. 9 Children and pregnant women can also qualifjJ for medically needy coverage by spending down to the required net income level if they also meet a mandatory asset test. Oregons asset limits for the medically needy are $2,000 for the first household member, $3,000 for two, and $50 for each additional household member (252). 328-308 0 92 5
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122 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure 5-l-Current Medicaid Eligibility in Oregon (Monthly Income Levels for a Family of Three in 1991) 185$40 of poverty ----+ ($1,717) 133!40 of poverty ~ ($1,235) Federal poverty level ------+ ($928) SSI standard > Medically _.__+ needy standard ($613) AFDC + payment standard ($460) I . . . . --------r IT Aged, Pregnan blind, women and and disabled infants . . . . Under age 6 . . Age 6 to 8 a Young children Children Adults ]ver age 8 a Single and unemployed parent families Children Adults over age 81 Other twoparent families Single adutts and childless couples Current Medicaid program ~ ] Categories ourrentiyoovered by Oregon ~T? Optional categories not revered by Oregon but allowed by Federal statute KEY: SS1 Supplemental Security Income; AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children NOTE: This is a$implified presentation of eligibility. Income thresholds are net of allowable deductions including childcare expenses, work relatsd expenses, and certain work hwentive disregards. Medicalty needy groups can spend down to eligibility by incurring meckal expenses. Assets also enter into eiigitility. Not all eligibility groups are shown. Oregon&es, for example, cover some older children in intact families, such as those in foster care and institutions. Eiderfy, blind, and disabled with incomes under poverty can obtain Medicaid and Medicare copayments and deductibles. a All Chitiren under age 19 ad born afier ~ptem~r 30, 19~ must ~ ~versd if family in~me is be[ow poverty; ages shown are ~ of October 1991. SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Saiem, OR, The Oregon Medicaid Demom?tn?tion Waiver A#cation, submitted to the Heaith Care Finandng Administration Aug. 16,1991. gent income criteria of all: the AFDC monthly AFDC and Medicaid eligibility are complex and income standard of $460 for a family of three (less appear to be understood in great detail by few (59). than 50 percent of the FPL). Recent entrants into the The above description of Oregons income criteria is workforce are allowed certain financial work incenby necessity simplistic and masks a few critical tives (see below). details. For example, does the Medicaid applicant Counting Income and ResourcesBut how are have a household member who works, and for how income and resources defined? State and Federal long has that person worked? Does the applicant rules on how to count income and resources for have any assets? Does the individual own a car or a
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 123 home? Are there deductible child-care expenses? All of these questions and others determine what is called countable income. The net result is that in some cases, families with gross incomes greater than the reported income eligibility standards can gain access to Medicaid. In fact, in 16 States, families with a recently employed worker and incomes greater than the FPL are eligible for Medicaid benefits (270). 10 To be eligible for AFDC payments and automatically eligible for Medicaid, a family must pass both a gross income test and a countable income test. Gross monthly income cannot exceed 185 percent of the States AFDC need standard (see table 5-2). Families with no other income than their AFDC cash assistance payment must have countable income that is less than the States AFDC need standard. For others, countable income must be less than the States need standard after allowing for child-care costs up to $160 per child and a standard allowance of $75 per month. In addition, during the frost year on a job, AFDC recipients are allowed a workincentive bonus based on the length of employment (i.e., the bonus varies depending on whether the working family member has been employed less than 4 months, between 5 and 12 months, or more than 12 months) (266). 11 12 The same rules governing income counting apply to PLM women and young children, except that these mandatory coverage groups are subject to higher net income thresholds (i.e., 100 or 133 percent of the FPL). Oregon vs. OtherStatesin 1991, only 17 States had higher AFDC income standards than Oregons (270). Very few State AFDC need standards approach the FPL and many fall short of 50 percent of the Federal poverty guideline (see table 5-2) (148,270). In many cases, States have failed to adjust the AFDC income standards for inflation and, consequently, the average income threshold as a percentage of poverty has been eroded substantially, from 71 percent in 1975 to 45 percent in January 1991 (146,148). 13 AFDC monthly eligibility thresholds in 1991 for a family of three ranged from a low of $124 in Alabama to a high of $694 in California (270). 14 15 As of July 1991, 28 States had higher income eligibility limits for pregnant women and infants than Oregon did (i.e., between 140 and 185 percent of the FPL) (148). 16 A 1989 survey of State Medicaid programs found that 34 States covered Ribicoff children, many through age 21 (138). 17 Oregon does not cover these children (see above). Rules Under the Waiver 18 All legal residents of Oregon, with family incomes less than the Federal poverty guideline, would be eligible for Medicaid under the proposed The 16 States are Alaska, Califorti Comecticu6 Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michig~ Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Yorlq Rhode Island, UtalL Vermon~ WashingtorL and Wisconsin. the f~t 4 months of a job, the bon~ is to the f~t $30 of -ed income plus one-third of additional earnings after the child-care and making 8 months, the bonus is $30. There is no work incentive bonus after 12 months, but a $75 standard standard dcxiuctions are taken. For the re deduction is allowed. 12 ~spi~ the= work fientiv~, longitudinal Medicaid data show that few people who leave the AFDC welfare program get the Winsitiond Wctid benefits they are entitled to receive (59). 13 While the Consumer Price Index rose an estimated 245 percent from July 1970 to January 1991, the AFDC income eligibility standard increased only 134 percent (270). 14 Th=e &ome standards pertain to eligibility levels for the first 4 months of AFDC participation and assume work expenses of $90 per month ~d no child-care expenses. Eligibility levels after the f~st 4 months of coverage are considerably more stringent. The percentage presented in the text are based on the 1990 poverty level of $10,560 for a family of three. IS The eligibility thresholds in Alaska is even higher (i.e., $891), but this is not comparable to the thresholds in the contiguous 48 Stites. 16 The 28 ~ ~~ ~~~, ~orni~ co~ticu~ De]aWWq Dis~ct of Col@iq ~olj~, ~w~, Iow& Ku, Kenmc@, =, MarylanL Massachusetts, Michigaq Minnesota, Mississippi New Jersey, New Mexico, New York North Cam@ Rhode Ida@ South Carol@ Tennessee, Vermont, WashingtorU West Virgin& and Wisconsin. 17 me M me ha Ahw, Cdiforx@ Connecticut District of Columbi4 Florida, Georgiq Hawaii, Illinois, Iow% Kansas, Kentucky, -e, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigaq hfinnesow Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraskq New Jersey, New Yor& North Camlin& North DakotiL Ohio, OklahoW Pennsylvania South Care@ Tennessee, Texas, Utz@ Vermont Virginia and Wisconsin. The majority of thes: States cover Ribicoff children through age 21. 18 ~ d~cl-iption of eligibility rules is drawn from &gons waiver application urdess OthtXWkC noted.
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124 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 5-2-Monthly Income Standards for Medicaid Benefits for a Family of Three as a Percentage of the Federal Poverty Level, January 1991 b AFDC C need AFDC effective Eligibility Level Medically needy State standard first 4 months after 12 months standard Alabama. . . . . . . Alaska . . . . . . Arizona . . . . . . Arkansas . . . . . . California . . . . . . Colorado . . . . . . Connecticut . . . . . Delaware . . . . . . District of Columbia . . . . Florida . . . . . . Georgia . . . . . . Hawaii . . . . . . Idaho . . . . . . . Illinois . . . . . . Indiana . . . . . . Iowa . . . . . . . Kansas . . . . . . Kentucky . . . . . . Louisiana . . . . . . Maine . . . . . . Maryland . . . . . . Massachusetts . . . . . Michigan . . . . . . Minnesota . . . . . . Mississippi . . . . . Missouri . . . . . . Montana . . . . . . Nebraska .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ........ Nevada . . . . . . New Hampshire. . . . . New Jersey . . . . . New Mexico . . . . . New York . . . . . . North Carolina . . . . . North Dakota . . . . . Ohio . . . . . . . Oklahoma . . . . . . Oregon . . . . . . Pennsylvania . . . . . Rhode Island . . . . . South Carolina.. . . . . South Dakota . . . . . Tennessee . . . . . . Texas . . . . . . Utah . . . . . . . Vermont . . . . . . Virginia . . . . . . Washington . . . . . West Virginia . . . . . Wisconsin . . . . . . Wyoming . . . . . . Average . . . . . . 13.4% 76.8 31.6 22.0 74.8 45.4 62.6 36.4 46.1 31.7 45.7 59.2 33.9 39.5 31.0 45.9 41.3 56.7 20.5 70.2 43.7 62.4 63.1 57.3 39.6 31.5 39.9 39.2 35.5 55.6 45.7 33.4 62.2 29.8 43.2 36.0 50.7 47.8 45.4 59.7 47.4 41.5 44.4 19.8 57.8 73.1 31.3 57.2 26.8 55.8 38.8 45.1 83 58 56 NOTE:NA-Notappliiable;the Statedoesnothaveamedicaliyneedyprogrmn. aTh~e~~ulatiO~ mumewoAexpenseSof$Wpermonth andnochild+areexpenses.Thecalwlations arealSokmdona1990povertylevelof$10,419 ($868 permonth)forafamilyofthree, and a1991minimumwagesalaryof$7,904 ($659 permonth) b[nmmelevelat~i~ Medicaid eliaibiiitv ends. cAF~.Akjto Famflim Mth Depeidenichfldren, SOURCE: U.S. Congress,Houseof Representatives, Committeeon Waysand Means, OvertiewotEntit/emerrtProgmns: f9!Jl(GreenBook)Bac@round Materia/andDataonPrograms WithintheJutisdictionoftheGomrnittee on WaysandMssns,(Washington, DC: U.S.Government PrintingOffice, May7,1991) and National Governors Association, MCHupdate, OBRA-86/87/89 Summary Status: MedlcaidCoverage @Wonsfor Pregnant 146menandChiidren, Washington, DC, July 1991.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 125 waiver (see figure 5-2). 19 20 In addition, pregnant women and children up to age 6 with gross family incomes below 133 percent of the FPL would continue to be Medicaid-eligible. 21 The waiver eligibility categories would be: 1) AFDC, 2) PLM pregnant women and children with family incomes between 100 and 133 percent of the FPL, 3) new eligibles, and 4) general assistance recipients. Simplified Rules Oregons waiver application outlines streamlined eligibility rules for all demonstration participants except those who receive AFDC cash assistance. Under Oregons proposed rules, income calculations for non-AFDC demonstration participants would differ in a number of important ways: l l l l Gross vs. net income--Medicaid applicants would be subject to a gross income test instead of the current net income assessment. Standard deductions and work incentives, such as essential work and child-care expenses, would not be considered in counting income. Retroactive eligibility-Federal requirements to provide retroactive benefits up to 3 months prior to the date of application for Medicaid benefits would be waived. Whose income counts?Federal rules limiting countable income to that of the applicant, or a parent or spouse, would be waived to allow consideration of the incomes of other household members. Under the waiver, the definition of a family unit would be expanded to include unmarried cohabiting couples who have at least one joint child under age 19 or an unborn child. Assets testThe resources (or assets) of demonstration applicants would not be considered. 22 l Medically needyMedicaid applicants with medical expenses would no longer be able to spend down to become eligible under the medically needy program. In fact, the current medically needy program for pregnant women and children under age 18 would be eliminated altogether under the waiver. These changes are expected to greatly simplify Medicaid eligibility primarily because they reduce the considerable amount of personal documentation now required. Under existing rules, proof of up to 4 months income and detailed expenses as well as evidence of family assets may be necessary to determine eligibility. It is well established that the Medicaid eligibility procedural requirements are often a significant barrier to coverage. In 1986, nationwide, 62 percent of rejected Medicaid applications were due to failure to comply with procedural requirements (246). Yet Oregons proposed simplified procedures would not apply to a large proportion of demonstration participants. AFDC recipients, who are projected to make up 63 percent of demonstration enrollment in the first year of the waiver and as much as half the population in the final demonstration year, would continue to be subject to current AFDC rules so that they could receive cash benefits (see below for other enrollment data). Thus, although waiver rules would significant.ly improve Medicaid eligibility processing in Oregon, the programs remaining link with AFDC means a continued need for detailed personal income, expense, and other demographic information. Implications for Current Medicaid Participants In addition to the great majority of poor, uninsured Oregonians who would gain access to Medicaid benefits under the waiver, almost all current Medicaid recipients would be able to participate in the demonstration. However, the simplified eligibil19 B-use my m@ant and SeaSOMI workers are undocumented aliens, they are currently ineligible for Medicaid benefits ~d W would not & able to participate in the demonstration. The waiver rules maintain the current policy that Medicaid applicants be citizens or legal aliens who can demonstrate that they intend to reside in Oregon (173). There would be no required length of residency for migrant workers during the demonstration (as is current policy) (252). There were approximately 128,564 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Oregon in 1989 (296); it is not known what Ppofion were undocumented aliens, 2fJ me ag~, b~d, disabl@ and fOSt~~eC~&enWO~d be exempt from the demonstration until ~tokr 1993 (asthe Health CareF lnancing Administrations approval to phase in this population). Their eligibility wotid continue to be determin ed under current rules until that time and they would continue to qualify for Medicaid and receive services under existing rules (177). 21 ~e~t wom~ with incomes ~tw~n 100 and 133 percent of the FPL would have coverage until 60 dayS postpartum (as iS C~nt pmctice). ~ me tibus Budget RWonciliation Act of 1986 gave States the option to omit the assets teSt Wkn determin@ Medicaid eligibility for PLM women and children. All but five States, including OregoL have done so. The five States that have not are California Illinois, Iow& North Dako@ and Texas (148).
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126 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure 5-2-Proposed Demonstration Eligibility (Monthly Income Levels for a Family of Three In 1991) 185% of poverty ------+ ($1,717) 133% of poverty ~ ($1,235) Federal poverty level ~ ($928) SSI standard .> Medically .> needy standard ($613) AFDC --+ payment standard ($460) . . . . Aged, blind, disabled l ** II **** I l l l l )B l l l l I l ** **** l *** l ************* l ** b l ** l *** l ************* l ** b l ** l *** l ************* l ** 4 l ** t l ** b l ************ l ** 4 l ** l 44 l ************ l ** l ************ l ** l ** 4 l ** **** b l ** l ** l ** l ** h l ** **** 9 l ** l ** b **** l *** l ** 4 l ** l ** t l ** l *** l ** i l ** l ** l ** 4*** l ** l ** l *** # l ** 4 l ** b l ** l *** l ** a l ** b l ** l **4 l ** i } l *4 l *** I I I I Pregnant women and infants l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* l ******* Under Age Children Adults Children Adults age 6 to 8 over age over age 6 8 8 Young children single and Other two1 I I unemployed I parent families parent families Single adults and childless couples Current Medicaid program ~] Categories currently covered by Oregon ~T~ Optional categories not covered by Oregon but allowed by Federal statute Demonstration eligibility ~] Currently eligible ~~~ Newly eligible (allowed by Federal statute) [~] Newly eligible (requiring Federal waiver) KEY: SS1 Sumdemental Security Income; AFDC. Aid to Families with Dependent Children. NOTE: This is a-simplified representation of eligibility. See text for further explanation. a AJl ~i~ren un~ a~ 19 and ~rn aft~ ~pt~~r 30, 1 ~ must bS ~ver~ if f~ily i~me is below poverty; ~es shOWIl are ~ Of October 1991. SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oregon MedicaW Demonstfatlon Waiver App/icat/on, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration Aug. 16,1991.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 127 ity rules do eliminate some individuals who could have Medicaid benefits without the new requirements. The most vulnerable groups appear to be PLM women and children. PLM Women and Children-For PLM eligibles, countable income sources would be the same as for the AFDC program, although none of the income deductions used in calculating AFDC eligibility, such as essential work and child-care expenses, would be allowed. There is some uncertainty surrounding the estimates of the number of individuals who would be affected by this change in rules. The State estimates that only 215 currently eligible individuals (less than 1 percent) would not meet the income standards of the demonstration each year based on a recent l-day survey of all its eligibility offices (253). On the other hand, one county health provider of Medicaid services, the Clackamas County Public Health Division, has tracked PLM applications over a 12-day period and reports that more than 9 percent of its currently qualified PLM candidates would not be eligible for Medicaid under the simplified waiver rules (114).23 Most of the Clackamas County cases would be disqualified because they would be unable to use the $90 monthly earned income disregard. Whether the Clackamas County experience would be typical for all PLM applicants during the demonstration is not known. Clackamas County has an active Medicaid eligibility outreach program on the site of its health clinic. In contrast, at present, most other PLM applicants must go to a county welfare office to obtain Medicaid benefits. Oregon plans for eligibility processing during the demonstration mirror Clackamas Countys program in that they include a special outreach effort to avoid any welfare-related stigma of Medicaid benefits (177). The Oregon Medicaid Program plans to enroll Medicaid participants in community settings other than welfare offices, such as schools, churches, and elsewhere. If the State is successful at reaching out to a community that has no present relationship with the welfare system, the outcome of eligibility processing under the waiver may be similar to Clackamas Countys current experience. Given that the Clackamas County survey period was significantly longer than the States survey (12 days vs. 1 day) and that the State intends to implement extensive outreach during the demonstration, it is likely that the actual denial rate of currently eligible PLM women and children would be greater than the States current estimate of less than 1 percent. Retroactive Benefits-Although AFDC recipients would continue to be able to receive retroactive benefits for 3 months, coverage for new eligibles would commence on the date of request. 24 The number of people who would be affected and the scope of the related debt has not been well established. The State has estimated that only 154 PLM participants received retroactive coverage in 1991 (253). Continuing retroactive coverage would entail a significant burden of paperwork and could markedly increase the cost of bringing uninsured individuals into the Medicaid program. There are some who are concerned, however, that eliminating retroactive coverage may lead providers to delay treating patients until they can present a valid Medicaid card (221). Medically Needy--The State has not estimated how many medically needy recipients would lose coverage under the waiver. 25 Because Oregons medically needy standard is only 66 percent of the FPL, many of the current medically needy who use the spend-down provision to become eligible are likely to have incomes under the waivers 100 percent FPL income limit. Asset TestWhile an asset test would not be used for new eligibles, this should have little effect on current Medicaid participants. PLMs are already exempt from asset test requirements and AFDC recipients would continue, under the waiver, to be subject to the current asset test. 23 me ~accou~ pLM de~ rate includes 10 of 109 individ@s who appfi~ for M~caid coverage during the period January 2-17, 1992 and were determined to be eligible. Of this group, eight were pregnant women and two were children under age 6. Some of these individuals applied for coverage as part of a family unit. M A rq~ by RxImal statute, there would be a AfI-daY maximum limit between the application date and final dete rrnination of eligibility ~itle 42, pm 435, sec.91 1]. X The State did e xamine 1 months eligibility files and found31 individuals who became eligible for the medically needy program by spending down from family incomes above the FPL (252). Oregon reports, however, that it is unable to use this experience to develop an estimate for a 1 year period because some people may be spending down for several consecutive months. The medically needy are required to apply for coverage on a monthly basis.
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128 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Continuity of CoverageA long-held criticism of the Medicaid program has been that the constant turnover of participants hurts continuity of care, increases administrative expense, and discourages provider participation. Because eligibility hinges on personal characteristics that are often transient, such as pregnancy, marital status, and the size of medical bills compared with income, Medicaid participants become eligible and then ineligible with disruptive frequency (102). Yet, it is not clear from Federal statutory eligibility criteria whether Medicaid is intended to principally serve as a permanent source of assistance or as a safety net for those experiencing temporary hardships (239). Oregon studies have shown that continuous Medicaid coverage is relatively brief for many program participants. A 1989 survey of Oregon AFDC recipients found that more than 45 percent had continuous coverage ranging from only 1 to 11 months. A 1990 report revealed that, despite guaranteed continuous coverage of pregnant women up to 60 days postpartum, the average length of uninterrupted Medicaid coverage for PLM pregnant women and children was only 6 months ( 159). It appears that many PLM women enroll in the Medicaid program late in their pregnancy. National statistics indicate similar findings. One study, using the National Longitudinal Survey, reported that half of all AFDC recipients are continuously covered for 1 year or less and only 18 percent remain on AFDC for more than 5 years (154). An analysis of the Survey of Income and Program Participation showed that other groups of Medicaid participants, such as pregnant women and young children, are even more likely to have short-term coverage (239). Short and colleagues argue that the Oregon approach of using poverty as a criterion for eligibility, instead of more narrowly defined categorical criteria, would open the Medicaid program to many more people on a short-term basis. This is because periods of poverty are often short-term and associated with intermittent participation in the labor force (15,154). Persistent turnover of Oregons Medicaid population could be particularly troublesome to managed care providers who would be more subject to the administrative and clinical problems associated with the interruption of care when eligibility is terminated (239). On the other hand, Oregons apparently successful managed care experience indicates that the State may be able to help new Medicaid managed care providers deal with these difficulties (238). Table 5-3 shows the projected average length of eligibility for demonstration participants during the course of a l-year period. Oregons waiver rules guarantee 6-month periods of continuous coverage (for all but AFDC participants) and may decrease the turnover of the Medicaid population. While AFDC eligibles would continue to be subject to current rules, those who lose AFDC benefits should be able to transfer to demonstration-only eligibility without a break in Medicaid coverage (252). PLM women and children, with family incomes below 100 percent of the FPL should also be able to transfer to demonstration-only eligibility. The State expects demonstration-only eligibles to have continuous Medicaid benefits longer than any other eligibility groups. Enrollment 2627 The Oregon Medicaid population is projected to increase dramatically and its makeup would change considerably under the proposed waiver. In the first year of the demonstration (i.e., fiscal year (FY) 1993), the change in eligibility rules is forecast to increase the average monthly number of Medicaid enrollees by more than 20 percent, from 214,364 to 258,464 (see table 5-4). By the fifth and final year of the waiver, Oregon forecasts a total average enrollment of 368,700, including 120,600 beneficiaries who would not be eligible under current rules (see figure 5-3). 28 29 u ~~ent ~~ present~ in this swtion are drawn from two sources: 1) the Oregon waiver application and 2) ~ublished &tii provided to tie Office of Technology Assessment by the Oregon Medical Assistance l%ograms (OMAP) ot%ce. Ihe reader should note that OMAP data include enrollment figures for two eligibility groups, the medically needy participants in the Oregon Supplemental Income Program and QualifM Medicare Beneficiaries, that are not included in the waiver statistics. Both groups are relatively small and would not be part of the demonstration until the phase-in of the disabled and elderly populations. ~ ~~ent data are presented on a fiscal year basis. Oregons fiscal year runs from July 1 tiOUgh Jwe 30. 2S u~ess ~~cat~ othe~w, this review of enrowent data focuses on average monthly data rather than counts of the total number of unduplicated Medicaid beneficiaries. Because many beneficiaries have Medicaid benefits fora short period of time, annual unduplicated counts are significantly higher than monthly averages. Unduplicated counts show the considerable volume of individuals flowing through the Medicaid program, but they are less useful than average data for describing the programs caseload.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 129 Table 5-3-Oregon Medicaid Program: Estimated Average Length of Eligibility, Before and After the Proposed Demonstration in a l-Year Period Average length of eligibility (in months) a Before the After the Eligibility category demonstration demonstration AFDC . . . . . . . . . 6. 5 c 6.5 PLM children . . . . . . . . 3.4 4.8 PLM adults . . . . . . . . 3.9 3.9 General assistance . . . . . . . 4.3 4.3 Demonstration only Newly eligible families . . . . . NA 10.5 Newly eligible singles . . . . . . NA 9.9 Newly eligible childless couples . . . . NA 9.9 KEY: NA not applicable; AFDC. Aid to Families with Dependent Children; PLM = poverty level medical. a Eligibility is descri~ in terms of person-months. individuals Can appear in more than one eli9i~lity ~tego~. b Before the demonstration data are based on actual FY 1989 experience. c Shows adjustment for I gag welfare reform rules that was expected to result in increased length of eligibility for the AFDC program. SOURCE: Coopers & Lybrand, CWgon MedicAd Basic Health Sernkes Program: Calculation of Per Capita Cost Report, (San Franeiseo, CA: Coopers & Lybrand, May 1, 1991) and Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, Uregon Hea/th P/an: Offerers Conferences Questions and Answers, (Salem, OR: OMAP, Feb. 18, 1992). This section will describe and compare the current and projected program enrollment. Current Enrollment The average monthly Medicaid enrollment in FY 1991 was 185,709 (see table 5-4). Close to 71 percent of the participants were poor women and children who enrolled either as PLM or AFDC program participants. About 7,600 (4.3 percent) of the AFDC eligibility group became eligible through the medically needy program, which has since been significantly scaled back to include only pregnant women and children under age 18 (252). 30 Th e elderly, blind, disabled, and foster care children made up the remainder of the population in 1991. Race and Ethnicity of the Current Medicaid Population-Data on race/ethnicity are shown in table 5-5. Minorities make up a small proportion of Oregon Medicaid participants, reflecting their distribution in the statewide population (see ch. 2). Oregon Medicaid participants are predominately white (84.3 percent), The largest minority groups among Medicaid participants are blacks (6.2 percent) and American Indians/Alaskan Natives (5.2 percent). The Poor Without Access to MedicaidAlthough more than 282,000 Oregonians were eligible for Medicaid some time during FY 1991, many of Oregons poor were uninsured. 31 In FY 1990, more than 101,000 Oregonians whose family incomes were below the FPL, or about 29 percent of the States poor population, had neither Medicaid, Medicare, nor private health insurance coverage (184). They are the target population of the proposed demonstration project. The proportion of Oregons poor without health insurance is lower than that of the Nation overall; 35.7 percent of the U.S. population living in poverty were uninsured in 1989 (265). Impact of the Waiver on Enrollment The average monthly number of Medicaid participants in the demonstration is projected to be 197,500 in FY 1993 (see table 5-4). More than 302,000 poor Oregonians would take part in the demonstration for some period during its frost year. Oregons demonstration enrollment projections assume that, although there are more than 101,000 uninsured poor Oregonians, only about 40 percent of the target population of new eligibles would actually enroll in the first year. On average, about 72 percent 29 ~c Stite ~xFts to~ Me&Caid ~mol~at to ~ sqg,s~ in tie last yew of tie w~ver if its ~date to e~loyers to provide health irlSuran03 is fully implemented. M ~~ou~ ~c ~~~y ~~y ~uSt meet tie ~~gon~ ~fiements of fie ~ pmg~ (e.g., an absent parent) to be eligible for Meditid benefits, they are not eligible for AFDC cash assistance because their family incomes are too high See the earlier discussion regarding eligibility rules. 31 Note tit ~~ou@ zgz,~ ~egon residents r=eived M~caid ben#lts in ~ 1~1, my were efigible for ody a brief period during tie y~,
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Table 5-4--Oregon Medicaid Enrollment for FY 1991 and Projected for FY 1993, With and Without the Demonstration, by Eligibility Group FY 1991 enrollment Projected FY 1993 withoutS627 Projected FY 1993 withS627 Average Percent eligibles of per month total 18,877 22,037 7,409 2,931 550 51,804 115,113 5,312 10,880 131,305 10.2Y0 11.9 4.0 1.6 0.3 27.9 62.0% 2.9 5.9 70.7 28,019 35,249 10,526 5,738 1,504 81,036 189,085 14,905 40,389 244,380 22,161 26,465 7,620 3,934 784 60,964 124,900 6,100 19,700 150,700 10.3% 12.3 3.6 1.8 0,4 28.4 58.3% 2.8 9.2 70.3 28,019 35,249 10,526 5,738 1,504 81,036 189,085 14,905 40,389 244,380 22,161 26,465 7,620 3,934 784 60,964 124,900 6,100 19,700 150,700 8.6% 10.2 2.9 1.5 0.3 23.6 48.3 % 2.4 7.6 58.3 New Medicaid eligibles Categorical.. . . . . . NA NA NA NA 8,114 7,100 2.7% Noncategorical . . . . . NA NA NA NA 44,848 37,000 14.3 General assistance. . . . 4,506 2,600 1.4 4,679 2,700 1.3 4,679 2,700 1.0 Total new eligibles . . . 4,506 2,600 1.4 4,679 2,700 1.3 57,642 46,800 18.1 Total demonstration enrollment. . NA NA NA NA 302,022 197,500 76.4 Total Medicaid enrollment . . 282,844 185,709 100.0% 325,416 214,364 100.0% 383,058 258,464 100.0% KEY: NA. Not applicable; OSIP Oregon Supplemental Income Program; AFDC. Aid to Families with Dependent Children; FY. fiscal year. NOTE: Percentages may not add to exactty 100.0 due to rounding error. a me state inte~ t. ~k the Hea]th Care ~nan~ng Adminbtration (HCFA) f~ an $m~dment to the waiver tO i~pmte th~ ~igibility groups into the demonstration in oCtObW 1993. b Th=e el~i~lity grouP were omitted from oregons waiver application. c w 4.3 Perant or 7,m r~pients, qualified for AFDC through the mdtilv n+ P~ram (252). d OrWon ~nsi~rsthe gener~ ~~tam ~Plation t. ~ a ~IM# eligibility gr~p un~r the w~ver hit is n~ eligible fw F~era[ matding payments under current ttde$. SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Offi@ of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, unpublished enrollment data, 1991.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 131 Figure %3-Oregon Medicaid Demonstration Enrollment Projections a Table 5-5-Race and Ethnicity of the Oregon Medicaid Population, FY 1990 Thousands 3oo4 200 ----. -. -----, -----. . . . . . 120.6 1oo. . . . . . ----------------------------81.1 I I Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 FY 1993 FY 1994 FY 1995 FY 1996 FY 1997 + New eligibles I ~ Total demonstration enrollment ---Total program enrollment Medicaid demonstration enrollment, SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, office of Medical Asistanee Programs, Salem, OR, The Gegon hfedicaid Demorrstration Waiver Apphcxdjon, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration Aug. 16, 1991. of people potentially eligible for the Oregon Medicaid program have enrolled in the past. The waiver projections assume the same overall participation rate of current eligibles once the demonstration is phased in. Oregon expects that in the waivers first year more than three-quarters of the demonstration population would be individuals and families who could qualify for Medicaid benefits under current rules, principally through the AFDC program. Later on, current eligibles would make up a smaller proportion of the demonstration, approximately 59 percent. 32 New Eligibiles--New eligibles, who would not qualify for Medicaid under current rules, are forecast to total 46,800 in FY 1993. By the final year of the waiver, 59 percent of potentially new eligibles are expected to enroll in the demonstration, a total of Race/ethnicity Total Percent Total number of eligibles . . 227,198 100.0% White, not of Hispanic origin . 191,546 84.3 Black, not of Hispanic origin . 13,977 6.2 American Indian or Alaskan Native . . . . . 11,921 5.2 Asian or Pacific Islander. . 3,972 1.7 Hispanic . . . . . 5,084 2.2 Unknown . . . . . 698 0.3 NOTE: Percentages may not add to exactly 100.0 due to rounding error. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration, HCFA 2082 data from the StatMca/ Report on hiedkal Care: Eljgjbles, Rec@Ms, Payments and Servkxs, Section D (2). Eligibles for Medical Care by Age, Race/Ethniaty, and Sex (Baltimore, MD: Dee. 24, 1990). 120,600. 33 Most of the new eligibles are noncategorical and would not meet the current demographic restrictions of the Medicaid program. They are principally single adults, childless couples, and two-parent families. Table 5-6 illustrates how the newly eligible population differs from current Medicaid participants. The new eligibles are primarily a group that has been ignored by congressional efforts to expand Medicaid eligibility. More than half of new eligibles are expected to be male and 63 percent would be adults over the age of 24 years. In contrast, males make up only 41 percent of the current eligibles who would participate in the waiver and adults over 24 years make up less than 21 percent. (In addition, most of the currently eligible males are children.) Although children under age 18 would make up 17 percent of the new eligibles, they are already scheduled to be phased in (slowly) to the Medicaid population. Where Does the Oregon Demonstration Population Live?Figure 5-4 shows Oregons expected distribution of Medicaid eligibles by county in the first year of the proposed waiver. FY 1991 data indicate that 65 percent of Oregons Medicaid participants live in the States eight metropolitan counties (182). 34 The remaining Medicaid population is dispersed among 25 nonmetropolitan counties. 32 H tie employer ~&te is implement~, current eligibles would make up a projected 63 percent of total demomtration emolbmt. 33 H tie employer ~date is fully implemented, new eligibles are expected to total %,@(l iII the kt year of tie ~vm. 34 A me~ow~~ ~ou~ is defm~ by tie U.S. office of -Wement and Budget ss one tit ticlud~ either: 1) a city of at l-t 50,000 residents, or 2) an urbanized area with at least 50,000 people tbat is itself part of a group of counties with at least 100,000 total residents.
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Table 5-6-Projected Oregon Medicaid Enrollment by Age and Sex, Under the Proposed Demonstration, FY 1993 Total Medicaid population Current eligibles/group subject to the waiver Current eligibles/group not subject to the waiver Percent Percent Percent Age Males Females Total of total Males Females Total of total Males Females Total of total &. . . . 34,221 32,899 67,121 26.5% 32,108 30,849 62,957 41.870 1,600 1,537 3,137 1 .2% 6-14 . . . 21,823 21,285 43,108 17.0 16,925 16,458 33,383 22.2 2,566 2,495 5,062 2.6 15-18 . . 3,749 8,013 11,764 4.6 2,329 5,842 8,171 5.4 498 1,249 1,748 1.0 19-24 . . 9,248 17,248 26,496 10.4 3,598 11,393 14,990 9.9 556 1,761 2,317 4.8 25-34 . . 11,103 26,286 37,390 14.7 4,441 16,909 21,350 14.2 1,234 4,699 5,934 12.2 35-54 . . 11,341 22,034 33,375 13.2 2,292 7,337 9,629 6.4 2,557 8,188 10,745 22.1 55-64 . . 5,876 6,625 12,499 4.9 79 140 219 .1 1,915 3,404 5,318 10.9 65 and over . 5,808 16,184 21,992 8.7 0 0 0 0.0 5,804 16,181 21,985 45.2 Total . . 103,169 150,575 253,745 100.0 61,771 88,929 150,700 100.0 16,731 39,515 56,246 100.0 New eligibles General assistance Percent Percent Age Males Females Total of total Males Females Total of total 4 . . . 6-14 . . . 15-18 . . 19-24 . . 25-34 . . 35-54 . . 55-64 . . 65 and over . Total . . 513 2,332 922 4,936 5,091 5,733 3,635 0 23.162 513 2,332 922 3,969 4,410 5,907 2,885 0 20.937 1,027 4,663 1,845 8,905 9,501 11,640 6,519 0 44.100 2.3% 10.6 4.2 20.2 21.5 26.4 14.8 0.0 100.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 158 125 337 268 759 602 247 196 4 3 1.505 1.195 0 0 0 284 605 1,361 7 2.700 0.0% 0.0 0.0 10.5 22.4 50.4 16.4 0.3 100.0 SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Progrsms, Salem, OR, unpublished enrollment data, 1991.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 133 ACCESS TO CARE UNDER THE DEMONSTRATION Access has been defined as those dimensions which describe the potential and actual entry of a given population group to the health care delivery system (2). Would Oregons demonstration enable its participants to gain greater access to health care services than they have at present? Two key components to this answer are the number of people covered and the health services for which they are covered. As noted in the previous sections on eligibility and enrollment, the numbers clearly show that this proposal makes significant inroads into resolving the dilemma of insuring the uninsured poor. The role of benefits is examined below after a brief review of why Oregons proposal may be so valuable to the States uninsured poor. To examine the potential implications of the waivers change in benefits for current Medicaid eligibles, an analysis of common diagnoses that would not be covered under the waiver is also provided. The Newly Insured 35 Although much of this chapter focuses on current Medicaid beneficiaries, it is important to review the significance of Oregons initiative for the uninsured poor. While there are limited data regarding differences in health outcomes between uninsured and insured persons, a growing body of research documents that people without health insurance are less likely to seek medical care and, if they do, are often more seriously ill than the insured (88, 124,263,303). People without health care coverage are also likely to be treated less aggressively than the insured (88,319). The eventual effects can be unnecessary deaths, more serious illness, and possible higher overall costs of health care. A recent study of more than half a million hospital admissions found that uninsured people had a 44 to 124 percent higher risk of in-hospital mortality than did insured people (89). In addition, uninsured patients were sometimes treated less aggressively and had shorter lengths of stay in the hospital. Other studies have examin ed differences in how aggressively insured versus uninsured patients with AIDS, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease were treated (86,87,319). The uninsured populations access to primary care is also poor relative to others. Recent findings from the National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) indicate that public insurance, such as Medicaid, improves access to care; at each income level, the nonelderly with public insurance were about 20 percent more likely to use health services than the uninsured nonelderly (124). 36 This disparity was found even among those who reported that they were only in fair or poor health. Having a usual source of care is an important factor in predicting the use of health services (2). NMES findings show that only 65 percent of the uninsured population had a usual source of medical care in 1987, compared with 87 percent of those with any Medicaid or similar public coverage (297). In addition, the benefits of free care have been shown to be particularly important for low-income people who have specific conditions with well-established treatments (e.g., hypertension) (24). NMES data further indicate that Medicaid coverage made a significant difference in the use of preventive care by preschool children. For low-income preschoolers who would be uninsured without Medicaid coverage, a full year of Medicaid benefits was found to increase the probability of having any well-child visits by 17 percentage points (240). It is apparent that, despite the restriction of coverage to medically necessary treatments above line 588, low-income uninsured Oregonians stand to gain considerably under the proposed demonstration. How Oregon Medicaid Benefits Would Change Under the Waiver One of the most controversial aspects of the Oregon waiver proposal is its change in the scope of health benefits for Medicaid participants. Under the waiver, benefits would not be based on traditional health service categories, such as hospital care, physician services, prescription drugs, etc. Instead, 35 The OffkX of Technology Assessment is currently conducting a study e~ the relationships between technology, health insurance, and the health care system. An interim document e xamining the literature on the relationship between health insurance status and health outcome will be published in summer 1992. The full report is scheduled for publication in spring 1993. ~ The N~o~ M~c~ &Wn&~e Smey ww Wnductd in 198 and provides nationally representative estimates of hdth care Use fOr the U.S. civilian noninstitutionaked population (124).
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134 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure 5-4-Projected Concentration of Medicaid Eligibles in Oregon, FY 1992 (under the demonstration) Columbia d Washington / -+ I w U;mm / Sherman Hood River t Tillamook *m Lincol Ben 1 bos I M I I I I I I-yd & Malheur ? f Isx2 10,000 or more recipients u I I I 1] 5,000-9,999 recipients El 1 ,000+99 recipients m Fewer that 1,000 recipients SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resourees, Office of Medieal Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, Tbe OregorI Medicaid Demonstration Waver Application, submitted to the Health Care Finandng Administration Aug. 16,1991. coverage would be defined in new terms: the CT pairs formulated by the Oregon Health Services Commission (HSC). 37 The HSCs list of 709 CT pairs is intended to include all primary and acute medical care. 38 The waiver proposal restricts covered health services to those falling above line 588 of the list, as well as diagnostic, ancillary, and some mental health and chemical dependency services. 39 Unlike any existing private or public health insurance benefit package, Oregons Medicaid proposal does not contain a core set of basic health benefits, nor does it guarantee any essential benefits during the course of the 5-year demonstration. At the outset, coverage would be clearly defined by the first 587 CT pairs. Medical and surgical treatments that fall below line 587 would not be covered. But if at 37s= ch. 3 for MI analysis of the list and the methodology used to develop it. 3S M~@h~th ~C&micsldePndeV s~ic~wo~dbe ~Orpo~t~ into b list by &@~ 193. until that time, they would be provided under current rules. It is not yet known how the addition of these services would affect coverage of benefits related to physical health. ~ Some ~th -ices would continue to be subjeet to prior authorhtion.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 135 any time during the course of the waiver there are not enough funds to cover the related costs, benefits would be cut, in descending order of priority, until the necessary savings have been achieved. 40 There is no statutorily established line on the list beyond which coverage could not be dropped. Under current rules, budget shortfalls can and have led to unexpected cuts in optional benefits and optional eligibility groups (254). However, mandatory Medicaid benefits (see below) as well as mandatory eligibility groups are protected from budget shortfalls. This section describes current Federal and Oregon Medicaid benefit rules, compares them with coverage given implementation of the list, and assesses the implications of the change in benefits for current Medicaid participants. Current Oregon Medicaid Benefits Federal Medicaid rules permit each State to define its own benefit package within broad guidelines. All States are required to offer a core package of mandatory services that includes basic hospital, ambulatory, long-term care, and ancillary services (see chapter 2 for a complete list). States must also pay for coinsurance for Medicare participants with family incomes under 100 percent of the FPL. Although Medicaid law authorizes Federal matching funds for necessary medical services, it does not require coverage of all medically necessary services. Federal law defines a service as medically necessary: if it is reasonably calculated to prevent, diagnose, correct, cure, alleviate, or prevent the worsening of conditions that endanger life, cause suffering or pain, result in illness or infirmity, threaten to cause or aggravate a handicap, or cause physical deformity or malfunction, and if there is no other equally effective (although more conservative or less costly) course of treatment available or suitable for the recipient requesting the service (36). States are required to provide services that are sufficient in amount, duration, and scope to reasonably achieve their purpose (266). Although Medicaid programs may place limits on services, they may not arbitrarily deny or reduce coverage of a required service solely because of the diagnosis, type of illness, or condition. Oregon currently covers a wide range of optional Medicaid benefits, such as prescription drugs, physical and occupational therapy, certain organ transplants, and services of other licensed practitioners (such as chiropractors, psychologists, and podiatrists) (168). (See chapter 2 for a complete list.) Although Federal statute allows it, Oregon does not cover adult dental services, hospice services, screening services for adults, or Christian Science nurse services (168,301). Oregons ability to finance optional benefits is currently in question due to Ballot Measure 5, a statewide referendum passed in November 1990. Measure 5 calls for a rollback of local property taxes earmarked for schools and requires the States general fired to replace any revenue lost by public schools due to these limits (250). Significant budget reductions in nonschool State services will be required. As a consequence, in July 1991, the State eliminated coverage of all medically needy groups except pregnant women and children, eliminated coverage of adult emergency dental care, and curtailed benefits for the medically needy aged, blind, and disabled (259). State officials are currently evaluating how to further reduce the Medicaid budget and are considering a number of potential cutbacks, including dropping every optional adult service, cutting provider reimbursement, and adding a client copayment requirement (200). Coverage Under the Waiver New Benefits The list introduces several important new benefits for adult Medicaid participants, including preventive health services, dental care, numerous organ transplants, and comfort and hospice care for the terminally ill (see table 5-7). 41 Because Medicaid coverage of children is already quite extensive, the waiver would add little to their benefit package. In fact, all of the new demonstration benefits, except 40 s= ch. G for an analysis of program expenditures and cost kSUeS. 41 Cwmt B&dicaid p~cipan~ who are enrolled in the Kaiser F ermanente medical care program already receive preventive health services and hospice care (1(M). 42 Most of the ne w demo~~fion bentilts are also currently available to 18to 20-year-olds if provided within the Context of the Mly and Ptiodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatrmmt @PSDT) program. See below for more information on EPSDT.
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136 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 5-7Proposed New Benefits Under the Oregon Medicaid Demonstration Type of service Condition-treatment pair(s) Affected population Preventive services . . . . . . 167 Adults Comfort and hospice care . . . . . 164 Terminally ill Organ transplants, including heart, liver, bone marrow, and pancreas/kidney a b c . 209,214,249,294,307,31 1,365,366-368,523-4 Adults Dental care . . . . . . . . 165,166,398,479,548-50 Adults Tissue expanders . . . . . . 49,115,136,205,258,171 ,215 Adults Hyperbaric oxygen pressurization . . . 77,133 Adults NOTE: Akt to Families with Dependent Chikfren and poverty level medical children under age 18 are already eligible for all the above services except comforfiospice care. a Although h~r~ung and l[ver~dney t~nsplan~ are ~rrently cover~ for chi~ren, It iS not dear whether they would be covered under the WdVer. The hearVlung transplant CPT-4 code does not appear on the list. There is no CPT-4 code for Iivevlddney transplants. b Tran@ant r~~pien~ ~u~ meet @&t m~~[ AigIbilIty ~te~, IJnder~rrent policy al] tran@ants, ex@@ th~e provkied on an emergency bi$, r~Uire prior approval and must be provided in a transplant center that provides quality care (OMAP, 1990). Emergency transplants are subject to post-transplant review to confirm that the patient and the transplant center met stat-set eligibility and medical criteria at the time of the transplant. This policy Is likely to continue under the waiver. C Llvertrans#an~ would not ~ av~labieto ~nef~iades with a~holicdr~oslst Bone marrow transplan~ WOUH not bS covered fornon-Hodgldns Iymphoma. SOURCE: Oregon Health Services Commission, Salem, OR, Prioritlzatlon of Health Services: A Report to the Governor and Legislature, 1991. comfort and hospice care, are currently available to children under age 18. 42 Preventive Services for AdultsThe list incorporates the guidelines of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in CT pair 167 (see table 5-8). 43 It is clear that this represents a significant expansion in coverage for adults. Although State Medicaid programs have the option to cover adult screening services, Oregon has not covered them except for selected procedures (i.e., immunizations, Pap smears, and mammograms). Because many adults would be eligible for Medicaid benefits for less than a year, it is not clear how much they could gain from this expansion in coverage. Quick access to appointments and actual receipt of preventive services would be essential if there is to be any clinical benefits from early disease detection. If transfer out of Medicaid equates with transfer into an employer-sponsored health plan, there may be more potential for following up any condition that was identified during a Medicaidfunded screening exam. Adult Dental Care-Coverage of dental care also makes an important addition to Oregons Medicaid benefits. In July 1991, due to fiscal constraints, the Oregon State legislature discontinued finding for adult dental care (254). 44 Up until that time, adults were able to receive emergency dental services, and available data indicate that those services were widely utilized (42). In fact, the data show that, despite Oregons intent to restrict dental coverage to emergency care only, a significant volume of dental care was funded by the Oregon Medicaid program until the dental benefit was eliminated (42). Organ Transplants for AdultsUnder current policy, children are eligible for a wide range of organ and tissue transplants, including bone marrow, cornea, heart, heart/lung, kidney, liver, liver/kidney, and pancreas/kidney transplants (168). Adult transplant coverage is restricted to kidney and cornea transplants. The waiver would provide additional funding for bone marrow, heart, pancreas/kidney, and liver transplants for adults. 45 46 Given the success of organ transplants in treating many indi4Z Most of ~ new demo~~on bentil~ are also currently available to 18to 20-year-olds if provided within the context of b mly -d p~odic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (B.PSDT) program. See below for more information on EPSDT. 43 ne U,S. ~Wentive services Ihsk Force was a 20-member, nonfederal panel charged in 1984 by the Assistant Secretary for Health with reviewing the scientiilc evidence in support of clinical preventive services and developing age-and sex-specific recommendations for their delivery (123) The guide was presented to the U.S. Departnxmt of Health and Human Services in 1989. 44 ~n~ semices ~ funded in all but four State M~tid p~~~ (287). M T_lat raipien~ m~t -t Stict medi~ eligibili~ criteria. Undercurrent rides, all mnsplants, ~~pt tiOse p~vided on an ~e%~cy b~~~ require prior approval and must be performed in a transplant center that provides quality care (165). Emergency transplants are subject to post-transplant review to confii that the patient and hansplant center met OMAP eligibility and medical criteria at the time of the transplant (212). This policy is likely to continue under the waiver. u Bone marrow transplants would not be covered for children or adults with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The HSC is currently considering whether to recommend to the State legislature that the list be modi.fkd to cover bone marrow transplants for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (244). If the commission move to take such actiou the modifkation would be subject to the final approval of the State legislature (or its Emergency Board).
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. Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 137 Table 5-8--Oregon Medicaid Coverage of Adult Preventive Services: Demonstration vs. Current Benefits Current Oregon Medicaid coverage for Adult preventive services benefits under the demonstration a adults during preventive visits b Screening: History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Physical exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Brief mental status exam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Lab/diagnostic procedures c Nonfasting total blood cholesterol . . . . . . . . . . . . No Mammogram d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Papsmear e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes For high-risk groups f Fasting plasma glucose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rubella antibodies g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VDRL/RPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Urinalysis for bacteriuria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chlamydial testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gonorrhea culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Counseling/testing for HIV infection. . . . . . . . . . . . . Hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuberculin skin test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electrocardiogram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fecal occult blood/colonoscopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fecal occult blood/sigmoidoscopy . . . . . . . . . . . . Bone mineral content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Counseling: Diet/exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Substance use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For high-risk groups f Sharing/using unsterilized needles . . . . . . . . . . . . Sexual practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Injury prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For high-risk groups f Back conditioning exercises .....,. . . . . . . . . . . . . Fails in the elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prevention of childhood injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dental health... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other primary preventive measures For high-risk groups f Skin protection from ultraviolet light . . . . . . . . . . . . Discussion of hemoglobin testing . . . . . . . . . . . . Discussion of aspirin therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Discussion of estrogen replacement therapy . . . . . . . . . . No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No Immunizations: Tetanus-diphtheria booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes For high-risk groups f Hepatitis-B vaccine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Pneu mococcal vaccine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Influenza vaccine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes KEY: VDRURPR.Venereal Disease Research Laboratory/Rapid PIasmaReagin; i-UV. human immunodeficiency virus. aThefrquew. ~ftheindi~dual preventivese~~~ is left toclini~ld~etion unl~othe~~ noted in otherfootnotes. bSho~mverageforaduh~forser~@~pro~&inthemntefiofapreventivem~~inevis~.Aflofthese~c=~st~areWver~~enprov~~fordiwnost~ ratherthan screening purposes. Notealsothatchildrencurrentlyhavecomprehensive preventiveservicesccwerage underthe EariyandPeriodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment(EPSDT) benefit. cA~~~rato~ anddiagnostic pr~~ures are ~t~ver~aspartof routine healthex~for ~uIts, tiththeexception ofpapsmearsand m~mOg~mS. dEveVlto 2years forwomen beginning atage500r age 35 for those atincreased risk. eEvety 1 to3years. fcrit~a f or high.fl~kgroups aredet~l~inGu~etoCfln~l Prevenflve Servjms:Re@ofthe U.S.Preven~ve~~~sT~kFor~w (Seeref 123). 9Suggest~ontyforadutts,ag~ 19t039. hsuggest~on~fma~~s, a9~@to64. SOURCE: Office ofTechnology k@essmenL1992.
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138 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal viduals, this is an important expansion in coverage (31,32,64,210,218,262). Liver transplants for alcoholic cirrhosis (CT pair 690) would not be covered despite success rates similar to as those for nonalcoholic liver failure (CT pair 366) (294,299). 47 It is important to note that, after considering available outcomes data, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) approved Medicare payment for liver transplants for alcoholic cirrhosis in 1991 (294; 56 FR 15006). It is especially troublesome that the well-established and effective medical therapy (e.g., prescription medications, special diet) for alcoholic cirrhosis (31 1) is missing from the list altogether. While current policy covers heart/lung and liver/ kidney transplants for children, it is not clear whether these transplants would be covered under the waiver. Neither joint transplant type appears separately on the list. Comfort and Hospice CareThe list indicates that the demonstration would allow Medicaid funding of hospice care in Oregon for the first time. Because the details of the hospice program are currently under development, the scope of the benefit is not yet known. Covered comfort care services presumably would include at least pain medication and pain management devices, in-home and day care services, and medical equipment and supplies (e.g., beds, wheelchairs, bedside commodes, etc.). Hyperbaric Oxygen Pressurization--This costly treatment is currently covered only for children. It can be lifesaving for individuals seriously exposed to carbon monoxide fumes (e.g., in a house free) (45). It is also an important treatment for some anaerobic infections (e.g., gangrene), decompression sickness, and other conditions. Tissue ExpandersTissue expanders, also referred to as temporary inflatable devices, are widely used in reconstructive surgery and are currently covered for Oregon Medicaid children. The principal advantage of this technology is that it allows the use of adjacent tissue in restoring a congenital or acquired deformity (201). Tissue expanders are used throughout the body in all age groups, particularly in breast reconstruction, head and neck reconstruction, and correction of defects in the scalp and extremities (133). Coverage of Diagnostic and Ancillary Services The State intends that every Medicaid participant receive all services and tests required to identify, within reason, the patients condition to be treated (emphasis added) (193). While this policy pertains to all patients, even those who are ultimately diagnosed with a below-the-line condition, it is not clear what limits would be placed on diagnostic procedures. There is reason to be concerned about access to some diagnostic procedures provided in a hospital setting. Although OMAP intends to do so, it has not yet developed a mechanism for paying for inpatient diagnostic care for CT pairs below line 587 (212). This is a critical matter, because Oregon hospital reimbursement is based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) and does not allow diagnostic or any other type of inpatient service to be carved out for payment purposes. Without a change in current hospital billing and payment rules, patients with an uncovered condition might not receive (or the hospital might not be paid for) related inpatient diagnostic services. A significant proportion of demonstration participants may be affected since, for many, inpatient care would be provided on a subcontracted or fee-for-service (FFS) basis. There is a similar incongruity between practical billing matters and the coverage of some ancillary services. In this case, the effect may be to enable access to uncovered services. Ancillary services, such as physical therapy, prescription drugs, and medical supplies and equipment, are not included on the list, but they would be fully covered if associated with a covered CT pair and found to be medically necessary based on Oregons usual Medicaid rules. (See table 5-9 for a list of covered ancillary services.) However, it is not clear whether the State would be able to fully restrict the coverage of certain ancillary services to those associated with CT pairs 1 through 587. Pharmacies, for example, may not have the means to easily identify which CT pair relates to a 47 me HSC fi currently considering whether to recommend to the State legidature that the list be modi.fkd to cover liver transplants for alcoholic einilosis (244). If the Commis sion moves to take such actiou the mod.ifkation would be subjeet to the fd approval of the State legislature (or its Emergeney Board).
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries 139 prescription presented by a Medicaid patient participating in the demonstration. % Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) The EPSDT program was broadened considerably and has been described as the most expansive preventive services program for children in the country (267). The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA-89) amendments dramatically expanded Medicaid coverage of children and adolescents by essentially eliminating any State Medicaid limitations on diagnosis or treatment for any health condition identified during the course of an EPSDT screen as long as the services are within the limits of Federal Medicaid guidelines and are deemed medically necessary (271 ,272). Coverage of childrens preventive services would not change under the proposed demonstration, but the Federal mandate to treat all conditions identified during the course of an EPSDT screening visit would be restricted to CT pairs 1 through 587. It is difficult to say whether this threatens an important gain for childrens health under the Medicaid program. There are no reliable data describing access to EPSDT services among Oregons Medicaid children. Nor is it known to what extent these children are screened by an EPSDT provider and then actually receive followup treatment. Some common medically necessary pediatric services would not be covered under the waiver, but most are acute conditions that are not the focus of EPSDT screens (see utilization data below). Uncovered Conditions 49 50 A CT pairs low rank on the prioritized list is intended to reflect lower relative importance but not necessarily complete ineffectiveness. Consequently, it should not be surprising that some below-the-line CT pairs include conditions with effective therapies. Nevertheless, most uncovered CT pairs do not have significant clinical implications (see table 5-10). Table 5-9-Oregon Medicaid Coverage of Ancillary Services Under the Proposed Demonstration Anesthesia services Case management services, i.e., services that are designed to obtain health care services necessary to maintain an optimal level of physical and emotional development and health. Examples of case management services include: maternity case management that involves management of non medical services which address social, economic, and nutritional factors; and targeted case management for at-risk/vulnerable children, individuals with catastrophic illness or injury such as AIDS or cancer, Individuals with developmental disorders, and individuals with chronic mental illness. Home health services, i.e., skilled nursing; home health aide services; speech, occupational, or physical therapy; and equipment and supplies provided through a certified home health agency. Laboratory services Medical supplies and equipment prescribed by a practitioner (e.g., prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, respirators, ventilators, apnea monitors, diabetic testing strips, ostomy supplies, oxygen and related equipment, and ophthalmic materials). Nutritional counseling (e.g., diabetic counseling, counseling for improved pregnancy outcomes). Personal care services (e.g., health care aide services) Physical, occupational, speech, language, hearing, and vision therapy Prescription drugs (to include outpatient, inpatient, intravenous, and enteral therapy and limited over-the-counter drugs) Private duty nursing services Radiology and Imaging services Transportation, meals, Iodging, and day care necessary for recipients to access revered services SOURCE: Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oregon Medicaid Demonstration Waker Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration Aug. 16, 1991. In fact, some below-the-line CT pairs clearly reflect treatments that are generally considered ineffective or would make little difference to exclude from coverage given current clinical practice. This is particularly true of three neonatal-related CT pairs: intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhage of fetus or neonate (CT pair 687), extremely premature (under 23 weeks gestation) and low-birthweight (under 500 grams) infants (CT pair 708), and @ OMAP and COOpmS & Lybr~d (which performd many of the fwncial analyses for the State) have recognized the dfilc~ty iII detex how pharmacy claims would be handled relative to the prioritized list. They increased the demonstrations projected list-related costs by 5 percent to account for this problem (see ch. 6), 49 ~S a~ysis is based on the latest available version of Oregons list of prioritized health semices. It is OTAS understanding tit tie Oregon H~ti Services Commission is preparing to vote on a number of changes to the list. The relevant list changes are noted in footnotes below. ~ III addition to tie refer~ms noted in the tex~ much of the analysis related to uncovered conditions is W on contract work prepared fOr ow by D. Asch J. Pattoni A. Giardino, and M.A. Schuster (see refs. 14,80,235).
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140 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 5-10-Examples of Below-the-Line Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs With Limited Anticipated impact on Beneficiaries Health CT pair Description Comments Reference a 606 610 639 646 649 671 681 687 695 708 709 Hepatorenal syndrome--med ical therapy Cancer of Iiver and intrahepatic bile ducts--liver transplant Herpes simplex without complications--medical therapy Lymphedema--medical therapy, other operation on lymph channel Diaper or napkin rash-medical therapy Preventive services for adults with questionable or no proven effectiveness--med ical therapy Gallstones without cholecystitis--me dical therapy, cholecystectomy Intraventricular hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage of fetus or neonate-medical therapy Acute upper respiratory infection and common cold-medical therapy Extremely low birth weight (under 500 gm) and under 23 week gestation-life support Anencephalous and similar anomalies and reduction deformities of the brain-life support Treatment is usually ineffective Treatment is usually ineffective Treatment is often ineffective Treatment is usually ineffective Treatment advice can be offered during the diagnostic visit; complications can be treated using other CT pairs Services are not effective; benefit is not covered under the current program Inappropriate treatment Empty CT pair b Self-limited condition; advice regarding relief of symptoms can be provided during the diagnostic visit Empty CT pair b Empty CT pair b (Punukoilu, 1990) (208) (Trans. Proceedings, 1991) (299) (Hurst 1988; Edwards, 1991) (56,99) (Hurst, 1988) (99) (USPSTF, 1989) (123) (Hurst, 1988) (99) (Ehrenhaft, 1991) (57) (Hurst, 1988) (99) (Ehrenhaft, 1991) (57) (Ehrenhaft, 1991) (57) a SSe referen~s 56, 57, 99, 123, 20S, and 299 for full UtatiOflS. b me term ~~em~y~~ is ~~ h-et. ~wfi~ CT pair9 that are not [ike~ to -r, -e the ~mpan~ng text for further explanation of the rehtSd CT pairS. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. anencephalous and similar anomalies and reduction deformities of the brain (CT pair 709). 51 Extreme prematurity and very low birth weight are very rare; only an estimated five infants (regardless of insurance status) who have both characteristics are born in Oregon each year (57). Similarly, very few anencephalic infants (13 in 1989) are delivered annually in Oregon. Extremely premature and underweight infants and anencephalic infants are not viable, and medical treatment, other than comfort care, is typically not provided. Most physicians agree that a very short gestation with delivery at less than 23 weeks makes any birth virtually nonviable (215). Although the exact time at which the fetus becomes viable is not known, before 23 weeks of gestation the skin is gelatinous and the kidneys and several other organs are not developed sufficiently to sustain life (57,58,215). In fact, these infants are usually not admitted to Oregons neonatal intensive care units. As a result, their low priority on the list should have little, if any, effect on provided services or cost of care. Intraventricular hemorrhages are fairly common among very premature and low-birth-weight infants. Each year, these hemorrhages affect an estimated 110 low-birth-weight (under 1500 grams) infants cared for in Oregons neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) (215). Of these, about 45 infants might suffer severe life-threatening hemorrhages that are often accompanied by stroke, seizures, and shock. If extensive brain damage occurs, there is little medicine can offer to improve the diagnosis. Since there is no therapy for the intraventricular hemorrhage per se, the neonatologists principal goal is to stabilize 51 It is bpo~t to note that iftie waiver is approv~, the State intends to eventually request an amendment to include the disabled population. NOW, under current waiver rub, all infants with birth weights of less than 1200 grams would be exempt from the demonstration. This is a result of Social Security Administration (SSA) regulations tbat define as disabled any infants of this size, at least until their first birthday (CFR 416.924b). Infants who are at least 4 weeks premature and weigh at least 1,200 grams but less than 2,000 grams we similarly considered disabled by 55A regulations.
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Chapter 5-Implications for Beneficiaries 141 the infant. Typically, the infant would be maintained on life support equipment while his or her condition is watched. Infants treatment in the NICU continues after a hemorrhage much the same as before the hemorrhage occurred. Most importantly, all the comorbidities that these extremely premature infants experience are covered by CT pairs much higher on the list (e.g., CT pair 22). Consequently, the demonstration is not likely to have any impact on the care or cost of treating these infants. There are also a number of clinically valuable below-the-line CT pairs that are not now covered by the Medicaid program. For these, implementation of the waiver would make no difference at all. Examples include bone marrow transplants for adults with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (CT pair 691),52 liver transplant for alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver (CT pair 690), breast reconstruction for mastectomy patients (CT pair 600), and infertility services (CT pairs 598, 602, 603, and 696) (113,274,285,299). But, at least 25 of the below-the-line CT pairs represent medical conditions that are currently covered and in the absence of treatment have serious clinical consequences .53 Ten include conditions that have no above-the-line alternative treatments; 15 involve diagnoses in CT pairs that could possibly be upcoded by a physician to a covered CT pair (see tables 5-11 and 5-12). Five below-the-line CT pairs include currently covered life-threatening diagnoses for which there are effective treatments for at least a subset of those who are affected; these include impetigo herpetiformis (CT pair 591), 54 myasthenia gravis (CT pair 593), 55 Schmidts syndrome (CT pair 640), viral pneumonia (CT pair 669), and bone marrow transplant for children with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (CT pair 691) (113,131,233,294,311). Treatment for some uncovered conditions, such as trigeminal nerve disorders (CT pair 592) and chronic pancreatitis (CT pair 703), can mean relief of disabling pain for some of the affected patients (10,31 1). Treatment of other uncovered conditions can be completely curative for some of those affected, for example CT pair 615focal surgery for generalized convulsive or partial epilepsy (67298,311). While there is no effective treatment for CT pair 609, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), patients with this disease live longer and better lives when the complications of the disease are managed (311).56 One below-the-line CT pair (678), removal of viral warts, can be an important preventive measure against cervical and anal cancer (317).57 But treatment of condyloma ac uminatum, a type of viral wart, would not be covered unless located on the cervix (CT pair 171), even though it commonly affects males and in women can be found on the vaginal wall or external genitalia as well as the cervix. Condyloma acuminatum often results from th e human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease that is associated with cervical and anal cancer (317). I-WV has been found to be common among certain groups of adolescents (271,272). There are some excluded CT pairs that although cosmetic can have important psychologic and social implications. For example, some dermatologic diseases included in CT pair 675 can cause significant psychologic and social disability and can be fully or partially responsive to therapy (206). Common Medical Conditions Among Oregon Medicaid Beneficiaries How often would serious treatable below-the-line conditions actually occur among those in the demonstration population? Although the State has not projected the frequency of uncovered conditions under the demonstration, this may be answered in 52 It should be not~ tit children would lose coverage for bone marrow transplants for non-Hodgkins lymphom.a. 53 Given av~~ble da~ it is not possible to es~te the number of individuals who might be affected by these uncovered CT p~. However, W the below sectio~ Common Medical Conditions Among Oregon Medicaid Beneficiaries, for an analysis of recent Oregon Medicaid beneficiaries most frequent below-theline diagnoses. w ~Ptigo ~WMomis is a me condition @t CWI affect Prewnt women. Whether a physician would interpret it ss a covered condition b~x the patient is pregnant would depend on the level of detail and direction included in the provider guidelines that are ultimately developed by the Oregon Medicaid pm-. 55 me HSC is sch~ul~ to vote on whethm to move treatment of myastheti gravis (CT pair 593) above the line to between CT pfi 159 ~d 1~. S6 It is not clw~ch -~~tiom of ~ ~ ~tend~ @ be ~clud~ ~ ~ pfi G@l. ~y of tie most common conditions rehItd tO ~, including respiratory failure, bacterial pneurno@ bed sores, and phlebitis, are in above-the-line CT pairs. Whether a physician would feel free to treat these complications may depend on the level of detail and direction included in the provider guidelines that are ultimately developed by the Oregon Medicaid pm-. 57 me HSC is ~h~ul~ to vo~ on rel~e@ CT p~ 171 (dysp~ia of cerv~ ~d ~rvic~ CXUC~OIIM in si~) to include W genital W-, hchd@ condyloma acuminatum.
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Table 5-11Examples of Uncovered Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs With Clinical Significance and No Possible Alternatives for Coverage a b CT pair Description Affected population Comments c 592 593 600 615 640 660 675 678 690 691 Trigeminal nerve disorder--medical and surgical treatment Myasthenia gravis-medical therapy, thymectomy d Absence of breast after mastectomy as treatment for neoplast--breast reconstruction Generalized convulsive or partial epilepsy without mention of impairment of Consciousness--focal surgery Testicular and polyglandular dysfunctionmedical therapy Internal infections and other bacterial food poisoning-medical therapy Vitiligo, congenital pigmentary anomalies of skin--medical therapy Viral warts--medical therapy, cryosurgery f Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver-liver transplant g Non-Hodgkins lymphoma--bone marrow transplant (5-6 loci match) h Adults Children and adults Women Children and adults Adults Children and adults Children and adults Children and adults Adults Adults Some patients experience painful and frequent attacks that do not respond to medication and require transection of the nerve for relief, while other patients will have an occasional attack that is effectively treated with medications (31 1). Medical therapy (i.e., prescription medications and plasmapheresis) and thymectomy are often effective for this potentially fatal disorder (31 1). This cosmetic procedure may be of great psychological importance for some patients (285). Treatment is not now covered under Medicaid. chemotherapy (more than on-halt fail to respond) (1 13). About on~third of these patients are able to sustain a p~o~ed disease-free period with bone.mahw transplantation. NOTE: The above are examples of CT pairs that OTA considers to be of particular clinical significance. Individual clinicians might select others as well. a The @egon H~[th ~~~ ~mml=i~ ~ ~~ul~ to vote on a number of changes to the pri~tiz~ list. The potential chang~ aff~ting this table are detailed in the footnotes bbw, b In ~itim t. the referem= not~ in t~ a~ve ~mmn~, much ~ th~ ta~e ~ ako H on Wntract work prepared for OTA (~ refs. 14,80, 235). c Numbers in parenth~es are references. See reference list at the end of this ~port. d The HSC is S&~LJM to vote on moving this CT pair above the Iifle. e The H* is ~~1~ ~ vote on adding a new abov~th~ine CT p~r for d~o~ers of fluid, el~tro[yte, and add base balance (lC~~M ~ 276). This WOUH dbw therapy fOr the dehydration sometimes experienced by patients in this CT pair. f The H= ~ ~~ul~ to vote on relabeling this CT p~rto ind~e on~ n~enital warts and al= CT @r 171 (dy@asia of ce~x and cetical cardnoma in titu) tO iflcklde ali genital WarfS including condyioma accuminatum. 9 The HSC is currently considering whether to r ecommend to the State legislature that the list be modified to cover liver transplants for alcoholic arrhosis (ref. 244). If the Commission moves to take such action, the modification would be subject to the final approval of the State legislature (or its Emergency Board). h The Hsc is ~rren~ ~n~riW ~het~r to rmmmend to the state legi~ature that the list bS modified to cover bone marrow tm~p~an~ for non-Hodgtins lymphoma (ref. 244). ~ the Commbsion moves to take such action, the modification would be subject to the final approval of the State legislature (or its Emergency Board). SOURCE: Office of Technobgy ksessment, 1992.
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Table 5-12-Examples of Uncovered Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs With Clinical Significance and Possible Alternatives for Coverage a b CT pair Description Affected population Comments c 591 Impetigo herpetiformis and subcorneal pustular Pregnant women, dermatosis--medical therapy adults 609 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)--medical Adults therapy 619 Congenital anomalies of the ear without Children impairment of hearingotoplasty, repair and amputation 635 Disorders of function of stomach and other Adults functional digestive disorder--medical therapy 643 Chronic bronchitis--medical therapy 656 Candidiasis--medical therapy Children and adults Children and adults 663 Acute tonsillitis-m edical therapy and acute Children and adults 670 pharyngitis and laryngitis and other diseases of vocal cords-medical therapy d 667 Aseptic meningitis-m edical therapy Children and adults Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare condition that can affect pregnant women (and more rarely) other adults (131). It can be fatal, but recent literature suggests that there maybe treatment options available. Whether a physician would interpret it as a covered condition when the patient is pregnant would depend on the level of detail and direction included in the provider guidelines that are ultimately developed by the Oregon Medicaid program. Subcorneal pustular dermatosis is a rare disease that may occur in association with immunologic disorders (51). It is a recurrent problem that may respond, at least temporarily, to drug treatment. Such uncom mon and diagnostically difficult conditions could possible be treated by using a covered CT pair (e.g., CT pair 224) that includes bullous dermatoses. While there is no effective treatment for the direct effects of ALS, patients with this disease live Ionger and better Iives when the complications of the disease are managed (31 1). It appears that respirator support of ALS patients may be covered in CT pair 69 (respiratory failure) or CT pair 112 (adult respiratory distress syndrome). Other common conditions among ALS patients (e.g., pneumonia bedsores, and phlebitis) are in above-the-line CT pairs. Severe malformations of the outer ear occur rarely but can result in very disfiguring malformations (e.g., an extra ear) (27). Coverage for surgery for an ear malformation associated with other defects (e.g., cleft palate) might be possible. This CT pair includes postsurgical peptic ulcer patients who develop complications. Without treatment, these patients may have abdominal pain, difficulty eating, poor nutritional status, and possibly shorter life expectancies than if treatment was available (31 1). Treatment generally involves medications and dietary counseling (some patients require additional surgery) (233). Some patients could possibly be covered for treatment under CT pair 152 (ulcers, gastritis, and duodenitis). Chronic bronchitis is a common disease that lies on a continuum with other lung diseases including emphysema (CT pair 306) and asthma (CT pair 151 ). Treatment reduces symptoms (cough and shortness of breath) and exacerbations of the illness. Without treatment, many more patients would be expected to have serious acute exacerbations (9). It would be easy for physicians to facilitate coverage of patients with chronic bronchitis by using alternative diagnostic codes in related higher ranked CT pairs. Treatment for candidiasis is imperative in patients such as those with HIV infection or others who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer (46,205). Immunocom promised patients would be covered in CT pair 255. However, it is not dear what evidence of immunocom promised status would be required to ensure coverage. This issue is especially important for HIV-positive patients whose HIV status has not been confirmed. These CT pairs include many minor or self-limited conditions but also include abscesses and cellulitis, which require treatment to prevent serious systemic infections (311). In addition, it is unclear whether the common clinical practice of prescribing antibiotics for patients presenting with sore throat while awaiting diagnostic results of throat culture (for possible strep infection) could be continued. Most viral infections included in this CT pair are self-limited and require no treatment (16). They can, however, cause pain or discomfort warranting use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or mild narcotics (e.g., codeine). In rare cases, these infections can cause serious destabilization that can require intravenous fluids and cardiopulmonary support (99). Until a definitive diagnosis is made, patients are often provisionally treated for bacterial meningitis for several days while awaiting culture results. It is unclear whether such treatment would be covered. (continued on nextpqe)
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Table 5-12Examples of Uncovered Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs With Clinical Significance and Possible Alternatives for Coverage a b --Continued CT pair Description Affected population Comments c 668 669 688 693 702 703 Infectious mononucleosis--medical therap y d Other nonfatal viral infections-m edical therapy d Cancer of various sites with distant metasteses where treatment will not result in a 10 percent 5-year survival--medical and surgical treatment Congenital cystic lung, severe--lung resection End-stage HIV disease-m edical therapy Chronic pancreatitis--surgical treatment (703) Adolescents and young adults Children and adults Children and adults Infants Children and adults Adults Infectious mononucleosis is generally a self-limited disease that requires no specific therapy (1 6). When a patients throat is so sore that fluid intake is inadequate, however, intravenous fluids and hospitalization may be required. Whether such supportive measures to prevent dehydration and malnutrition would be covered is unclear. Treatments for some, but not all of the complications associated with infectious mononucleosis, might be covered by using above-the-line CT pairs. These complications include respiratory distress, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and necrologic complications. One condition included in this CT pair, viral pneumonia can be life-threatening especially for children who were born prematurely or children with congenital heart disease (1 6). There is no specific treatment for viral pneumonia but some children need hospitalization for intravenous fluids, oxygen, or even assisted ventilation (16). Newborns and children with congenital heart problems may possibly be treated by using an above-the-line CT pair. In practice, it is difficult to determine when a patient is at this stage of cancer. Many patients would probably be treated for secondary illnesses that appear above the line (e.g., bacterial pneumonia). Mild to moderate forms of this condition appearinCTpair212. It is clinically difficult to distinguish the degrees of severity of the cystic lung, however, and clinicians would have wide latitude in determining whether to treat a patient (27). It is unclear why end-stage HIV disease, but not end stages of other diseases (e.g., heart failure), has been listed separately toward the bottom of the list. In practice, it is difficult to determine when a patient is in the end stage of HIV disease. There are numerous opportunities for finding coverage to treat patients, including: CT pair 156 (HIV disease), CT pair 255 (opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts), CT pair 238 (pneumocystis carinii pneumonia), and CT pair 257 (cancer of skin, treatable [excluding malignant melanoma]). The Predominant manifestation of chronic pancreatitis is pain (31 1). Medical therapy, which is covered in CTpair317, is often ineffective for patients with severe pain (307). A common cause of pancreatic pain is pseudocyst, which is covered in CT pair 370. This CT pair includes a smaller subset of patients with chronic pain who would benefit from removal of all or part of their pancreas (10). NOTE: The above are examples of CT pairs that OTA considers to be of particular clinical significance. Individual clinicians might select others as well. a The ~won ~alth ~~as ~mission is~edul~to vote on a number of techni~l changes to the prioritiz~ list. The potenti~ chang~ ~fecting this tab[e are detailed in the fodrlotes b ~itim t. the r~erem not~ in the above commen~, mudl of this ta~e is a~o w on contract work prepared for the OTA ( S 8 S refs. 14,60, 235). c Num~rs i n parentheses are references (see reference list at the end Of this report). d The HSC is ~~u~ t. ~te on ~iW a new abov~th~line CT @r for diso~rs of fluid, el~rolfie, and acid ~ ~knce (lC~~M code 276). This WOUld allow therapy for the dehydration sometimes experienced by patients in this CT pair. SOURCE: Office of Technobgy -ssmen~ 1992.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 145 part by ex amining the most common diagnoses among current Oregon Medicaid beneficiaries. To pursue this question, OTA asked the Oregon Medicaid programs actuarial consultant, Coopers & Lybrand, to provide frequency rankings of the most common principal diagnoses among current Oregon Medicaid beneficiaries who would be subject to the waiver. These data are described below and are based on actual Oregon Medicaid claims paid in FY 1989. 58 Data Limitations There are clear obstacles to identifying current utilization of services. In recent years, more than half of the Oregon AFDC population (approximately 51,500 AFDC recipients in FY 1989) have been enrolled in mandatory health maintenance organization (HMO) or physician care organization (PCO) prepaid health plans (169). Since historical utilization data is typically drawn from FFS care claims processing data, limited information is available to describe how this population uses health services. 59 No utilization data are currently available for the HMO enrollees, and only inpatient utilization records can be analyzed for PCO members. This analysis ex amines the use of services by PLM women and children, AFDC recipients who receive FFS care, and general assistance adults. 60 While all these Medicaid participants would be subject to the rules of the waiver, using this FFS database to project the dynamics of a managed care system is obviously problematic. Common Principal Diagnoses Related to Inpatient Hospital Services The most common inpatient principal diagnoses in FY 1989 are ranked in tables 5-13 and 5-14.6162 Given that current Medicaid eligibility rules favor pregnant women and young mothers, it is not surprising to find that more than 72 percent of hospital stays among current participants (who would be subject to the waiver) were for newborns or pregnancy-related conditions. A significant number of discharges (i.e., 181 for all ages and 150 for children) among the most frequent conditions were primarily for diagnostic and observational services and would be covered under the waiver. 63 These include stays for abdominal pain, convulsions, lack of expected normal physiological development, pyrexia of unknown origin (i.e., fever), and miscellaneous respiratory abnormalities. Also relatively common were hospitalizations related to diagnoses that are currently missing from the CT pair list; these include 124 hospital stays for volume depletion (e.g., dehydration and blood loss) and nonspecific urinary tract infections. 64 65 These conditions are not included in the list because of their lack of specificity. Nonetheless, they are very frequently coded conditions, and it is not clear how they would be handled during the demonstration. Inpatient Care Below Line 587-Six of the most frequent principal diagnoses (or diagnostic categories) would not be reimbursable, given current coding practices, because they relate to CT pairs below line 587 (see table 5-13). An estimated 407 discharges relate to these low priority conditions; the vast majority were pediatric cases. More than 40 percent of these below-the-line hospital stays were 58 @egon fiscal year extends from JulY throu@ June. w The U.S. ~ne~ ~oun~offlce is currently conducting an in-depth review of access to managed care services by Oregons Medictidrecipients. 60 Coverage for hospi~ inpatient care for general assistance recipients WaS eliminated in AP~ 1989. 61 Fquency of ~@ow5 WU ~li~ b y co~ting tie ~lat~ number of hospi~ discharg~. hlewbo~ pregnancy-relatti, and some other diag130StiC codes were aggregated into larger diagnostic groups to allow analysis of a wider range of diagnoses. See tables 5-13 and 5-14 for fkrt.her details. 62 AEI tiportant caveat is necessary before exarnin@ these datm the total discharges reported here represent the number of cases assigned to the specific International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Climcal Modification (ICD-9-CIU) codes appearing in tables 5-13 and 5-14. They do nor show the total number of cases that would fall into each CT pair because most CT pairs include more than one diagnostic code. Nor do they reflect any utilization by HMO enrollees. Thus the data probably underestinwte the number of related discharges that would not be covered during the demonstration. See ch. 3 for a more detailed description of CT pairs and the prioritizcxi list. 63 Di~ostic ~rvices are COVeUXI under a hypothetical CT pair O that doesnt actually SPPMI On tie list. CT pair O is a designation used to allow reimbursement of diagnostic savices for inconclusive diagnoses (98). 64 me HSC is s~h~~~ t. vote on adding a new above~eline CT pair betw~n CT pairs 15A and 155 for disorders of fluid, ekctrolyte, and acid base balance (ICD-9-CM 276) that would allow therapy for dehydration. 65 ~o~r Comon diWosis, ~ef &p~eSSIVe ~ction ~~-9-~ 309.()), was also miss~ b~awe rnenti h~th conditions have not yet been incorporated into the list.
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146 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 5-1 3-inpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Common Principal Diagnoses, FY 1989 a Estimated Rank by CT ICD-9-CM number of Percent of frequency pair(s) diagnosis code Description of principal diagnosis discharges total 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 21 21 21 16 1 21 643 19,106 1 10 107 0 5 0 f 13,537 14 669 660 695 588 A 669 -J d 650 e 574.00,.10 486 V31.0 493.90,.91 774.6,770.8 466.0,.1 633.1 558.9 780.3,.6 540.9 789.0 276.5 614.3,9 590.10 309.0 079.9 008.8 465.9 722.10 599.0 480.1 Total . . . . . . . -. . -.. -. Single liveborn Pregnancy, childbirth, specified complications Pregnancy, childbirth, normal delivery Complications of pregnancy, without delivery Calculus of gallbladder with cholecysitis Pneumonia, organism unspecified Twin birth Asthma, unspecified Conditions of the perinatal period Acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis Tubal pregnancy Other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis General symptoms (convulsions, pyrexia) Acute appendicitis Abdominal pain Volume depletion Pelvic disease Acute pyelonephritis, without lesion of renal medulary necrosis Brief depressive reaction Unspecified viral infection Intestinal infection due to other organism, not elsewhere classified Acute upper respiratory infection Displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc, without myelopathy Urinary tract infection, site unspecified Pneumonia, viral . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,511 7,651 1,698 869 189 189 172 164 152 147 109 102 95 94 86 83 74 70 56 56 52 48 47 41 40 20,895 32.54 28.91 6.42 3.28 0.71 0.71 0.65 0.62 0.57 0.56 0.41 0.39 0.36 0,36 0.33 0.31 0.28 0.26 0.21 0.21 0.20 0.18 0.18 0.15 0.15 78.95 KEY: CT condition-treatment; ICD-9ZM International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification; FY = fisoal year. NOTE: CT O is used to designate inconclusive diagnoses to allow reimbursement for diagnostic services. a ficl~es Ka~er Permanence Medicaid enrollees. b Only 87 percent of d~ms were available for analysis; total discharges were estimated to refl~t 100 Pement. c lnd~~ -s: V30.0, V30.00, V30.01, V30.1. d lnd~es -s: 641.21,642.31,642.41, 642.51,642,91, 6~.21 ,645.01,646,61,647.61 ,64.21, 6~.81 6~.91 ,651.01,652.21,652.81 ,653.41,654.21, 656.01,656.11,656.31, 656.41,656.01,656.11, 658.21,660.01,660.11, 660.31,660.41,661.01, 661.10, 661.21,661.31,662.21, 663.11,663.21,663.31, 664.01, 664.11,664.21, 664.31,665.41, 665.51, 666.12,669.51, 669.81,670.04. e lnd~es cocks: 642.43, 643.03, 643.13, 644.03, 644.13, 646.63, 648.83, 648.93. f Th~e m&s are missing from the list. SOURCE: Coopers & Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, unpublished data drawn from paid Oregon Medicaid claims, 1991. for nonspecific asthma diagnoses that under the demonstration would be coded into CT pair 643. More specific asthma codes appear in the much higher priority asthma CT pair 151. Presumably, under the demonstration, providers could assign such hospital stays to covered CT pairs by providing more specific codes in the patients medical record. (It is important to point out that the frequent use of nonspecific codes for asthma and other common diagnoses is not unique to Oregon physicians (232).) Low-priority viral infections led to 107 discharges, which would be coded into CT pair 669 (see table 5-14). Various viral pneumonias accounted for 61 pediatric hospitalizations that would not be reimbursable under the waiver. Most children with viral pneumonia recover uneventfully, although the course of the illness maybe prolonged, especially in infants (16). There is no specific treatment for viral pneumonia, but some children need hospitalization for intravenous fluids, oxygen, or even assisted ventilation (16). In many cases, patients are given antibiotics if bacterial pneumonia is suspected. During the demonstration, it is not clear whether children with these diagnoses would receive medically necessary treatment. Estimated hospital payments for these diagnoses totaled $123,811 in FY 1989 (see tables 5-15 and 5-16). Fifty-two discharges were for nonclassified intestinal infections (i.e., ICD-9-CM code 008.8) which relate to CT pair 660. Forty-three of these were for children under age 18. There appears to be no opportunity to upcode such diagnoses to more
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 147 Table 5-14-inpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Common Principal Diagnoses for Children Under Age 18, FY 1989 a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 21 A 21 A 19am,lm A 21 V31.0 21 650 1 486 1 466.0,.1 643 493.90,.91 0 780.3,780.6,786.09 107 21 A 669 g 5 669 695 660 146 0 151 8 -1 9 1 -J 558.9 276.5 480.1,.9 540.0,.9 079.9 465.9 008.8 750.5 783.4 493.00,493.01 464.4 599.00 376.01 485 V58.I Single Iiveborn Pregnancy, childbirth, specified complications Conditions of the perinatal period Twin birth Pregnancy, childbirth, normal delivery Pneumonia, organism unspecified Acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis Asthma unspecified General symptoms (other respiratory problems, convulsions, pyrexia) Other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis Complications of pregnancy, without delivery Volume depletion Pneumonia, viral Acute appendicitis Unspecified viral Infection Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified site Intestinal infection due to other organism, not elsewhere classified Congenital hypertrophic pyloris stenosis Lack of expected normal physiological development Extrinsic asthma Croup Urinary tract infection, site unspecified Orbital cellulitis Bronchopneumonia, organism unspecified Maintenance chemotherapy 8,568 592 247 g 168 159 151 128 117 114 g 74 74 67 6 1 g 61 4 6 g 4 6 g #19 40 36 32 31 30 2 4 g 22 22 67.59 4.67 1.95 1.33 1.25 1.19 1.01 0.92 0.90 0.58 0.58 0.53 0.48 0.48 0.36 0.36 0.34 0.32 0.28 0.25 0.25 0.24 0.19 0.17 0.17 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,974 87.09 KEY: CT condition-treatment; ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification; FY fiscal year. NOTE: CT O is used to designate inconclusive diagnoses to allow reimbursement for diagnostic services. a fidudes Kaiggr Permanence Medicaid f3nr0119S9. b hUSS aW Wta wer e missing from some ciaims, discharge totals for some ICD-9-CM codes may differ from those in table 5-13. C ~~ 87 ~mnt of d~ms were available for analysis; total discharges Were estimat~ to ref~~t 1 ~ pement. d 1~~9 ~~: V30.0, v30.~, v~.ol v~.1 e l~u~~ ~9: 642.41,64,4.21,64501, 647.61, 84&21, 652.21,653.41,654.21, 6=.31, 658.11,6~.11, ~0.31 661.11,661.21, 661.31,662.21, 883.11, 663.31, 664.01,664.11, 664.21,664.31,665.51, 666.12,669.51, 670.04. f lnd~es CO&S: 765.1, 768.5, 769, 770.1, 770.6, 770.8, 771.8, 774.2, 774.6. 9 Dmarge totals maybe greater than those in table %13 because additional ICD-9-CM diagnoses occurred in the under age 18 population. h Indudgs codes: 644.03,644.13, 646.63. i ~e9e ~= are missing from the list. j Maintenance chemotherapy is considered an ancillary serviee and would be covered for all treatable cancers under the waiver. SOURCE: Coopers & Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, unpublished data drawn from paid Oregon Medtid claims, 1991. specific codes that might appear above the line. Most of these infections are self-limited gastrointestinal illnesses that do not require treatment (311). 66 However, all such infections can sometimes require therapy for dehydration and some patients with certain infections need to be treated. Some high-risk patients with nontyphi salmonella infections (e.g., very young infants, patients with malignancy or hemoglobinopathy), for example, should be treated with antibiotics (125,314). Failure to treat in such cases would require not following the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (3). Forty-eight hospital stays were for acute upper respiratory infections; all but two were for children. These discharges are in CT pair 695. It is not clear whether more specific coding would reassign these cases to higher priority CT pairs. CT pair 588, the first below the line, includes 47 adult discharges for displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc without myelopathy. It is not
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Table 5-15--Inpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Costly Principal Diagnoses, FY 1989 b Estimated Rank by CT ICD-9-CM number of Total paid Percent of cost pair(s) diagnosis code Description of principal diagnosis discharges b ($thousands) c total costs d e 650 574.00,.01,.10 V31.0, V32.O f 2 486 540.0,.9 493.90,.91 633.1 466.0,.1 518.81 722.10 789.0 276.5 745.5 558.9 998.5 590.10 480.1 572.8 626.2 309.0 780.3 Single Iiveborn Pregnancy, childbirth, specified complications Pregnancy, childbirth, normal delivery Calculus of gallbladder with cholecystitis Twin birth Complications of pregnancy, without delivery Conditions of the perinatal period Pneumonia, organism unspecified Acute appendicitis Asthma unspecified Tubal pregnancy Acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis Respiratory failure Displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc without myelopathy Abdominal pain Volume depletion Congenital ostium secundum type atrial septal defect Other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis Postoperative infection Acute pyelonephritis, without lesion of renal medullary necrosis Pneumonia viral Other sequelae of chronic liver disease Excessive or frequent menstruation Brief depressive reaction General symptoms (convulsions) 8,611 7,385 1,698 179 634 203 189 118 164 109 141 6 47 86 83 9 102 36 70 40 1 31 56 63 $7,714,830 6,847,130 1,188,689 561,105 505,685 438,476 387,722 299,254 245,585 199,523 175,506 166,350 145,833 113,875 110,534 108,338 104,652 95,499 94,605 94,343 93,925 82,959 72,044 69,716 67,938 26.00 23.07 4.01 1.89 1.70 1.48 1.31 1.01 0.83 0.67 0.59 0.56 0.49 0.38 0.37 0.37 0.35 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.28 0.24 0.23 0.23 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,261 $19,984,196 67.34 KEY: KEY: CT condition-treatment; ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases. 9th Edition, Clinical Modification; FY = fiscal year. NOTE: CT O is used to designate inconclusive diagnoses to allow reimbursement for di~nostic services. a adu~ K~~r Permanence Medicaid enrobes. b Most ~s~ diagno~s based on total CISMIS pdd by Medicaid. c ~ly 87 pe~nt of dam were a~i~ble for analysis; total d.bcharges Were 8StimStSd to refl~t 1 ~ ~~nt. d lndu~s -: V30.0, V30.00, V30.01, V30.1. e lndu~ -s: 641.11, Ml .21,642 .31,642.41,642.51, 642.91,644,21,64501, 647.61,84.21,64381,651 .01,652 .21,653.41,654.21, 656.11,656.31,656.41, 656.51,658.11,658.21, 660.01, 660.11,660.31, 660.41,661.01, 661.11,661.21,661.31, 662.21,663.11,663.31, 664.01,664.11, 664.21, 664.31,665.51,666.12, 669.51, 670.04. f lnd~~ codss: 644.03,646.63, ~.93. g Includes codss: 765.1, 769,770.1, 770.8,774.6. h Th=e ~es are missing from the list. SOURCE: Coopers & Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, unpublished data drawn from pdd Oregon Medicdd claims, 1991.
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Table 5-16--lnpatient Hospital Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Costly Principal Diagnoses for Children Under Age 18, FY 1989 b Estimated Estimated Rank by CT ICD-9-CM number of total paid Percent of cost pair(s) diagnosis code Description of principal diagnosis discharges c d ($thousands) c d total rests Single liveborn Conditions of the perinatal period Twin birth Pregnancy, childbirth, specified complications Pneumonia organism unspecified Congenital anomalies of cardiac septal closure Asthma, unspecified Other diseases of the lung, respiratory failure Acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis Acute appendicitis Pneumonia viral Pregnancy, childbirth, normal delivery General symptoms (convulsions, pyrexia) Volume depletion Other sequelae of chronic liver disease Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis Cystic fibrosis Other and unspecified noninfectious gastroentiritis and colitis Fracture of other and unspecified parts of femur Congenital anomalies of diaphragm Lack of expected normal physiological development Unspecified viral infections Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified site Intestinal infection due to other organism, not elsewhere classified Other specified congenital anomalies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,568 254 174 494 151 30 136 3 128 61 61 159 83 67 1 40 1 74 21 2 36 46 46 43 1 10,680 $7,602,903 546,594 496,490 425,371 222,561 203,707 145,810 133,964 132,708 124,671 123,811 105,506 88,453 86,426 82,959 67,866 64,325 61,246 51,436 50,107 45,567 44,657 40,425 35,594 35,297 $11,018,454 53.56 3.85 3.50 3.00 1.57 1.43 1.03 0.94 0.93 0.88 0.87 0.74 0.62 0.61 0.58 0.48 0.45 0.43 0.36 0.35 0.32 0.31 0.28 0.25 0.25 77.59 KEY: KEY: CT condition-treatment; ICD-942M International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification; FY fiscal year. NOTE: CT O is used to designate inconclusive diagnoses to allow reimbursement for diagnostic services. a fiduk Kaiger Permanence Medicaid enroiiees. b M~t ~~ d~gnosis based on total claims paid by Medicaid. c ~ly 87 ~rmnt of d~~ were available for analysis; total discharges were estimated to refIwt 100 Perc~t. d *UW age ~ta were ~i=ing fmm ~me claim, di~harge and dollar totals for ~me IcD-9ZM cedes may differ from those in table 5-15. e lndu~s codes: v30.0, V30.00, V30.01, V30.1. f lnd~es CO & S : 765.1,765.18, 768.5, 769, 770.1,770.6,770.8, 771.2,771.8, 774.2,774.6. 9 Includes a)des: V31 .0, V32.O. h lndu~s ~s: 642.41,644.21,645.01, 652.21,653.41,654.21, 6!56.31, 660.11,660.31,663.31, 664.01,664.11, 664.21, 664.31,669.51. i These codes are missing from the list. SOURCE: hopers & Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, unpublished data drawn from paid Oregon Medicaid dairns, 1991.
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150 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal known what proportion of these patients received medical or surgical treatment. While neither would be covered by the waiver, treatment for this condition is often ineffective (44). Common Principal Diagnoses Related to Physician Services Tables 5-17 and 5-18 show a frequency ranking of the most common principal diagnoses related to FFS physician visits in FY 1989. 67 These data include all FFS physician visits, by Oregon Medicaid participants who would be subject to the waiver, regardless of site (e.g., doctors office or hospital). Almost 12 percent of visits were for routine infant exams, child health checks, or immunizations; another 8 percent were for maternity-related or newborn care. Coverage for all such care would not change during the demonstration. A few of the most common diagnoses related to physician services are missing from the prioritized list. Three are nonspecific codes (i.e., vaginitis/ vulvovaginitis, urinary tract infection, and unspecified fetal growth retardation) that may be used less often under the demonstration as providers become more sophisticated in their coding practices. A third, impetigo, accounted for 912 pediatric physician visits in FY 1989. Impetigo is a self-limited and contagious condition common among children that if treated can prevent spread to other children (16). Physician Services Below Line 587Under current coding practices, a number of the most common principal diagnoses fall into CT pairs below line 587. Although treatment for these conditions is not reimbursable under the waiver, the visit or visits to establish the diagnosis would be fully covered. The proportion of these visits that are diagnostic is not known. It is likely that many of the reported visits for self-limited conditions, such as acute respiratory infections and acute pharyngitis, are essentially diagnostic encounters that typically do not require followup treatment. Denying payment for any related treatment for these diagnoses is not likely to change the volume of related physician visits or have any significant clinical consequences. For those cases that become more serious, such as a cold that develops into acute bronchitis, a return visit to the physician and treatment would be covered. Not surprisingly, acute pharyngitis (i.e., sore throat), tonsillitis, and colds and respiratory infections (CT pairs 670, 663, and 695 respectively) are particularly common especially among children. The vast majority of the 23,283 related FFS physician visits in FY 1989 were pediatric. Under the waiver, symptomatic care (e.g., acetaminophen, gargle, etc.) could be recommended and would not require prescription medication. In rare instances, when a patients throat is so sore that fluid intake is inadequate, intravenous fluids and hospitalization may be required. Current waiver rules do not make clear whether such supportive measures to prevent dehydration and malnutrition would be reimbursable. Dehydration (ICD-9-CM code 276.5) is missing from the list altogether. In addition, it is uncertain whether the common clinical practice of prescribing antibiotics for patients with sore throat while awaiting results of throat culture (for possible strep infection) could be continued. Whether a change in this practice would compromise the ultimate health outcome continues to be debated in the clinical literature. Conjunctivitis (CT pair 627) and oral candidiasis were fairly common pediatric conditions in FY 1989; together they accounted for 1,848 physician visits among patients under age 18. Oral candidiasis (commonly referred to as thrush in infants) would be included in CT pair 658 unless it was found to be related to an immunosuppressive condition such as HIV infection (CT pair 255). Yet, despite the immediate need for treatment for HIV-infected patients (46,205), it is not clear whether waiver rules would allow payment for treating affected patients whose HIV status is suspected to be positive but is not yet confirmed. A number of nonspecific below-the-line diagnoses would probably be coded differently under the waiver. For example, nonspecific codes for asthma and bronchitis (CT pair 643) are frequently used by Oregon physicians serving Medicaid patients. Almost 2,900 FFS physician visits in FY 1989 were for ~ nMtotal visits reported tirep nxent the nurnberof physician encmmters assigned to the specific KID-9-CM codes appming in these tables. lhey do not show the total number of cases that would fall into each CT pair because most CT pairs include more than one diagnostic code. Nor do they reflect any utilization by HMO orPCO auullecs. Thus the data probably tire stunare the number of related physician visits that would not be covered during b dunonstmtion.
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries l 151 Table 5-17-Utilization by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Common Principal Diagnoses, FY 1989 a Estimated Estimated Rank by CT ICD-9-CM number of percent of frequency pair(s) diagnosis code Description of principal diagnosis Visits b total b 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Total 143 354 695 21 354 143,167 21 670 22,708 C 21 643 0 1 107 391 c 643 669 C 163 1 695 21 0 171,678 482,572 663 d 534 C 19 167 0 537 362 292 1 171 0 167 V20.2 382,.9 465,.9 V30.O 381,.0,.01,.1,.4 V06.1 ,.3 c V22,.1 462 765.1 V22.2 490 789,0 466,.0, 558.9 692.9 599.0 493.9 079.9 V25.4,.9 486 460 650 784.0 078.1 473.9 463 616.10 477.9 774.6 V72.9 780.3 625.9 779.3 770.7 487.1 662.1 782.1 V72.3 Routine infant or child health check Suppurative and unspecified otitis media Acute upper respiratory infections; multiple or unspecified site Single Iiveborn Nonsupportive otitls media and Eustachian tube disorder Immunizations; diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) Supervision of pregnancy Acute pharyngitis Other preterm infants Pregnant state; incidental Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic Abdominal pain Acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis Other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitls Dermatitis; unspecified cause Urinary tract infection; site not specified Asthma unspecified Unspecified viral infection Contraceptive management Pneumonia, organism unspecified Acute nasopharyngitis Pregnancy, childbirth; normal delivery Headache Viral warts Unspecified sinusitis Acute tonsillitis Vaginitis and vulvovaginitis, unspecified Allergic rhinitis; unspecified cause Conditions In the perinatal period Unspecified examination General symptoms (convulsions) Unspecified symptoms associated with female genital organs Feeding problems in newborn Chronic respiratory disease arising In the perinatal period Influenza, with other respiratory manifestations Dysplasia of cervix Rash and other nonspecified skin eruption Gynecological examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,412 20,166 12,192 8,818 8,110 7,921 7,691 6,818 6,531 5,639 5,031 4,842 4,308 3,699 3,609 2,912 2,891 2,812 2,749 2,403 2,279 2,232 2,192 2,123 2,039 1,994 1,965 1,887 1,613 1,527 1,475 1,458 1,379 1,368 1,361 1,349 1,342 1,312 186.449 9.77 5.41 3.27 2.37 2.18 2.13 2.06 1.83 1.75 1.51 1.35 1.30 1.16 0.99 0.97 0.78 0.78 0.75 0.74 0.65 0.61 0.60 0.59 0.57 0.55 0.54 0.53 0.51 0.43 0.41 0.40 0.39 0,37 0.37 0.37 0.36 0.36 0.35 49.69 KEY: CT condition-treatment; ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification; FY fiscal year. a ~~uAS M~icajd rgd@ents enrolled in health maintenance and physician care Organizations. b Only 77 percent of claims were available for analysis; total visits were estimated to reflect 100 per-nt. c Most closely assodated CT pair(s). d M~sing from the list. SOURCE: Coopers & Lybrand, San Francism, CA, unpublished data drawn from paid Oregon Medtid ddms, 1991. nonspecific asthma. Specific asthma codes are bronchitis could have serious clinical consequences. ranked high in CT pair 151. Untreated patients may experience various sympNonspecific bronchitis accounted for more than toms, including coughing and shortness of breath, 5,000 FFS physician visits in FY 1989. How many and are likely to have frequent and more prolonged of these cases were actually acute or chronic is not acute episodes of illness (9). Without treatment, known. Actual acute bronchitis cases would be many more chronic bronchitis patients would be coded in CT pair 1. Although chronic bronchitis expected to require hospitalization for acute exacerbations of symptoms. remains in CT pair 643, such cases could often be redefined and coded into related higher ranked CT There are no above-the-line alternative codes for pairs (e.g., emphysema (CT pair 306) and asthma the common nonspecific viral infections (ICD-9(CT pair 151) (14). If not, failure to treat chronic CM code 079.9 in CT pair 669) that accounted for
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152 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal 2,812 physician visits in FY 1989 (2,395 among children). The low priority assigned to most nonfatal viral infections is appropriate, however, since related diagnostic costs would be covered, effective treatments are not available, and the conditions are self-limited (31 1). Viral pneumonia is an important exception; in some cases it can be life-threatening without treatment (230,3 11). SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEMONSTRATIONS PARTICIPANTS Eligibility Expanding Medicaid coverage to include all poor Oregonians who currently lack health coverage is a tremendous breakthrough for this population in terms of access and perhaps health outcome as well. The available literature make clear that having health insurance, including Medicaid coverage, can have a substantial effect on whether one receives health services. Streamlining Medicaid eligibility processing would also be a considerable accomplishment of the proposed waiver, but the new rules disqualify some pregnant women and young children. This is a needless side effect of the waiver proposal and could be remedied by lifting the eligibility threshold for this group. Benefits and the Prioritized List The implications of the proposed changes in Medicaid benefits clearly depend on the individual beneficiary. Current eligibles would both gain and lose some clinically important services; their bottom line is essentially a personal one based on individual health needs. Can we say that overall the health of Oregons poor would improve or diminish with the proposed changes in Medicaid benefits? Certainly the newly insured would be in a better position to gain access to care. But the potential effect of the prioritized list on Oregons current Medicaid population is very difficult to project. Given that Medicaid benefits are typically shortterm and that any evaluation effort is likely to be based on limited baseline data, it may never be possible to clearly identify how this aspect of the demonstration affected its participants access to services or, ultimately, their health. Some of the financial barriers to early prenatal care could be eliminated by the demonstration. The new eligibility rules enable poor women to have Medicaid benefits before they become pregnant. An effective prenatal outreach program would be key to realizing the potential of the demonstration to actually reduce infant mortality and the number of low-birth-weight babies among the States poor. Expanding Medicaid coverage to include all poor children would be an important achievement that accelerates Congresss recent efforts to bring them into the Medicaid program. It creates the potential to improve childrens access to routine pediatric care, to increase immunization rates, and expedite early intervention for potentially serious and chronic conditions. Whether these goals are achieved must be monitored. Providing benefits for adult preventive services would also markedly improve Oregons Medicaid program. Would it noticeably enhance the health status of the Oregon poor? In the short term, the answer is likely to be negative, unless participants are aggressively encouraged to obtain preventive care and have the long-term coverage necessary to take advantage of any clinical benefits from early disease detection. Making organ transplants available to adults may certainly save some lives, but the number of participants who would be affected would be small. Providing dental care is sure to enhance many adult beneficiaries health although the consequences of going without dental treatment are less dire than forgoing treatment for some below-the-line conditions (e.g., Schmidts syndrome in CT pair 640). It is not surprising to find that some below-theline CT pairs include conditions with effective therapies, since low rank on the prioritized list is intended to reflect lower relative importance but not necessarily complete ineffectiveness. Nonetheless, most uncovered CT pairs do not have significant clinical implications and clearly reflect treatment that is generally considered ineffective or would make little difference to exclude from coverage. Yet there is some evidence that some individuals could be harmed by the demonstration. Recent utilization data show that some below-the-line conditions would occur among the waiver population rather frequently and may have serious consequences. If, for example, infants with viral
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Chapter 5--Implications for Beneficiaries 153 Table 5-18Utilization of Physician Services by Oregon Medicaid Recipients Subject to the Proposed Demonstration: Most Common Principal Diagnoses for Children Under Age 18, FY 1989 a Estimated Estimated Rank by CT ICD-9-CM number of percent of frequency pair(s) diagnosis code Description of principal diagnosis visits b c total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 143,167 22,708 670 19,22,106,292 643 107 1 391 151,643 669 695 0 1 663 0 482,572 362 A 171,678 0 649 534 627 0 1 f 255,658 f 434 V06.1,.3 765.1 462 490 558.9 466,.0, 692.9 493,.9 079.9 460 780.3,.6 486 463 789.0 473.9 779.3 599.0 078.1 782.1 691.0 477.9 372.30 783.4 487.1 684 112.0 764.9 132.0 Routine infant or child health check Suppurative and unspecified otitis media Acute upper respiratory infection; multiple or unspecified site Single Iiveborn Nonsuppurative otitis media and Eustachian tube disorder Immunizations; diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) Other preterm infants Acute pharyngitis Conditions of the perinatal period Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic Other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis Acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis Dermatitis; unspecified cause Asthma unspecified Unspecified viral infection Acute nasopharyngitis General symptoms (convulsions, pyrexia) Pneumonia, organism unspecified Acute tonsillitis Abdominal pain Unspecified sinusitis Feeding problems in newborn Urinary tract infection; site not specified Viral warts Rash and other nonspecific skin eruption Diaper or napkin rash Allergic rhinitis, cause unspecified Conjunctivitis, unspecified Lack of expected normal physiological development Influenza with other respiratory manifestations Impetigo Candidiasis of mouth Fetal growth retardation, unspecified Pediculus capitis Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,243 20,261 d 10,548 8,822 8,70@ 7,862 6,468 5,091 4,925 3,206 2,971 2,801 2,770 2,690 2,395 2,108 1,982 1,874 1,645 1,579 1,448 1,375 1,216 1,108 1,081 1,058 1,049 1,016 994 992 912 832 814 777 149,621 15.32 8.56 4.46 3.73 3.68 3.32 2.73 2.15 2.08 1.36 1.26 1.18 1.17 1.14 1.01 0.89 0.84 0.79 0.70 0.67 0.61 0.58 0.51 0.47 0.46 0.45 0.44 0.43 0.42 0.39 0.39 0.35 0.34 0.33 63.23 KEY: CT condition-treatment; ICD-9-CM International Classification of D&ases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification; FY fiscal year. NOTE: CT O is used to designate inconclusive diagnoses to allow reimbursement for diagnostic services. a Excludes Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in an HMO or PCO. b Only 77 percent of claims were available for analysis; total visits were estimated to refleet 100 percent. c -we age ~ta were missin g fro m some claims, visit totaki for some ICD-9-CM mctea may differ from those in table 5-17. d ~sit totals maybe greater than those in table ~17 ~use a~itional diagnoses oecurr~ in the under age 18 population. e lndu~s -s: 770.7,770.8,769,774.6. f Th~e -s are missing from the list. SOURCE: Coopers & Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, unpublished data drawn from paid Oregon Medicaid dahns, 1991. pneumonia are denied care during the demonstration, the result could be tragic. Would hospitals deny the admission or provide the care without compensation? Other below-the-line CT pairs are less common, but at least five include currently covered life-saving treatments for conditions that have no above-theline alternative. 68 If effective therapies are available, providers might treat patients with an uncovered potentially fatal disorder, but the lack of a guarantee is worrisome for these individuals. In the FFS sector, providers may upcode uncovered CT pairs if covered alternatives exist; prepaid providers may absorb the costs of uncovered treatments if they find it cost-effective to do so. It is especially troublesome that the demonstrations participants would not be guaranteed a minimum package of basic benefits. If a budget @ ~me~Tp~ ~clude impetigo herpetiforrnis, myasfheniagravis, Schmidts syndrome, viral pneumonia and bone marrow &tlI@antS fOrChif&~ with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. (Bone marrow transplants for non-Hodgkins lymphoma are not currently covered for adults.) 328-308 0 92 6
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154 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal shortfall eliminates coverage for some treatments above CT pair 588, the chances grow that individuals could be harmed from the demonstration. This concern is heightened by OTAs conclusion that the waivers costs may be underestimated (see ch. 6). The Role of the Delivery System How the delivery system is organized is key to whether demonstration participants would receive the benefits to which they would be entitled. Changes in access to primary care would depend, above all else, on provider participation in the demonstration. Oregons proposal would affect Medicaid beneficiaries access to almost all health services. In addition to restricting covered services to those falling above CT pair 588, it would lock in most participants to one or a group of health care providers. It is these providers who would play a critical role in each participants access to basic primary care as well as the most specialized tertiary level services. Participants usual source of care is certain to differ with implementation of the demonstration, as the uninsured population is brought into the system and many more current eligibles are assigned a managed care provider. Having a specific provider has been associated with greater use of preventive and other health services (2,111231). The response of Oregon Medicaid providers to the new system will be critical. Proponents of Medicaid managed care suggest that it can increase provider participation and improve access to more efficient and effective services (149). Critics of Medicaid managed care argue that it creates strong incentives for underservice. In the case of Oregon, however, the U.S. General Accounting Office has reported that the State has, in its current system, instituted financial safeguards to prevent financial incentives that would lead to inappropriate reduction in service delivery and quality (238). As managed care providers are at financial risk for enrollees use of health services, they should be motivated to encourage preventive care and early access to primary care. But if the rather short-term nature of Medicaid enrollment dissuades Oregon providers from considering the long-term as well as short-term needs of participants, the program may fall short of its goals. Access to hospital services would change for many of the demonstration participants. The vast majority of Oregons Medicaid participants currently receive FFS inpatient care. Ultimately, 55 percent of the waiver population maybe enrolled in fully capitated health plans (FCHP) that cover hospital as well as physician services. The State anticipates that, compared with FFS care, expanded FCHP enrollment would yield a 25 percent managed care-related savings in Medicaid expenditures for hospital care, presumably as a result of improved access to primary care and fewer unnecessary hospitalizations (177) (see ch. 6). Hospital stays for below-the-line CT pairs should also decline. Any increase in access to hospital care (e.g., for adult organ transplants) related to implementation of the list should be small for current beneficiaries, although there should be substantial improvement in access to inpatient care for those newly covered under the demonstration. A Critical Evaluation Is Essential 69 Would Oregon Medicaid participants get the care they need? Would they have to bear an excessive burden in waiting time to get an appointment or travel time to get care? Would there be a sufficient number of Medicaid providers of all necessary types? Unfortunately, there is very little information to rely on to help project the course of the demonstration. It is not yet known how many providers will participate in the Oregon health plan. Nor can we estimate the extent to which participating FCHPs, FFS physicians, hospitals, and others would be willing to provide uncovered services that they deem to be clinically important. These unanswered questions underline the importance of a comprehensive evaluation of Oregons demonstration should the waiver be granted. @ See ch. fl for a discussion of eviduation issues.
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Chapter 6 Demonstration Program Costs
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Contents Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 CALCULATING DEMONSTRATION COSTS . . . . . . . . Overall Demonstration Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . Per Capita Service Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FACTORS AFFECTING COSTS . . . . . . . . . . . . Caseload Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Utilization Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumptions Relating to CT Pair Assignment . . . . . . . . . Delivery System Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Program-Specific Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . Assumptions Affecting Nonprogram Costs . . . . . . . . . IMPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure Figure Page 6-1. Per Capita Cost Calculation for the Full List . . . . . . . . 160 Tables Table Page 6-1. Oregons Demonstration Cost Estimate . . . . . . . . . 157 6-2. Oregons Basic Assumptions for Projecting Costs of the Medicaid Program Under Current Rules . . . . . . . . 158 6-3. Oregons Caseload Assumptions for Projecting Costs of the Demonstration Program . . . . . . . . . . . 159 6-4. Sources of Data for Oregons Per Capita Cost Calculation . . . . . 161 6-5. Oregons Method for Estimating Threshold-Specific Costs . . . . . 162 6-6. Basic Rules and Assumptions Used to Assign Claims to Condition-Treatment Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . 162 6-7. Substitute Services Used in the Threshold-Specific Cost Calculation . . . 163 6-8. Estimated Per Capita Costs and Percent of Total List Costs at Selected Threshold Lines . . . . . . . . . . . 163 6-9. Savings Assumptions for Managed Care . . . . . . . . . 167 6-10. Examples of Condition-Treatment Pairs Excluded Under Four Scenarios of Higher Costs . . . . . . . . . . . 171
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Chapter 6 Demonstration Program Costs INTRODUCTION Oregons proposed Medicaid demonstration project is not expected to save program costs during the 5 years of its implementation. The waiver application submitted by the State to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) predicts that the cost of conducting the demonstration (over and above the normal costs of the States Medicaid program) would be about $25 million during its first year and about $238 million overall (table 6-1). 1 Therefore, over the 5-year project, Oregon predicts that the State must increase its Medicaid expenditures by $95 million and the Federal Government must provide $143 million in matching funds in order to carry out the program (178). Because State law states that the employer mandate portion of the Oregon Basic Health Services Act will not go forward without the Medicaid demonstration, and because increased employer-based insurance would shift some Medicare as well as Medicaid beneficiaries to private coverage, Oregon counts savings from the employer mandate in its program cost estimates. Over the 5 years of the program, the State projects that the Federal Medicare program would save $34 million due to the employer mandate. Thus, according to the State, overall Federal expenditure increases related to the demonstration would be limited to less than $110 million (see table 6-1) (178). A critical question for both the State and the Federal Government is whether Oregon has accurately predicted the costs of the demonstration. If the State has overestimated the costs, Medicaid beneficiaries will have been denied services to which they might have had access (because the coverage line might have been set lower on the prioritized list). More importantly, if costs have been underestimated, and the State is unable or unwilling to reallocate State funds to cover the difference, then either: 1) services must be reduced below those the Federal Government is ass uming will be available, 2) Federal and State taxpayers must be prepared to pay out additional dollars, or 3) the demonstration must be curtailed. Clearly, the accuracy with which costs have been predicted has implications for Oregonians, for the Federal Government, and for other States interested in similar programs. This chapter describes the method used by Oregons contractors to derive the per capita costs that formed the basis for predicting program expenditures associated with the demonstration. (For simplicitys sake, in this chapter assumptions and Table 6-l-Oregons Demonstration Cost Estimate (in millions of dollars) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 a Year 5 (FY 93) 5-year (FY 94) (FY 95) (FY 96) (FY 97) total Projected cost of current program . . . . . $925.9 $1,037.1 $1,180.6 $1,351.5 $1,546.7 $6,041.8 Total program cost under demonstration b . . . 950.8 1,093.0 1,260,6 1,394.0 1,581.7 6,280.1 KEY: FY fiscal year a The empioyer mandate is to take full effect by the fourth year of the demonstration, resulting in a presumed drop in Medicaid (and Medicare) CXX@ in years 4 and 5 of the demonstration due to beneficiary coverage through employers rather than through public programs. b Total ~sts of the ~egon Medi~M program, i~lucting services to the population not currently inducted under the demonstration. C ln~emental ~sts of the ~monstration pre=nt~ here do not include the ~ts of ln~uding mental health/chemi~l dependency services or the ~sts of services provided to elderty and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries. These services were not included in the original waiver application. Their costs would be separately cdeulated at the time they would be included under the demonstration. d Does not include Fede~l research costs of evaluating the demonstration. SOURCE: Baaed on data from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oregon Medicaid Dernorwtratrbn Wa~verApplicafion, submitted to the Health Care Finanang Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. 1 The total projected costs of the entire State Medicaid program are $951 million in the first year and nearly $6.3 billion over the 5 years the waiver would be in efftxt.
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158 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal analyses made by contractors on behalf of the State are not distinguished from the States own analyses and assumptions; both are attributed here to the State, which bears the responsibility for them in the waiver application. 2 ) The chapter then discusses factors that might affect the per capita estimates, and other factors that might affect the broader estimates of program expenditures as set out in the waiver application. Finally, it draws conclusions about the likely accuracy of the estimates and discusses the implications of costs significantly different from those projected. CALCULATING DEMONSTRATION COSTS Overall Demonstration Costs The direct incremental costs of the proposed demonstration project are simply the difference between the projected costs of Oregons Medicaid program with and without the demonstration. These incremental costs are the direct price faced by the State and the Federal Government when undertaking all of the changes the State proposes under the waiver. 3 In addition to this direct cost, the waiver would result in secondary costs and savings to non-Medicaid programs. Most of these costs/savings would occur as a result of the State mandate for minimum employer benefits that will go into effect only if the waiver is approved. These secondary costs and savings will be discussed later in this chapter. To calculate the net (incremental) direct costs of the demonstration, Oregon first projected the costs of providing services under current rules to the existing Medicaid population that would be covered by the demonstration: i.e., persons eligible through Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and pregnant women and young children with incomes up to 133 percent of the Federal poverty level. The projected costs were then subtracted from the costs of serving these and newly eligible persons under the demonstration program. Table 6-2-Oregons Basic Assumptions for Projecting Costs of the Medicaid Program Under Current Rules (Demonstration Eligibles Only) l l l l Participation: of those eligible for Medicaid, an estimated 72 percent participate (i.e., enroll in the program). This participation rate will hold steady in the future. Caseload for the purposes of this calculation, the relevant caseloads are the expected average number of program enrollees per month. The average number of enrollees per month times 12 is assumed to be the average number of eligibles served per year. Inflation: the expected future rate of inflation in per capita costs is the average rate of inflation experienced by the Medicaid program during the past 6 years. Care-specific inflation rates are applied separately to acute and primary care (currently prioritized), mental health/chemical dependency services (to be added to the demonstration in year 2), and long-term care (outside the waiver). population growth and composition: the Medicaid caseload will grow by 4.5 percent per year due to population growth and phase-in of older children mandated by Congress (Public Law 101 -508). The overall population will grow at the rate projected by the Census Bureau for Oregon. Children will represent 39 percent of the caseload by year 5. SOURCE: Based on information from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, T5e ~egon Medkaid Demonstration Waiver Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. Conceptually, projecting program expenditures under current rules is relatively straightforward: it requires assumptions regarding inflation, unemployment, Medicaid participation, and other basic economic and program-specific factors and is subject to uncertainty and error, but the method requires no unusual manipulations. Some of the basic assumptions used in projecting current costs are listed in table 6-2. Estimating costs over the next 5 years under the demonstration, however, is much more complex. It requires projections regarding how many people will be newly eligible, how quickly they will enroll in the program, how intensely they will use services, and what the cost of the new package of services to be offered will be. The estimate must also account for the broader use of managed care under the demonstration and the administrative costs of implementing the new program. z The State of Oregon contracted with the consulting fm Lewin/ICF, Inc. to provide estimates of caseloads over the course of the demonstration and overall program costs. Coopers & Lybrand was the contractor for the per capita cost analysis. s The cost estimate in the waiver application assumes that all services provided to elderly and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries, and all mental healtMchemical dependency service+ are outside the demonstration. Ihese costs are part of projected costs of the current prograrQ but they do not affect the incremental demonstration cost calculation. If the waiver were approvedj the State would apply for amendments to the waiver to include these additional populations and services, and the estimated incremental costs of including them would be presented to the Federal Government at that time.
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Chapter 6--Demonstration Program Costs l 159 To estimate the cost of services under the demonstration, Oregon separated the calculation into four steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Estimate the new caseload; the number of people who would be eligible under the proposal, their participation rate, and the uptake rate-how quickly they would enroll. Basic assumptions regarding demonstration caseload are listed in table 6-3. Estimate the costs of providing the total package of all 709 condition-treatment (CT) pairs to this caseload. Since different people have different utilization characteristics (e.g., pregnant women generally use more services than AFDC-qualifying eligibles), estimate these costs separately for each of six different eligibility groups. Final total costs are an average of these separate group-specific costs, weighted for the caseload represented by each group. Estimate the proportion of total costs represented at different cutoff points on the list, and specifically at line 587i.e,, the cost of providing the final covered benefit package for prioritized services. Add to this per capita service cost for prioritized services the cost of providing nonprioritized mental health, chemical dependency, and long-term care services to the demonstration caseload. Since these costs are not initially prioritized, they must be calculated separately and added to the prioritized benefits to yield the final total cost of services under the demonstration. Per Capita Service Costs Calculating Per Capita Costs for All 709 Services The basic method used by Oregon to calculate the costs of providing all services on the prioritized list is summarized in figure 6-1. For each of 70 categories of service (e.g., anesthesia, emergency room, physician inpatient visits), and for each of six categories of enrollees (e.g., AFDC, new noncategorical eligibles), the State estimated the average per capita monthly cost of providing that service to that enrollee. The overall per capita monthly cost for a given eligibility category was the sum across all 70 services, with an additional allowance for provider administrative costs; the overall per capita monthly Table 6-3-Oregons Caseload Assumptions for Projecting Costs of the Demonstration Program l l l l l l l The potentially eligible population-those with incomes up to 100 percent of the Federal poverty level and pregnant women/ young children with incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty level-is deduced largely from the Current Population Survey (U.S. Bureau of the Census), using pooled data from the 4 years 1985-88. The overall participation rate of the newly eligible population at steady state will be 59 percent. The participation rate of current and projected pregnant women and children under age 6 will be 72 percent, the current rate. Full participation will not occur until year 4 of the demonstration. Uptake rates for years 1 through 3 will equal 40,70, and 90 percent of the steady-state participation rate, respectively. Caseloads are expressed as the expected average number of enrollees per month. The average number of enrollees per month times 12 is assumed to be the average number of enrollees served per year. Caseload will decline in year 4 with the implementation of the small business health insurance mandate, after which it will grow 2 percent per year due to general population growth. (Participation rates at steady state are assumed not to include caseload decline due to the employer mandate.) The caseload growth and decline will be uniform throughout all counties. SOURCE: Based on information from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Ckegon Medicaid Demonstration Waiver Ap@ication, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. cost per enrollee was the weighted average across all six eligibility categories, The utilization and cost information used to derive the per capita monthly costs were based largely on fee-for-service data (table 6-4). The Medicaid data used, for example, were for fee-forservice utilization for currently eligible groups. Private insurance data was used to estimate utilization for services not currently covered by Medicaid (e.g., hospice care) and to estimate utilization rates for services used by the currently uncovered groups who will be newly eligible under the demonstration. Since all demonstration participants are to be enrolled in some form of managed care, Oregon adjusted the per capita cost to accommodate its assumption, based on its past experience with prepaid managed care, that managed care saves money. Overall savings from this source were assumed to total $225 million over the 5 years of the demonstration. Most of the savings was assumed to accrue through lower emergency room and hospital inpatient utilization.
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160 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure 6-1Per Capita Cost Calculation for the Full List STEP 1. CALCULATE PER CAPITA COST PER SERVICE (repeat for each of 70 services) Method of service / ratio per year 1 m/ NOd x Unit cost per 1,000 enrollees I per year I month Example: dental visits (all numbers are hypothetical) 7 t I t HH!!Z!5E! L $64,000 per 1,000 enrollees r ear I I -+ 12 months/year +1,000 enrollees m ,. STEP 2. CALCULATE TOTAL PER CAPITA COSTS a Sum per capita cost across all 70 services for each eligibility group. b. Add provider administrative costs for enrollees in fully capitated health plans (assume equal to 6% of total costs). c. Total per capita cost for each eligibility group. d. Average costs across all 6 eligibility groups, weighting according to expected caseload. e. Average per capita cost per month per enrollee= $145.15, SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992; based on data from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem OR, 7?re Oregon Medicaid Demonsfratiorr Waiver Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991.
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Chapter 6--Demonstration Program Costs 161 Table 6-4--Sources of Data for Oregons Per Capita Cost Calculation Data source Use in calculation Blue Shield of California claims data Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon claims data Oregon Medicaid Management Information System Hospital information from California Office of Statewide Health Planning, Oregon Office of Health Policy Physician-provided information on average compensation levels and overhead costs Resource-based relative value scale Information on existing managed care contracts Oregon State University-provided information Oregon Dental Association Primary data source for allocating costs to condition-treatment pairs. Source of service-specific charge data. Source for utilization data of services not currently covered. Comparative charge data used to adjust California data (which is a larger sample) for Oregon charges for nonhospital services. Source of utilization data for services and eligibility groups currently covered by Medicaid. Used to calculate cost-to-charge ratios for hospital services (inpatient and outpatient combined). (Data from Medicare Cost Reports considered not reliable because calculated ratios were below 50 percent.) Used as basis for rough estimate that cost-to-charge ratio for primary care physician services was no higher than 80 percent. (Specific data sources included American Medical Association, Warren Surveys, and Medical Group Management Association.) Used to calculate rest-to-charge ratios for physician services relative to primary care physicians. Used to estimate cost-to-charge ratio for primary care services based on market rate, Used to estimate costs associated with dispensing prescription drugs. Overhead costs of dentists. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Besed on data from Oregon Department of Human Resourees, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Oegon Medicaid Demonstration WaiverApp/ication (app. D), submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991; S. Hunt, Coopers & Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, personal communication, Jan. 6, 1992. Calculating Threshold-Specific Per Capita Costs Because the legislature was unlikely to fired the entire list, the State also calculated the proportion of costs represented by different thresholds on the list. In contrast to the all-list per capita cost calculation, the threshold-specific calculation required actually mapping existing medical claims data (i.e., utilization and cost data) to specific CT pairs. Table 6-5 presents an overview of the thresholdspecific cost calculation. Mapping claims data to CT pairs proved to be a difficult task. CT pairs are defined in part by CPT-4 4 procedure codes, the codes physicians use to specify their services, and in part by ICD-9-CM 5 codes, which hospitals use to assign diagnoses to patients. 6 But these diagnosis (i.e., condition) and procedure (i.e., treatment) codes are often not unique to individual CT pairs; some pairs, for example, have the same condition appearing at different places on the list with different medical and surgical treatments (see ch. 3). In addition, many health care products and services-e. g., laboratory tests, therapy visits, and prescription drugs--could apply to almost every CT pair. Since diagnostic services for any condition are to be covered regardless of whether treatment is covered, as a first step in code assignment all CPT-4 codes for diagnostic procedures were assigned to a hypothetical CT pair O. Codes for therapeutic procedures, and services with no specific codes, were then assigned to specific CT pairs according to the basic decision rules outlined in table 6-6. Once all claims had been assigned to CT pairs, the State could calculate the proportion of total list costs represented by each CT pair. The actual estimated cost of any given CT pair was then the percentage of costs represented by that pair, multiplied by $145.15 (the total cost as calculated by the method described above). The final step was to determine threshold-specific cumulative costs. For any given threshold on the list (e.g., line 587), the State summ ed the costs of all individual CT pairs up to and including that line. It then made two specific adjustments. Both adjust4 Current Procedural Terminology, 4th Edition. 5 ~temtio~ ~ws~lcation of Diseases, 9th EditioL Clinical Modifkation. 6 Dental codes are also used for CT pairs that include dental services.
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162 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table 6-5--Oregons Method for Estimating ThresholdSpecific Costs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Assemble private insurance data on utilization and charges according to ICD-9-CM diagnostic and CPT-4 procedure codes Adjust billed charges to reflect Oregon providers actual costs Adjust utilization to reflect lower income population (e.g., more high-risk maternity cases) Allocate claims data to appropriate condition-treatment (CT) pairs based on ICD-9-CM/CPT-4 codes (see table 6-6) Calculate cost for each CT pair (= percent of total costs represented by that pair x $145.15 [from full-list per capita cost calculation]) Calculate cumulative threshold-specific costs at various thresholds l Sum costs of individual CT pairs above threshold l Apply CT-specific substitutions as suggested by the Health Service Commission l Assume that 15 percent of all rests below the threshold will be upcoded SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on data from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Ckgon MedhaidDemonstration Waiver Appli~tion, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. ments were made under the assumption that if low CT pairs were not covered, some treatments that would otherwise appear low would be replaced by substitute treatments in or assigned to higher, covered CT pairs. First, the State considered a list of services provided by the Health Services Commission (HSC) in which the Commission considered that one service (i.e., high on the list) could be substituted in whole or in part for another that was lower on the list (table 6-7). For any given threshold, the State assigned substitutable costs from lower (i.e., belowthreshold) to higher (above-threshold) CT pairs. In other words, it was assumed that any patient needing one of these substitutable services appearing below the cutoff line would gain coverage by receiving the substitute service above the line. Second, the State assumed that regardless of the cutoff line, a certain amount of uncovered services would be redefined and assigned by the provider to covered CT pairs. Some of these cases might be additional cases of substituting one treatment for another, but in other cases the provider might simply define the otherwise uncovered service in such away that it could legitimately appear to fall into a covered CT pair. (Such upcoding could occur in response to a desire to gain payment for the service, but it could also be a natural result of physicians trying to Table 6-6-Basic Rules and Assumptions Used to Assign Claims to Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Decision steps/assumptions 1. Prepare data Identify claims with codes that can and cannot be matched to codes specified in CT pairs 2. Assign claims with matching codes (i.e., claims for medical and surgical therapies) Assign each surgical claim to relevant surgical CT pair Assign each medical claim with only one relevant CT pair to that pair Assign each medical claim with either multiple medical or multiple surgical matching CT pairs proportionately to relevant pairs Assign each medical claim with multiple matching CT pairs that include both surgical and medical therapies so that 90 percent of claim is distributed evenly among medical CT pairs and 10 percent of claim is distributed evenly among surgical CT pairs Summarize total treatment costs assigned to each CT pair on the list at the end of above steps 3. Assign claims for ancillary services (which cannot be matched to specific pairs) l l l l l Summarize each claim by ICD-9-CM code and identify all possible CT pairs that include that code Total the existing dollars (from medical/surgical claims) already assigned to each of the possible pair matches and calculate the proportion of treatment dollars represented by each CT pair for that ICD-9 code Allocate the ancillary costs for that ICD-9-CM code among the possible CT pairs according to the percentage of treatment costs for that code in each pair Repeat for each ancillary-related ICD-9-CM code Summarize total treatment and ancillary costs assigned to each CT pair on the list 4. Assign claims for other services that cannot be matched to specific pairs Total the claims for prescription drugs and assign to CT pairs so that drug costs equal 7 percent of total costs for each pair Assign a cost to comfort care CT pairs on the assumption that this cost equals 0.5 percent of total costs SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on information in Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The CWgon Meal&id Demonstration Waiver Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991; app. D. ensure that patients receive the services they are perceived to need.) For each threshold calculated, the State assumed that 15 percent of the costs of services below that threshold would be redefined by providers in such a way as to fall into CT pairs above the threshold. Table 6-8 presents the estimated per capita costs applicable at various thresholds. Because all diagnostic services are assumed to be covered, and because many high-cost or high-utilization services are ranked near the top of the list, per capita costs accumulate rapidly. Even at a threshold set at CT pair 200, for example, the State estimates that 60
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Chapter Demonstration Program Costs l 163 Table 6-7-Substitute Services Used in t he ThresholdSpecific Cost Calculation Line substituted Percentage of service costs of substitute from line From: To: assumed to be substitutable 209 277 279 291 293 307 309 365 367 367 368 388 397 415 444 483 492 497 502 532 535 564 189 200 118 1 53 181 21 124 95 246 126 253 355 253 64 399 385 385 450 467 445 460 100/0 100 5 5 10 100 100 100 50 50 100 5 50 10 9 5 20 20 20 10 100 20 588 615 624 637 637 660 686 691 83 159 450 446 447 64 18 239 5 20 5 20 20 5 1 20 NOTE: Line refers to condition-treatment pair on prioritized list. Substitutes below shaded line are those that are assumed to occur at the 587 threshold determined by the Oregon legislature. SOURCE: Adapted from P.R. .Sipes-Metzler, Oregon Heaith Services Commission, memorandum to S. Hunt, Coopers& Lybrand, San Francisco, CA, Mar. 15, 1991. percent of all the costs represented by providing services on the list would be incurred. FACTORS AFFECTING COSTS Caseload Assumptions One of the most basic and critical assumptions underlying Oregons analysis of the cost of its proposed demonstration project is the estimate of how many people would be served under the new plan. Number of Eligibles To estimate the number of State residents who would qualify for medical assistance under the demonstration, Oregon relied on pooled estimates from several years worth of data from the Oregon Table 6-6-Estimated Per Capita Costs and Percent of Total List Costs at Selected Threshold Lines (program startup) Threshold a Per capita cost Percent of total costs 200 . . . . . $87.12 60.O% 365 . . . . . 102.26 70.5 478 . . . . . 117.21 80.8 585 . . . . . 127.01 87.5 640 . . . . . 134.61 92.7 709 . . . . . 145.15 100.0 a ThreShO~ is ~nditjofl-treatrnent pair below WhiCh ServbX would not be covered. SOURCE: Based on data from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The C%egon Medkxdd Demonstration Waiver Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. subsample of the Current Population Survey (CPS), a national survey undertaken by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Since any survey has a degree of uncertainty in its worth of data is accuracy. Projecting the estimates, pooling several years a common measure to increase future number of people with incomes below the poverty level also depends on assumptions regarding the economy and the number of people who cannot find work. For its estimated eligibles through the 5 years of the demonstration, the State assumed a constant unemployment rate equal to the average U.S. unemployment rate during 1985-88-that is, the rate applicable during the period represented by the CPS data used as the basis of caseload calculations. Again, it is impossible to say that this assumption is too high or too low for Oregon in the 1990s, but if reality is significantly different the number of people eligible to participate could be very different from the prediction. One important assumption regarding future caseload is the assumption that people currently eligible will be eligible for the demonstration in roughly the same numbers as they were in the late 1980s, with a small increase allowed for general population growth. Recent information indicates that the Medicaid population in 1991 is much larger than expected (38). Unless this upsurge in persons eligible under current rules disappears by mid-1992, the demonstration caseload estimates probably underestimate the true initial caseloads that will occur. This larger caseload would increase the total costs of the Medicaid program under the demonstration (though it would not necessarily increase the net costs of the demonstration, since program costs would be higher
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164 l Evaluation Of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal than originally predicted regardless of whether the demonstration was approved). Participation Rate The proportion of eligible individuals who will actually participate in the program depends on two factors: the underlying participation rate at steady state, and the length of time it takes for individuals to learn about their eligibility and decide to enroll (the uptake rate). Oregon has assumed that, at program steady state, the base participation rate under the demonstration for existing eligibility categories will be the same as in the existing program (72 percent). For newly eligible individuals, the State adjusted this base rate for differences in demographic characteristics between current and new eligible groups-that is, differences in age, sex, family composition, income, and employment status (177). The adjustment also accounted for differences in insurance status. (This adjustment implicitly assumes that more of the newly eligible population will be covered under private insurance.) The net result is that newly eligible persons are projected to have only 59 percent participation in the program (177). These participation assumptions may be low. Broader studies of Medicaid programs throughout the United States have found participation to average 76 percent (95). If Oregon has underestimated both the speed of implementation and the participation rate of new eligibles in private insurance plans, then participation may be much higher than 59 percent among new eligibles. The State expects that it would take several years to reach these steady-state participation rates. Uptake into the program is assumed to be 40 percent in the first year and 70,90, and 100 percent in years 2, 3, and 4 of the demonstration, respectively. Thus, the full expected participation rate for new eligibles is not predicted to be achieved until the fourth year the new program is in place. 7 The uptake rates could be a slight underestimate if the unusual level of publicity received by the proposal resulted in faster-than-usual enrollment of eligible individuals. Also, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), national Medicaid estimates usually assume a faster uptake rate for new programs, with 100 percent uptake (i.e., steady-state participation rate) reached by year 3 (237). Oregon performed sensitivity analyses on its participation and uptake assumptions. If, as the above discussion implies, the baseline assumptions understate what might actually occur, these sensitivity analyses can give some sense of the magnitude of costs affected by their use. According to the States analysis, assuming that new-eligible participation is 69 rather than 59 percent raises the net demonstration costs by 37 percent (or $75 million). Assuming a faster uptake of that population (50, 80, and 100 percent in years 1, 2, and 3) raises net costs by 16 percent ($33 million). Participation and uptake rates that were higher than baseline but lower than the upper bound rates that Oregons sensitivity analysis ex amined would result in less dramatic cost increases. The State did not perform a sensitivity analysis on both high-rate and high-uptake assumptions simultaneously. Since uptake and participation may interact, the effect of both high assumptions occurring simultaneously cannot be estimated without the model. Even without interactive effects, however, the simple effect of both assumptions in place would probably beat least $108 million ($75 million + $33 million), or an increase of over 50 percent in net demonstration costs. Utilization Assumptions Most of the basic utilization assumptions derive from the inherent characteristics of the data sources used to estimate utilization under the demonstration. Oregon Medicaid claims data were used to estimate future utilization by current eligibles and new categorical-type eligibles and for currently covered services; in this case, the underlying assumption is that utilization for this group and these services will be unchanged. Blue Shield of California data were used for estimates of utilization of new services and for noncategorical groups newly eligible under the demonstration. 8 If unadjusted, the use of the Blue Shield data would assume that this population would use services at the same rate as privately insured 7 It is ~t en~ely cl~~m the waiver application whether these uptake rates apply only to the newly eligible population but State Medicaid Offichds confirm that they do (2 12). 8 Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon data were used to adjust the more comprehensive California data for State-specKlc differences.
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Chapter Demonstration Program Costs l 165 individuals. The State, recognizing that it is unlikely that poor individuals who have newly received access to publicly financed health care will use services at the same rate as individuals with private insurance, adjusted the Blue Shield data to reflect certain additional assumptions about how the two populations might differ. For example, the newly eligible population should include very few pregnant women and young children, since these groups are eligible up to 133 percent of the poverty level under current rules. In addition, the State assumed that the newly eligible Medicaid population would be both younger and have a higher prevalence of males than a standard commercially insured population. It translated this assumption into a quantitative assumption that, even after maternity and newborn claims were removed, the newly eligible population would incur health care costs of only 89 percent of what the Blue Shield population incurred. Total list costs for new eligibles were adjusted downward accordingly. These adjustments to the Blue Shield data all assume that the newly eligible Medicaid population will, by nature of its demographics, use fewer services and incur fewer costs than a standard privately insured population. This assumption is a reasonable one for program steady state. What is not known, however, is the extent of pent-up demand for services that may exist in the first few years of a new program targeted to a previously uninsured population. If newly eligible persons have preexisting health problems that have gone untreated while these individuals were uninsured, demonstration program costs could be higher than estimated. 9 Assumptions Relating to CT Pair Assignment To translate existing data into the proper form for projecting demonstration costs, Oregon assigned codes for services (and associated costs) from past claims to the CT pairs on the new list that appeared to best correspond. Assigning codes correctly to the appropriate pairs above and below the line is crucial to correctly estimating the cost of covered services. The State faced potential coding assignment errors at three different levels. First, codes could have been incomectly assigned to CT pairs in the list as it stood at the time of code assignment (e.g., because of the ambiguities in how to allocate many services across CT pairs). Second, the list--or rules for assigning codes--could change after the cost estimate was made but before the program was implemented. And third, when the list is implemented, providers may code services differently than the actuaries did at the time the list was costed. Each of these potential errors can affect whether the estimated cost of providing services through line 587 would bean accurate projection of final program costs. Coding Assignment at the Time the List Was Costed Given the inherent uncertainties in translating codes to CT pairs, Oregons method for doing so appears basically sound. Treatment codes were matched as well as possible; ancillary codes were assigned proportionately to relevant pairs based on accompanying diagnosis; and drugs, for which claims carry no accompanying diagnosis, were distributed proportionately across the entire list. Nonetheless, the inherent uncertainties remain, and the resulting cost estimates could be either exaggerated or understated. For example, it could be that in fact drugs would be prescribed disproportionately for CT pairs above line 587. If this were the case, the costs of treating patients with covered services would have been underestimated. Clearly, the converse can also be true. Neither the magnitude nor the direction of any possible error can be estimated based on existing data and analyses. Similarly, the States judgment regarding which diagnostic codes should be assigned to a hypothetical CT pair O (and covered regardless of the cutoff threshold on the list) could result in underor overestimates of cost. A particularly sensitive issue is whether hospital diagnostic procedures will in fact be covered when the condition ultimately established as the diagnosis lies below the line. Hospital Medicaid bills (which in Oregon are based on diagnosis-related groups) do not distinguish between services performed before and after the diagnosis is made, and all but hospitals participating 9 Oregon recognized the possibility of pent-up demand but assumed that any subpopuktion of new eligibles with higher-than-expected utihation would be balanced by subpopulations with little demand, and by low demand resulting fmm the time it would take new enrollees to kxirn the system. It seems to OTA, however, that the result will still not quite balance. The underlying data from the commercial insurance population aheady account for no demand eligibles in their own averages, and the fact that new enrollees must learn the system simply postpones, rather than eliminates, their expected utilization.
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166 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal in fully capitated plans would still bill separately for services. The State plans to devise an administrative mechanism to address this problem (212), but the solution may take time to implement and could entail its own problems. Until then, the Medicaid program must either overpay for services (e.g., by paying for any hospital service performed during the initial stay that includes the diagnostic workup), underpay for services (by denying payment for diagnostic services accompanying bills for below-theline procedures), or incur high administrative costs (in order to estimate what proportion of the hospital bill is related to diagnostic services). Coding Errors in the Initial List The prioritized list used by Oregons contractors and by the legislature was not exactly the list that will be implemented when and if the demonstration begins. Although the number and order of CT pairs have not changed since the HSC transmitted the list to the legislature, the HSC has made technical corrections to the list as codeand service-specific errors have become apparent. These technical corrections could have implications for the accuracy of the cost analysis. One type of technical error lay in unintentionally omitting codes from the list. Those codes must still be assigned to CT pairs, since the list is to be a comprehensive one. The original code allocation method used in costing various thresholds on the list essentially assumed that services with unmatched codes were spread proportionately throughout the entire list. If, after correcting the list, these codes and their associated costs are disproportionately placed above line 587, costs will have been underestimated. Conversely, assigning more missing codes to CT pairs below the line will result in the cost estimate for covered services being too high. Other codes may have appeared on the list used by the States contractors in the cost analysis, but they may have appeared in incorrect CT pairs. For example, the HSC has informed the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that some above-theline codes that appeared to be new benefits (e.g., tissue expanders) were not intended to be benefits for many of the conditions with which they are currently associated on the list, and they may be reassigned to CT pairs below the line (35). Other codes that appear in CT pairs that are below the line (e.g., codes for medical therapy for myasthenia gravis) might at some point, according to the HSC, be moved up to covered CT pairs (1 19). Regardless of whether codes are added or moved between CT pairs, the result is that the list that providers must follow would not be identical to the list that was used in the cost analysis. No technical corrections were final as of March 1992, so again their impact on costs cannot be assessed in either magnitude or direction. However, if in the final technical corrections costs associated with added or shifted codes are disproportionately assigned to covered CT pairs, the result will be higher program costs than anticipated. (The converse may also be true, but it seems to OTA to be less likely.) Provider Coding Many medical diagnoses are not clear-cut and distinct, and a patient may frequently fit logically into more than one diagnostic category. A patient with ill-defined breathing difficulties, for example, might sometimes legitimately be considered to have either chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Similarly, a patient with terminal cancer who is in respiratory failure might be described according to either the immediate problem or the underlying disease. In each of these examples, one service (treatment for chronic bronchitis; aggressive therapy for terminal cancer) lies below the line and is uncovered, while the other (respiratory failure; emphysema) ranks higher and would be covered. Given the prioritized list as it currently stands, and absent any additional instructions or information, clinicians could legitimately choose to categorize patients into either covered or uncovered CT pairs. (The State is developing instructions for using the prioritized list, but the breadth and extent of detail to be included is not known.) Oregons method for allocating services for the purposes of costing the list generally assumes that physicians are neutral to financial and emotional incentives when coding the services they provide. However, the State did make one major adjustment to accommodate any changes in coding practice that might affect coverage. It assumed that 15 percent of the costs of services that would be uncovered under current medical and coding practice would be coded into covered CT pairs under the demonstration and paid accordingly (177). Of this 15 percent, 10 percent was assumed to result from general changes in medical practice and coding decisions, and the
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Chapter 6--Demonstration Program Costs l 167 remaining 5 percent was assumed to result from the continued prescribing of drugs for uncovered conditions (which cannot be monitored easily) (98). Some allowance for changes in coding practice (and medical practice) as a result of implementing the list is certainly appropriate. It is impossible to say whether 15 percent would be the correct amount in reality, particularly since the State has not yet developed either detailed CT pair assignment instructions or methods for scrutinizing suspect categorization. Given the strong financial incentives to receive payment for specific services provided in the fee-for-service sector, changes in coding practice may be greater than 15 percent for the patients served outside of prepaid managed care. Prepaid providers have no financial incentive to upcode, however, since for them upcoding is not directly linked to increased payment. Increased use of above-the-line services in the prepaid sector would be limited to actual service substitutions and any desire of physicians to justify certain services to their own administrators. Thus, the 15 percent assumption seems a reasonable middle best guess. The actual percentage could be lower if managed care providers are especially successful at eliminating the use of therapies associated with uncovered CT pairs; it could be higher if they are not successful at controlling such prescribing or if Oregon fails to meet its goal of enrolling the majority of eligible Medicaid beneficiaries in prepaid managed care (see below). Delivery System Assumptions The basic method used to derive costs was based on fee-for-service data. Oregons demonstration, however, proposes that all Medicaid demonstration enrollees will be in some form of managed care, and three-fourths will be enrolled in prepaid plans. The State assumes that managed care will be associated with substantial cost savings over what fee-forservice expenditures would have been. Specific savings assumptions, as presented in the waiver application, are summarized in table 6-9. Savings Associated With Managed Care The assumption that managed care (particularly prepaid managed care) lowers health care costs is the major premise behind its increasing use in Medicaid programs. Oregon assumes in its cost estimate that primary care case management will save some costs, primarily through averted emergency room use and hospital admissions. Prepaid care is assumed to have an even greater effect on hospital-associated savings and have some general efficiency-related cost savings as well. Oregons savings assumptions for managed care are based on its own experience with Medicaid managed care over the past few years. An analysis performed on the States behalf estimated program savings during the 3 year period from March 1985 through September 1988. It found that although program costs increased during the frost 6 months of the managed care program, savings were positive and increasing in each of the succeeding 3 years (41). Table 6-9-Savings Assumptions for Managed Care (savings compared with fee-for-service scenario) Type of provider Percent savings a Enrollees to whom savings apply Fully capitated health plan. . . . 25% AFDC, PLM, new eligibles 12.5% GA Partially cavitated health plan. . . 13% AFDC, PLM, new eligibles 6% (6% average for all enrollees and services) Primary care case management . . 9% AFDC, PLM, new eligibles 4.5% GA (4% average for all enrollees and services) KEY: AFDC = Aid to Families with Dependent Children; PLM = poverty-level pregnant women and children (incomes up to 133% of the Federal poverty level); GA = State general assistance eligibles. a ~ving~ ap~y t. all hospital care ex~pt maternity and newborn care. Medicaid maternity/neWbOrn care is already case-managed. Physician and pharmacy servicss for general assistance enrollees are also case-managed. SOURCE: Based on data from Oregon Department of Human Resources, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The Uregon IWedkxud Demonstration Waiver A@cation, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991; L. Read, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, personal communication, Jan. 16, 1992.
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168 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Studies of other Medicaid managed care demonstration projects have found some promising effects. An analysis of six Medicaid projects found that utilization did decrease, particularly emergency room utilization, but that cost savings were more difficult to achieve, particularly in the frost year of the demonstrations (72). A detailed analysis of Utahs Medicaid managed care program (which included both prepaid and case-managed fee-forservice components) found that the program decreased hospital outpatient utilization (including emergency room use) but increased use of primary care, specialist, and prescription drug services (130). Consequently, costs for ambulatory care in this program increased in the early years of the program. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that Oregons savings assumptions for the various forms of managed care were generally higher than used in national estimates based on existing studies (237). CBO concluded that Oregons savings assumptions for managed care may be optimistic. The State is confident that its past experience with Medicaid managed care makes its savings assumptions realistic (212). Still, if managed care savings under the demonstration were to differ from those assumed in the cost estimate, the literature suggests that the error would be in the direction of overestimating savings and underestimating costs. Implementation of Managed Care 10 Managed care savings in the demonstration project are predicated on the assumption that a managed care system will be fully in place by the end of the first year of the new program. Meeting this goal is probably the greatest challenge to realizing the expected savings from managed care. The greatest expected savings are to come from fully capitated prepaid care plans. Fewer than 12,000 Medicaid beneficiaries are currently enrolled in such a plan; under the waiver, over 100,000 beneficiaries are to be fidl-cavitation enrollees. The General Accounting Office has expressed skepticism regarding whether Oregons current partially capitated Medicaid providers can organize and contract sufficiently quickly to meet this goal (238). Nonetheless, the State believes it is on schedule thus far for the expansion of fully capitated care (212). 11 In addition to greatly expanding its contracts with fully capitated plans, the State must recruit more providers into partially capitated plans and recruit primary care case managers for the 18 rural counties of the State that are expected to be predominately fee-for-service. Health personnel shortages and the need to negotiate with public health departments and federally qualified health clinics in these counties may make recruiting case managers difficult and time-consuming (see ch. 4). Again,the State believes it is on schedule for its overall managed care expansions. If the expansion continues in a timely manner, assumptions based on managed care savings will be reasonable. Any future delay in implementation, however, would cause costs to be higher than predicted. Any unexpected variation in the numbers of enrollees could increase (or diminish) the problem. For instance, the State assumes a uniform increase in eligible persons over time in all counties. If, due to high local unemployment or other reasons, Medicaid enrollment in certain counties were higher than the predicted average, these counties must attract more Medicaid managed care providers to fill the demand. This problem may be particularly acute in rural counties, where physicians are sometimes in short supply and primary care case management may take some time to implement in any case. After the frost year, continued participation of both prepaid providers and primary care case managers may depend in part on whether providers continue to consider payment rates to be adequate to cover their own individual costs (see ch. 4). Continued participation would also depend on the degree of administrative costs and difficulties the providers incur. Again, if providers remain satisfied with their payments and responsibilities, Oregons baseline cost estimate would remain valid. If they become dissatisfied, however, the result would almost certainly be to increase program costs. Constraining payment rates below what providers would be willing to accept might decrease participation, reducing the possibilities for savings through managed care. Raising rates, on the other hand, would raise program costs in its own right. Thus, for both initial provider recruitment and long-term provider 10 sw ch. 4 for a more detailed discussion of the proposed managed we SyStem. 11 me ~egon Medi@d prohas letters of intent to participate as filly capitated health plans from plans with MI identifial SM-Up Hpi3City Of 158,200 enrollees (212).
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Chapter 6--Demonstration Program Costs l 169 participation, uncertainties operate in the direction of increasing program costs. Other Program-Specific Assumptions Demonstration Administration and Management A critical component of the original State legislation authorizing the demonstration, Senate Bill (SB) 27, was that unexpected program cost increases could be controlled by decreasing benefit coverage for enrollees. In 1993 and 1995, the State legislature meets and can, if it chooses, establish a threshold either higher or lower than CT pair 587 on the prioritized list. If costs in the interim have been higher than expected, the legislature might choose to reduce benefits to bring future costs in line with projected expenditures. In addition, SB 27 made provisions for costs exceeding the allotted budget in the midst of the 2-year budget cycle. If, for example, it became apparent in the fall of 1994 that costs were to greatly exceed appropriated funds for the 1993-95 period, the State could reduce benefits as necessary (subject, presumably, to some level of Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) oversight in the context of the Federal waiver). Alternatively, the State emergency fired overseers could choose to allocate funds to make up the difference if those funds were available. A critical question is how rapidly the State could reduce expenses in mid-cycle by restricting benefits, and what the consequence of such a reduction would be. For fee-for-service providers, reducing benefits would simply mean that from that time forward, providing these services brings no payment. For prepaid providers, the model contract proposed by the State allows the State to lower the benefit package, if necessary, within 60 days of legislative approval of the change in benefits (174). The cavitation rate would be lowered to reflect the change in benefits. Prepaid providers could withdraw from participation in the program if these events occurred. In the long run, the effect of mid-cycle benefit reductions (if they occur) on program costs would thus depend heavily on whether prepaid providers withdraw their participation in the program, endangering anticipated managed care savings. Health Care Cost Inflation Any projection of costs forward in time requires some assumption regarding underlying cost inflation. Oregon assumed that Medicaid costs in any given sector (e.g., acute care, long-term care) would rise in the future at the same underlying rate as that actually experienced in recent years. This rate was calculated as the average actual and estimated program cost increases in that sector during the years 1987-91, with some additional adjustments to specifically address hospital trends for 1991-93 (212). This approach is a reasonable and simple one, given the level of uncertainty in any forecast. Nonetheless, underor overestimating the underlying rate of inflation could have a major effect on the difference between real and expected program costs. If, for example, costs have been increasing at an increasing rate, projecting forward an average of past inflation rates would probably underestimate future inflation. In fact, nationally, this appears to be the case. The Consumer Price Index for medical care rose from a 6.6 percent increase in prices during 1987 to a 7.7 percent increase in 1989 and increases of 8.5, 9.0, and 9.3 percent in the frost three quarters of 1990, respectively (127). If Oregons Medicaid expenditures have followed a similar pattern, future cost inflation may have been analysis. Assumptions Affecting Medicare Costs underestimated in the Nonprogram Costs Oregons cost analysis includes an assumption that the implementation of the demonstration will reduce Federal Medicare expenditures by $33.7 million. The savings in this case would derive not directly from the Medicaid demonstration but as a consequence of the associated mandated health insurance program for small employers, which is to be implemented only if the Medicaid demonstration goes forward (see ch. 2). SB 27 required that all Medicare beneficiaries who are employed by qualifying firms will become covered under this insurance program, making Medicare a secondary payor. The demonstration itself may also have some effect on Medicare costs by increasing Medicare disproportionate share payments to hospitals. At present, Medicare hospital reimbursements on behalf of its own beneficiaries include an adjustment
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170 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal that is intended to compensate certain hospitals for extra costs associated with serving a disproportionately low-income patient population. The amount of this adjustment depends on the size and location of a hospital and the proportion of its patient days attributed to Medicare Supplemental Security Income recipients and Medicaid beneficiaries. Thus, as the proportion of hospital patients enrolled in Medicaid increases, Medicare payments also increase. Covering previously uninsured patients under Medicaid, as the demonstration proposes, will raise Medicare hospital payments unless accompanied by a proportionate decrease in Medicaid hospital stays due to managed care. (Medicaid itself also makes payments to disproportionate share hospitals, although States are permitted some leeway in defining which hospitals are eligible for payments and how much additional payment they receive. It is not clear what effect a greater Medicaid-covered population will have on Oregon Medicaid payments, since many hospital stays will be covered under prepaid cavitation contracts and Oregon could choose to change payment rules to offset anticipated greater costs. Nonetheless, this is another potential source of Medicaid program costs that could be greater than anticipated.) Other Federal Costs From a Federal budget perspective, a potentially significant assumption of the demonstration cost estimate is that the demonstration, and the small employer insurance mandate that depends on its approval, will not reduce Federal tax revenues. CBO, challenging this assumption, has testified: To the extent that employers would have to pay for new [insurance] policies, their profits would be reduced, resulting in lower corporate tax payments to the federal government. Alternatively, if the costs of the insurance policies were passed back to the employees in the form of lower (or more slowly increasing) monetary wages, personal income tax and payroll tax revenues would decline by about one-fourth of the increase in health premiums (237). The State, although acknowledging this effect, argues that the Medicaid and small employer programs will reduce the need to subsidize uninsured care through high insurance premiums and will increase the incomes of health care providers (through greater health care utilization). Thus, it argues, corporate savings (from lower insurance premiums) and higher provider incomes will result in Federal tax revenue increases that will offset the losses described by CBO (212). Although the effects described by Oregon may well occur, OTA is skeptical that the gains will entirely offset the losses. Another legitimate Federal concern regarding demonstration funding and expenditures relates to the recent passage of Oregon Ballot Measure 5, which restricts the property taxing capability of local governments and requires the State government to redirect a greater proportion of State spending toward education in order to make up the difference. This law has caused concern regarding Oregons ability to maintain its current level of Medicaid spending, and the State is making contingency plans for reducing spending if necessary (150). In light of this, it is unclear to OTA how the State could raise sufficient funds to pay its share of increased Medicaid costs related to the demonstration, even if the incremental demonstration cost were no higher than predicted. IMPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS If Oregon has overestimated the costs of conducting the proposed demonstration, the consequences for benefits are few and positive. The State could choose to lower the threshold below CT pair 587, enabling coverage for such conditions as back sprains, viral hepatitis, and breast reconstruction (CT pairs 594,597, and 600, respectively). Or, the State could choose to redirect the savings toward improving outreach, expanding the eligible population, higher reimbursement for providers, or any of the myriad non-Medicaid programs funded by the State. On balance, however, it seems more likely that Oregon has underestimated the costs and overestimated the initial savings of the program than the reverse. If this proves to be the case, the implications for program benefits could be substantial. As designed, the demonstration program has two options in the face of higher-than-predicted costs: increase expenditures, which is possible only if both the funds and the will exist; or reduce benefits by moving the threshold up the list. Raising the threshold carries with it two implications. First, the State may need to eliminate a substantial number of CT pairs to gain even a small savings, because the bulk of program costs are accounted for early in the list. (All diagnostic
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Chapter 6--Demonstration Program Costs 171 Table 6-10-Examples of Condition-Treatment (CT) Pairs Excluded Under Four Scenarios of Higher Costs a Baseline threshold: CT pair 587 Per capita monthly rest: $129.44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scenario New threshold Examples of CT pairs excluded c 1% cost overrun Reduce per capita costs by $1.29 5% cost overrun Reduce per capita costs by $6.46 10% cost overrun Reduce per capita costsby$12.94 15% cost overrun Reduce per capita costs by $19.42 CT pair 585 587Esophagitis 586--Spondylosis CT pair 503 573-Chronic sinusitis 569--Rib fracture 544-Spine deformities 533--Minor burns 515-Pituitary dwarfism 514-Acute polio 506-Muscular dystrophy 504-Hernia repair (unobstructed) (plus all pairs Iisted above) CT pair 475 503--Goiter/thyroidectomy 498-Ovarian cyst/oophorectomy 494-Tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy 492Paraplegia/surgery 489--Stomatitis, oral abcess 483--Osteoarthritis 480--Surgery for impacted teeth 477-Hearing loss over age 3 (plus all palrs listed above) CT pair 420 469--Endometriosis 466--Complicated hemmorhoids 447-Limb deformities 440-Cerebral palsy/repair, reconstruction 434-Lice 431Migraine 425--Refraction/glasses 423--Osteoporosis (plus all oaks listed above) a ~um= all ne~~ cost reductions are obtained by decreasing benefits. b Newthr=hol~ Iwerthan CT ~air~o are aPProXimat~, b~~ on the information in thewaiverappli~tion. Detailed line-by-line costs were not available for more precise estimates. c ~e aW. D for complete destiptions of CT pairs. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992, calculated from information in Oregon Department of Human Resourcas, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Salem, OR, The ~egon Msdicaid Demonstration Waiver Application, submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration, Aug. 16, 1991. services are covered, for example, and many highcost conditions rank high on the list.) Second, by design, conditions increase in presumed importance as one progresses up the list. Thus, the further up the list the threshold is drawn, the greater the presumed risk of causing harm to beneficiaries by eliminating coverage. Table 6-10 illustrates the degree of CT pair elimination needed to redress even relatively small cost overruns through the use of the prioritized list alone. Even reducing per capita costs by 5 percent, if the State anticipated an equivalent expenditure excess, would require eliminating 84 CT pairs, or 14 percent of all CT pairs currently proposed to be covered. A 15 percent cost overrun in the first 2 years could, in the absence of greater funding, require the State legislature to eliminate approximately 167 CT pairs (28 percent of currently covered pairs). Despite the apparent barriers, however, it is possible that the consequences of eliminating benefits would lead Oregonians to find ways to supplement program funds if necessary. The prevalence and severity of many of the conditions whose treatment would be eliminated in such a scenario implies that the health consequences would be significant and measurable. Furthermore, the pub-
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172 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal lies familiarity with such conditions as muscular dystrophy, hearing loss, and limb deformities could make the elimination of treatment for many of these conditions politically untenable. In fact, if there were to be enough public concern with the consequences of cutting treatments for well-known conditions, the State legislature could even be faced with amending SB 27 so that other measures (e.g., limiting program enrollment) would again become possible. Thus, if costs actually have been significantly underestimated, the demonstration would become an interesting test of the relative strengths in Oregon of taxpayer resistance, public opinion, and political will. SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS The State of Oregon has used a reasonable approach for the difficult task of estimating the costs of the proposed demonstration program. Most of the assumptions behind the cost analysis are defensible best guesses in light of the sparse information available when the analysis was done. Nonetheless, despite the States best efforts, its cost estimate may be low. Several important assumptions have one-sided errors; if the assumption is wrong, the result would probably be to underrater than to overestimate program costs. Any delay in the full implementation of the planned managed care system would probably raise costs, for example, since managed care savings are a crucial assumption of the cost estimate. Even under full implementation, managed care savings that were not as great as expected would result in higher-thanexpected program costs. In addition, the administrative difficulty of limiting use of services associated with below-the-line CT pairs in the fee-for-service sector makes moving to prepaid managed care critical to keeping costs low. (In the short run, for instance, the State may be unable to link certain medical products and services, such as home medical equipment and prescription drugs, with specific diagnoses. Although the State accounted for some of this problem in the cost estimate, any delay in enrolling persons in managed care would exaggerate the problem.) Also, incentives for upcoding" services into covered CT pairs is greater in the fee-for-service sector than in prepaid managed care. Program costs could be slightly higher than expected if some technical fixes to the program are necessary to avoid unintentional consequences of the initial list (e.g., very effective services inadvertently grouped with ineffective ones and ranked low). Such costs could be reduced, or counterbalanced, through internal administrative measures (e.g., stricter utilization controls, eliminating outreach efforts), but only at the expense of inhibiting access to the program or its services. The waiver cost estimate does not include any incremental costs due to including mental health and chemical dependency services in the demonstration, or any costs associated with folding into the demonstration elderly and disabled beneficiaries. Including these services and populations in the demonstration in the future would increase the total costs of the proposed program, adding another layer of uncertainty to demonstration costs that could exacerbate any cost estimation error. Some costs external to the program, but relevant to Federal fiscal concerns, may also have been underestimated. In particular, CBO has predicted a loss of Federal tax revenues if the State implements the associated mandate requiring small businesses to provide health insurance. (This revenue loss was not accounted for in the cost analysis, although savings predicted from this mandate were included. The State maintains that Federal revenue loss from this source would be negligible.) Also, if Oregons passage of Ballot Measure 5 decreases the State funds available to the Medicaid program, as it is predicted to do, the State maybe unable to furnish its full share of demonstration funding even if program costs have been estimated correctly.
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Chapter 7 Federal Legal Issues
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INTRODUCTION . . CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES Federal Constitutional Issues Oregon Constitutional Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FEDERAL STATUTORY ISSUES . . . . . . . . . . . . Anti-Dumping and Other Federal Laws Relating to Health Care Access . . Protection of Human Research Subjects . . . . . . . . . . Federal Civil Rights Statutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . Bo x Page 175 175 175 179 180 180 182 183 188 Box 7-A. The Legislative Language or the Code? the Codification of Oregon Senate Bill Page Potential Implications of 27 . . . . . . . . . 178
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Chapter 7 Federal Legal Issues 1 INTRODUCTION As discussed in previous chapters, Oregons Medicaid proposal would substantially change the benefits covered under the program, the populations eligible for those benefits, and the relationships of patients and providers. The State has applied to the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) for permission to waive certain provisions of the Medicaid statute in order to proceed with the proposal as a demonstration project, and HCFA believes it has the authority to grant those waivers. It is possible, however, that Oregons proposal might be in conflict not only with existing Medicaid rules but with provisions of other Federal statutes, which only Congress can waive. Congress could also opt to knit any HCFA-approved Medicaid waiver, leaving the Oregon proposal subject to the limits imposed by these other Federal statutes and vulnerable to judicial attack if they are violated. Of even greater importance, the proposal might come into conflict with the U.S. Constitution. Since neither HCFA nor Congress can overcome constitutional objections (short of a constitutional amendment), ex amining potential constitutional issues raised by the proposal is a critical first step in assessing its legality from the Federal perspective. This chapter first analyzes whether certain aspects of the Oregon proposal might be considered violations of Federal constitutional law, either on their face or in their (likely) application. It also considers the applicability of Oregon State constitutional principles that parallel the Federal principles. The chapter then analyzes various important Federal statutes (apart from the Federal Medicaid statute) that might be relevant to the Oregon scheme. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES Federal Constitutional Issues The most basic Federal constitutional principle regarding social welfare programs is straightforward. There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that requires the Federal Government or the States to provide social welfare benefits of any kind (DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services, 489 U.S. 189, 196 (1989)). Congress--or the State of Oregon-can choose to enact or repeal Medicaid, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), or any other social welfare program without any judicial oversight of the wisdom or rationale for doing so. Once a social welfare program has been established, however, there are some constitutional constraints on the governments discretion to limit or condition the benefits that are made available. The most notable of these is the nondiscrimination requirement of equal protection imposed by the 5th and 14th Amendments. Under most circumstances, however, the impact of these constraints on legislative discretion is minimal. Generally, the court need only find that the legislative scheme is rational" e.g., that a spending limit or condition will conserve government resources, ease the administration of the program, or further virtually any governmental policy not specifically prohibited by the Constitution. Under the rationality standard of judicial review, the actual motivation behind the legislation is irrelevant, and there is no real judicial examination of the actual effects of the legislation. There are two circumstances under which a limit or condition imposed on a social welfare program may be subjected to a more rigorous level of judicial review. The first occurs when a legislative scheme to limit a social program affects a fundamental interest. The second occurs when the scheme will detrimentally affect a suspect class of persons. Protecting Fundamental Interests To be regarded as a fundamental interest, an activity must be both extremely important and explicitly protected by the Constitution (San Antonio Independent School District v, Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 1 (1971)). The latter requirement in particular defines "fundamental interest" inherently narrowly, including only such activities as speech, interstate 1 This chapter was written by staff of the OffIce of Technology Assessment (OTA). Portions of the chapter are based on a series of memoranda authored by K. Wing, School of Law, University of Puget Sound, Thcoma, WA, under contract to OTA, November 1991. OTA bears the responsibility for the content and conclusions of this chapter.
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176 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal travel, religion, and a few other interests specifically protected by the Federal Constitution. Other activities--e.g., public school education-may be extremely important, but if they are not explicitly protected by the Federal Constitution they are not considered fundamental for the purpose of enhanced judicial review. Furthermore, in the U.S. Supreme Courts view, a decision not to fund an activity or interest, even one that is entitled to enhanced constitutional protection, does not necessarily affect that activity or interest (see, e.g., Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 492 U.S. 490 (1989); Rust v. Sullivan, 111 S. Ct. 1759,59 U.S.L.W. 4451 (1991)). Thus, for example, a legislative decision to exclude funding for abortions (but fund childbirth) is constitutional as long as it meets the limited test of rationality; and under a rationality standard, a claim that the government chooses to encourage childbirth over abortion is sufficient (Beal v. Doe, 432 U.S. 438 (1977); Maher v. Roe, 432 U.S. 464 (1977); Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297 (1980)). 2 Similarly, the Court has found that disparities in eligibility rules for social programs (e.g., AFDC and Medicaid) generally do not affect a fundamental interest even when certain individuals are disadvantaged as a result of the rules (Jefferson v. Hackney, 406 U.S. 535 (1972); Schweiker v. Hogan, 457 U.S. 56 9 (1982); Bowen v. Gilliard, 483 U.S. 587 (1987)). The Court has required only that Congress and the States show some rational basis for eligibility differences or rule changes. Saving resources meets this criterion. There are two narrowly defined, related sets of circumstances under which modern courts may still view a fundamental interest as affected by a social welfare limit or condition and, therefore, impose a more demanding judicial review on the legislation and its justification. The first is where a condition or limit on a social welfare scheme is viewed as penalizing the exercise of a fundamental interest. The second is where the limit or condition prohibits the program participant from engaging (while receiving funds) in a constitutionally protected activity that is outside the scope of the activities funded under the program. In Shapiro v. Thompson (394 U.S. 618 (1969)), for instance, the Supreme Court held that a durational residency requirement imposed on AFDC participants was a violation of equal protection because it penalized otherwise eligible participants who had recently exercised their constitutionally protected right to travel (more aptly described as a right to become a State resident). As such, the Court was required to closely scrutinize the legislation. It demanded that the State show a compelling interest for the limit on welfare eligibility and that the impact on the excluded individuals fundamental right was minimal. Furthermore, Shapiro implied that under close scrutiny any social welfare program limit or condition that was imposed merely to save government funds would be unconstitutional per se. The Court has indicated that it also may view a fundamental interest as affected when a recipient is prohibited from engaging in a protected activity as a condition of the receipt of funds for other activities. For example, the Court has held that a Federal prohibition on editorializing by noncommercial radio and television stations that receive Federal funds affected the speech of those stations because it prohibited editorials that might be funded from nonpublic sources (FCC v. League of Women Voters of California, 468 U.S. 364 (1984)). As with the penalty cases, the Court was apparently attempting to distinguish between circumstances where the spending limit or condition merely fails to subsidize or fired an activity, as in the Medicaid abortion decisions cited above, and those where the limit or condition is intended to inhibit other nonfunded activities or interests that are constitutionally protected. Protecting Suspect Classifications The other major exception to the general rule that legislation need only be rational to be constitutional involves legislation that is characterized as dis criminating on the basis of a suspect classification. Under such circumstances, a court may subject the legislation to the same demanding close scrutiny as it would legislation that affects a fundamental interest. Again, the application of such a standard is usually tantamount to a determination that the legislation is unconstitutional. z The Court has in the past applied the rationality standard in such a manner as to impose greatex restriction on legislative discretion (U.S. DeparfmenzofAgnculfure v. Moreno, 413 U.S. 528 (1973)). However, most experts regard that case to be no Iongerauthoritative, and it was even aberrant in its own day (see Yeflerson v. Hackney, 406 U.S. 535 (1972)).
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Chapter 7--Federal Legal Issues l 177 The rhetoric and underlying rationale for the exception of suspect classifications evolved from the judicial invalidation of school and public service segregation laws and other legislative schemes based on purposeful racial classifications. In those contexts, the courts modified traditional notions of judicial deference to legislative discretion in light of the history and realities of governmentally sanctioned racial descrimin ation. This enhanced judicial review of racial classifications may also be applied to legislative classifications that discrimin ate on the basis of an individuals national origin or against a few other suspect classes, such as legal aliens. However, the Supreme Court has been extremely reluctant to recognize additional categories of suspect classifications beyond these three categories. Thus, for example, the Court has rejected attempts to classify as suspect legislation that discriminates against the handicapped, the elderly, striking workers, indigent teenagers seeking abortions, and close relatives. 3 It has also rejected the notion that gender-specific legislation is constitutionally suspect, but it has nonetheless applied an intermediate level of judicial review (somewhat higher than mere rationality to such legislation. In general, the Court has insisted that enhanced judicial scrutiny of legislation is limited to circumstances where the suspect (e.g., racial) classification is intentional or, at least, where a discrimin atory intent can be inferred from sufficiently persuasive statistical evidence. Disparate impact alone, without some showing of legislative intent, is not constitutionally significant. The Court also has rejected attempts to characterize limits or conditions on welfare, Medicaid, or other programs that provide benefits exclusively to the poor as inherently suspect (see, e.g., Maher v. Roe, 432 U.S. 464 (1977)). There are a few cases in which the Court has applied suspect class analysis to legislation that dis criminates between those who can pay and those who cannot. But most of those legislative schemes involved a complete denial of access of indigent people to some important public service otherwise available to nonindigent peoplespecifically, access to judicial process. 4 Constitutional Principles and Oregons Proposal With a very few possible exceptions, Oregons proposed demonstration project to revise its Medicaid program need only be rational to meet constitutional requirements. This standard could easily be satisfied by any of the claimed purposes originally set out in Oregons Senate Bill 27 (SB 27). One aspect of the program, the fact that it would initially limit the new prioritized scheme of Medicaid coverage to those current Medicaid beneficiaries who are AFDC-related, while exempting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries, parallels a scheme upheld in Jefferson v. Hackney, which found that the States and the Federal Government are free to treat different categories of welfare recipients differently. It is thus unlikely that a challenge to this aspect of the Oregon program would be successful. Even if Oregon opted not to fund services that somehow involved the exercise of fimdamental interests, the Supreme Court, in its many abortionrelated decisions, has insistently demonstrated that not funding an activity has no enhanced constitutional significance. A possible exception would arise if Oregon implemented its prioritization scheme in such a way as to impose a penalty or unconstitutional condition on receipt of Medicaid benefits or, alternatively, if it were to discriminate on the basis of a suspect" classification. But nothing on the face of the statute or in the early stages of its implementation suggests that this is likely. While the basic scheme for reforming Oregons Medicaid program appears to be within these constitutional limits, there are at least two provisions of the original legislation that may possibly be vulnerable to constitutional attack. The first of these provisions, codified in Or. Rev. Stat. 414.725(7) (Supp. 1990), requires that: Health care providers contracting to provide services under [the Medicaid program statutes revised pursuant to SB 27] shall advise a patient of any service, treatment, or test that is medically necessary but not 3 For a full discussion of suspect classitlcations, see Cleburne, Texas v. Cleburne Living Center, 473 U.S. 432 (1985); see also Lyng v. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers, 485 U.S. 360 (1988). d In Grifin v. Illinois (351 U.S. 12 (1956)), the Court held that requiring indigent defendants to purchase transcripts of their trials (to prepare for an aPPIZ@ WaS a violation of q~ protmtiou ~Boddie V. co~ecficut (Wl U.S. 371 (1971)), the Court invalidated a fding fee required for a petition for divorce. Tare v. Short (401 U.S. 395 (1971)) invalidated a state law that incarcerated indigent people who could not pay criminal frees; Llttle v. Streuter (452 U.S. 1 (1981)) invalidated a fee charged for a blood test necessary for a defense to a (criminal) paternity charge.
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178 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal covered under the contract if an ordinarily careful practitioner in the same or similar community would do so under the same or similar circumstances [emphasis added]. The second provision, Or. Rev. Stat. 414.745 (Supp. 1990), protects Medicaid providers from criminal prosecution, civil liability, and professional disciplinary action when they refuse to provide unfunded services. The scope and meaning of these provisions are, unfortunately, unclear. Presumably they are intended to apply only to providers participating in the reformed Medicaid scheme. However, both provisions have been codified in such a way as to imply that they would continue to apply to Medicaid providers even if the demonstration project does not go forward (see box 7-A). While section 414.725(7) appears to impose a duty to advise and to specify how that duty can be fulfilled, it is not clear whether and how its implementation would affect Oregons existing statutory informed consent law. The existing statute, reflected in Or. Rev. Stat. 677.097 (1989)), requires physicians and podiatrists to undertake certain steps in obtaining informed consent from any patient prior to performing a procedure (e.g., describing the recommended treatment and any alternative treatments, notifying the patient of possible risks or outcomes of the procedure, asking the patient if he or she would like any further information). This statute does not specify that cost or coverage of the treatment be discussed as possible factors. In contrast, Or. Rev. Stat. 414.725(7) directs all contracting providers (not just physicians and podiatrists) to inform Medicaid patients when they intend not to provide a medically necessary treatment because it is not covered by Medicaid. Section 414.745, which waives provider liability for refusing to treat when treatment is unfunded, has even more far-reaching effects. This waiver would reduce substantially the common law and State statutory protections that are currently available to Medicaid patients in Oregon. Existing common law principles limit the discretion of a provider to refuse or terminate treatment in several important ways (see below). The limits imposed by criminal and licensure sanctions are less clearly defined, but they still provide Medicaid beneficiaries with alternative remedies if treatment is denied or terminated. Box 7-AThe Legislative Language or the Code? Potential Implications of the Codification of Oregon Senate Bill 27 The previsions of Oregon Senate Bill 27 (SB 27) were codified in various and separate portions of the Oregon code. Even if some of these provisions are repealed or modified, others could be retained; and it is possible that some elements of the proposal may be regarded as valid while others are not (i.e., the manner in which the statute was drafted and later codified makes it appear severable). If the proposal was not authorized, but the State legislature took no action to repeal the various provisions of the Oregon code that were added by SB 27, it would be possible to read some of these provisions as applicable to the existing Medicaid program. In addition to the apparent severability of the provisions of the law, some provisions as codified do not follow the exact wording of the statute. For example, the codified versions of both sections 414.725(7) and 414.745 (Or. Rev. Stat., Supp. 1990) are worded slightly differently than the original provisions in SB 27 (see sections 6(7) and 10 of SB 27). The original language of SB 27 makes it clear that these provisions would only apply to those Medicaid recipients who are subject to the new proposal. Consequently, they would not have any effect unless or until that proposal was implemented. The Oregon code language, however, substitutes a reference to the entire Medicaid program for SB 27s language under this Act. This change could be interpreted as rendering these provisions applicable to the existing Medicaid program, not just the reformed program anticipated by the Act. This would appear, however, to be in conflict with the original intent of SB 27. SOURCE: K. Wing, University of Puget SounG lhcomq WA memorandum to E. Power, Office of Technology Awessmen4 Novexnber 1991. The net effect of this provision would be to greatly disadvantage the Medicaid beneficiaries subject to the waiver, and to do so in a manner that discriminates between indigent Medicaid beneficiaries and all other Oregonians. (Pending the expansion of the Oregon proposal to include all Medicaid beneficiaries, section 414.745 would also discriminate between categories of Medicaid beneficiaries). Whether the deprivation of common law and statutory rights of Medicaid beneficiaries in this manner has any constitutional significance is not clear. States have wide latitude to amend their
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Chapter 7--Federal Legal Issues 179 common law principles of tort liability and, of course, existing statutory remedies. But viewed in the broadest sense, sections 414.725(7) and 414.745 in tandem could constitute a discrimin ation based exclusively on wealtha disc rumination that would totally deprive Medicaid beneficiaries, who are by definition indigent as a class, of important rights that would continue to be available to nonindigent Oregonians. In some ways, the denial of an indigent participants rights to pursue certain legal remedies is similar to the few cases in which the Supreme Court has recognized wealth-based distinctions as suspect i.e., when it relates to a denial of access to the courts. 5 On the other hand, in a recent Supreme Court decision relating to the filing fee required for a bankruptcy petition, the Court indicated that such a fee does not create a suspect classification (Kadrmas v. Dickinson Public Schools, 487 U.S. 450 (1988)). Some experts read this opinion to have tacitly signaled that the present Court is really intent on abandoning the notion of wealth as a suspect class, and confining more rigorous review of discriminations between indigent and nonindigent people to those circumstances where the interest or rights denied are entitled to enhanced constitutional protection. Whether the importance of the interest denied to indigent people by the Oregon proposal access to the courts to pursue various remedies would be regarded as comparable to a fundamental right is not clear. It is worth speculating as to what the implications of closer judicial scrutiny might be if applied to sections 414.725(7) and 414.745. The States interest in encouraging providers to participate in the Medicaid program could be regarded as compelling. Medicaid is structured voluntarily, and without the participation of physicians and other providers, the underlying objectives of the program fail. On the other hand, a waiver of all civil and criminal liability is not necessarily the only means to encourage participation under the proposed demonstration. Indeed, it is not the only way to protect providers from the risks and costs of liability (the State could, for example, further subsidize the malpractice insurance costs of providers). In any event, there are a number of ways in which a court could view this legislation as invasive or overly broad, the touchstones of close scrutiny analysis-all premised on the possibility that the courts would apply to this legislation the more rigorous test only applied to legislation that discrimin ates on the basis of suspect classifications. Oregon Constitutional Issues Whereas the Federal constitutional interpretations of the Federal courts (and the Supreme Court) must be followed by the State courts, the State courts themselves are the ultimate interpreters of the their own constitutions. The Oregon Constitution includes a privileges and immunities provision that parallels the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 6 The Oregon courts analyses of the requirements of this clause generally track the same fundamental interest/ suspect class rhetoric that has been adopted in the Federal equal protection cases. Nonetheless, on several occasions the Oregon courts have also indicated that the application of those principles may be somewhat broader under the State constitution. In a school financing case, for example, the Oregon Supreme Court concluded that the privileges and immunities clause requires a judicial evaluation of the justification for the discrimination if important interests are involved, even if these interests are technically not fundamental (under the Federal definition) (Olsen v. State, 276 Or. 9, 554 P.2d 139 (1976)). Similarly, in a more recent decision, a State court held that the privileges and immunities clause required that the denied interests (in this case, unrestricted access to abortion) be balanced against the interests of the State, rather than requiring the State to show only that the limits imposed by legislation were rational (Planned Parenthood Association v. Department of Human Resources, 63 Or. App. 41,663 P.2d 1247, aff'd on other grounds, 297 Or. 562,687 P.2d 785 (1984)). It is important not to read too much into these cases. The Oregon courts have only indicated a willingness to broaden the requirements of nondiscrimination in some circumstances. Even while drawing some distinction between Federal equal protection analysis and analysis under the privi5 See footnote 4. 6 Article I, section20 of the Oregon Constitution states: No law shall be passed granting to any citizen or class of citizens privileges, or immunities, which upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens.
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180 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal leges and immunities clause, these cases also insist that in most circumstances the privileges and immunities clause of the State constitution requires no more than the rationality standard applied in Federal equal protection cases. A somewhat loosened definition of a fundamental interest may allow more judicial protection of important interests such as public education or medical assistance for abortion. To extend that notion to include more judicial scrutiny of discrimination involving Medicaid benefits would be a far greater departure from the Federal equal protection cases than the decisions in Olsen or Planned Parenthood have signaled. The most interesting and, unfortunately, unanswerable question is whether Oregons somewhat broadened application of its privileges and immunities" clause would result in a loosening of the definition of suspect class or would allow Oregon courts to more closely examine wealth discrimination. The Oregon courts have given little specific guidance as to the application of the privileges and immunities clause to limits or conditions on social welfare programs, and virtually none as to the application of suspect class analysis in this context. In other situations, the Oregon Supreme Court has emphasized that close scrutiny under the privileges and immunities clause only applies where there is a definable class apart from the classification created by the statute (see State v. Clark, 291 Or. 231,630 P.2d 810, cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1084 (1982)). Although indigent people are a definable class, it is not clear whether Oregon would further insist that only the traditional suspect classes are entitled to a higher level of judicial review or consider a classification based on wealth as also entitled to a higher level of judicial scrutiny. FEDERAL STATUTORY ISSUES Anti-Dumping and Other Federal Laws Relating to Health Care Access Or. Rev. Stat. 414.745 would modify the common law protections currently available to Medicaid beneficiaries. Apart from issues relating to the dis criminatory effects of this provision, and their constitutional implications, section 414.745 creates a potential conflict with Federal anti-dumping legislation, as well as with other Federal laws relating to health care access. In most jurisdictions, the civil liability of providers for denial or termination of treatment is determined by common law tort principles. Under common law, no private party, even a provider of health care, has a duty to protect or provide assistance to any other, unless there is an established relationship between the parties, or unless some affirmative act of the one party has created a risk of harm to the other. Once a duty has been recognized, however, the common law imposes a duty of reasonable care. A violation of that standard can result in civil liability for all resulting damage. Medical malpractice cases are the prototypical examples. Abandonment of an established patient-i. e., a unilateral decision by a physician or other provider to terminate ongoing treatment-also may be regarded as negligence. Although it is not clear from the case law whether this rule is always absolute, the courts have rejected the patients inability to pay as anon-negligent reason for terminating ongoing care. Once a provider-patient relationship has been established, a provider generally must continue treatment even if a patient is indigent. 7 On the other hand, the no duty rule is as harsh as the abandonment principle is generous. In its strictest application, the true bystander can watch another person die without rendering aid; if there is no duty to violate, there can be no liability. The no duty principle has been cited repeatedly with approval-although relatively rarely applied-in cases involving refusal to provide medical care by both physicians and hospitals (224). Not surprisingly, the harsh implications of the no duty rule have led many modern courts to avoid it or to find exceptions to its application, particularly in the context of hospitals rendering emergency care. Specifically, courts in many jurisdictions have recognized what could be regarded as a duty to provide first aid--namely, that a hospital with the capacity for emergency services has a duty in medical emergencies to assess potential patients and to at least provide the treatment necessary to stabilize the patient (Wilmington General Hospital v. Manlove, 54 Del. 15, 174 A.2d 135 (1961); Jackson v. Powers, 743 P.2d 1376 (Alaska 1987); Thompson v. Sun City Community Hospital, Inc., y For a broader discussion, see K. Wing, The L.uw and the Publics Health, 3d Ed. (St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Co., 1990), pp. 265-271.
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Chapter 7--Federal Legal Issues l 181 141 Ariz. 597,688 P.2d 605 (1984); Mercy Medical Center v. Winnebago County, 58 Wis. 2d 260, 206 N.W.2d 198 (1973)). The courts have not been entirely clear or consistent in defining the limits on this exception to the general rule (313). To bring some clarity and uniformity to this situation, Congress passed legislation in 1985 that effectively codified the common law exception to the no duty rule and interpreted its reach rather broadly (Public Law 99-272, as amended by Public Law 101-239; 42 U.S.C. 1395dd). The statute, commonly referred to as the Medicare anti-dumping law, requires hospitals that participate in Medicare (i.e., virtually all hospitals) to screen all emergency patients, and to stabilize those in need of further treatment. It also limits drastically the discretion of hospitals to discharge or transfer patients once they are stabilized. And while it is a subject of much controversy, the Federal statute also has been interpreted to impose the same requirements on individual physicians who work in emergency rooms (see, e.g., Burditt v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 934 F.2d 1362 (5th Cir. 1991)). In contrast, Or. Rev. Stat. $424.745 allows both individual and institutional providers of all types to either refuse to initially accept or to terminate treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries when the services they need are not financed under the Oregon Medicaid scheme. In essence, the preexisting common law limits imposed by the law of abandonment, the no duty exception, and any other potential for liability based on State law is waived by section 414.745 for those Medicaid beneficiaries subject to the reform proposal. The conflict of this provision with existing common law does not invalidate it; the Oregon legislature is free to amend or modify the common law as applied in that jurisdiction. Nor is section 414.745 invalid simply because it conflicts with the requirements of the Federal anti-dumping legislation. However, the result would surely be confusing to providers, since the State law might lower or waive liability under the same circumstances where the Federal law raises or specifies higher standards. Medicaid beneficiaries that have been denied treatment would be allowed to pursue private claims based on the Federal law or to request administrative action based on the Federal law, but they would be prohibited from doing so under State law. A potential for conflict could also arise if Congress itself authorized the Oregon proposal or exempted the proposal from the requirements of the Federal Medicaid statute. If congressional intent were not clarified, a vague or broadly worded Federal authorization or waiver could be read as also waiving the application of the Federal anti-dumping or other relevant legislation. Assuming that it is not Congress intent to do so, any Federal authorization or waiver legislation should explicitly recognize this potential conflict and, where desired, specifically affirm the continuing application of the Federal legislation to the Oregon Medicaid program even after it is reformed. A congressional authorization or waiver should also clarify the continuing application of other Federal laws that currently impose restrictions on providers discretion to deny access to or abandon indigent patients. For example, the tiee care and community service mandate of those hospitals that have received Hill-Burton* funds continue to impose requirements relating to the treatment of indigent patients, general admission policies, and emergency room access. In particular, the community service provisions require Hill-Burton recipients to accept all Medicaid patients and limit their discretion to deny patients services in emergencies (42 CFR 124.500, 124.600 (1990)). Section 414.745 cannot waive these requirements. Similar requirements are imposed on hospitals that are given Federal nonprofit status. The Federal revenue rulings interpreting these requirements, while not models of clarity, clearly intend to limit the discretion of nonprofit hospitals to deny admission to indigent patients, emergency patients, and, in particular, Medicaid beneficiaries (242). It is clear that section 414.745 contrasts markedly with the requirements of these Federal laws in a number of important ways. As with the antidumping legislation (and again assuming that Con8 The Hill-Burton Act (Public Law 79-725) and later amendments established a program that gave construction grants to hospitals between 1946 and 1974, when the program was abolished. Hospitals rezeiving these funds were required to provide a certain amount of free care and to make their services available to all community residenLs. The free care requirement was time-limited (usually 20 years), but the community service requirement-which prohibits the denial of emergency care to the indigent-is not.
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182 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal gress does not intend to waive these requirements as part of any authorization of the Oregon Medicaid proposal), these potential conflicts should be noted and the continuing application of these other Federal laws should be explicitly clarified in the event of a congressional authorization or waiver. Protection of Human Research Subjects Federal law provides safeguards to protect human subjects at risk in research projects and other activities supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (45 CFR 46). If the Oregon proposal were subject to these safeguards, it would be required to establish an Institutional Review Board (IRB) that would have to independently approve the proposal before it went forward. Such a requirement would delay implementation until a properly structured IRB had conducted a review, which could consider such factors as whether other alternatives would have less impact on Oregons Medicaid population. In the event of IRB disapproval, the proposal could not be implemented. The primary legal question is whether these requirements apply to the Oregon Medicaid proposal. 45 CFR Part 46 has both specific and general statutory authority. The regulations were originally enacted as a response to a mandate from Congress (Protection of Human Research Subjects Act, Public Law 93-348 ).9 Both the original regulations and their subsequent amendments, however, claim as their authority the general rulemaking authority of DHHS. The requirements of Part 46 apply to all DHHS-supported activities, including those funded by HCFA (45 CFR 46.101). After a 1976 lawsuit, in which a Federal court held that a Georgia proposal to impose copayments on Medicaid beneficiaries was research and consequently subject to these regulations (Crane v. Mathews, 417 F. Supp. 532 (N.D. Ga. 1976)), the regulations were expanded to include as research any systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. The revised regulations specified that some demonstration and service programs may include research activities (45 CFR 46.102(e)). The Oregon proposal is almost certainly research by this definition. But while 45 CFR Part 46 has broad scope, it also provides for specific exemptions for certain kinds of activities and it reserves for DHHS the discretion to exempt individual projects from these regulations. Research projects that DHHS can exempt include: 1 < 2. 3. 4. Programs under the Social Security Act, or other public benefit or service programs; Procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs; Possible changes in or alternatives to those programs or procedures; and Possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs. On their face, these provisions appear to exempt from Part 46 the type of research or demonstration that is proposed by Oregon. Alternatively, Part 46.101 also reserves for DHHS the discretion to waive these requirements as they apply to an individual project. Notably, these provisions were added in 1983, at least in part as a response to the implications of the Crane decision (48 F.R. 9,266). Critics of the Oregon Medicaid proposal have claimed that the 1983 amendments to Part 46 were invalid and beyond the statutory authority of DHHS (220). However, although the underlying rationale for issuing a regulation maybe subject to some level of judicial review, the discretion of an agency to amend or rescind its own regulations is extremely broad, particularly where the underlying statutory authority has no specific standards for a reviewing court to apply. In the introduction to the 1983 amendments to section 46.101, DHHS stated that its own review process for demonstration projects was extensive and that it considered IRB review for such projects, such as Oregons Medicaid proposal, to be duplicative and unnecessary (48 F.R. 9,266). While this position can be argued as a matter of public policy, it is unlikely that a reviewing court would consider it to be an abuse of discretion under general principles of administrative law, particularly g The original 45 CFR Part 46, setting forth department-wide policies, was published a few days before the 1974 legislation was passed (39 FR. 18,914). The 1974 legislation required Department of HealtlL EducatioxL and Welfare @-IEW) (later DHHS) to enact regulations protecting subjects in projects funded by the Public Health Service and to establish a cornmis sion to make recommendations for department-wide policies. In response to these mandates, the original regulations were amended subsequently on several occasions (see 46 FR. 8,386; 46 FR. 19,195; 47 FR. 9,208; and 48 FR. 9,269).
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Chapter 7-Federal Legal Issues l 183 since the Oregon proposal has been reviewed repeatedly by State and Federal officials. The regulations at section 46.10l(i) do specify that: If, following review of proposed research activities that are exempt from these regulations under paragraph (b)(6), the Secretary determines that a research or demonstration project presents a danger to the physical, mental, or emotional well-being of a participant or subject of the research or demonstration project, then Federal funds may not be expended for such a project without the written, informed consent of each participant or subject. This provision apparently imposes a limited requirement of review on DHHS even if the Oregon proposal is exempt from the IRB and other requirements of Part 46. That requirement would presumably be satisfied by the current DHHS review of Oregons proposal. Some advocates have argued, however, that language in a recent DHHS appropriations bill suggests that, if DHHS does find that some current Medicaid beneficiaries might be harmed under the proposal, Oregon could be required to obtain written, informed consent of all individuals affected by the new plan (222). Federal Civil Rights Statutes Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI states: No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance (42 U.s.c. 2000d). All recipients of Federal assistance subject to Title VI are required to execute an assurance of compliance with its requirements as a condition of receipt of Federal funds. Title VI clearly applies to State Medicaid programs and Medicaid providers (42 U.S.C. 2000d4a, 45 CFR 80.2 and App. A). As such, it prohibits intentional discrimin ation within a Medicaid program, including circumstances where an underlying intent may be inferred from circumstantial evidence. In this regard, Title VI can be viewed as an enforcement mechanism for the constitutional prohibition of discrimin ation based on race and other suspect classifications. Although there is nothing in the language or legislative history of the Oregon proposal that could be regarded as intentional dis crimination, there is the possibility that such a problem would arise in the implementation of the Oregon scheme. Thus, Title VI would impose a continuing obligation on Oregon to avoid overt dis crimination in the implementation of its Medicaid proposal. In addition to intentional discrimin ation, the DHHS regulations that interpret the statutory language of Title VI also prohibit some forms of de facto, or disparate-impact, dis crimination. The language of the regulations prohibits practices and criteria that have a disproportionate effect based on race, color, or national origin, even if this effect is not linked to a discrimin atory intent. The validity and specific meaning of these regulations are not entirely clear. The U.S. Supreme Court on at least one occasion has referred to the language of these regulations in a manner that implies that they are valid (see Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 56 3 (1973)). More recent pronouncements of the Court have been more equivocal (Guardians Association v. Civil Service Commission, 463 U.S. 582 (1983); Alexander v. Choate, 469 U.S. 287 (1985)). Even assuming that these regulations are valid, it is not clear from the language of the regulations (or from the Courts references to them) what sort of justifications would be accepted in defense of a criteria or method of administration that did result in a disproportionate effect based on race, color, or national origin. There are several possibilities. Any practice or policy that is regarded as intentional discrimin ation is almost certain to be treated as illegal. Alternatively, a court could regard a finding of disproportionate impact as establishing a prima facie case and then focus on the underlying justifications for that impact. 10 As a third alternative, the courts could apply the limited standard of rationality to circumstances involving disproportionate impact or effect, requiring little more than some colorable justification for the practice or activity that results in the disproportionate impact. 10 ~s is tie Wproach taken in employment discrimina tion cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1%4 (42 U.S.C. $ 2000e et seq. (Supp. 1991)). Under Title VII, where an employee shows that an employers practices result in a disproportionate impact on a protected group, the employer has the burden of showing that there is a legitimate business reason to justify the practice and its effect.
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184 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Unfortunately, since so few Title VI cases have been fully litigated and have applied these regulations, there is little guidance on this crucial issue. 11 In Bryan v. Koch (627 F.2d 612 (2d Cir. 1980)), the Federal court of appeals analyzed New York Citys decision to close a public hospital under the requirements of Title VI. The court found a prima facie case of disparate impact on racial minorities, but the court held that the city need only show that the decision was rationally related to a legitimate objective (essentially applying the constitutional standard applicable in most equal protection cases). In NAACP v. Medical Center, Inc. (657 F.2d 1322 (3d Cir. 1981)), a case involving the decision of an inner-city hospital to build a new facility in a suburban location, the lower court found a disproportionate racial impact but concluded that the defendant hospital had legitimate interests in relocation and that there were no other alternatives that would have less dis criminatory impact. The court of appeals held that the lower courts review more than adequately serve[d] the requirements of Title VI, and strongly implied that a level of review comparable to that taken in Bryan would have been acceptable. 12 The interpretation that will be given to these regulations is crucial in defining the implications of Title VI for the Oregon Medicaid proposal. If future courts adopted the limited view of Title VI requirements reflected in the decisions discussed above, the implications of Title VI would be minimal. Even if the Oregon reforms had a disproportionate impact on the minority groups protected by Title VIan outcome that is at least possible under several different scenarios 13 --Oregon could still offer as justification any of the underlying objectives of its current proposal, not the least of which is (long-run) savings of State and Federal funds. If the judicial inquiry in Title VI cases where there is a finding of disproportionate impact requires no more than the rationality standard generally applied under constitutional analysis, then it is very unlikely that any court would invalidate all or any part of the Oregon Medicaid reforms--even if it finds that the proposal would have a disproportionate result. Title VI would have greater meaning in this context only if a court were inclined to inquire further (e.g., to consider the availability of other cost-saving or reform measures that would have a lesser impact on racial or other minorities). Thus far, however, the courts have not been inclined to do so. As a practical matter, therefore, Title VI may impose limits on the reamer in which Oregon implements its proposals only in those circumstances where there is disproportionate result and that result can be linked to an underlying intent to discriminate. As one final qualification of the implications of Title VI in this context, it should be noted that Title VI is structured in such a way as to rely heavily on administrative enforcement by Federal funding agencies. Individual plaintiffs have been allowed to pursue lawsuits challenging the failure of DHHS or other agencies to enforce their own regulations, and in a few cases, seeking independent judicial determination of compliance with Title VI where the agency has failed to do so. On the other hand, some current members of the Supreme Court read Title VI more narrowly and may be prepared to restrict or even prohibit privately initiated enforcement actions (see Guardians Association v. Civil Service Commission, 463 U.S. 582 (1983)). Thus the practical implications of Title VI for the Oregon proposal may be determined in large part by DHHSs willingness to apply and enforce these requirements. The Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 29 U.S.C. 794 (1991 Supp.), codifying the original section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, provides: No otherwise qualified handicapped individual shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. II Ti~e w ismw ~ve ~sen and been Utigated extensively in school desegregation cases. These cases, however, have fitt.le utility in clef@ the meaning of Title VI in other contexts. 12 me NAACP ~W also pointed Out that in.leflerson v. Hackney, discussed above, the Supreme Court (in a footnote) had rejected a Title VI claim that paralleled the equal protection claim that was the central focus of that decision. While J@erson did not consider the validity of the Title VI regulations, the factual similarities between the scheme reviewed and upheld in J@erson and the Ckgon Medicaid proposal cannot be overlooked. 13 For emp]e, tie pfiori~tion of servims covered under the new scheme could result in a distribution of benefits t.bt has a disproportionate impact or effect on protected groups. Although OTAs analysis of the list indicatex that a disprop tionate impact is not likely to occur with the line drawn at 587, fiture upward movement of the line could increase the potential for such a result.
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Chapter 7-Federal Legal Issues 185 The requirements of section 504 clearly apply to both private and public recipients of Medicaid funds and would therefore apply to Oregon in the implementation of the Medicaid reforms it has proposed. 14 The DHHS regulations interpreting the scope and meaning of section 504 track closely those of Title VI (see 45 CFR 84.4). The language of these regulations appears to prohibit both intentional or overt dis crimination against the handicapped, and acts or practices that have a disparate impact on the handicapped. As with Title VI, the courts have interpreted the requirements of section 504 somewhat more narrowly than these regulations may suggest. In Alexander v. Choate (469 U.S. 287 (1985)), the Supreme Court considered both section 504 and its interpretative regulations and attempted to outline the types of activities that would be regarded as discrimination for purposes of section 504. Choate involved an attempt by the Tennessee legislature to reduce the costs of the Medicaid program by setting a maximum limit of 14 days of Medicaid coverage for inpatient hospitalization. The plaintiffs in Choate argued that since handicapped Medicaid beneficiaries have greater needs for hospitalization, the result would disproportionately affect the handicapped and therefore violate section 504. In its decision, the Court held that while Title VI and section 504 are similar in many regards, the two mandates may be interpreted and applied in different ways. According to Justice Thurgood Marshall, the underlying purpose of section 504, unlike that of Title VI, is to prohibit discrimin ation that derives from indifference, neglect, or apathetic attitudes rather than invidious animus (469 U.S. at 295-96). On the other hand, Marshall argued, the concerns of disparate impact resulting from these sources must be balanced by the need to keep section 504 within manageable bounds and avoid unduly burdensome Handicapped Impact Statements (469 U.S. at 299). Thus, according to the Choate decision, section 504 does apply to some circumstances of disparate impact dis crimination. However, the prohibition of disparate impact dis crimination requires a balancing test under which reasonable efforts to modify a program or accommodate the handicapped may be required, but substantial or fundamental modifications will not. Choate upheld the Tennessee Medicaid limit primarily because it did not overtly distinguish between handicapped and nonhandicapped beneficiaries; both categories have meaningful access to the same benefits, notwithstanding the acknowledged fact that handicapped beneficiaries are in greater need of those benefits. In this regard, Choate has been widely read as largely eviscerating the application of section 504 to disparate impact discrimination. The Choate opinion, however, does allow that some forms of disparate impact discrimination would not satisfy the balancing test of section 504. For example, the Court notes that the benefit itself cannot be defined in a way that effectively denies otherwise qualified handicapped individuals meaningful access . It also argues that criteria that have an exclusionary effect cannot be employed in determining g limitations on benefits. Under Choate, it is clear that Oregon can limit or restrict covered services in a facially neutral manner, even if the result disadvantages groups that qualify as handicapped under section 504. However, in implementing the proposal, particularly the proposed prioritization of covered services, it is conceivable that services would be defined or categorized in such a way that services might be covered for the nonhandicapped but comparable services would not be covered for the handicapped. If this were done explicitly, it could be regarded as intentional discrimin ation and a violation of section 504 per se. Even if it were not, it may be regarded as the kind of disparate impact dis crimination described in Choate and a court would have to apply the balancing test described in Choate and other decisions. Ultimately the determinative issues would be much like those in Title VI cases: what sorts of justifications would be considered reasonable and what level of judicial review would be required under the balancing test. It is simply not possible under current law to anticipate how future courts would answer these questions. The passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990 (Public Law 101-336) presents another potential avenue by which the Oregon proposal 14 Smtion 5W r~ments Me e~om~le tiou@ administrativ e action or through privately initiated lawsuits (subject to the -I~fions discussed above). 328-308 0 92 7
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186 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal might be challenged. The focus of this law, as confined by its legislative history, is on access of persons with disabilities to transportation, employment, and places of business. Nonetheless, one passage of the act could be construed to place a broader interpretation on its reach. The passage states that: [N]o qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity (Public Law 101-336, Section 202). For the purpose of this act, a public entity is a State or local government, an agency or special district of such a government, and certain transportation authorities. The intent of this definition is apparently to ensure that disabled persons are not treated inconsistently or inequitably by government entities simply because some receive Federal funding (and are thus subject to the strictures of the Rehabilitation Act) while others do not (268)). The focus of this legislation and its legislative history appear to imply that it places no additional burden on the discretion of a State Medicaid program beyond those already in place as a result of the Rehabilitation Act. However, at least one legal advocate has suggested that the Disabilities Act does indeed place additional requirements on Medicaid programs. In particular, this advocate argues that the use of the public survey to assign values to health states gives inadequate weight to the opinions of persons with disabilities and therefore biases the ranking process against services for disabled persons (150). Any assumption regarding how Oregons proposal would fare under a Disabilities Act challenge is necessarily speculative, since there is no case law. (The act, although passed in 1990, did not take effect until January 26, 1992.) Ironically, OTA analyses of the list showed that the weights from the public survey had relatively little effect on the final rankings on the list (see ch. 3). Furthermore, where survey responses differed according to the health experiences of the respondent, the result in at least a few cases could be to increase the relative weight assigned to a given treatment that would reduce the disability. However, because the Oregon Health Services Commission has not made its ranking process explicit and because it is possible that in future revisions of the list public survey information could be more determinate, the Oregon plan might still be vulnerable to challenge under the act. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Act One issue that could well generate legal controversy for the Oregon proposal as it is implemented and also one that cannot be addressed definitively involves the discrimin atory treatment of newborn infants with severe handicaps, the focus of the Baby Doe debates. In the early 1980s, in response to reports that hospitals were allowing parents to refuse treatment for certain categories of handicapped newborns, DHHS attempted to promulgate additional regulations under the authority of section 504 (see 49 F.R. 1,627). Among other provisions, these regulations would have required States to use their child abuse authority to prevent medical neglect of handicapped infants. The application of these regulations to circumstances where parents have asked for treatment to be terminated, as well as some of the procedural requirements of these regulations, was eventually invalidated by the Supreme Court (Bowen v. American Hospital Association, 476 U.S. 610 (1986)). However, while the result of the Bowen decision was the invalidation of these particular regulations, the decision validated application of section 504 to circumstances where State policy overtly discriminates against treatment of certain categories of handicapped infants. Again, it is unclear what section 504 requires or allows in this setting, but the Bowen case clearly indicates that it will be applied. Furthermore, in this context section 504 may be applied both to the State in its decisions to prioritize covered services and to providers such as hospitals. Section 504 thus represents another potential conflict between the requirements of Federal law and the immunity from State law created by section 414.745 of the Oregon statute, as discussed above. As part of the political fallout from the Baby Doe debate, in 1984 Congress amended the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption legislation (42 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. (Supp. 1991)). Those amendments give DHHS additional and alternative authority for regulating dis crimination against handicapped newborns. Among other things, they explicitly define the withholding
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Chapter 7--Federal Legal Issues l 187 of medically indicated treatment and nutrition from handicapped infants as a type of child abuse. The amendments also require each State, as a condition on the receipt of Federal funds under the original statutory scheme, to enforce State laws prohibiting child abuse in such circumstances. The implementing regulations, issued in 1985, prohibit the withholding of medically indicated treatment in the face of a life threatening condition, except under narrowly defined circumstances (see 45 CFR 1340 (1990)). Thus, assuming that Oregon is a recipient of funds under this program, this statutory scheme may also impose restrictions on Oregons discretion to overtly discrimin ate against certain categories of beneficiaries, as well as limit the discretion of providers to terminate or refuse treatment despite the statutory immunity of section 414.745. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 The Age Dis crimination Act of 1975 (ADA), codified in 42 U.S.C. 6101-6107 (Supp. 1991), generally prohibits discrimin ation on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance, paralleling the prohibitions of Title VI and section 504. Although the specific language used in the statute and regulations relates to all distinctions based on age, the legislative history of the ADA indicates that the primary concern of the legislation was discrimin ation against the elderly (241). The ADA legislation differs from other civil rights statutes in several ways. First, it is not clear whether the requirements can be enforced through privately initiated lawsuits; some lower courts have read the statute as providing only for administrative enforcement (see Rannelsv.Hargrove,731 F. Supp. 1214 (E.D. Pa. 1990); Mittelstaedt v. Board of Trustees of University of Arkansas, 487 F. Supp. 960 (D.C. Ark. 1980)). Second, while the ADA clearly applies to States receiving Federal Medicaid funds, it also specifically exempts overt age distinction that is authorized by Federal or State statute. 15 It does not appear, however, to exempt age distinctions that result from the administration or implementation of the program at the State level. Thus, in the implementation of the Oregon proposal, if an age distinction is made by an administrative policy or bodythe obvious example is an age distinction drawn by the Oregon Health Services Commission that prioritizes a covered service separately for two different age groups under the scheme-that distinction would not be exempt from the ADA under this particular provision. There remains the question of whether age distinctions authorized by an administrative body fall under any other exceptions allowed by the ADA statute. Section 610 of the statute exempts actions [that] reasonably take into account age as a factor necessary to the normal operation or the achievement of any statutory objective of such program or activity. The DHHS regulations interpreting the ADA specify that, to be exempted, actions must meet four criteria: 1. 2. 3. 4. It Age is used as a measure or approximation of one or more other characteristics; The other characteristic(s) must be measured or approximated in order for the normal operation of the program or activity to continue, or to achieve any statutory objective of the program or activity; The other characteristic(s) can be reasonably measured or approximated by the use of age; and The other characteristic is impractical to measure directly on an individual basis (45 CFR 91.12, 91.13). is difficult to determine the implications of section 6103(b)(l)(A) for the Oregon Medicaid proposal with any certainty. The argument can be made that a prioritization of services that uses age as a criteria is an attempt to assess the value of the service to the individual denied that service; that age is a reasonable measure of that value because it approximates life expectancy or social value; and that it is impractical to measure these characteristics in a more direct or individualized manner. It could also be argued that the Oregon scheme has been specifically authorized by State legislation to make these value determinations (and may be authorized to do so under a Federal statutory waiver as well). On the other hand, the language of both the ADA statute and the DHHS regulations premises the exception on a finding that the age distinction is necessary to the normal operation of the program 15 me DHH,S re@atiom read this exemption to apply to laws adopted by a general legislative body, including Iocal governments (4S ~ $ 91.3(b)(l)).
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188 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal or to the achievement of a programmatic objective Drawing age distinctions is one way to prioritize Medicaid benefits, but it is not necessary in the stricter sense of the term. The assertion that age is a reasonable measure of life expectancy or of social value can also be challenged. Unfortunately, there has been virtually no prior application of these regulations-o r the ADA statute-in this sort of context, either judicial or administrative. The only clear principle is that the ADA allows for overt age distinctions only if they fall under the statute exceptions of sections 6103(b)(2) or under 6103(b)(l)(A). The extent to which the ADA prohibits de facto, or disparate impact, discrimin ation is likewise unclear. Section 6103(b)(l)(B) of the ADA does allow for actions or policies that draw distinctions based on reasonable factors other than age; and the DHHS regulations interpret reasonable to mean factors that have a direct or substantial relationship to the same factors that can justify age distinctions under the exceptions of sections 6lO3(b)(l)(A): the normal operations of the program or the programs statutory objectives (45 CFR 91.11, 91.14). The statutory term reasonable and the direct and substantial language of the regulations, however, would require some judicial or administrative review of a policy or practice that results in de facto discrimin ation--certainly more than the rationality standard applied in other contexts. 16 Nonetheless, the discretion allowed in the implementation or administration of the proposed scheme should be quite broad. Indeed, read broadly, the exception of section 6103(b)(l)(B) nearly swallows the general rule. If Oregon were to adopt a policy or practice that would have the effect of creating an age distinction-a good example might be the exclusion from Medicaid coverage of a service that is more often provided to the elderly than younger program participants-Oregon would only have to show that the prioritization of the service was part of the normal operation of the program, or was consistent with the statutory objectives of the scheme. In most circumstances, it would probably be able to do so. SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS With one possible exception, Oregons Medicaid proposal appears not to conflict with the Federal Constitution. The exception concerns provisions of the proposal that might permit a separate standard of care, and a different level of legal protection against substandard care, for Medicaid beneficiaries than for other State residents. This differential could be interpreted as a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. These provisions are also vulnerable to a State constitutional challenge under comparable provisions of the Oregon Constitution. The provision in SB 27 that exempts providers from liability for not providing care to Medicaid beneficiaries when that care is not covered by the program is valid on its face; the State can pass legislation that overrides existing common law principles. However, this provision conflicts with existing Federal statutes that require most hospitals to provide basic emergency care to all patients. Thus, it is possible that hospitals could be prosecuted under Federal statute for not providing some services even if they were exempted under State law. Federal law requires certain protections for human research subjects (e.g., IRB review of research proposals), but it also provides certain exceptions for public benefit programs. The Oregon proposal appears to fall within these exceptions, although some critics have claimed that language in a 1992 DHHS appropriations bill indicates otherwise. Federal statutes prohibiting recipients of Federal funds from discrimin ation on the basis of race, handicap, or age clearly apply to the Oregon proposal. Implementing regulations further prohibit certain kinds of disparate-impact discrimination. The Oregon proposal is on its face not vulnerable to a challenge on this basis, although it is possible that in its implementation the proposal could violate either of these Federal statutes or their interpretive regulations. It is probably also not very vulnerable to 16 It ~from tie Fede~ re~tio~ that DHHS would regard any age distinction-whether overt or de~acto-invalid unless that distinction is a result of a policy or practice that is qwcifically excepted from the ADA by the statutory language of section 6103(b). Under this reading of the ADA the scope of the justification inquiry is framed exclusively by the exceptions outlined in the statute, regardless of whether the distinction is intentional or eve% or whether it is merely a disparate effect or result. Although this appears to be a reasonable and consistent inteqmtation of the ADA, there W been virtually no judicial ex amination of the scope and meaning of the ADA in this context. Thus, his impossible to predict deftitively how the statute would be interpreted should this reading ever be contested.
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Chapter 7--Federal Legal Issues l 189 challenge on the basis of handicapped or age dis crimination, unless in its implementation the denial of benefits can be shown to fall disproportionately on protected groups (e.g., because the services they use tend to appear below the cutoff point on the prioritized list). Based on OTAs analysis of the list, it appears unlikely that this would happen at the current benefit threshold; however, the potential for such a challenge could increase if the line moved up. The proposal could conceivably be vulnerable to challenge on the basis of certain provisions of the American with Disabilities Act, but lack of legal precedents for such a challenge makes it difficult to predict how future courts would react. If Congress should decide to grant the waiver statutorily, it could explicitly exempt the program from other existing applicable statutes (e.g., the discrimination laws). However, ambiguous wording in such a statutory waiver could lead to questions of congressional intent regarding the applicability of the other statutes to the program. Thus, ambiguous legislative wording could actually create rather than resolve future judicial controversy.
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Chapter 8 Evaluation Issues
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Contents Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 OREGONS PROPOSAL AS A HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH PROJECT . 193 Selection of Adequate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Statistical Power To Detect Effects . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Difficulty Ensuring That the Intervention Is Applied Consistently . . . . 196 THE PROPOSAL AS A BROADER POLITICAL EXPERIMENT . . . . 197 Box Box Page 8-A. Attributing Causality in Program Evaluation . . . . . . . . 195
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Chapter 8 Evaluation Issues INTRODUCTION Different observers can, and do, see Oregons demonstration proposal in very different research contexts. The most obvious context is as a straightforward health services research experiment. Indeed, Oregons justification for requesting Federal funding for its proposed new Medicaid demonstration program is that the program would provide useful information to the Federal Government. This knowledge would presumably be used to improve other State Medicaid programs and inform Federal health policy decisionmaking. Because different States operate with very different Medicaid systems, the usefulness of Oregons proposal in this context depends at least in part on the ability to dissociate the different components of the demonstration and assess their separate effects. For example, States may wish to implement Oregons prioritized list as a Medicaid benefit package without necessarily implementing the other components that Oregon proposes to demonstrate (e.g., eligibility expansion, managed care implementation). This chapter discusses some of the basic issues likely to arise in evaluating the demonstration on this level. In addition, however, Oregons proposal is seen as a potential experiment of two very different questions. First, the proposal can be viewed as a simple experiment designed to answer the question: Is it possible, using the combination of mechanisms Oregon would implement, to provide acceptable health care coverage to the uninsured poor population without significantly raising costs to the taxpayer and to the health care system? A second question is even further from the traditional bounds of health services research: Is health care coverage based on prioritization of health care services, with public input, politically sustainable? These two questions are addressed briefly in the final section of this chapter. OREGONS PROPOSAL AS A HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH PROJECT Conceptually, the proposed demonstration is an experiment in which two separate populations (the uninsured poor and the Medicaid-eligible population) undergo a number of different, simultaneously administered interventions. For the uninsured poor population, these interventions are relatively simple: they consist of a package of covered services and a new delivery system (i.e., managed rather than ad hoc charity care). The theoretical questions to be answered for this target group are: 1. 2. Does the existence of health insurance coverage (specifically, coverage for services in condition-treatment (CT) pairs 1 through 587), delivered through a managed care system (as Oregon has designed it), increase health access to the uninsured poor? Does it improve health status and satisfaction with care? If it does, at what cost (or savings) to the State, providers, employers, the new beneficiaries, and other groups of interest? For the population currently eligible for Medicaid, the hypotheses being tested are more complex. This population would undergo a number of changes, including changes in benefits, eligibility, and source and type of care. Although the outcomes of interest still revolve around health care access and cost, the questions are more specific and more complex because they involve comparisons with an existing program. They would include, for example: 1. Does simplifying eligibility rules increase program participation? Who gains and who losesand how muchthrough changes in income calculation, elimination of retroactive coverage, and change in the minimum length of eligibility?
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194 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal 2. 3. Do the changes in benefits lead to overall changes in access to services, health status, and satisfaction with care? Do they affect different subgroups of the population differently (i.e., are there winners and losers )? Do they affect program costs? Does the expansion to statewide managed care affect health access and satisfaction, and is the effect uniform across the population? Does it affect program costs? Because provider participation is (presumably) critical to health care access, the third set of questions encompasses others: for example, does changing the method of payment affect participation? From the Federal perspective, it would be important to consider the different components of the experiment separately in the evaluation. Although it is certainly possible that other States (or the Federal Government) would want to duplicate the entire package, it is much more likely that they would choose to adopt only a few components. For instance, another State might consider implementing the prioritized list and simplified eligibility rules for only the existing Medicaid population. To gain information from the Oregon experiment that would be useful to a State entertaining such an option, the two populations affected and the various interventions applied would all need to be evaluated separately, and the outcomes measured would need to be appropriately linked with the intervention(s) that caused them. Identifying causal effects-i. e., the link between intervention and outcome and the direction of that link-is the crux of any type of applied research. Dete rmining that the intervention being studied caused a particular outcome is especially difficult in social science research, where the intervention is often hard to apply reliably and many environmental factors that may affect the outcome are out of the control of the researchers. The ability to draw conclusions about cause is enhanced by incorporating evaluation considerations into the design of an experiment and specifying clearly the hypotheses and outcomes of interest before the experiment takes place (129). Oregons waiver application makes clear that it considers evaluation of the demonstration to be the responsibility of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), not the State. However, it does present a starting evaluation plan, including some possible hypotheses to be tested, data sources, and some suggested methods of analysis using these data sources. Even with impeccable theory and planning, however, determin ing causal connections in Oregons proposed demonstration, as with any research project, might be difficult. Campbell and Stanley (1963) and Cook and Campbell (1979) have described a framework for identifying the research problems that make drawing conclusions about the effects of an intervention difficult (box 8-A). Three problems are especially relevant to the proposed demonstration and deserve mention here. Selection of Adequate Controls To help rule out threats to statistical validity (see box 8-A), experiments often randomize the test population to intervention and nonintervention (control) groups. Where randomization is not attempted, as in Oregons proposed demonstration program, the control population may be historical (i.e., the test population before the intervention was applied) or matched (e.g., another States Medicaid population). Oregons outlined evaluation plan suggests that both types of controls be used. Some historical (predemonstration) utilization data exist for hospital inpatient services and for other services provided outside of the existing managed care area. Also, new and existing program participants could be surveyed regarding their health status and satisfaction at the onset of the demonstration. Both types of historical baseline data are useful, but both also have strong limitations. For example, few data on utilization of capitated services (including physician, laboratory, and x-ray services) exist for beneficiaries enrolled in the current prepaid program. Prepaid plan enrollment is presently mandatory for all persons eligible for Medicaid through Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) who live in a nine-county area that encompasses most of Oregons urban areas (and appro ximately 54 percent of Oregons AFDC beneficiaries (see ch. 4). Thus, many of the utilization comparisons possible under the demonstration would be restricted either to certain areas (e.g., fee-for-service (FFS) counties), specific services (e.g., hospital inpatient services), or groups of beneficiaries not currently enrolled in prepaid plans (e.g., poverty level medical women and children).
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. Chapter 8--Evaluation Issues l 195 Box 8-AAttributing Causality in Program Evaluation Most research has underlying it one basic goal: to test whether the intervention (e.g., a new drug, a new school curriculum, a change in Medicaid rules) causes one or more outcomes. In laboratory and some clinical research, the outcome desired can be clearly specified and measured, and outside influences that might affect that outcome can be rigidly controlled for. In these cases, the researchers control over external factors raises the likelihood that the researcher can conclude with confidence that the outcome (if it occurs) was caused by the intervention. In other kinds of research, however, including most social science research, the researcher has much less control over the outside factors that might act upon the population of interest. In such cases, the conclusion that the intervention caused a given outcome is strengthened by eliminating various threats to its validity. Threats to validity can be separated into four categories: l Statistical conclusion validity--Are the intervention and the outcome related on the basis of statistical evidence? For example, does the study have enough statistical power (e.g., a large enough sample size) to detect an effect of the intervention? Are the outcome measures reliable (e.g., if the outcome is a score on a test, is the test itself statistically reliable)? Is the intervention applied uniformly across the population, and if not, can the population heterogeneity be itself measured and analyzed? l Internal validity--Given that an intervention and outcome are statistically linked, how plausible is it that the intervention (and not some outside factor) actually caused the outcome? Threats to internal validity include biased selection (e.g., a difference between test and nontest populations was detected because the test population was predisposed to that difference); diffusion or imitation of the intervention into the control (nontest) group; and ambiguity about the direction of causality (did A cause B, or did B cause A). l Construct validity--Do the measurements representing the intervention and the outcome really stand for the constructs they are intended to, or might they accommodate other concepts as well? For example, if a person improves after being given a pill by a physician, is it the the pills therapeutic effect being measured--or is it some combination of the pills chemical effect, the physicians helpful concern, and the patients belief that the pill will be effective? (Such concerns led to the widespread use of placebo controls in drug research.) Having several different measures (e.g., length and number of physician visits, waiting time to visits) to represent the construct (e.g., access to health care) can reduce threats to construct validity. If the intervention being tested includes many components, which must be separately measured, threats to construct validity maybe more difficult to rule out. l External validity--Can the results of the experiment be inferred to apply outside of the test population? If the setting and the intervention interact, for example (e.g., instilling discipline in boot camp), the intervention may not have the same effect in another setting (e.g., a preschool). Similarly, if the population selected for the experiment differs substantially from the nonexperimental population, the experimental conclusions may not be valid when applied to the broader population. SOURCES: D. Campbell and J. Stanley, Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designsfor Research (Chicago, IL: Rand McNaIly, 1966) and T. Cook and D. CampbeL Quasi-Experimentation: Design and Analysis Issues for Field Semngs (Bost~ MA: Houghton M.if@ co., 1979). These historical utilization data, even where soon have coverage and would not have to pay available, would apply only to existing Medicaid out-of-pocket. beneficiaries. Surveys of incoming program participants would be the only mechanism by which to estimate baseline utilization and health status of newly eligible persons. However, such surveys would be expensive to conduct and would have to be implemented very rapidly if the waiver is approved, limiting the sample size of the data and raising the chances that the survey would not be adequately tested before being applied. Also, a survey at the time of enrollment might overestimate the health problems of this population, since many individuals might postpone seeking care if they know they will Using comparison groups outside the demonstration population as the controls eliminates some problems inherent in the historical controls (e.g., sample size), but this strategy also has limitations. Using data from other State Medicaid programs, for example, introduces confounding factors due to differences in Stateand program-specific characteristics (e.g., coverage limitations, general availability of health resources). Similarly, using as the population control another group within Oregon (e.g., persons eligible for the program who did not enroll) introduces confounding factors related to the charac-
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196 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal teristics of that population and the lack of a systematic method for obtaining utilization and other relevant data from individuals within it. Statistical Power To Detect Effects Even when an effect occurs, a test population may not always be large enough to detect it within the traditional limits of statistical confidence. Small predicted effects require large sample sizes to detect their occurrence. This problem would place limits on some of the outcomes that an evaluation of a demonstration such as Oregons could expect to identify. Changes in population mortality that might result from changes in covered services, for example, are unlikely to be detectable in a population of a few hundred thousand persons over a 5-year period. Some more specific health outcomes that one might wish to detect are also unlikely to surface; for example, the measurable benefits of many preventive services are not apparent for many years after the service is used. Low power to detect effects is especially likely to limit the ability of evaluators to determine that specific intervention components caused particular outcomes (e.g., that implementing the prioritized list reduced costs). Separating the effect of the new benefit package from the effect of prepaid managed care, for example, requires either detailed data from the prepaid sector before the new benefits take place or comparative data during the demonstration between prepaid and FFS managed care. In both cases, data would be limited. As noted above, only a few baseline utilization data are available for current prepaid plan enrollees. Although the State has recently begun requiring such data from prepaid plans, there would be less than 1 years worth if the demonstration were to begin in mid-1992. Furthermore, data currently collected from prepaid plans reflect only very broad categories of service (e.g., physician visits) and would thus be of limited usefulness in linking outcomes to the conditionspecific coverage exclusions of the prioritized list (see ch. 4). In addition, the populations receiving prepaid and FFS care during the demonstration would differ by virtue of location (the latter would be mostly rural populations), and again populationspecific factors may confound interpretation of the data. 1 Monitoring or surveying particular subpopulations likely to lose or gain from the change in benefits (e.g., those with chronic conditions below the line; those with terminal conditions who might use hospice care; adults newly eligible for preventive care) does offer one opportunity to evaluate directly the effect of the prioritized list. In many of these cases, the size of the expected effect on the specific population is large enough to be detectable. Choosing appropriate subpopulations to study in depth would thus be an important component of an evaluation plan. Difficulty Ensuring That the Intervention Is Applied Consistently The list itself gives no specific guidance regarding how to assign patients to CT pairs, so no two providers are likely to apply the list in the same way to their patients. Differences in how the list is applied would probably be the greatest between FFS and prepaid care providers. Even between two providers under the same payment system, however, the ambiguity of the list is likely to lead to greatly different interpretations of what is covered and what is not. The addition of mental health and chemical dependency services to the prioritized list could further confound this problem. Some of this ambiguity could be resolved over time through greater provider education and instructions, but it is not clear that these instructions could be sufficiently developed by the time the program begins (ass uming a startup date of July 1992) (see ch. 4). 2 And even with clearer instructions for using the list, providers might violate those instructions in their own interests or the interests of their patients (see chs. 3, 4, and 5). The State may be unable to prevent this from happening, or even to detect that it occurs. 1 At least some of any differences found are likely to be caused by factors such as geographic barriers to access, rural provider shortages, and differences in population characteristics and health care preferences, rather than solely by differences in FFS vs. prepaid care (U.S. Congress, 0~ September 1990). Sinm the detailed effects of such population-speci.tlc and geographic differences are not generally well-described quantitatively, they cannot be easily adjusted for in a statistical analysis. 2 Note that the original July 1992 startup date has been postponed on a month-to-month basis pending HCFA approval of the waiver (see ch. 4).
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Chapter 8--Evaluation Issues l 197 THE PROPOSAL AS A BROADER POLITICAL EXPERIMENT In contrast to the traditional health services research demonstration (as outlined in the waiver proposal), Oregons plan can also be seen as a chance to test the question of whether a novel idea to cover the uninsured poor can work without substantially increasing costs. Indeed, many people who are skeptical of some of the specifics of the proposed program nonetheless view it as a chance to test a novel health care reform strategy. In this context, the Oregon demonstration would really be a test of a comprehensive package of interventions, in which separating out the effects of various components is unnecessary. The research question in this case is simply: Can the plan successfully extend coverage to uninsured people without substantially raising long-term program and costs? Evaluating this question in the aggregate social would not require nearly as detailed a level of data analysis as would evaluating the separate effects of the various components of the proposed program. The crucial parameters to measure would be the level of access to care (for which the level of benefits might even be accepted as a proxy) and the difference between actual demonstration program costs, projected Medicaid program costs if the poor uninsured population were not covered, and perhaps estimated costs of some alternative way of providing coverage to uninsured persons. The danger of such an approach is that as an experiment, its results could only be appropriately extrapolated in the aggregate. Other States could apply the results only if they, too, were willing to implement the total package that Oregon has proposed. Finally, Oregons proposal presents a larger political feasibility experiment: Can the State keep the structure and dynamic of the program intact? If, for example, program costs were higher than expected, would the legislature actually be willing and able to reduce benefits or increase revenues to fund it? Or would the plan evolve over time into simply another version of the current system, in which neither eliminating specific treatments nor raising taxes is politically feasible, and the State must resort once again to limiting eligibility and provider payment? In fact, some Oregonians have speculated that the programs design, in which funding can in theory affect only the level of benefits, may actually serve to increase the publics willingness to fund Medicaid by highlighting the treatments that would be cut if funds were unavailable. Thus, the demonstration may be of political interest to some policymakers despite its potential drawbacks as a health services research project.
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Appendixes
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Appendix A Method of the Study Study Request and Approval The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was first asked to examine Oregons Medicaid proposal in March 1990, in a letter from Representative John D. Dingell (Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce) and Representative Henry A. Waxman (Chairman, House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment). Senator Al Gore (Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space) sent a supporting letter requesting the OTA study in March 1990. These letters asked that OTA study the proposal, placing special emphasis on the method used to develop the prioritized list, an assessment of the list itself, and an analysis of some of its likely effects on costs, utilization, and the services available to current Medicaid beneficiaries. The prioritized list that was being developed and considered by the Oregon Health Services Commission (HSC) at the time the OTA study was requested was subsequently rejected by the HSC. A new list, upon which many of OTAs analyses would be based, was developed over the following year. With the expectation that the OTA study could thus realistically begin, OTAs congressional Technology Assessment Board approved the proposed assessment of Oregons Medicaid proposal in March 1991. A third congressional letter regarding the OTA study was received in May 1991 from members of the U.S. Congress representing Oregon. This letter expressed concern that the OTA study should not be focused too narrowly and asked that the study consider the effects of Oregons proposal on uninsured persons in the State and on other aspects of the health care system as well. Signatories included Senator Bob Packwood (ranking minority member, Senate Committee on Finance); Senator Mark O. Hatfield (ranking minority member, Senate Committee on Appropriations); Representative Les AuCoin; Representative Peter A. DeFazio; Representative Michael J. Kopetski; Representative Robert F. (Bob) Smith; and Representative Ron Wyden. Information Sources and Conduct of the Study The fundamental information sources for this study were documents produced by or for the State of Oregon. These included the HSCs prioritized list (and supporting documents), submitted to the State legislature on May 1, 1991; the accompanying program cost estimate provided by the private firm Coopers& Lybrand, also submitted to the State legislature on May 1, 1991; and Oregons waiver proposal, submitted to the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration on August 16, 1991. Staff from the State Office of Medical Assistance Programs, other State offices, the HSC, Coopers & Lybrand, and Lewin/ICF, Inc. (which performed some of the background analyses for the waiver proposal under contract to the State) spent a considerable amount of time, on the telephone and in person, responding to OTA questions and clarifying the details and status of the proposed program. The HSC provided OTA with databases relating to the prioritized list, which OTA used to perform its detailed analyses of the ranking process and the list. OTA also obtained some detailed data relating to Oregons current and proposed Medicaid program under contract from Coopers & Lybrand. OTA staff made two site visits to the State, in January and August 1991, during which they conducted informal personal interviews with numerous individuals in Oregon involved in the development of the proposal, or potentially affected by it. These included commissioners; State representatives; representatives of hospital, physician, and other provider groups; consumer representatives; and researchers. Several individuals provided clinical and legal background information assessing aspects of Oregons proposal under contract to OTA. This information included: A memorandum regarding outcomes and usual treatment in Oregon of infants with intraventricular hemorrhage, anencephaly, and less than 500 grams birth weight and less than 23 weeks gestation. (Provided under contract by Pony M. Ehrenhaft, Lake Oswego, OR.) Detailed clinical opinions regarding ambiguities or internal conflicts in the list and the effectiveness of treatments for paired conditions below line 587. The purpose of these papers was not to identify whether individual clinicians disagreed with particular rankings of the list, since it would be reasonable to expect that any given clinician would disagree with at least some rankings. Rather, the purpose was to identify any obvious inconsistencies in the list and the clinical input to its development, and to examine whether there was any potential for conflict (and, if so, the source of that conflict) between the prioritized list and clinical practice, Clinical contractors included David A. Asch, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; James Patton, Philadelphia, PA; Angelo Giardino, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Philadelphia, PA; and Mark Schuster, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
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202 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal l Memoranda regarding whether Oregons proposal might be in legal conflict with the U.S. Constitution or existing major Federal statutes (not including the Medicaid statutes). (Provided under contract by Kenneth R. Wing, School of Law, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA.) In addition to the information sources above, OTA staff consulted the published literature on such topics as health preferences and life quality measures, health care for Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured, and the effectiveness and safety of specific health care treatments and services. OTA also consulted with outside experts in various subjects (e.g., Medicaid, health preference surveys) during the course of the study. Role of the Advisory Panel OTA assessments include the selection of a outside experts who provide OTA staff with panel of valuable advice regarding the scope, direction, and substance of the study. These experts do not write any portion of the OTA report itself, nor do they have the opportunity to require or prohibit the inclusion of any specific viewpoints or information in the report. They are chosen for their expertise and for the varied perspectives they represent. They are not expected to reach consensus on specific issues. Nonetheless, the expertise of these individuals is extremely important to OTAs studies. They help ensure that all important views have been considered by OTA, and they provide guidance and detailed review of OTAs work. Because they have no final authority over the contents of the report, their representation on the panel does not mean that they necessarily agree with (or disagree with) the findings of the OTA report. The advisory panel to the OTA evaluation of Oregons Medicaid proposal included individuals with interests and expertise in such areas as law, medicine, ethics, health care administration, childrens issues, State policy and program administration, and the Medicaid program. The State of Oregon was not represented on the panel itself, although staff from the Oregon Office of Medical Assistance Programs and the HSC received panel briefing materials and attended all panel meetings. A list of advisory panel members is included at the front of this report. Review Process An initial draft report of OTAs evaluation was reviewed by advisory panel members in January 1992. A revised draft was sent for review to the advisory panel and to approximately 80 additional outside experts for comment the following month. These experts included Federal and State officials, statisticians, ethicists, public health experts, clinicians, other health care providers, beneficiary and consumer advocates, and others with relevant expertise or important perspectives. Approximately one-third of outside reviewers were from the State of Oregon. A final draft, revised after considering all reviewer comments, was submitted to the Technology Assessment Board at the end of March 1992.
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Appendix B Acknowledgments This report was greatly aided by the assistance of many individuals who provided OTA staff with information and advice over the course of the study, and those who participated in the review of the draft report. (These individuals do not necessarily either agree or disagree with the findings and conclusions of this report. OTA assumes full responsibility for the report and the accuracy of its contents.) Barry F. Anderson Portland State University Portland, OR Bruce Bishop Kaiser Permanente Portland, OR Arthur Caplan University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN Darren Coffman Oregon Health Services Commission Portland, OR Michael Cohen Montefiore Hospital Bronx, NY David Cooper U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Washington, DC Robert DiPrete Oregon Office of Medical Assistance Programs Salem, OR Marie Evans National Association of Social Workers Portland, OR Brad Fancher Oregon Medical Association Portland, OR Daniel Field Oregon Association of Hospitals Lake Oswego, OR Samuel Flint American Academy of Pediatrics Elk Grove Village, IL Melvina Ford Congressional Research Service Washington, DC Steven Fox Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Rockville, MD Sandra Franck-Weiby Oregon Office of Health Policy Salem, OR Jerry Fuller Oregon Office of Medical Assistance Programs Salem, OR Michael Garland Oregon Health Decisions Portland, OR Marthe Gold Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Washington, DC John Golenski Bioethics Consulting Group Berkeley, CA Thomas Granneman Systemetrics Lexington, MA Bob Griss United Cerebral Palsy Association Washington, DC David Hadom Boulder, CO Leslie Hendrickson Oregon Office of Medical Assistance Programs Salem, OR Douglas Henley Hope Mills, NC Sandra Hunt Coopers & Lybrand San Francisco, CA Thomas Hussey Kaiser Permanence Portland, OR Richard Jensen U.S. General Accounting Office Washington, DC Andrea Kealich Oregon Medical Association Portland, OR Sandy Kinney C1ackamas County Public Health Division Oregon City, OR -203-
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204 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Stanley Kleiner HSM Group Scottsdale, AZ Jim Lace Oregon Pediatric Society Salem, OR Rebecca Landau Oregon Office of Health Policy Salem, OR John LaPuma Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL Scott Manchester Oregon Health Action Campaign Salem, OR Diane Murdock Virginia Beach, VA Oregon Health Services Commission Portland, OR Donald Patrick University of Washington Seattle, WA Ellen Pinney Oregon Health Action Campaign Salem, OR Lynn Read Oregon Office of Medical Assistance Programs Salem, OR Thomas Reardon American Medical Association Portland, OR John Reynolds Oregon Health Sciences University Portland, OR Richard Rimkunas Library of Congress Washington, DC Carlos Rojas Salud Medical Clinic Salem, OR Kenneth Rutledge Oregon Association of Hospitals Lake Oswego, OR 97035 Al Shelly U.S. Senate Computer Center Washington, DC Paige Sipes-Metzler Oregon Health Services Commission Portland, OR Pamela Short U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rockville, MD Ellen Smith U.S. General Accounting Office Seattle, WA Bonnie Terhaar Oregon Office of Medical Assistance Programs Salem, OR Ian Timm Oregon Primary Care Association Portland, OR George Torrence McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario Tom Troxel Clackamas County Public Health Division Oregon City, OR Bruce Vladeck United Hospital Fund of New York New York, NY Eric wall Oregon Health Sciences University Portland, OR Daniel Weber Oregon Association of Hospitals Lake Oswego, OR Judy Wells American Academy of Pediatrics Elk Grove Village, IL Connie Wessner Intergovernmental Health Policy Project Washington, DC Karen Whitaker Oregon Office of Rural Health Portland, OR Curtis Whitton Northwest Human Services Salem, OR Joshua Wiener Brookings Institution Washington, DC Cheryl Williams U.S. General Accounting Office Seattle, WA Sidney Wolfe Public Citizen Health Research Group Washington, DC
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Appendix C Oregon's Survey of Public Health-State Preferences Introduction One of the unique aspects of Oregons prioritization process is its attempt to incorporate the publics health care values and preferences. This appendix supplements chapter 3 by providing more detailed information on Oregons effort to measure preferences for various health states. These measures were used along with treatment outcomes information to quantify a treatments net benefit. As described in chapter 3, although it was an important conceptual component of the prioritization process, net benefit was ultimately not an important determin ant of condition-treatment (CT) pair order on the list. Nonetheless, there is great interest in Oregons incorporation of public preferences into outcomes assessment, and analyses of why Oregons original attempt at a quantified cost-effectiveness approach to prioritization failed has focused attention on the Oregon Health Services Commissions (HSC) measurement of net benefit (54,90,1 10,249). This appendix first very briefly describes the science of health-state preference measurement, emphasizing methods developed by Robert Kaplan and colleagues that were later adapted for Oregons use. The comparability of preference weights as measured by Kaplan in California and the Oregon weights are examined. Next, inconsistent survey responses are examined, as are methods that could have been used to adjust weights. Lastly, the importance of differences in preference weights by various respondent characteristics are examined in more depth than is presented in chapter 3. Measuring Health-State Preferences With attention increasingly focusing on treatments for chronic illness, outcome measures that describe treatment effects in terms of both mortality and morbidity and also incorporate public values associated with various outcomes are potentially very useful, Interventions such as heart transplants might increase life expectancy, but they may also seriously compromise highly valued aspects of lifes quality such as physical functioning, mobility, and social activity. Indexes of quality of life try to capture, sometimes in a single measure, dimensions of health that affect its quality. Health-state preferences are measures of satisfaction or desirability that people associate with the presence of symptoms and functional limitations that can affect quality of life (73), Health-related quality of life measures are increasingly being considered for program evaluation, population monitoring, clinical research, and policy analysis. Research has shown that people can make remarkably consistent subjective judgments, even when those judgments are abstract (74). Nonetheless, it is difficult to measure health-state preferences because: Individuals often make trade-offs (e.g., accept the side effects of a drug in order to reduce the risk of disease); Preferences may change over time; and Determining whose preferences to measure needs careful consideration when preferences are applied in a public policy context. Investigators have defined different dimensions of health and have developed methods to measure their relative desirability. The three steps generally used to obtain health-state preferences are summarized very briefly below. There are several articles and texts available that comprehensively review the state of the art of defining and measuring health-state preferences (21,63,73,74,75,76,137,247,302). Step 1: Define Health and the Health Attributes To Be Measured When operationalizing quality of life, researchers often reference the World Health Organizations definition of health. It describes health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of infirmity (315). Examples of health attributes included in quality of life measures are shown in box C-1. For each attribute, levels can be defined that represent stepwise increments from good to poor functioning (e.g., no, mild or moderate, and severe pain). A range of health states can be described by selecting one level from each attribute. For the five health attributes shown in box C-1, for example, there are a total of 243 unique health states representing all possible combinations of levels (i.e., 3 5 ) One example of such a health state is having mild to moderate limitations in physical functioning and emotional well-being, but no limitations in the other three attributes (i.e., social function, pain, cognitive ability). Step 2: Determine How Health States Should Be Presented to Respondents There are several ways health states can be presented to respondents. One approach is to ask respondents to evaluate each unique combination of attribute levels (e.g.,
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206 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Box C-lExample of Quality-of-Life Health Attributes and Levels Attribute Levels l Physical function No limitations Mild or moderate limitations Severe limitations l Social function No limitations Mild or moderate limitations Severe limitations l Emotional No limitations well-being Mild or moderate limitations Severe limitations l Pain No pain Mild or moderate pain Severe pain l Cognitive ability No limitations Mild or moderate limitations Severe limitations SOURCE: office of Technology Assesmen4 1992. 243 in the example above). l This method has limitations because it is burdensome for respondents and it does not provide information about how the respondent weights and combines the attributes to arrive at their health-state preference. Alternative approaches allow investigators to estimate how important a particular attribute is to the assessment of the overall health state. Step 3: Determine How Respondents Are To Communicate Their Preferences Several different techniques or scaling methods that are used to elicit health-state preferences from respondents are shown in box C-2. Frequently, respondents are asked to rate the desirability of each health state by placing it at some point on a scale between two anchors (e.g., from O to 100), usually representing death and perfect health. Alternatively, respondents might be asked to make a choice between alternative outcomes (e.g., see standard gamble and time trade-off techniques in box C-2). The Quality of Well-Being Scale Oregons Health Service Commission considered several health status or health preference measures before deciding to adapt the Quality of Well-Being (QWB) scale (106). 2 3 The QWB Scale includes three attributes of daily functioning (i.e., mobility, physical activity, and social activity) and a list of 21 symptoms or problems that might inhibit function (table C-l). The mobility and physical activity attributes have three levels, while the social activity attribute has five levels. There are 945 possible combinations of symptoms/functional levels (i.e., 21 x 3 x 3 x 5). The developers of this model took the following steps to estimate the preference weights shown in table c-1: l l l A stratified random sample of 343 case descriptions (unique combinations of the 21 symptom/problems, and mobility, physical activity and social activity levels) was divided into eight sets (about 40 case descriptions in each). A random sample (conducted in a 2-year period 1974-75) of 866 4 residents from the San Diego area was divided into eight groups of about 100 and asked during face-to-face interviews to rank the sets of health states on a lo-point scale. A mathematical model was used to estimate weights, representing the relative desirability of the health states on a scale from O (death) to 1 (good health). An example of a QWB score for one individual at one point in time is shown in box C-3. In this example, the individual has one symptom (i.e., cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath) and is categorized by level on each of the three functional attributes (i.e., mobility, physical activity, and social activity). The component weights (all negative values) are subtracted from 1 (the score for perfect health) to yield the point-in-time well-being score Group QWB scores can be calculated as an average of the individual members scores assessed for a particular day or a defined interval of time (107). Prognosis, or the probability of moving between health states, has been integrated into the QWB model. While QWB as described above is a static or time-specific measure of function, the well-life expectancy is a dynamic measure. The well-life expectancy is the product of QWB and the expected duration of stay in each function level over a standard life period (Kaplan, R. M., and Anderson, J. P., 1988). Box C-4 shows an illustrative computation of group well-life expectancy. The concept of well-years 5 or weighted life expectancy can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and health 1 Some of the possible health states can often be discarded on logical grounds. It is very unlikely, for example, that a person would experience severe pain and have no limitation of cognitive, social, or physical functions. z A number of investigators have contributed to the development of the QWB scale, including J.W. Bush, D.L. Patrick J.P. Andersow and C.C. Berry (105). For simplicity, the model will be referred henceforth as the QWB model. Several articles referenced at the end of the appendix offer a more indepth description of the QWB and its development. s The HSC also considered the Sickness Impact Profde developed by Marilyn Bergner and a health service classification system developed by David C. Hadorn (194). q A supplernentzuy probability sample of 368 children was included (107). S The term Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) is rdso used to describe the concept (107).
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Appendix C-Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 207 Box C-2Examples of Scaling Methods Used in Measuring Health-State Preferences Standard gamble: The respondent chooses between a certain outcome and a gamble. This technique meets the requirements of certain decision theories that require preference judgments be made under conditions of uncertainty. The technique relies on a lengthy interview with well-trained interviewers using specially prepared props. Time trade-off: The respondent is asked how much time (years of life) he or she would be willing to give up to be in a healthier state compared with a less healthy one. The technique relies on a lengthy interview with well-trained interviewers using specially prepared props. Magnitude estimation: The respondent is given a standard health state and asked to provide a number or ratio indicating how much worse each of the other states is compared with the standard. This method is relatively easy to administer and easy for respondents to understand. Rating scale: The respondent rates the desirability of each health state by placing it at some point on a scale (e.g., from O to 100) between two anchors, usually representing death and perfect health. The rating scale is the most frequently used method for measuring health-state preferences because it is relatively easy to administer and easy for respondents to understand. Equivalence: The respondent decides how improvements of people in a specified health state are equivalent to improvements of people in the maximum health state. This method is infrequently used in studies of health preferences and is offensive to some. Willingness-to-pay: The respondent decides what proportion of income he or she is willing to pay each week to get rid of a specified health condition or to have a specified probability of improving from a particular health state to perfect health. This technique has been used more often in cost-effectiveness analyses to measure the utility of reducing ones risk of dying than in studies to measure preferences for various health states. SOURCE: D.G. Froberg and R.L. Kane, Methodology for Measuring Health-State Preferences-II: Scaling Methods, Journul of Clinical Epidemiology 42(5):459-471, 1989. interventions. Dividing the cost of a program by the as bad as death) to 100 (representing good health ). well-years it yields gives a cost/utility ratio. The QWB model is potentially useful because it provides a comprehensive expression of health status that simultaneously considers mortality and morbidity and considers both risks and benefits of treatments under evaluation (107). Oregons Survey Content and Conduct Oregon survey respondents rated a set of six functional states (e.g., needing help to eat or go to the bathroom) 6 and 23 health problems or symptoms (e.g., having stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea) on a scale of O (representing A copy of the survey can be found at the end of this appendix. For each health situation presented, respondents were to assume that they had only the problems described and that the problems were permanent. The functional states and health problems included on the Oregon survey were taken from Kaplans California survey, but modified for telephone administration. 7 Telephone interviews took approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The Survey Research Center of Oregon State University at Corvallis administered the telephone survey in early 1990, 8 A random-digit dialing technique was used to reach a representative sample of the States population. 9 G The sumey included two levels within three different attributes (i.e., mobility, physical activity, and social activity). 7 The California sumey had been administered in person--individuals completed written questio nnaires after receiving instruction while in small groups. The Oregon Survey instrument was written at a sixth-grade reading level to help ensure oral comprehension of the questions. Oregon investigators completed a small pretest (less than 100 calls were made) to see if scores obtained by phone were consistent with scores obtained in California. The Oregon survey contained some items not on the California survey (i.e., four questions pertain to the use of drugs or alcohol, sexual performance, sleep disorders, and mental health). s The sumey was administered over a 2to 3-week period. 9 The sampling hrne was provided to Oregon State University by a private consulting fm (135). Some regional weights were applied to the completed survey to correct for a small degree of sampling error. The responses were also weighted so that each adult in the survey had an @ chance of being selected. (If Unweighted, adults in households with eight adults would only have a one-eigth chance of being selected for the survey, while adults in household with two adults would have a one-half chance of being selected.)
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208 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table C-1-Quality of Well-Being Scale Weights Levels/no. Functional Limitations/Symptoms Weights 5 4 2 4 3 1 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Mobility Scale (MOB) No limitations for health reasons Did not drive a car, health related (younger than 16); did not ride in a car as usual for age, and/or did not use public transportation, health related; or had or would have used more help than usual forage to use public transportation; health related In hospital, health related Physical Activity Scale (PAC) No limitations for health reasons In wheelchair, moved or controlled movement of wheelchair without help from someone else; or had trouble or did not try to lift, stoop, bend over, or use stairs or inclines, health related, and/or limped, used a cane, crutches or walker, health related;and/or had any other physical limitation in walking, or did not try to walk as far or as fast as others the same age are able, health related In wheelchair, did not move or control the movement of wheelchair without help from someone else, or in bed, chair, or couch for most or all of the day, health related Social Activity Scale (SAC) No limitations for health reasons Limited in other role activity, health related Limited in major (primary) role activity, health related Performed no major role activity, health related, but did perform self-care activities Performed no major role activity, health related, and did not perform or had more help than usual in performance of one or more self-care activities, health related Symptoms Death (not on respondents card) Loss of consciousness such as seizure (fits), fainting, or coma (out cold or knocked out) Burn over large areas of face, body, arms, or legs Pain, bleeding, itching, or discharge (drainage) from sexual organs--does not include normal menstrual (monthly) bleeding Trouble learning, remembering, or thinking clearly Any combination of one or more hands, feet, arms, or legs either missing, deformed (crooked), paralyzed (unable to move) or broken-includes wearing artificial limbs or braces Pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness, or other discomfort in chest, stomach (including hernia or rupture), side, neck, back, hips, or any joints or hands, feet, arms, legs Pain, burning, bleeding, itching, or other difficulty with rectum, bowel movements, or urinations (passing water) Sick or upset stomach, vomiting or loose bowel movements, with or without fever, chills, or aching all over General tiredness, weakness, or weight loss Cough, wheezing, or shortness or breath with or without fever, chills, or aching all over Spells of feeling upset, being depressed, or of crying Headache, or dizziness, or ringing in ears, or spells or feeling hot, or nervous, or shaky Burning or itching rash on large areas of face, body, arms, or legs Trouble talking, such as lisp, stuttering, hoarseness, or inability to speak Pain or discomfort in one or both eyes (such as burning or itching) or any trouble seeing after correction Overweight or underweight forage and height of skin defect of face, body, arms or legs, such as scars, pimples, warts, bruises, or changes in color Pain in ear, tooth, jaw, throat, lips, tongue; missing or crooked permanent teeth-includes wearing bridges or false teeth; stuffy, runny nose; any trouble hearing-includes wearing a hearing aid Taking medication or staying on a prescribed diet for health reasons Wore eyeglasses or contact lenses Breathing smog or unpleasant air No symptoms or problem (not on respondents card) Standard symptom/problem (not on respondents card) 4.00 0 -0.062 -0.090 -0.000 -0.060 -0.077 -0.000 -0.061 -0.061 -0.061 -0.106 -0.727 -0.407 -0.367 -0.349 -0.340 -0.333 -0.299 -0.292 -0.290 -0.259 -0.257 -0.257 -0.244 -0.240 -0.237 -0.230 -0.186 -0.170 -0.144 -0.101 -0.101 -0.000 -0.257 SOURCE: R.M. Kaplan and J.P. Anderson, J. P., The General Health Policy Model: An Integrated Approach, B. Spilker (cd.) (New Yonk, NY: Raven Press, 1990). in Uuality Life Assessments in Clinical Trials,
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Appendix C-Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 209 Box C-3Illustrative Computation of the Point-in-Time Well-Being Score Point-in-time well-being score for an individual (W): W = 1 + (Symptom wt) + (MOBwt) + (PACwt) + (SACwt), where wt is the preference-weighted measure for each symptom (symp), mobility limitation (MOB), physical activity limitation (PAC), and social activity limitation (SAC). The W score for a person with the following description profile may be calculated for 1 day as follows: Quality of well-being Level Description Weight Symp-11 Cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath, with or without fever, chills, -0.257 or aching all over. MOB-5 No limitations. -0.000 PAC-1 In bed, chair, or couch for most or all of the day (health related). -0.077 SAC-2 Performed no major role (health related) but did perform self care. -0.061 W = 1 + (-0.257)+ (-0.000)+ (-0.007)+ (-0.061)= 0.605 SOURCE: R.M. Kaplan and J.P. Anderson, A General Health Policy Model: Update and Applications, Health Services Resewch 23(2):203-235, June 1988. Approximately 4,500 calls were made to obtain 1,001 to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by completed interviews. 10 As an introduction to the telephone survey, interviewers told respondents that: [The interview] contains several interesting topics about how people feel about their health and how their health affects the quality of their lives. The information is important for it will help Oregons Health Services Commission plan future health support programs for the states citizens. The interview consisted of six parts: ll 1. Respondents rated the best and worst possible health states. These scores were expected to be the highest and lowest obtained throughout the interview. The best and worst health states presented were as follows: Best You can go anywhere, can move around freely wherever you are, have no restrictions on activity, and have no health problems. Worst You have to stay at a hospital or nursing home, have someone else, need help to eat or go to the bathroom, and have losses of consciousness from seizures, blackouts or coma. 2. Respondents rated limitations in mobility (Ml, M2), physical activity (Pi, P2) and social activity (S1, S2) (see attached copy of the survey). The six questions were presented in a nested format. At first, respondents were told that they had a limitation in each of the three functional domains (i.e., Ml,Pl ,S1 or M2,P2,S2). In subsequent questions one element was dropped, one at time (e.g., Ml,P1, and then Ml). 3. Respondents rated 23 symptoms. Symptoms were asked about one at a time and not in combination with functional limitations. 12 4. Respondents reported whether they had experienced the functional states or symptoms, and if so, for how long. 5. The following demographic information was obtained: the number of persons living in the household and their age, 13 10 More ~ one-~of tel~hone numbers initially called were discomected. Of the rem g calls, approximately one-fourth of people answering refused the interview and about one-ftith did not complete the interview. The characteristics of the nonrespondents are unknown because most hung up their telephones before descriptive information could be obtained. 11 ~tewlewem ~omed respondents of tie co~ldent~ ad VOIUU@-y Mture of the sumey at the beg inning of the interview. 12 One exception to thiS WM tit losses of consciousness from seizures, blackouts or coma was included in the worst case scenario presented at the beginning of the interview. 13 N-r in household 18 years or older and under 18 years of age.
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220 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Box C-4--Illustrative Computation of Well-Life Expectancy Years in State Weight Weighted years State (Y) (W) (Y x W) Well . . . . . 65.2 1.00 65.2 Non-bed disability . . 4.5 .59 2.7 Bed disability . . . 1.9 .34 .6 Current life expectancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71.6 life years Well-life expectancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68.5 well-years Suppose that a group of individuals was in a well state for 65.2 years, in a state of non-bed disability for 4.5 years, and in a state of bed disability for 1.9 years before their deaths at the average age of 71.6. In order to make adjustments for the diminished quality of life they suffered in the disability states, the duration of stay in each state is multiplied by the preference associated with the state. Thus, the 4.5 years of non-bed disability become 2.7 equivalents of well years when an adjustment is made for the preferences associated with being in that state. Overall, the well-life expectancy for this group is 68.5 years. The disability experienced by the group has reduced the quality of their lives by an estimated 3.1 years. SOURCE: R.M. Kaplan and JY. Anderson, A General Health Policy Model: Update and Applications, Heuhh Servzces Research 23(2):203-235, June 1988. 6. household members health insurance coverage, Weights for the functional states were calculated household income, somewhat differently. Respondents were asked to assign residence (county and town/city), scores to combinations of mobility, physical, and social respondents race/ethnicity, and fictional states. The score for a particular functional l respondent age. state was calculated by subtracting the score assigned to In an open-ended format, respondents were asked if there were any household members who should have seen a doctor but for some reason did not, and if so, why the person did not see a doctor. Respondents were also given an opportunity to report anything about their health or about health care in Oregon. the smaller set of functional states from the score assigned to the larger set of functional states (the sets differed by the inclusion of one functional state). The score for M2, for example, could be calculated by subtracting the score for the F2,S2 question (i.e., the question including functional states F2 and S2) from the M2,F2,S2 question (i.e., the question including all three functional states M2, P2, and S2). Th e Calculation of Preference Weights QWB weights (i.e., the average of respondents indifor Each Health State vidual scores) for each function state and symptom are shown in box 3-D (chapter 3). The scores are expressed For each symptom, a weight was calculated as the average of the following individual scores: Health-state score = ( Best health-state score Symptom score)/100 14 If, for example, an individual scored the best health state as 90 and scored trouble talking as 72, the score for trouble talking for that respondent would be -(90-72)/100 or -0.188. This value represents one individuals perception of the amount taken away from perfect health (score of 1) if he or she had trouble talking. 15 as negative values because they represent the amount associated with the condition that the public thinks should be subtracted from perfect health (score of 1). The functional limitation and health state that were perceived to detract least from perfect health were being unable to drive or use public transportation (-0.046) and wearing glasses or contact lenses (-0.055). The functional limitation and health state judged to detract most from perfect health were being confined to bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else (.560), and having trouble with the use of alcohol or drugs (-0.455). To describe a particular morbidity state, clinicians could assign up to 14 me HSfJ ~comwfly repfi~ tit ~~vidu~ ~st he~~ state scores (and not 100) were used in the denominator (193). 15 ~ ~c~od of ~~mlatingweigh~ as-es an additive model for tie pmfer~ce fwIction. CXherresearchers make the aSSUInptiOn Of amllltipkat.h% model (260).
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Appendix C--Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences 211 four functional limitations or symptoms-one from each of the three categories of functional limitation and one symptom. (See chapter 3 for a description of how clinicians assigned the functional limitations and symptoms to CT pairs.) Reliability and Validity of Preference Weights Preference measurements are assessed by examining their reliability and validity. A measures reliability is the extent to which it gives consistent results. When intrarater reliability, for example, is high, it means that subjects respond consistently when an item is presented to them more than once over a short period of time. Investigators have shown that respondents give consistent QWB scale values when asked to repeat the task within several days (1 1). Inter-rater reliability reflects consistency of responses among different raters. A measures validity is the extent to which it corresponds to the true position of the person on the characteristic being assessed. There are different dimensions of validity. Content validity reflects the adequacy of the health-state descriptions in representing health status. Construct validity relates to the degree to which results of different scaling methods converge. Construct validity can also be evaluated by examining the degree to which predicted relationships between preferences and other variables are supported. Robert Kaplan and his colleagues have, for example, shown significant positive correlations between QWB weights and self-rated health, and negative correlations with age, number of chronic illnesses, symptoms, and physician visits (109). Studies have shown that preference weights sometimes vary widely not only among individuals, as might be expected, but also with the format used for describing the health state, the framing of outcomes, the outcomes used to anchor the scale, the scaling task used, and other situation-specific factors (142). Mean values of grouped individual scores are generally used as weights, but there is considerable variation in ratingssome standard deviations from the Oregon survey approach 0.30 (see table 3-10 in chapter 3). 16 The variation of individual Oregon scores are of the same magnitude as is typically found in preference measures. Evidence suggests that while individuals within groups express differences in preference, preference weights are relatively constant from group to group (260). Using mean, or average, scores can be problematic because similar mean scores from two groups could obscure two very dissimilar score profiles (141). At the extreme, one group could unanimously rate being confined to a wheelchair as .5 while in another, one-half could rate it O (as bad as death) and the remainder as 1 (as good as perfect health). The mean scores from these two groups would be identical. While some evidence suggests that certain preference scales, including the QWB scale, are reliable and valid (21 1), it is generally agreed that more research is needed in this area (141). Further research could, among other things, show how predictive preferences are of patient decisionmaking and how and why preferences might change over time (142). Comparison of Kaplans and Oregons Methods and Resultant Weights There are several important differences between Kaplans and Oregons method of obtaining health-state preference weights: l l l l l In Oregon, the interviews were conducted by telephone, while in California they were conducted in person. Kaplan presented respondents with health-state scenarios that included combinations of functional limitations and symptoms. Oregon combined some of the functional limitations in nested questions, but all but one of the symptoms (i.e., coma, fainting) were presented to respondents one at a time. Survey questions differed substantially in length and substance. Table C-2 shows Kaplans descriptions of health states alongside of those as defined in Oregon. Questions were shortened for Oregons telephone survey, but sometimes this significantly altered the description of the health state. For example, Kaplans survey included the health state trouble talking such as lisp, stuttering, hoarseness, or being unable to speak. This was abbreviated to have trouble talking, such as a lisp, stuttering or hoarseness on the Oregon survey. 17 The two instruments included different health states. Oregon included four questions regarding the use of drugs and alcohol, sexual performance, sleep problems, and worrying which were not included on the Kaplan survey. Kaplan included a question on major role activity (e.g., work) and air pollution not included on the Oregon survey. The assumed duration of the health state differed in the two surveys. Kaplan asked respondents to give their preferences while imagining that the health state was experienced on a particular day. Oregon respondents were told to imagine the health states described as permanent. 16 me Stmdwd devl~ti~~ iS ~ ~eas~e of dispersion from a me~ score, A s~n~d deviation as l~ge as O.SO for a distribution Of health preftXenCeS on a O to 1 scale indicates that respondents differ greatly in their preferences (75). 17 D~g &plan face-to-face intemicw5, tie he~~ s~[e5 were i~ti~ly presented to respondcn~ on small Wds in an abbreviated format. Before rating the health state, the respondents read the more lengthy description of the health state (105).
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Table C-2-Comparison of Oregon and Kaplan Health-State Weights Oregon Kaplan Oregon weight Kaplan et al. weight Function limitations Mobility Have to stay at hospital or nursing home Cannot drive a car or use public transportation Physical activity Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else Social activity Are limited in the recreational activities you may participate in Need help to eat or go to the bathroom Health states/symptom Have losses of consciousness from seizures, blackouts or coma Wear glasses or contact lenses Have pain or discomfort in your eyes or vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix Have stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep Have a bad burn over large areas of your body -0.049 -0.046 -0.373 -0.560 -0.062 -0.106 -o. -o. 14 55 -0.248 -0.370 -0.248 .372 In hospital, health related Did not drive a car, health related (younger than 16); did not ride in a car as usual for age, health related; and/or did not use public transportation, health related; or had or would have used more help than usual for age to use public transportation, health related In wheelchair, moved or controlled movement of wheelchair without help from someone else; or had trouble or did not try to lift, stoop, bend over, or use stairs or inclines, health related; and/or limped, used a cane, crutches, or walker, health related; and/or had any other physical limitation in walking, or did not try to walk as far or as fast as others the same age are able, health related In wheelchair, did not move or control the movement of wheelchair without help from someone else, or in bed, chair, or couch for most or all of the day (health related) Limited in other (e.g., recreational) role activity (health related) Limited in major (primary) role activity (health related) Performed no major role activity (health related) but did perform selfcare activities Performed no major role (health related) and did not perform or had more trouble than usual in performance of one or more self-care activities (health related) Loss of consciousness such as seizure (fits), fainting, or coma ((out cold or knocked out) Wore eyeglasses or contact lenses Pain or discomfort in one or both eyes (such as burning or itching) or any trouble seeing after correction Sick or upset stomach, vomiting, or loose bowel movement, with or without fever, chills, or aching all over Burn over large areas of face, body, arms or legs -0.090 -0.062 -0.060 -0.077 -0.061 -0.061 -0.061 -0.106 -0.407 -0.101 -0.230 -0.290 -0.367
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Appendix C--Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 213 I 1 t=to mm ?? I
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214 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal l l A Different methods were used to calculate the average population weight. Oregon used subtraction to estimate weights (e.g., for nested questions, the value of health state C was determined by subtracting the value of health state AB from health state ABC), while Kaplan used a regression model to estimate weights. Kaplan completed his survey in the mid-1970s, while Oregons survey was completed in early 1990. comparison of the preference weights obtained in California and Oregon show that many are similar (see table C-2). More than one-half (i.e., 15 of 27 health states that can be compared) of the California and Oregon weights do not vary by more than 20 percent. There are, however, three health states with extremely different weights: 18 l l l A Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control (-0.373 Oregon vs. .060 California); Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else (-0.560 Oregon vs. -0.077 California); and Have losses of consciousness from seizures, blackouts, or coma (4).114 Oregon vs. .407 California). possible explanation for these three extreme differences in weights lies in how weights for these three items were calculated in Oregon. The health state have to be in a bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else was the last health state in the first series of nested questions presented on the survey (see questions B, C, D, and E of the survey). The series of nested questions can be described as follows: c Question BWXYZ l Question CWXY c Question D W X l Question E W The weight for Y was estimated by subtracting the values of question D from question C. Similarly, the weight for Z was estimated by subtracting the value of question C from question B. Three of the 4 functional limitations have incremental values assigned to them. That is, the weight for Z represents the added decrement over and above having just X and Y. In contrast health state W in question E (e.g., the bed/wheelchair item) was assessed relative to the best health state. Its value is calculated as the difference between the value for question E and the value assigned to best health. The other Oregon functional limitation weight that deviates from Kaplans is have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control. It, too, is presented singly following the second series of nested questions (i.e., questions F, G, and H) and its weight is relative to best health rather than to the presence of other functional limitations. The deviant score for the losses of consciousness and coma health state could also be explained by its presentation to respondents. Rather than being described to respondents by itself as the other symptoms are (i.e., questions I through Z6), it is presented as part of a nested question (question B) and its weight is calculated relative to question C and not to the best health state. All other symptom weights were calculated relative to best health. Aside from these three extreme differences, most of the preference weights in California are comparable to Oregon weights (i.e., more than one-half of Oregons weights are within 20 percent of California weights) (see figure C-l). Given the differences in survey content and methods, these similarities are actually surprising. Oregon respondents were told to assume that the health states described were permanent, while California respondents were to try and imagine the health state at one point in time or one day. It is counterintuitive, for example, that Oregon respondents would rate permanently experiencing pain while urinating or having a bowel movement similar to California respondents experiencing this symptom at a point in time (Oregon -.299 vs. California -.292). It may be that respondents generally ignored the instructions regarding duration of the health state and imagine them as permanent or tempera.xy according to their own experience. Some of the descriptive information on the California survey probably helped respondents consider the health state as temporary. In the description of cough and wheezing and shortness of breath and of sick or upset stomach, vomiting, or loose bowel movement, the California survey included with or without fever, chills, or aching all over, symptoms almost universally experienced as temporary. In these two cases, the California weights were considerably more favorable than Oregon weights (i.e., .257 vs. -0.318 and -0.290 vs. -0.370) (table C-2). Methods of Adjusting Weights for Inconsistent Responses and Respondents Sociodemographic and Health Characteristics More than one-third (38 percent) of Oregon respondents provided some logically inconsistent responses to the survey. This section describes the nature of inconsistent responses and proposes methods that could have been used to adjust preference weights for these inconsistencies. Adjusted weights are then compared to Oregon weights and the effect of using these new weights on the ranking of CT pairs is assessed. Next, the importance of differences in preference weights by sociodemographic and health characteristics is assessed. The preference 18 For S~pliciW, tie ~or~g fmm tie Oregon s~ey is shown here. See table C-2 for diffCrenCCS b he~ti-state description.
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. Appendix C--Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences 215 Figure C-l-Comparison of Oregon and Kaplan Health-State Weights Health status/symptom Can't drive Hospital r Glasses/contacts Limited recreation Self-care help Loss consciousness Prescribed medication/diet Lisp/stutter Overweight/acne Ear pain Headache/dizziness Eye pain Back/joint pain L -0.5 M2 Ml H19 S2 S1 H1 H18 H14 H16 H17 H12 H15 H6 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 Health state/symptom Trouble walking Tired/weak Rash Bodily function pain Cough/wheeze Sex organ drainage Depressed/upset Trouble remembering Stomach aches Bad bums Walker Wheelchair m Oregon ~ Kaplan H5 H9 H13 H7 H1O H3 H11 H4 H8 H2 P2 -0.MO I 1 P1 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 m Oregon D Kaplan SOURCES: Oregon Health Services Commission, Salem, OR, unpublished data provided to the Office of Technology Assessment in 1991; R.M. Kaplan and J,P. Anderson, The General Health Policy Model: An Integrated Approach, Qua/ity of Life Assessments in C/inica/ Trials, B. Spilker (cd.) (New York, NY: Raven Press, 1990).
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216 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table C-3-Frequency of Ratings of the Best and Worst Health States Described in the Survey Best health Worst health state (Q2) state (Q I ) o 1-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90-99 100 Total o 0 1 -9 : : : : : : : : : : : : : o 10-19 . . 1 1 20-29 . . 1 1 1 1 1 5 30-39 . . 0 40-49 . . 0 50-59 . . 11 2 4 1 1 3 1 1 24 60-69 . . 3 2 1 1 1 2 10 70-79 . . 9 1 8 16 1 3 1 1 1 41 80-89 . . 11 7 8 13 4 3 7 1 1 55 90-99 . . 22 16 18 13 6 2 5 2 2 0 86 100 . . . 343 109 127 103 33 18 43 2 2 1 1 782 Total . . 401 133 165 151 46 26 63 7 2 4 3 3 1,004 asumexm~ ~mplesizeofl,ool beeause ofweighting by county andhousehoki @mPosition. SOURCE: Office ofTechnology Assessmen~ 1992. Based on analysesofOregon Health Services Commission telephone survey data. Figure C-2Health-State Boundaries Set by Survey Responses to Q 1 and Q 2 Q1 100 34 % I I 6% t > < 16% > SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on data from the Oregon Health Serviees Commission. weights for some health states, for example, vary significantly by experience of the health state, Analyses are presented showing how condition-treatment (CT) pair placement on the list would change if only selected subgroups of respondents weights were used. The Origin of Inconsistent Scores Respondents were told early in the interview how to scale their responses to the survey. A score of zero was to be given to a state as bad as death, a score of 100 to states representing good health, and a score of 50 to health states halfway between death and good health. Survey respondents were then given the opportunity to provide a personal boundary for their health-state scores when they answered the first two questions on the survey and rated the best and worst health states. This technique is often used in measuring health-state preferences. Sometimes, interviewers construct a thermometer with respondents upper and lower scores to remind the respondent what the logical range of responses are for subsequent questions. Table C-3 shows that most respondents gave low scores to the worst and high scores to the best health states. 19 One-third (34 percent) of respondents had a range of values of 100-they assigned a value of O to the worst and 100 to the best health state. Some respondents, however, had very narrow boundaries-5 percent provided a range of values of 50 or less (e.g., a score of 50 to 59 for the worst health state and a score of 80 to 89 for the best health state). Figure C-2 shows the boundaries respondents set in responding to the best and worst health-state questions. Thirteen percent of respondents gave a score of less than 100 (e.g., 70) to the best health state, but later rated health states such as experiencing ear pain higher 19 More tin thr~q~ers (78 ~rmnt) of respondents valued the best health state ss 100 and ~ pCICent vtlhmd the wOrSt S@? m 0.
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Appendix C---Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 217 Table C-4Frequency of Inconsistent Responses to Survey Used To Assess Health-State Preferences Nest Both Nest 1 + 2 a 1 or 2 nest 1 + 2 consistent inconsistent inconsistent Total No boundary inconsistency . 620 148 15 783 Left-sided inconsistent b . . 42 29 14 85 Right-sided inconsistency c . . 61 26 7 94 Both leftand right-sided 9 24 6 39 inconsistency . . . . Total . . . . . 732 227 42 1,001 a Nest I refers to the first set of functional limitation questions that include limitations Ml, P1, and S1. N-t 2 refers to the second set of functional limitation questions that include limitations M2, P2, and S2. (See questionnaire at the end of this appendix.) b ~ft-sided inmnsistewies ~eferto health-state ~res that are lower than those assigned to the worst health State. c Right-sM~ imonsistendes refertohealth-state scmresthat are higherthanthose assigned to the b=rhealth state. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on analyses of Oregon Health Services Commission telephone survey data. (e.g. 90). For discussion purposes, health-state scores that are assigned higher scores than the best health state will be referred to as right-sided boundary violations. Twelve percent of respondents gave health-state scores that were lower than that given to the worst health state (e.g. rating the worst health state as 40 and then rating having stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea as 30). These health-state scores will be referredtoasleft-sided boundary violations. Table C-4 shows the frequency of these boundary violations. At the extreme, eight respondents (1 percent of the total) gave a lower score to the best health state than to the worst health state. Health-state scores are positive when there are rightsided boundary violations. This can be seen by again examining the way health-state scores are calculated: Health-state score = l (Best health-state score Symptom score)/100 These positive scores have the effect of bringing the health-state weights 20 which vary from O (perfect health) to (death) closer to O or perfect health. The most likely explanation for the boundary violations is that respondents forgot the value assigned to the best and worst health states when they were later asked to value particular health states. 21 Conceivably, when respondents assigned a health state a lower value than that assigned to the worst health state, they may have been indicating a health state that they indeed felt was worse than that health state. That any of the health states represent states better than good health seems less plausible. Table C-5 shows the extent to which inconsistent responses were provided for each health state, and table C-6 shows the number of inconsistent responses over the course of the interview. More than 1 in 10 (12 percent) of respondents provided at least 5 responses inconsistent with their best and worst health-state boundaries. A second type of inconsistency occurred in response to the nested functional limitation questions. More than one-quarter (27 percent) of respondents provided inconsistent responses to one or both of the nested questions. One example of such a response is giving a less favorable score to a health state defined by one functional limitation (e.g., used a wheelchair) than to a health state including that and an additional limitation (e.g., used a wheelchair and needed help going to the bathroom or eating). One possible explanation for these inconsistent responses is that respondents may have been confused by the length of some of the nested questions (see survey questions B through H). Respondents can process simultaneously only five to nine pieces of information (140) and some of the questions may exceed this threshold. When respondents with either type of inconsistent response are eliminated, the sample size is reduced from 1,001 to 620 (table C-4). The HSC decided to use all values from the survey, despite the logical inconsistencies of some responses, because it reported that the deletion of inconsistent responses did not greatly affect the healthstate weights and it wanted to maintain the total sample, which was representative of the States population. Weights of consistent as compared with inconsistent respondents are shown in table C-7 and are graphed in figure C-3. There are statistically significant differences for all but five weights when consistent and inconsistent respondents are compared (table C-7). Figure C-3 shows that the two sets of weights, although different, are highly correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.98). m H~th-s@te weigh~ are the average of individual health-state SCOEs. ZI me ~t~iewm did not remind respondents of their earlier responses. 328-308 0 92 8
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218 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table C-5--Frequency of Inconsistent Responses to the Survey Used To Develop Preference Weights Percent of time respondents rated larger number of functional Iimitations as better than a smaller subset of those functional limitations Components of nested functional/imitation questions 1st nested question Ml. Have to stay at hospital or nursing home . . . . . . . . . 18.6 P1 Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else S1. Need help to eat or go to the bathroom HI. Experience loss of consciousness due to seizures, blackouts or coma 2nd nested question M2. Cannot drive a oar or use public transportation . . . . . . . . 12.5 Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control ;:: Are Iimited in the recreational activities you may participate in Percent of time Percent of time rated better than rated worse than best health state worst health state Health states/symptoms H2. H3. H4. H5. H6. H7. H8. H9. H1O. H11. H12. H13. H14. H15. H16. H17. H18. H19. H20. H21 H22. H23. Have a bad burn over large areas of your body. . . . . . . . . Have drainage from your sexual organs and discomfort or pain . . . . . Have trouble learning, remembering or thinking dearly . . . . . . Have difficulty in walking because of a paralyzed or broken leg, but you have no other limitations on activity. . . . . . . . . . . . Have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints. . . . . . . . Have pain while you are urinating or having a bowel movement . . . . . Have stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea. . . . . . . . . . Experience a lot of tiredness or weakness . . . . . . . . . Cough, wheeze or have trouble breathing . . . . . . . . . Often depressed or upset. . . . . . . . . . . . . Have headaches or dizziness . . . . . . . . . . . . Have an itchy rash over large areas of your body . . . . . . . Have trouble talking, such as a lisp, stuttering or hoarseness . . . . . Pain or discomfort in your eyes or vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix. . Overweight or have acne on your face . . . . . . . . . . Have pain in your ear or trouble hearing . . . . . . . . . Are on prescribed medicine or a prescribed diet for health reasons . . . . Wear glasses or contact lenses . . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with sexual interest or performance . . . . . . . . You cant stop worrying . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with the use of drugs or alcohol. . . . . . . . . 2.9 2.3 3.4 4.7 4.1 3.0 2.7 3.2 2.6 3.0 3.2 3.1 5.8 4.7 5.4 4.4 7.7 10.7 i!) 5.6 2.1 4.5 3.2 3.5 1.9 ::: 3.1 2.2 2.6 3.0 3.4 2.4 1.7 2.1 1.9 1.9 1.0 0.7 2.3 3.3 2.3 5.9 SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on analyses of Oregon Health Services Commission telephone survey data. Table C-6-Frequency of Scores Reported as Better or Worse than Scores Assigned to the Best and Worst Health State (Q1 and Q2) a Number of scores better than score assigned to Number of scores worse than score assigned to the worst health state (Q2) the best health state (Q1 ) o 1 2 3 4 5 6-9 10-26 Total o . . . . . . 783 33 10 7 5 6 8 18 869 1 . . . . . . 12 0 0 1 0 2 3 0 17 2 . . . . . . 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 3 . . . . . . 11 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 15 4 . . . . . . 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 7 5 10 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 11 6-9. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 19 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 25 10-26 . . . . . 29 6 1 2 0 2 3 4 46 Total . . . . . 876 43 15 9 6 10 16 24 1,000 a ROW and Wlumn cells may not add to totals because of sample weighting. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on analyses of Oregon Health Services Commission telephone survey data.
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Appendix C--Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 219 Table C-7Differences in Preference Weights According to Consistency of Respondent a Consistent Inconsistent Functional Iimitations/symptoms respondents respondents Cannot drive a car or use public transportation (M2). . . . . . . . Are limited in the recreational activities you may participate in (S2) . . . . . Have to stay at hospital or nursing home (Ml) . . . . . . . . . Wear glasses or contact lenses (H19) . . . . . . . . . . . Need help to eat or go to the bathroom (S1) . . . . . . . . . Experience loss of consciousness due to seizures, blackouts or coma (H1). . . Have trouble talking, such as a lisp, stuttering or hoarseness (H14) . . . . . Have pain in your ear or trouble hearing (H17) ., . . . . . ., . . Overweight or have acne on your face (H16) . . . . . . . . . You cant stop worrying (H23) . . . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep (H21 ) . . . . . . . . Pain or discomfort in your eyes or vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix (H15) . . . . . . . . . . . Have difficulty in walking because of a paralyzed or broken leg, but you have no other limitations on activity (H5) . . . . . . . . Have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints (H6) . . . . . . Have trouble with sexual interest or performance (H22) . . . . . . . Experience a lot of tiredness or weakness (H9) . . . . . . . . . Have an itchy rash over large areas of your body (H13) . . . . . . . Have pain while you are urinating or having a bowel movement (H7) . . . . Have headaches or dizziness (H12) . . . . . . . . . . . Cough, wheeze or have trouble breathing (H1O) . . . . . . . . Have drainage from your sexual organs and discomfort or pain (H3) . . . . Often depressed or upset (H11) ..,... . . . . . . . . . . Have a bad burn overlarge areas of your body(H2) . . . . . . . . Have stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea(H8) . . . . . . . . Have trouble learning, remembering or thinking clearly . . . . . . Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control (P2) . . . . . Have trouble with the use of drugs or alcohol (H24) . . . . . . . . Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else (P1) . . . . -0.052 -0.062 -0.070 -0.083 -0,112 -0.117 -0.203 -0.232 -0.232 -0.242 -0.262 -0,270 -0.276 -0.281 -0.287 -0.294 -0.315 -0.316 -0.322 4.33 7 -0.339 -0.354 -0.384 -0.387 -0.395 -0.409 -0.474 -0.613 -0.210 b aconsistent r~pondents (n _620) are those wnomade no boundary violations and who had consistent responses to the nested questions. fn~nsistent respondents(n =381) made either boundary violations or provided inconsistent responses to the nested questions. bDiffere~~be~een consistent andin~nsistent weights aresignifieant (p -.O2)asessessed byt-tests. SOURCE: Offiee of Technology Assessmen~ 1992. Based on analyses of Oregon Health Sarvices Commission telephone survey data. Comparing those who made none with those who made at least one inconsistent response shows that respondents who are Medicaid recipients, low income, and racial/ ethnic minority group members were significantly more likely to have provided inconsistent responses. One-half of respondents with incomes at or below the poverty level, for example, provided some inconsistent responses, while 37 percent of those with higher incomes provided inconsistent responses. Adjusted Weights Adjustments could have been made for inconsistent responses. The assumption could be made that when respondents assigned a higher score to a symptom than to the best health state that they viewed their upper boundary as 100. Similarly, one could assume that when respondents assigned a lower score to a symptom than to the worst health state that they viewed their lower boundary as O. Nine percent of respondents made only right-sided violations, 9 percent made only left-sided violations, and 4 percent made both leftand right-sided violations (see table C-4). Assigning 100 to the best health state if respondents made any right-sided errors and zero to the worst health state if respondents made any left-sided errors, using the respondents range of responses as the denominator, 22 and eliminating inconsistent responses to the nested functional state questions yields the weights shown in the second column of table C-8. In general, these scores are lower than the weights actually used (shown in the first column). The respondents boundary was ignored when the health-state score was calculated (see formula above). The Oregon weights were calculated with 100 as a denominator, which assumes that the range of values for health states was 100 for everyone. For those with ranges of values less than 100, the use of 100 effectively decreases the weight assigned to the health state. Another way to adjust for inconsistent responses is to assume that responses to question 1 should have been 100 22 me OregOn ~ei~k ~e.e c~cu~t~ Ushg 100 W, he denominator, even though 22 percent of respondents rated tie best he~~ s~te ~ less ~ 100.
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220 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Figure C-3-Survey Weights of Consistent and Inconsistent Respondents Survey question Cant drive Limited recreation Hospital Glasses/contacts Self-care help Loss consciousness Trouble talking Overweight/acne Ear pain worry sleep problems Eye pain Trouble walking Back/joint pain Sexual dysfunction Tired/weak Rash Bodily function pain Headache/dizziness Cough/wheeze Sex organ drainage Depressed/upset Bad burns Stomach aches Trouble remembering Walker Drugs/alcohol Bed or wheelchair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 Survey weight Consistent + Inconsistent SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on data from the Oregon Health Services Commission. and the range of values from best and worst health state Differences in Weights by Sociodemographic and is 100. These adjusted weights, shown in the third column Health-State Experience of table C-8, also tend to be lower than those that were There are numerous significant differences in preferused (shown in the first column). ence weights according to respondent sociodemographic To test whether the adjustment of weights is important, characteristics and health-state experience (see table 3-11 in ch. 3). That Oregons preference weights varied by the ranking of (CT pairs (by category and within category sociodemographic and health experience should not be by net benefit) using adjusted and unadjusted weights was surprising. Kaplan and his colleagues report negative compared. When adjustments are made for inconsistent correlations between individuals QWB scores and age, responses using the first method (i.e., using weights in the number of chronic medical conditions, number of resecond column of table C-8), 23 the resultant change in ported symptoms or problems, number of physician weights shifts the relative placement of 49 CT pairs (7 contacts, and dysfunctional status (109). After reviewing percent) by 10 or more lines relative to the ranking the literature, Froberg concluded that age and experience expected when unadjusted weights are used to rank CT with the health state being rated may influence raters pairs. Despite these shifts, there would have been no valuations, but that the effects of most other demographic changes in CT pair coverage with line 587 defining and experiential variables (e.g., sex, religion, marital coverage. status) are small or nonexistent (75). Analyses of the 23 me ~ei@tS fi fie fmt ~lm of table C.7 ~ adjusted forri@ and left-sided bOUII&ry violation and exclude inconsistent responses tO the neStd questions.
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. Appendix C--Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 221 Table C-8Health-State Preference Weights Calculated by Different Methods Oregon OTA adjusted OTA adjusted Functional Iimitations/symptoms weights a method 1 b method 2 C Mobility Ml. Have to stay at hospital or nursing home . . . . . M2. Cannot drive a car or use public transportation . . . . Physical activity P1 Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else . . . . . . . . . . P2. Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control . . . . . . . . . . Social activity S1 Need help to eat or go to the bathroom . . . . . S2. Are limited in the recreational activities you may participate in . . . . . . . . . Health states/symptoms HI. H2. H3. H4. H5. H6. H7. H8. H9. H1O. H11. H12. H13. H14. H15. H16. H17. H18. H19. H20. H21 H22. H23. Have losses of consciousness from seizures, blackouts or coma . . . . . . . . . . Have a bad burn over large areas of your body . . . . Have drainage from your sexual organs and discomfort or pain . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble learning, remembering or thinking clearly . . . . . . . . . . Have difficulty in walking because of a paralyzed or broken leg, but you have no other imitations on activity . . . . . . . . ... . . Have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints . . . . . . . . ., . . Have pain while you are urinating or having a bowel movement . . . . . . . . . . Have stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea. . . . . Experience a lot of tiredness or weakness . . . . . Cough, wheeze or have trouble breathing . . . . . Are often depressed or upset . . . . . . . Have headaches or dizziness . . . . ... . Have an itchy rash over large areas of your body . . . Have trouble talking, such as a lisp, stuttering or hoarseness . . . . . . . . . . Have pain or discomfort in your eyes or vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix. . . . . . Are overweight or have acne on your face . . . . . Have pain in your ear or trouble hearing . . . . . Are on prescribed medicine or a prescribed diet for health reasons . . . . . . . . . . Wear glasses or contact lenses . . . . . . . Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep . . . . Have trouble with sexual interest or performance . . . Cant stop worrying . . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with the use of drugs or alcohol . . . . -0.049 (0.137) -0.046 (0.1 12) -0.560 (0.257) -0.373 (0.246) -0.106 (0.146) -0.062 (0.099) -4.114 (0.175) -0.372 (0.265) -0,325 (0.240) -0.367 (0.235) -0.077 (0.104) -0.065 (0.093) -0.653 (0.224) -0.447 (0.232) -0.121 (0.134) -0.071 (0.092) -0.128 (0.141) -0.448 (0.263) -0,395 (0.243) -0.444 (0.228) -0.069 (0.096) -0.059 (0.086) -0.609 (0.223) -0.417 (0.222) -0.110 (0.1 23) -0.064 (0.085) -0.114 (0.129) -0.420 (0.251) -0.372 (0.236) -0.414 (0.216) -0.299 (0.200) -0.300 (0.196) -0.346 (0.228) -0.418 (0.227) -0.321 (0.190) -0.366 (0.21 3) -0.374 (0.218) -0.352 (0.212) -0.344 (0.216) -0.234 (0.1 89) -0.294 (0.195) -0.260 (0.21 5) -0.263 (0.196) -0.169 (0.1 71) -0.099 (0.148) -0.295 (0.206) -0.323 (0.247) -0.261 (0.204) -0.502 (0.275) a Weights as report~ by Oregon Health Services COmm ~sion. b Adjust~ weights ~~ulated by assigning 100 t. the (tbesf health state if r~pon~nts made any right-sid~ errors and O to the worst health State if respondents made any left-sided errors, using the respondents rangeof responses as the denominator, and eliminating irmnsistent responses to the nested functional state questions. c Adjust~ weights Ca[alatd by assigning 100 to r* Ponses to Q1. SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on analyses of Oregon Health Services Commission telephone survey data. Oregon survey data using multivariate techniques show race/ethnicity, and residence sometimes affect the that respondent age and experience with the health state weights; and that Medicaid participation and poverty do often significantly affect the weights, respondent sex, not affect the weights. Z$ ~ySi5 ofv~anm Wm u5~ t. ~5~5 the @que effecw of respondent sociodemographk and health experience c~acteristics con~ofl~g for other factors (see table 3-11 inch. 3).
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222 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Table C-9-Differences in Preference Weights According to Respondent Health-State Experience No experience Experience Functional Iimitations/symptoms weight (number) weight (number) Cannot drive a car or use public transportation (M2). . . . . . . . . Have to stay at hospital or nursing home (Ml) . . . . . . . . . . Are limited in the recreational activities you may participate in (S2). . . . . . Wear glasses or contact lenses (H19) . . . . . . . . . . . Need help to eat or go to the bathroom (S1 ) . . . . . . . . . . Experience loss of consciousness due to seizures, blackouts or coma (HI) . . . . Have trouble talking, such as a lisp, stuttering or hoarseness (H14). . . . . . You cant stop worrying (H23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have pain in your ear or trouble hearing (H17) . . . . . . . . . Overweight or have acne on your face(H16). . . . . . . . . . Pain or discomfort in your eyes or Vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix (H15), . Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep (H21) . . . . . . . . . Have difficulty in walking because of a paralyzed or broken Ieg, but you have no other limitations on activity(H5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints (H6) . . . . . . . Experience a lot of tiredness or weakness (H9). . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with sexual interest or performance(H22) . . . . . . . . Have an itchy rash overlarge areas of your body(H13) . . . . . . . . Have pain while you are urinating or having a bowel movement (H7) . . . . . Have headaches or dizziness (H12) . . . . . . . . . . . . Often depressed or upset (H11 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . Have drainage from your sexual organs and discomfort or pain (H3) . . . . . Cough, wheeze or have trouble breathing (H1O) . . . . . . . . . Have a bad burn over large areas of your body (H2) . . . . . . . . Have trouble learning, remembering or thinking clearly . . . . . . . Have to use a walker or wheelchair under your own control (P2) . . . . . . Have stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea(H8) . . . . . . . . . Have trouble with the use of drugs or alcohol (H24) . . . . . . . . Have to be in bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someone else (P1) . . . . . -0.044(826) -0.056(556) -0.062(679) -0.078(310) -0.104(956) --0.116(937) -0.189(970) -0.218(820) -0.222(684) -0.233(552) -0.251 (910) -0.259(651) -0.260(857) -0.265(473) -0.282(761) -0.284(886) -0.302(831) -0.308(787) -0.324(607) -0.329(738) -0.330(882) -0.338(700) -0.372(960) -0.375(874) -0.385(922) -0.387(617) -0.460(902) -0.564(926) -0.056(173) -0.041 (441) -0.063(321) -0.044(689) -0.147 (40) -0.082 (59) -0.155 (31) -0.205(170) -0.204(315) -0.192(438) -0.216 (85) -0.230(343) -0.214(141) -0.243(525) -0.253(235) -0.207 (85) -0.273(166) -0.266(204) -0.276(388) -0.319(256) -0.290(107) -0.271 (294) -0.399 (30) -0.314(122) -0.238 (78) -0.346(381) -0.396 (74) -0.504 (74) SOURCE: Office ofTechnology Assessmen~ 1992. Based on analysesofOregon Health Services Commission telephone surveydata. Of some concern are the 12 significant differences in preference scores by health-state experience (see table 3-11 in ch.3). For all of the 12 differences, respondents who had experienced the health state viewed it more favorably than those who had not. Table C-9 and figure C-4 show the weights of respondents with and without health-state experience. Although different, the two sets of weights are highly correlated (correlation coefficient =0.96) If ranking had been determined by category and net benefit within category and the preference weights of those having experienced the health state in question had been used instead of average weights, there would have been shifts in CT pair placement on the list. A total of 45 CT pairs (6 percent) would shift up or down the list by10 or more lines relative to the placement expected if average scores were used. Following these shifts, six CT pairs would change coverage status with coverage set at line 587 (three would move up to be covered, three would move down to lose coverage). Because those who have experienced a symptom or functional limitation view it as less burdensome than those who have nonexperienced it, applying the "experience weights usually has the effect of shifting the CT pair down the list. Take, for example, a treatment for a condition that improves mobility and reduces the probability that a patient would need to use a walker or wheelchair following treatment. This reduced chance of reliance on a walker or wheelchair is valued more by those never having experienced their use. If weights of those with experience with wheelchairs and walkers are used, this CT pair would move down the list. Given the significant differences in some weights by sex (see table 3-1 1), it may be appropriate to selectively apply womens or mens weights to conditions that only affect one sex. Applying womens weights for the symptoms drainage from sexual organs and sexual dysfunction to dysmenorrhea (CT pair 574), which is characterized by these symptoms, for example, shifts this CT pair down the list 10 lines. Women view these symptoms more favorably then men do. Box C-5 shows how the calculation of net benefit for the dysmenorrhea CT pair is affected by using mens and womens weights. Summary The science of defining and measuring health-state preferences is evolving and is important because there is an increasing need to assess health care interventions in terms of mortality and morbidity, taking into account public preferences for various morbidity states. Measures
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-. Appendix C-Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences 223 Figure C-4-Survey Weights of Respondents With and Without Health-State Experience Survey weight ~ No experience Experience SOURCE: OfficeofT%hnology Assessment 1992. 8asedondata from the Oregon Health Services Commission. of health-state preference have been incorporated into the l design of clinical trials, and their analyses show that the ability to detect a treatments effectiveness is sometimes improved when quality-of-life measures are used (108). Oregon conducted a survey to assess public health-state preferences and used the preference weights from this survey to assess the net benefit of the 709 treatments on the prioritized list. In the final prioritization scheme used by the HSC, the quantified net benefit term that included consideration of patient preferences was not an important determinant of CT pair order. There has, however, been considerable debate as to whether the preferences as assessed in Oregon could be used as a part of a prioritization process. l OTA concludes that the public health-state preferences as assessed in Oregon should not yet be used as part of a prioritization process for the following reasons: More than one-third of respondents provided inconsistent responses to the survey. Respondents who were poor, Medicaid recipients, or members of racial/ethnic minority groups were more likely to give inconsistent responses. The extent of inconsistent responses may indicate that respondents were not able to comprehend the content of the survey by phone. Most of the preferences of consistent respondents were significantly different from those of inconsistent respondents, but the two sets of weights are highly correlated. When adjustments are made for inconsistencies, the weights change and when applied to the list, significantly change the order of 7 percent of CT pairs (i.e., change the order by 10 or more lines). There is considerable person-to-person variation in preferences, as evidenced by relatively large standard deviations associated with mean weights. Some of this variation can be explained by differences in preferences according to characteristics such as age,
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Box C-5-Calculating Net Benefit Using Womens vs. Mens Weights for the Condition-Treatment (CT) Pair Dysmenorrhea Womens weights Without treatment With treatment QoL State pa FL/S b Weight c value d (P X Value) 1. Death . . . . 0.00 .000 0.000 0.0000 2. Morbidity state 1 . . 0.90 H3 -0.3071 0.6929 0.62361 3. Morbidity state 2 . . 0.10 H22 -0.2557 0.7443 0.07443 4. Morbidity state 3 . . 5. Perfect health . . 0.00 0.000 1.000 0.0000 Z (P x QoL value) . 0.69804 Mens weights Without treatment QoL pa FL/S b Weight c value d (P X Value) 0.00 -1.000 0.000 0.0000 0.20 H3 -0.3071 0.6929 0.13858 0.05 H22 -0.2557 0.7443 0.037215 0.75 0.000 1.000 0.7500 0.925795 With treatment QoL QoL State pa FL/S b Weight c value d (P X value) 1. Death . . . . 0.00 -1.000 0.000 0.0000 2. Morbidity state 1 . . 0.90 H3 -0.3510 0.6490 0.5841 3. Morbidity state 2 . . 0.10 H22 -0.3059 0.6941 0.06941 4. Morbidity state 3 . . 5. Perfect health . . 0.00 0.000 1.000 0.0000 Z (P X QoL Value) . 0.65351 QoL QoL pa FL/ S b Weight c value d (P X value) 0.00 -1.000 0.000 0.0000 0.20 H3 -0.3510 0.6490 0.1298 0.05 H22 -0.3059 0.6941 0.034705 0.75 0.000 1.000 0.7500 0.914505 NOTE: Net benefit is the difference between the value of Z (P x QoL value) for patients with and without treatment. Forwornen, the net benefit is .925795 -0.69S04. 0.227755. For men, the net benefit is 0.914505465351 = 0.260995. a P probability of being in state. b FUS ~WtiMal Iimitationkymptom assodated with health state (see box 3-D for description of health states). c Wejght= thewe~~the pu~~~gm tothe~~tional [imitatio~symptom. Can be interpreted as the amount Wken may from Pedwt h~lth (vaiu$d ~ 1 ) associated with the presence of a functional limitation/symptom. Weights for all telephone survey items are shown in box 3-D. d QoLval~ -quality ~ life ~lue -(1 +w~gM), ~en there ismorethan one functio~l limitat~n or symptom ~ign~ to the health ~ate, weights are dded before SUmming to 1. Can be interpreted aa the value associated with the state on a scale from O (death) to 1 (perfect health). SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1992. Based on data from the Oregon Heaith Services Commission.
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Appendix C--Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 225 sex, and whether the respondent had experienced the condition in question. When average weights of subpopulations are applied (e.g., women, those with experience with the health state), the order of selected CT pairs changes significantly (i.e., by 10 or more lines). l Oregon used an adaptation of the QWB scale to assess health-state preferences. The majority of health states as measured by Oregon and Kaplan are similar. This finding is surprising, given that California respondents were asked to consider the health state in question at one point in time while Oregon respondents were to consider the health state to be permanent. The literature suggests that duration of a health state dramatically affects preference (234). It is possible that respondents in both California and Oregon disregarded the instructions and gave preferences using their own frame of reference. An examination of a possible cause of three extreme differences in health-state preference between California and Oregon respondents points to a possible limitation in how preferences are calculated. There appear to be differences in preferences when health states are measured as compared with best health versus as compared with another symptomatic health state. In light of the extent of inconsistent responses, the Oregon weights should have been adjusted before being incorporated into the net benefit calculation. The inconsistencies in responses are troublesome, especially as inconsistent respondents were more likely to have been low income, Medicaid recipients, and members of racial/ ethnic minority groups. Nonetheless, if one assumes that the inconsistencies do not reflect total incomprehension of the survey, corrections could have been made to minimize their effect. The second issue, that preference weights differ significantly by sociodemographic and health characteristics, is more troubling. In light of the finding that using different weights for certain CT pairs (e.g., womens weights for dysmenorrhea) alters CT pair order on the list, careful consideration might be given to when subpopulation weights should be applied It may be that finding such differences invalidates the premise that health preferences are universally held and hence the use of such weights at all. The last issue identified, that many of the preference weights estimated by Kaplan and Oregon are similar when they should probably be different, points to potential limitations in the underlying method. It maybe that respondents cannot articulate preferences while simultaneously considering externally defined prognosis or duration of the health state. In light of these issues, OTA concludes that much additional research is needed to validate health-state preference instruments and measurement techniques before they can be used as part of resource allocation decisions.
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226 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal REP : Phone No PAGE : Area No
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Appendix C-Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 227 B Now here is the second You have to stay at a hospital or nursing home, have to be in bed o r in a wheelchair controlled by someone else, nee d help to eat or go to the bathroom, and have losse s of consciousness from seizures, blackouts or coma Again on a scale of O to 100, what score woul d you give in this situation? . . C. Moving on to other situations, you have to stay a t a hospital or nursing home, have to be in bed o r in a wheelchair controlled by someone else, an d need help to eat or go to the bathroom, but hav e no other health problems . . . SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 D. You can be taken anywhere, but have to be i n bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someon e else need help to eat or go to the bathroom but have no other health problems. . . SCORE DK\NA. 99 9 E. You can be taken anywhere, but have to be i n bed or in a wheelchair controlled by someon e else Otherwise, you have no restrictions o n activity and have no other health problems. . SCOR E DK\NA. 999 F. You cannot drive a car or use publi c transportation you have to use a walker o r wheelchair under your own control, and ar e limited in the recreational activities yo u may participate in You have no other healt h problems. . . . . . SCORE DK\NA. 999 G. You can be taken anywhere but you have to us e a walker or a wheelchair under your own control and are limited in the recreational activitie s you may perform but have no other health problems .SCOR E DK\NA. 99 9 H You can be taken anywhere, but you have to us e a walker or a wheelchair under your own control Otherwise, you have no restrictions on activit y and have no other health problems . . SCORE DK/NA. 99 9 I You can go anywhere and have no limitation s or other activity, but wear glasses or contac t lenses. . . . . . SCORE DK/NA. 999
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228 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Before we continue Id like to remind you that we are asking you t o rate each health situation on a scale of O to 100, where O is deat h and 100 is good health You may use any number from O rating J K. L. M. N. o. P. Q. R. s. You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but have pai n or discomfort in your eyes or vision problem s that corrective lenses can't fix. . . You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but have stomac h aches vomiting or diarrhea . . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations on physical or other activity, but have troubl e falling asleep or staying asleep. . . You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but have a ba d burn over large areas of your body. . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations on physical or other activity, but are o n prescribed medicine or a prescribed diet fo r health reasons. . . . . You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but hav e drainage from your sexual organs and dis comfort or pain. . . . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations on physical or other activity, but have troubl e with sexual interest or performance . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations on physical or other activity, but have pai n in your ear or trouble hearing. . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations on physical or other activity, but have troubl e learning, remembering or thinking clearly . You can go anywhere You have difficult y walking, but no other limitations on activity to 100 for you r SCORE DK\NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 99 9 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK\NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK\NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999
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Appendix C-Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences 229 As we continue please remember we are asking you to rate each healt h situation on a scale of O to 100 where O is death and 100 is goo d health You may use any number form O to 100 in your ratings T u v w x Y Z1 Z2. Z3. Z4. Z5. You can go anywhere You have difficulty i n walking because of a paralyzed or broken leg but you have no other limitations on activity You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but you hav e trouble talking, such as a lisp, stutterin g or hoarseness . . . . You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but you can t stop worrying . . . . You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but you have a painful or weak condition of the back or joints You can go anywhere and have no limitation s on physical or other activity, but you have a n itchy rash over large areas of your body. . You can go anywhere and have no limitations on you r physical or other activity, but you have pai n while you are urinating or having a bowel movement SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK/NA. 99 9 SCORE DK/NA. 99 9 You can go anywhere and have no limitations o n physical activity, but you have trouble with th e use of drugs or alcohol. . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations o n physical activity, but you have headaches o r dizziness. . . . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations o n physical or other activity, but you experienc e a lot of tiredness or weakness . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations o n physical or other activity, but you are ofte n depressed or upset . . . You can go anywhere and have no limitations o n physical or other activity, but you cough wheeze or have trouble breathing . . SCORE DK/NA. 99 9 SCORE DK/NA. 999 a SCORE DK/NA. 99 9 SCORE DK/NA. 999 SCORE DK\NA. 999
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230 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal Z6 You can go anywhere and have no limitations o n physical or other activity, but are overweigh t or have acne on your face . . . SCORE DK/NA. 99 9 Thank you for your ratings Next I have here a list of medica l conditions As I read each one will you please tell me if you hav e had or presently have the condition ? (INT: START WITH RED-CHECKED ITEM AND WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH ALL 30.) I NO YES HAD bumu~a Awn 1. You have been, at some time, unable t o drive a car or use publi c transportation . . 2 You have used a walker or wheelchai r under your own control . 3 You have been limited in th e recreational activities in whic h you participate. . . 4. You i n o r 5. You o r 6. Y OU o r 7. You have experienced difficult y walking because of a paralyze d broken leg. . . have had stomach aches, vomitin g diarrhea. . . . have had trouble falling aslee p staying asleep. . . have been overweight o r have had acne on your face. . 8 You have experienced pain in you r ear or have had trouble hearing 9 You have stayed in a hospital o r in a nursing home . . 10 You have had trouble with th e use of drugs or alcohol. . 11. You have had drainage from your sexua l organs and discomfort or pain. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 YES, flONTH tEARS
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Appendix C-Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 231 YES s I NO YES HAD MONTCONDITION 12. You have had headaches or dizziness 13. You have been in a bed or a wheelchai r controlled by someone else. . 14 You have often felt depresse d or upset . . . 15 You have had trouble learning remembering or thinking clearly. 16. You have experienced pain while urinating or havin g a bowel movement . . 17 You have coughed, wheezed or had trouble breathing. . 18. You have had pain or weakness in your back or joints . . 19. You have had an itchy rash over larg e areas or your body . . 20. You wear glasses or contact lenses. 21. You have had trouble with sexua l interest or performance. . 22. You have had difficulty in walking. 23. You have had trouble talking. . 24. You have been unable to stop worrying DK/NA! 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 25. You have experienced pain or discomfort in your eyes or had vision problems that corrective lenses cant fix. . 1 NOT HAD OR HAVE YEAR. 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 26. You have been on prescribed medicine or a prescribed diet for health reasons . . . 1 27. You have had a bad burn over large areas of your body . 1 28 You have experienced a lot of tiredness or weakness. . . . 1 2 2 2 3 3 3
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232 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal 29 You have needed help in eating or going to the bathroom . 1 30. You have had loss in consciousness due to seizures, blackouts or coma 1 2 3 3 Finally, a few questions about yourself. 31. Including yourself, how many persons are living in your immediate household? NUMBER OF PERSONS Refused . 99 32. How many are 18 years or older? 33. How many are under 18 years of age? NUMBER OF PERSONS Refused . 99 NUMBER OF PERSONS Refused . 99 34 We are interested in the level of health insurance coverage fo r Oregon families Is anyone in your household presently covered b y health insurance, that is a health insurance pla n which pay s any part of a doctor or a hospital bill ? Do not count Medicare Medicaid or plans that pay only for accidents DK/NA . 3 NO. . 2 I YES . 1 b 34a. How many adults and children in your househol d are covered by this type of health insurance plan ? NUMBER COVERED 34b. Are there any adults or children in your household who are not covered by this type of health insurance? DK/NA . 1 NO . . 2 I YES . . 3 ti34c. How many adults or children in your household are not covered by this type of health insurance? NUMBER
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Appendix C--Oregons Survey of Public Health-State Preferences l 233 35. Incidentally, do card, or not? you or anyone in your household carry a DK/NA. . NO . ~ys Medicai d 1 2 [ INT : REFER THEN COMPARE k 35a. How many persons in your household are covere d NUMBER COVERED by TO Q 31 FOR THE TOTAL HH SIZE AND WRITE IT HERE. ( )* THE INCOME LEVEL FOR THE HH SIZE IN THE TABLE BELOW AND ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:] 36. By the way, is your total household income fo r below $ ? HH SIZE INCOME ABOVE. SAME 1 . . . $ 6,00 0 BELOW. 2 . . . 8,00 0 DK/NA. 3 . . . 10,000 4 . . . 12,000 5 l . . 14,000 6 . . . 16,000 7 . . . 18,250 8 . . . 20,250 9 . . . 22,250 10. . . 24,250 1989 above or . l 37. Thinking back over the past 12 months, was there any you or someone in your household should have seen a for some reason did not ? . . . . 1 2 3 4 when doctor but DK/NA . 1 NO. . l 2 YES.. . 3 +37a. What do you feel is the main reason this person o r persons did not see a doctor when they should have ? (PROBE!) What else ? 38. Would you please tell me in (or near) which town or city yo u live ? TOWN OR CITY Refused . . . 999
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234 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal best describes your racial or ethni c 39 Which one of thes e heritage -white black America n Indian Orienta l or Hispanic ? WHITE 1 2 3 4 5 6 l . . BLACK AMERICAN INDIAN ORIENTAL. . HISPANIC. . Refused . question What on your last birthday ? 40. One final you r age YEARS Refused 99 tell us about you r 41 Is there anything else you would like t o health or about healt h care in Oregon ? (THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!) -----------------------OBSERVATION) : R'S Sex? MALE ..... 1 FEMALE . 2 (BY 42. Interviewer's Sig Dat e
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Appendix D Prioritized Health Services List PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA, OTHER BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA, BRONCHOPNEUMONIA, INFLUENZA WITH PNEUMONIA MEDICAL THERAPY 020.3-.5,022.1,073,466,481 -483,485-486,487.1 90000-99999 1 Category: 1 TUBERCULOSIS MEDICAL THERAPY 010-012 90000-99999 2 Category: 5 PERITONITIS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 567 90000-99999 3 Category: 1 FOREIGN BODY IN PHARYNX, LARYNX, TRACHEA, BRONCHUS & ESOPHAGUS REMOVAL OF FOREIGN BODY 933.0.1,934.0-.1,935.1 31635,40804 4 Category: 1 APPENDICITIS APPENDECTOMY 540-543 44950,44900,44960 5 Category: 1 RUPTURED INTESTINE REPAIR 569.3 44600-10 6 Category: 1 HERNIA WITH OBSTRUCTION AND/OR GANGRENE REPAIR 550.0-.1,551-552 39502-41, 43330-31, 43885, 44050, 44346, 49500-611, 49000, 51500,55540 7 Category: 1 CROUP SYNDROME, ACUTE LARYNGOTRACHEITIS MEDICAL THERAPY, INTUBATION, TRACHEOTOMY 464.0-.4 90000-99999,31500,31600 8 Category: 1 ACUTE ORBITAL CELLULITIS MEDICAL THERAPY 376.0 90000-99999 9 Category: 1 ECTOPIC PREGNANCY SURGERY 633 58700, 58720,58770,58980,59135 10 Category: 1 INJURY TO MAJOR BLOOD VESSELS OF UPPER EXTREMITY LIGATION 903 37618 11 Category: 1 RUPTURED SPLEEN REPAIR/SPLENECTOMY/INCISION 865.04 38100,49000,38115 12 Category: 1
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236 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ACUTE PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT IC D -9: 614.0,614.3,616.5,615. 0 CPT: 11043,58150,58805,58925,58980,90000-99999 Line: 1 3 Category: 1 Diagnosis: ACUTE PYELONEPHRITIS, RENAL & PERINEPHRIC ABSCESS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL THERAPY IcD-9: 590.1-. 2 CPT: 50200,50220,90000-99999 Line: 1 4 Category: 1 Diagnosis: ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK DUE TO FOOD, DRUG OR OTHER NON-VENOMOUS SOURCE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC D -9: 995.0,995. 2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 1 5 Category: 1 Diagnosis: GALLSTONE WITH CHOLECYSTITIS AND OTHER DISORDERS OF BILE DUCT Treatment: CHOLECYSTECTOMY IcD-9: 574.0-.1,574.3-.4,575.0.5,576.1-. 3 CPT: 47420-60,47480-90,47500-605,49000 Line: 1 6 Category: 1 Oiagnosis: RESPIRATORY OBSTRUCTION Treatment: REPAIR OF CHOANAL ATRESIA ICD-9: 748.0 CPT: 30540 Line: 1 7 Category: 2 Diagnosis: SYPHILI S Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 090-097 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 1 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: POLYCYTHEMIA NEONATORUM, SYMPTOMATIC Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 776. 4 CPT: 36450,90000-99999 Line: 20 Category: 2 Diagnosis: PREGNANCY Treatment: OBSTETRICAL CARE Line: 21 Category: 2 Diagnosis: LOU BIRTH WEIGHT (500 GM AND OVER) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 765.12.19,769,778.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 2 2 Category: 2 Diagnosis: SYNDROME OF INFANT OF A DIABETIC MOTHER AND NEONATAL HYPOGLYCEMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 775.O,775.6 CPT: 36510,36660,90000-99999 Line: 2 3 Category: 2 Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 771 .4-.5 CPT: 900O0-99999 Line: 2 4 Category: 2
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 237 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: GALACTOSEMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 271 .1,774.5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 2 5 Category: 2 Diagnosis: HYPOGLYCEMIC COMA; HYPOGLYCEMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 251.0-251. 2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 2 6 Category: 3 Diagnosis: WHOOPING COUGH Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 032-033 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 2 7 Category: 1 Diagnosis: PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 270.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 2 8 Category: 4 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC D -9: 24 3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 2 9 Category: 4 Diagnosis: ACUTE OSTEOMYELITIS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 730.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 3 0 Category: 1 Diagnosis: DEEP OPEN WOUND OF NECK, INCLUDING LARYNX; FRACTURE OF LARYNX OR TRACHEA, OPEN Treatment: REPAIR ICD-9: 874,807.6 CPT: 12001-12007,13101,13131-50 Line: 3 1 Category: 1 Diagnosis: DISEASES OF PHARYNX INCLUDING RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 478.21-.22,478.2 4 CPT: 42700-42999,90000-99999 Line: 3 2 Category: 1 Diagnosis: PNEUMOTHORAX AND HEMOTHORAX Treatment: TUBE THORACOSTOMY/THORACOTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 512,860.2 CPT: 90000-99999,32020,32100,32500 Line: 3 3 Category: 1 Diagnosis: HYPOTENSION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 458 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 3 4 Category: 1 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF SHAFT OF BONE, OPEN Treatment: REDUCTION ICD-9: 812.3,813.3,813.9,818. 1,821 .1,823.3,823.9 CPT: 245OO-15,255OO-25575,2561O-2562O, 27500-06,27750-58,27800-06 Line: 3 5 Category: 1 DIAGNOSIS: PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURY Treatment: NEUROPLASTY Line: 3 6 Category: 12
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238 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: PYOGENIC ARTHRITIS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT [CO-9: 711 Line: 3 7 Category: 1 Diagnosis: INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION w/o MENTION OF HERNIA Treatment: EXCISION ICD-9: 560.0,560.2,560.8-.9 CPT: 44005,64020,44050,44110-30,44140-44 Line: 38 Category: 1 Diagnosis: PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS Treatment: LIGATION ICD-9: 747.0 CPT: 33820-22 Line: 3 9 Category: 2 Diagnosis: HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS OF FETUS AND NEWB0RN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 776.0-.1,776. 3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 4 0 Category: 2 Diagnosis: CONDITIONS INVOLVING THE TEMPERATURE REGULATION OF NEWBORNS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IcD-9: 778.2-. 4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 4 1 Category: 2 Diagnosis: BIRTH TRAUMA FOR BABY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IcD-9: 76 7 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 42 Category: 2 Diagnosis: HYPOCALCEMIA, HYPOMAGNESEMIA AND OTHER ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC DISTURBANCES SPECIFIC TO THE FETUS AND NEWBORN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 36510,36660,90000-99999 Line: 4 3 Category: 2 Diagnosis: PERINATAL DISORDERS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 777.1-.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 4 4 Category: 2 Diagnosis: ANEMIA OF PREMATURITY OR TRANSIENT NEONATAL NEUTROPENIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IcD-9: 776.6-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 4 5 Category: 2 Diagnosis: HYDROPS FETALIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 4 6 Category: 2 Diagnosis: ACUTE BACTERIAL MENINGITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 024,027.0,036,32 0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 4 7 Category: 3 Diagnosis: HYPOTHERMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 4 8 Category: 3
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List 239 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: BURN, PARTIAL THICKNESS WITHOUT VITAL SITE, 1O-3O% OF BODY SURFACE Treatment: FREE SKIN GRAFT, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 941.26-.27,.36-.37,942.20.24, .29.34, .39,943.2.3,944.20.24,.26-.34, .36.38,945.20-.21, .23.31,.33.39,946.2.3,948,949.2-.3 CPT: 11000, 11040-1,11960-70,14020, 14040-1,15000-15121,15200, 15220, 15240,15260,15350,15400, 15500-10,1600016035,35206,90000-99999 Line: 4 9 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 410 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 5 0 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ACUTE PULMONARY HEART DISEASE AND PULMONARY EMBOLI Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 415 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 5 1 Category: 3 Diagnosis: THYROTOXICOSIS WITH OR WITHOUT GOITER, ENDOCRINE EXOPHTHALMOS; CHRONIC THYROIDITIS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 242,245. 1-.9,246.8,376.2 CPT: 60245,67440,67599-67622,90000-99999 Line: 5 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LIFE-THREATENING ARRHYTHMIAS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 427.1 ,427.4.5,746.86,996.01 CPT: 33200-33208,33212,33820,90000-99999 Line: 5 3 Category: 3 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF RIBS AND STERNUM, OPEN Treatment: STABILIZ E ICD-9: 807.1,807. 3 CPT: 21805,21810,21825 Line: 5 4 Category: 1 Diagnosis: FATAL RICKETTSIAL AND OTHER ARTHROPOD-BORNE DISEASES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 080-083,085.0,085.5,085 .9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 5 5 Category: 1 Diagnosis: POISONING BY INGESTION AND INJECTION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 960.2-.5,961.0, .3.9,962.0, .2-.8,963.0, .2.9,964.5, .7-.8,965.5.7,966,968.0,968.5.7,969.6,970. 1,971.0.2,972.3,972.6,972.8,974.0.4,974.7,975.0.1,975.7,977.0,978-985 CPT: 43235-47,90000-99999 Line: 5 6 Category: 1 Diagnosis: PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS Treatment: INCISION AND DRAINAGE OF ABSCESS, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 475 CPT: 10160,42700,90000-99999 Line: 5 7 Category: 1 Diagnosis: RUPTURE BLADDER, NONTRAUMATIC Treatment: CYSTORRHAPHY SUTURE IC D -9: 596. 6 CPT: 51860-51865 Line: 5 8 Category: 1 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF FACE BONES Treatment: SURGERY ICD-9: 802 CPT: 21310-37,21454-5,21461 ,21462, 21360,21365,21385-6, 21406, 21421 -22,2147O,3O14O,3O52O,3O62D,31O21 Line: 5 9 Category: 1
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240 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: LIFE-THREATENING EPISTAXIS Treatment: SEPTOPLASTY/REPAIR/CONTROL HEMORRHAGE ICD-9: 784.7 CPT: 30520-30999 Line: 6 0 Category: 1 Diagnosis: ACUTE MASTOIDITIS Treatment: MASTOIDECTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 383.0 CPT: 69601-46,69670,90000-99999 Line: 6 1 Category: 1 Diagnosis: ACQUIRED DEFORMITY OF HEAD AND COMPOUND/DEPRESSED FRACTURES OF SKULL Treatment: CRANIOTOMY/CRANIECTOMY ICD-9: 738.0-.1,800,803,80 4 CPT: 21365,21395,61304-576,62000 Line: 6 2 Category: 1 Diagnosis: DISLOCATION OF ELBOW, HAND, ANKLE, FOOT, CLAVICLE AND SHOULDER, OPEN Treatment: RELOCATION ICD-9: 831 .04,831.1,832.1,833.1 ,834. 1,837.1,838.1 CPT: 23520-52,23650-80,24600-35,25660-95,26641 -715,27840-48 Line: 6 3 Category: 1 Diagnosis: SEPTICEMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 6 4 Category: 1 Diagnosis: ERYSIPELAS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 035 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 6 5 Category: 1 Diagnosis: STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 695.1 CPT: 90000-99999,11100-11101 Line: 6 6 Category: 1 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF BILE DUCT Treatment: EXCISION, REPAIR [CD-9: 576.4-. 9 CPT: 47420-60,47500-999 Line: 6 7 Category: 1 Diagnosis: RUPTURE LIVER Treatment: SUTURE/REPAIR ICD-9: 864.04 CPT: 47350,47360 Line: 6 8 Category: 1 Diagnosis: RESPIRATORY FAILURE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 518.81 CPT: 31600,90000-99999 Line: 6 9 Category: 1 Diagnosis: LUNG CONTUSION OR LACERATION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 861.21,861.31 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 7 0 Category: 1 Diagnosis: TRANSPLACENTAL HEMORRHAGE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 772.0,772.3.4,776.5 CPT: -99999 Line: 7 1 Category: 2
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List l 241 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 NEONATAL THYROTOXICOSIS MEDICAL THERAPY 775.3 90000-99999 72 Category: 2 DRUG REACTIONS & INTOXICATIONS SPECIFIC TO NEWBORN MEDICAL THERAPY 779.4 90000-99999 73 Category: 2 NEONATAL MYASTHENIA GRAVIS MEDICAL THERAPY 775.2 90000-99999 74 Category: 2 CLEFT PALATE WITH AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION, PIERRE ROBlN DEFORMITY LIP-TONGUE SUTURE, MEDICAL THERAPY 749.0,519. 8 30140,30520,30620,41510,90000-99999 75 Category: 2 DRUG WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME IN NEWBORN MEDICAL THERAPY 779.5 90000-99999 76 Category: 2 TOXIC EFFECT OF GASES, FUMES, AND VAPORS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN 986-987 99180-99182 77 Category: 3 PHLEBITIS & THROMBOPHLEBITIS, DEEP LIGATION AND DIVISION, MEDICAL THERAPY 451.0.2,451.8 REWIRING HYPERBARIC OXYGEN 78 Category: 3 DISLOCATION KNEE & HIP, OPEN RELOCATION 835.1 ,836.4,836.6 27250-55,27550-27557 79 Category: 3 EMPYEMA AND ABSCESS OF LUNG MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 510,513. 0 9OOOO-99999,31622,32OOO-321OO 80 Category: 3 CERVICAL VERTEBRAL DISLOCATIONS, OPEN OR CLOSED; OTHER VERTEBRAL DISLOCATIONS, OPEN REPAIR/RECONSTRUCTION 839.0-.1,839.3,839.5,839. 7 22315,22325-22327,22505,22590-22650,22840-22855 81 Category: 3 OPEN FRACTURE OF EPIPHYSIS OF LOWER EXTREMITIES REDUCTION 820.11,821.3 2 27516-27519 82 Category: 3 SPINAL CORD INJURY WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF VERTEBRAL INJURY MEDICAL THERAPY 952 90000-99999 83 Category: 3
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242 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 507 CPT: 90000-99999,31645,31500 Line: 8 4 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART DUE TO RHEUMATIC FEVER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 391,392.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 8 5 Category: 3 Diagnosis: FRACTURE AND OTHER INJURY OF CERVICAL VERTEBRA Treatment: CERVICAL LAMINECTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 806.0-806.1 ,805.0-805.1,952.0 Line: 8 6 Category: 3 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF HIP, CLOSED Treatment: REDUCTION ICD-9: 820.00,820.02.09,820.2,820.8 CPT: 27230-27232,27235-27240,27242-27248 Line: 8 7 Category: 3 Diagnosis: SUBARACHNOID AND INTERCEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE/HEMATOMA Treatment: BURR HOLES, CRANIECTOMY/CRANIOTOMY ICD-9: 430-432,852-85 3 Line: 8 8 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ACUTE PANCREATITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 577.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 8 9 Category: 3 Diagnosis: HYDATIDIFORM MOLE Treatment: D & C, HYSTERECTOMY ICD-9: 630 CPT: 58120,58150-200 Line: 9 0 Category: 1 Diagnosis: THROMBOCYTOPENIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 28 7 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 91 Category: 1 Diagnosis: TOXIC EFFECT OF VENOM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 989.5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 9 2 Category: 1 Diagnosis: CANCRUM ORIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 528.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 9 3 Category: 1 Diagnosis: CANDIDIASIS OF LUNG, DISSEMINATED CANDIDIASIS, CANDIDAL ENDOCARDITIS AND MENINGITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [co-9: 112.4-.5,112.81,112.8 3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 9 4 Category: 1 Diagnosis: MYOCARDITIS, PERICARDITIS AND ENDOCARDITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 420-423 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 9 5 Category: 1
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 243 Diagnosis: RUPTURE Treatment: SURGERY ICD-9: 530.4 CPT: 43100-0 Line: 9 6 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 OF ESOPHAGUS ,43110-43235,43330-31 Category: 1 Diagnosis: TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS AND STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 695.1 CPT: 90000-99999,11100-11101 Line: 9 7 Category: 1 Diagnosis: CHOLERA, RAT-BITE FEVER AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF MUSHROOMS, FISH, BERRIES, ETC. Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 001,026,988 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 9 8 Category: 1 Diagnosis: DELIRIUM: AMPHETAMINE, COCAINE, OR OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 292.81,293.0 0 CPT: 90220 Line: 9 9 Category: 1 Diagnosis: INJURY TO BLOOD VESSELS OF THE THORACIC CAVITY Treatment: REPAIR ICD-9: 901 CPT: 37616 Line: 10 0 Category: 1 Diagnosis: NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN FETUS OR NEWBORN AND PERINATAL INTESTINAL PERFORATION Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 777.5-. 6 CPT: 3651O,3666O,9OOOO-99999 Line: 10 1 Category: 2 Diagnosis: DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 286.6,776. 2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 10 2 Category: 2 Diagnosis: CEREBRAL DEPRESSION, COMA, & OTHER ABNORMAL CEREBRAL SIGNS OF NEWBORN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 779.2 CPT: 3651O,3666O,9OOOO-99999 Line: 10 3 Category: 2 Diagnosis: TORSION OF OVARY Treatment: OOPHORECTC+4Y, OVARIAN CYSTECTOMY ICD-9: 620.5 CPT: 58925,58940-43,59120-26 Line: 10 4 Category: 1 Diagnosis: SPONTANEOUS ABORTION COMPLICATED BY INFECTION AND/OR HEMORRHAGE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 634.0-. 1 CPT: 59820-21,90000-99999 Line: 10 5 Category: 1 Diagnosis: OTHER RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS OF FETUS AND NEWBORN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 770.0.6,770.8-.9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 10 6 Category: 2 Diagnosls: OTHER NONINFECTIOUS GASTROENTERITIS AND COLITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 558 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 10 7 Category: 3
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244 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: UNSPECIFIED DISEASES DUE TO MYCOBACTERIA, ACTINOMYCOTIC INFECTIONS, AND TOXOPLASMOSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 031.9,039,13 0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 10 8 Category: 3 Diagnosis: BOTULISM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 005.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 10 9 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ABSCESS OF INTESTINE Treatment: DRAIN ABSCESS, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 569.5 CPT: 9OOOO-99999,45355,45386,4531O-45315 Line: 111 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ADULT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 518.4-. 5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 11 2 Category: 3 Diagnosis: HERPETIC ENCEPHALITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 054.3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 11 3 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ARTHROPOD-B0RNE VIRAL DISEASES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 060-066 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 11 4 Category: 3 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF PELVIS, OPEN AND CLOSED Treatment: REDUCTION ICD-9: 808 CPT: 27033,27210-27225 Line: 11 6 Category: 3 Diagnosis: SUBACUTE MENINGITIS (EG. TUBERCULOSIS, CRYPTOCOCCOSIS) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 013,054.72, 117.5,117.9,123. 1,130.8,321-322 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 11 8 Category: 3
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Appendix Prioritized Health Services List l 245 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 CRUSH INJURIES: TRUNK, UPPER LIMBS, LOWER LIMB INCLUDING BLOOD VESSELS SURGICAL TX 900,902,926. 11.12,927.03,927.2.9,927. 10,928,925,927.00,927.01 15220,24495,25020,25023,27600-27602,29105-29131 ,29240-29280,29345-29440, 29520-29580,37615-18 119 Category: 3 ACUTE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS AND OTHER ACUTE RENAL FAILURE MEDICAL THERAPY INCLUDING DIALYSIS 580.0,580.8-.9,58 4 90000-99999 120 Category: 3 ACCIDENTS INVOLVING EXPOSURE TO NATURAL ELEMENTS (EG. LIGHTNING STRIKE, HEATSTROKE) MEDICAL THERAPY 90000-99999 121 Category: 1 DISSECTING OR RUPTURED ANEURYSM SURGICAL TREATMENT 441 .0-.1,441.3,441.5 33860-77,35081-103,35301 -11,35331-51,35450-515,35526-31 ,35536-52,35560-63,3560116,35626-46,35651,35663 122 Category: 1 ARTERIAL EMBOLISM/THROMBOSIS: ABDOMINAL AORTA, THORACIC AORTA SURGICAL TREATMENT 444.0-.1,. 8 34101 ,34201,35081,35363,35381 ,35536-51 123 Category: 3 CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM EXCLUDING NECROSIS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL THERAPY 751 44050,45100,45120-21 ,46070,46080 124 Category: 2 CONVULSIONS AND OTHER CEREBRAL IRRITABILITY IN NEWBORN MEDICAL THERAPY 779.0-. 1 90000-99999 125 Category: 2 ACUTE NECROSIS OF LIVER MEDICAL THERAPY 570 90000-99999 126 Category: 3 MEDICAL THERAPY 114-118 90000-99999 127 Category: 3 INTRASPINAL AND INTRACRANIAL ABSCESS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 324 63172-63173,63266-63273,90000-99999 128 Category: 3 ANEURYSM OF PULMONARY ARTERY SURGICAL TREATMENT 417.1 33910-33915 129 Category: 3 FLAIL CHEST MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 807. 4 21800-25,90000-99999 130 Category: 3
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246 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: SEVERE HEAD INJURY: HEMATOMA/EDEMA W/ MODERATE/PROLONGED LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 851 .03,851.13,851.83,851.93,851 .43,851 .53 CPT: 61108,61314-15,62140-41 Line: 131 Category: 3 Diagnosis: RUPTURE OF PAPILLARY MUSCLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 429.5-. 6 CPT: 33542,90000-99999 Line: 13 2 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ANAEROBIC INFECTIONS REQUIRING HYPERBARIC OXYGEN Treatment: HYPERBARIC OXYGEN ICD-9: 611.3,639.0,639.6,670.2,670.4,673.0, 709.3, 729.4, 785.4,958.0,996.52,996.6.7,998.8,999.1 CPT: 99180-99182 Line: 13 3 Category: 3 Diagnosis: TRAUMATIC AMPUTATION OF ARM(S) & HAND(S) (COMPLETE)(PARTIAL) U & U/O COMPLICATION Treatment: REPLANTATION/AMPUTATE ICD-9: 887.0-.3,887.5-. 7 CPT: 20802,20804,20805,20806,23900,23920,23921 ,24900,24920,24925,24930,24931 ,24935,24940,25900-9 Line: 13 4 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ACUTE VASCULAR INSUFFICIENCY OF INTESTINE Treatment: COLECTOMY ICD-9: 557.0 CPT: 44140,44120-25,44141 ,44143,34151 ,34421,34451 Line: 13 5 Category: 3 Diagnosis: BURN, PARTIAL THICKNESS GREATER THAN 30% OF BODY SURFACE Treatment: FREE SKIN GRAFT, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 941.26-.27,942.20-.24, .29,943.2,944.20.24,.26.28,945.20.21,.23.29,946.2,948.30, .40,.50,.60, .70, .80,.90,949.2 10, 15770,90200,16000-16035,35206,90000-99999 Line: 13 6 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ACUTE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS: WITH LESION OF RAPIDLY PROGRESSIVE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY INCLUDING DIALYSIS ICD-9: 580.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 13 7 Category: 3 Diagnosis: IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AND OTHER NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 260-268,269.0-.3,280 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 138 Category: 5 Diagnosis: TETANUS NEONATORUM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 771.3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 13 9 Category: 2 Diagnosis: TRAUMATIC AMPUTATION OF LEG(S) (COMPLETE)(PARTIAL) H/ & U/O COMPLICATION Treatment: REPLANTATION/AMPUTATE ICD-9: 897.0.3,897.6-.7 Line: 14 0 Category: 3 Diagnosis: TRAUMATIC AMPUTATION OF FOOT/FEET (COMPLETE)(PARTIAL) w/ & w/o COMPLICATION Treatment: REPLANTATION/AMPUTATE ICD-9: 896,897.6-. 7 CPT: 20838, 20840,27888,28800-28805 Line: 141 Category: 3
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 247 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF NAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL DELIRIUM; ALCOHOL HALLUCINOSIS; UNCOMPLICATED ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL; WITHDRAWAL FROM AMPHETAMINES, COCAINE, OPIOID, SEDATIVES, HYPNOTICS, ETC. Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 291.00,291.30,291.8 0 CPT: 90220,90844 Line: 14 2 Category: 1 Diagnosis: PREVENTIVE SERVICES, CHILDREN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 14 3 Category: 4 Diagnosis: STREPTOCOCCAL SORE THROAT AND SCARLET FEVER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 034 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 14 4 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: RHEUMATIC FEVER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 390 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 14 5 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF UPPER ALIMENTARY TRACT, EXCLUDING TONGUE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 750.2-. 9 CPT: 43300-52,90000-999$9 Line: 14 6 Category: 2 Diagnosis: HYPERTENSION AND HYPERTENSIVE DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 401,402.01 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 14 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HYPERTENSIVE HEART AND RENAL DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 404 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 14 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ACUTE AND SUBACUTE ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 411.1,996.0 3 CPT: 92950-93799,33510-16,33210,33570 Line: 14 9 Category: 3 Diagnosis: DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE I Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 250.01,250.1-250.3,250.6, 251 .3,775.1 CPT: 10060,10100,11000,11042, 11050-1,11400-2,11420,11 700-1,11710-1,11730,11740, 12001,17002, 69210,90000-99999 Line: 15 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ASTHMA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 493 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 151 Category: 5 Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 531-535 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 15 2 Category: 5
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248 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 250.00 CPT: 10060,10100,11000,11042, 11050-1 ,11600-2,11420,117001, 11710-1, 11~0,11740,12001 ,170002,17100, 17110,17200,17340,20550,20600Line: 15 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ACQUIRED HYPOTHYROIDISM, DYSHORMONOGENIC GOITER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 244,246.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 15 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CALCULUS OF BILE DUCT WITH OTHER CHOLECYSTITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 574.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 15 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE INCLUDING RAPE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 15 6 Category: 1 Diagnosis: GONOCOCCAL INFECTION OF EYE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 098.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 15 7 Category: 10 Diagnosis: HIV DISEASE INCLUDING ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 042.9,043.9,044. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 15 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: EPILEPSY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 345.1,345. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 15 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HEREDITARY HEMOLYTIC ANEMIAS (EG. SICKLE CELL) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 282 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 16 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: STERILIZATIO N Treatment: VASECTOMY ICD-9: v25. 2 CPT: 55250 Line: 161 Category: 6 Diagnosis: STERILIZATION Treatment: TUBAL LIGATION [CD-9: v25.2 CPT: 58600-11 Line: 162 Category: 6 Diagnosis: BIRTH CONTROL Treatment: CONTRACEPTION MANAGEMENT ICD-9: v25.O-.1,V25.4-.9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 16 3 Category: 6
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List 249 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: IMMINENT DEATH REGARDLESS OF DIAGNOSIS Treatment: COMFORT CARE ICD-9: o CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 16 4 Category: 7 Diagnosis: DENTAL SERVICES (EG. INFECTIONS) Treatment: RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICE [CD-9: O CPT: 00415,00501,01550,02910, 02920,02940,03110,03120, 03220,03310,03320,03330, D3340,03350,054101,05420,05510,05951,06930,071 10,07210,07440-1,07510,07S20,0791012,07990,09110 Line: 16 5 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES Treatment: CLEANING AND FLUORIDE ICD-9: V72.2 CPT: 00502,00999,01201,01203,01330,01351 ,O593l-5,O5952-3,O5956-7,O5982,O59W,O726O,O749O,O794O-9,O7955 ,09610 Line: 16 6 Category: 8 Diagnosis: PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 16 7 Category: 9 Diagnosis: SOMATIC MEDICINE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: V70.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 16 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF CERVIX, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 180 Line: 16 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: GONOCOCCAL INFECTIONS AND OTHER VENEREAL DISEASES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 098,099.O-099.2,099.4-O99.9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 17 0 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: DYSPLASIA OF CERVIX AND CERVICAL CARCINOMA IN SITU Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 078.1 ,233. 1,622.0-.2,623.0.1,623.4,623.7,795.0 105,57150,57180,57400,57454,57510-20,90000-99999 Line: 171 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF BREAST, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 174-175,198.2,233.0,238.3, 239.2 CPT: 11200, 11401-02,11623,11%0-70, 13132, 133OO,1572O,171OO, 17200, 17999,19120,19160-240, 1931610,58960,62256,90000-99999 Line: 17 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: UNDESCENDED TESTICLE Treatment: ORCHIECTOMY, REPAIR ICD-9: 752.5 CPT: 54520-54565,54300-440 Line: 17 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF TESTIS, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 186,236.4 Line: 17 4 Category: 5 328-308 0 92 9
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250 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: COARCTATION OF THE AORTA Treatment: SURGICAL/EXCISION ICD-9: 747.10 CPT: 33840-33851 Line: 17 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: PYODERMA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 686.0-.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 176 Category: 3 Diagnosis: ANGINA PECTORIS; OTHER FORMS OF CHRONIC ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 412-414,996.0 3 Line: 17 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 164.0, 193-194, 198.7,234.8,237.0.4,239.7 CPT: 11050-51 ,11600-46,12042,13132, 14060, 17000-1,17100,17340,31505,69081 ,21632,32095-100,32480-90,32480Line: 17 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF OVARY, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT [CO-9: 183.0,198.6,236. 2 85,90000-99999 Line: 17 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ADDISONS DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CO-9: 255.4,255. 5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 18 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CONSTITUTIONAL APLASTIC ANEMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 284.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 181 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CORONARY ARTERY ANOMALY Treatment: ANOMALOUS CORONARY ARTERY LIGATION ICD-9: 746.85 CPT: 33502 Line: 18 2 Category: 2 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF URINARY SYSTEM Treatment: RECONSTRUCTION ICD-9: 753.0-.1,753.3-. 9 CPT: 55899 Line: 18 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: TOTAL ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VENOUS CONNECTION Treatment: COMPLETE REPAIR ICD-9: 747.41 CPT: 33730 Line: 18 4 Category: 2 Diagnosis: ULCERS, GI HEMORRHAGE Treatment: HEMIGASTRECTOMY ICD-9: 531-534,578 CPT: 43204,43610-41,43825-40 Line: 18 5 Category: 5
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. Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 251 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: CANCER OF UTERUS, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 179,182,236. 0 Line: 18 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: COAGULATION DEFECTS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 286.0-.5, .7-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 18 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: COMMON TRUNCUS Treatment: TOTAL REPAIR/REPLANT ARTERY ICD-9: 745.0 CPT: 33786,33788 Line: 18 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HODGKINS DISEASE Treatment: CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY ICD-9: 201 CPT: 38100,49000,49200,49220,90000-99999 Line: 18 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL STENOSIS AND INSUFFICIENCY OF AORTIC VALVE Treatment: SURGICAL VALVE REPLACEMENT ICD-9: 746.3-. 4 CPT: 33405-33417 Line: 19 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ACQUIRED HEMOLYTIC ANEMIAS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 283 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 191 Category: 5 Diagnosis: BULBUS CORDIS ANOMALIES & ANOMALIES OF CARDIAC SEPTAL CLOSURE: DOUBLE OUTLET RIGHT VENTRICLE Treatment: SHUNr ICD-9: 745.11 CPT: 33750-33766 Line: 19 2 Category: 2 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL PULMONARY VALVE ATRESIA Treatment: SHUNT ICD-9: 746.01 CPT: 33750-33766 Line: 19 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: NON-DISSECTING ANEURYSM WITHOUT RUPTURE Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 441.2,441.4,441.9,44 2 CPT: 33860-77,35081-103,35188, 35301 11 ,35331 -51 ,35450-515,35526-31 ,35536-52,35560-63,35601 -16,3562666,35651 ,35663,37618,61532,61700,61712 Line: 19 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: PITUITARY DISORDERS: PANHYPOPITUITARISM, IATROGENIC AND OTHER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 253.2,253.4,253.7, 253.8 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 19 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: OTHER AND UNSPECIFIED TYPE ENDOCARDIAL CUSHION DEFECTS Treatment: REPAIR ATRIOVENTRICULAR ICD-9: 745.60,745.69,745.8,745. 9 CPT: 33670 Line: 19 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: INTERRUPTED AORTIC ARCH Treatment: TRANSVERSE ARCH GRAFT ICD-9: 747.11 CPT: 33870 Line: 19 7 Category: 2
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252 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: HEREDITARY FRUCTOSE INTOLERANCE, INTESTINAL DISACCHARIDASE AND OTHER DEFICIENCIES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 271 .2-.9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 19 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL TRICUSPID ATRESIA AND STENOSIS Treatment: REPAIR ICD-9: 746.1 CPT: 33649 Line: 19 9 Category: 5 Treatment: AV REPLACEMENT, VAL VtM@PLA$~, MEDICAL THERAPY Line: 20 0 Category: 5 S87.12 Pet Capita Cost Pet Month Diagnosis: CONGENITAL MITRAL VALVE STENOSIS Treatment: MITRAL VALUE REPLACEMENT ICD-9: 746. 5 CPT: 33420-33430 Line: 201 Category: 2 Diagnosis: DISEASES OF MITRAL VALVE Treatment: VALVULOPLASTY, MV REPLACE, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 394,424.0,996.0 2 Line: 20 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ADRENOGENITAL DISORDERS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [co-9: 255. 2 CPT: 90000-99999,50700 Line: 20 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF VAGINA, VULVA AND OTHER FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 181, 183.2-.9,184,236.1,236.3 58240,58260,58720,58960,90000-99999 Line: 20 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF URINARY SYSTEM, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 188-189, 198.0-.1,233.7,236.7,236.9,239.4 60,51530,51550-97,51700,51720,52234-40,52281 ,52500,53670,53220,63277,90000-99999 Line: 20 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF EYE & ORBIT, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 190,234.0,238. 8 Line: 20 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF SOFT TISSUE, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 164.1,171,238.1 28043-46,32522,90000-99999 Line: 20 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ARTERIAL ANEURYSM OF NECK Treatment: REPAIR ICD-9: 442.81-.8 2 Line: 20 8 Category: 5
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List 253 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: HODGKI N I S DISEASE Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) ICD-9: 201 CPT: 38230-41 Line: 20 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: TETRALOGY OF FALLOT (TOF) Treatment: TOTAL REPAIR TETRALOGY [CD-9: 745.2 CPT: 33692-33696 Line: 21 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: COMPLETE CORRECTED AND OTHER TGA Treatment: TRANSPOSITION OF VESSELS [CD-9: 745.10,745.12,745.1 9 CPT: 33782-33784 Line: 21 1 Category: 2 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL CYSTIC LUNG MILD AND MODERATE Treatment: LUNG RESECTION [co-9: 748. 4 CPT: 32500 Line: 21 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CHRONIC HEPATITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 571.4,571.8-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 21 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: OTHER SPECIFIED APLASTIC ANEMIAS Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) ICD-9: 284.8 CPT: 38240 Line: 21 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF PENIS AND OTHER MALE GENITAL ORGAN, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 187,233.5 Line: 21 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASM OF THE BRAIN Treatment: CRANIOTOMY/CRANIECTOMY ICD-9: 225.0 CPT: 61304-61576,61712,62223,63276 Line: 21 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: INFECTIOUS SKIN CONDITIONS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 526.4,706.2,737.32,757.39,757. 9 Line: 21 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HEARING LOSS AGE 3 OR UNDER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 388-389 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 21 8 Category: 4 Diagnosis: URETERAL CALCULUS ICD-9: 592.1 CPT: 50392,50561 ,50951-80,52320,52325,52332, 52335-36,53020,90000-99999 Line: 21 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: BENIGN CEREBRAL CYSTS Treatment: DRAINAGE ICD-9: 348.0,349. 2 CPT: 61120-61152,61314-61315,61522-61524,61680-61712 Line: 22 0 Category: 5
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254 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 CANCER OF BONES, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 170, 198.5,238.0,239.2 25,32500,60252-54,60500-605,63276,90000-99999 221 Category: 5 AMEBIASIS MEDICAL THERAPY 006.0-.1,006. 9 90000-99999 222 Category: 1 0 LIVER ABSCESS AND SEQUELAE OF CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE MEDICAL THERAPY 572.0-. 2 90000-99999 223 Category: 5 MEDICAL THERAPY 694.4-.9 90000-99999 224 Category: 5 INTESTINAL MALABSORPTION MEDICAL THERAPY 579 90000-99999 225 Category: 5 ACROMEGALY & GIGANTISM, OTHER & UNSPECIFIED ANTERIOR PITUITARY HYPERFUNCTION, BENIGN NEOPLASM OF THYROID GLANDS & OTHER ENDOCRINE GLANDS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 226 Category: 5 MALIGNANT MELANOMA OF SKIN, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 172,238.2,239.2 95,54135,55842-45,90000-99999 227 Category: 5 PARALYTIC ILEUS MEDICAL THERAPY 560.1 90000-99999 228 Category: 5 URETERAL STRICTURE OR OBSTRUCTION OPEN RESECTION, PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOLITHOTOMY, NEPHROLITHOTOMY, LITHOTRIPSY 593.3-.4 50060-81 ,50700-16,50590,52276 229 Category: 5 TREATABLE DEMENTIA MEDICAL THERAPY 291 .2,290.40,292.82,293.9,294.8 90000-99999 230 Category: 5 CHRONIC OSTEOMYELITIS INCISION & DRAINAGE 730.1-.2 1,27607,28005,27360,276401,28120-4 231 Category: 5
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List 255 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: CHRONIC PYELONEPHRITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 590.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 23 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: TORSION OF TESTIS Treatment: ORCHIECTOMY, REPAIR ICD-9: 608.2 Line: 23 3 Category: 10 Diagnosis: LEUKOPLAKIA OF CERVIX, DYSTROPHY OF VULVA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [co-9: 622.2,624. 0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 23 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF LUNG, BRONCHUS, PLEURA, TRACHEA, MEDIASTINUM & OTHER RESPIRATORY ORGANS, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 21,66984,69433,90000-99999 Line: 23 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA (CHILD) Treatment: CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY ICD-9: 204.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 23 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF AMINO-ACID TRANSPORT AND METABOLISM (NON PKU) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 270.0,270.2-270. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 23 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMONIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 136.3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 23 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMAS Treatment: CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY Line: 23 9 Category: 5 Diagnosls: CANCER OF STOMACH, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT Line: 24 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF THYROCALCITONIN SECRETION Treatment: THYROIDECTOMY ICD-9: 246.0 CPT: 60240 Line: 241 Category: 5 Diagnosis: AORTIC PULMONARY FISTULA Treatment: REPAIR SINUS OF VALSALVA ICD-9: 417.0 CPT: 33702-33710 Line: 24 2 Category: 5
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256 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: POLYARTERITIS NODOSA AND ALLIED CONDITIONS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 24 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: MYELOID, MONOCYTIC, ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC AND OTHER SPECIFIED LEUKEMIAS Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) CPT: 38230-41 Line: 24 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF COLON, RECTUM, SMALL INTESTINE AND ANUS, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT Line: 24 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CARDIOMYOPATHY, HYPERTROPHIC MUSCLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 425 Line: 24 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: PERNICIOUS ANEMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 281 CPT: 90OO0-99999 Line: 24 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CYSTIC FIBROSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 277. 0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 248 Category: 5 Diagnosis: AGRANULOCYTOSIS Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION (5-6 LOCI MATCH) ICD-9: 288.0 CPT: 38240 Line: 24 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT, SECUNDUM Treatment: REPAIR SEPTAL DEFECT ICD-9: 745.5 CPT: 33640-33643 Line: 250 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT, PRIMUM Treatment: REPAIR SEPTAL DEFECT ICD-9: 745.61 CPT: 33640 Line: 251 Category: 5 Diagnosis: STROKE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 434,436 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 25 2 Category: 3 Diagnosis: GANGRENE; ATHEROSCLEROSIS OF ARTERIES OF EXTREMITIES, DIABETES MELLITUS w/PERIPHERAL CIRCULATORY DISORDER, CHRONIC ULCER OF SKIN, GAS GANGRENE, OTHER PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE Treatment: AMPUTATlON Line: 25 3 Category: 5
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Appendix Prioritized Health Services List l 257 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 BUDD-CHIARI SYNDROME, AND OTHER VENOUS EMBOLISM AND THROMBOSIS THROMBECTOMY/LIGATION 453 254 Category: 5 OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS IN lMMUNOCOMPROMISED HOSTS MEDICAL THERAPY 90000-99999 255 Category: VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT CLOSURE 745.4,745. 7 33681-33688 256 Category: CANCER OF SKIN, EXCLUDING 5 S92.1O Per Capita Cost Per Month 5 MALIGNANT MELANOMA, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 173,198.2 6,38500-780,51575-95,54135,55842-45,90000-99999 257 Category: 5 CANCER OF PROSTATE GLAND, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 185,233.4,236.5 258 Category: 5 HEART FAILURE MEDICAL THERAPY 428 90000-99999 259 Category: 5 APLASTIC ANEMIAS DUE TO DISEASE OR TREATMENT MEDICAL THERAPY 284. 8 90000-99999 260 Category: 5 ULCERATION OF INTESTINE COLECTOMY, ENTEROSTOMY 569.82 44150-60,64300-16,45385 261 Category: 5 CANCER OF RETROPERITONEUM, PERITONEUM, OMENTUM & MESENTERY, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 158, 197.6,197.8,235.5 31300,315401,32100,39200,42415,45333,46917, 21044-45,30117-18,30500,32900,39010,4081016,41116,41135,4115055,42104-20,42842-45,42880,49081 ,90000-99999 262 Category: 5 EBSTEINS ANOMALY REPAIR SEPTAL DEFECT 746.2 33640-33647 263 Category: 5 DISEASES OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS MEDICAL THERAPY 288.1-. 9 90000-99999 264 Category: 5
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258 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: CANCER OF ORAL CAVITY, PHARYNX, NOSE AND LARYNX, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT Line: 26 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASM OF ISLETS OF LANGERHANS Treatment: EXCISION OF TUMOR ICD-9: 211.7 CPT: 60699 Line: 26 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: PREMALIGNANT LESIONS AND CARCINOMA IN SITU OF SKIN Treatment: DESTRUCT/EXCISION/MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 232,702 Line: 26 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ADRENAL OR CUTANEOUS HEMORRHAGE OF FETUS OR NEONATE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 772.5-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 26 8 Category: 2 Diagnosis: SIALOADENITIS, ABSCESS, FISTULA OF SALIVARY GLANDS Treatment: SURGERY ICD-9: 527.2-. 4 Line: 26 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LIPIDOSES AND OTHER DISORDERS OF METABOLISM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 272,277.1,277.5,277.9,330. 1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 27 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LEUKOPLAKIA OF ORAL MUCOSA, INCLUDING TONGUE Treatment: INCISION/EXCISION TONGUE, BIOPSY ICD-9: 528.6 CPT: 41OOO-41599 Line: 271 Category: 5 Diagnosis: MALARIA AND RELAPSING FEVER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 084,087 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 27 2 Category: 1 Diagnosis: REGIONAL ENTERITIS, IDIOPATHIC PROCTOCOLITIS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 555,556 Line: 27 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL PULMONARY VALVE STENOSIS Treatment: PULMONARY VALVE REPAIR ICD-9: 746.02 CPT: 33470-33471 Line: 27 4 Category: 2 Diagnosis: URETERAL FISTULA (INTESTINAL) Treatment: NEPHROSTOMY ICD-9: 593.82 Line: 27 5 Category: 5
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. Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 259 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF ARTERIES, VISCERAL Treatment: BYPASS GRAFT ICD-9: 447.08447.2-. 9 Line: 27 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISEASES OF ENDOCARDIUM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 424 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 27 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CHRONIC LEUKEMIAS Treatment: CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY Line: 27 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CYSTICERCOSIS, OTHER CESTODE INFECTION, TRICHINOSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 123.1-.9,12 4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 27 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LEPTOSPIROSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 100 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 28 0 Category: 1 Diagnosis: ENCEPHALOCELE; CONGENITAL HYDROCEPHALUS Treatment: SHUNT ICD-9: 742.0,742. 3 CPT: 62180-62258 Line: 281 Category: 2 Diagnosis: ANAL AND RECTAL POLYP Treatment: EXCISION OF POLYP ICD-9: 569.0 CPT: 45310,45333,45170 Line: 28 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASMS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT 5,46500,46610 Line: 28 3 Category: 11 Diagnosis: DIABETES INSIPIDUS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 253.5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 28 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF PLASMA PROTEIN METABOLISM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 273 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 28 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CUSHING I S SYNDROME; HYPERALDOSTERONISM, OTHER CORTICOADRENAL OVERACTIVITY, MEDULLOADRENAL HYPERFUNCTION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY/ADRENALECTOMY ICD-9: 255.0,255. 1,255.3,255.6 Line: 28 6 Category: 5
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260 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF NAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF PANCREATIC ENDOCRINE SECRETION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 251 .4-.9 CPT: 90000-99999,48155 Line: 28 7 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 357.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 28 8 Category: 3 Diagnosis: LEUKOPLAKIA OF ORAL MUCOSA, INCLUDING TONGUE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 528.6 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 28 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HEREDITARY ANGIONEUROTIC EDEMA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 277.6 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 29 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: METASTATIC INFECTIONS WITH LOCALIZED SITES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 003.2,006.3.9,014-018,022. 1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 291 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE ARISING IN THE NEONATAL PERIOD Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 770.7 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 29 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: NON LIFE-THREATENING ARRHYTHMIAS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, PACEMAKER Line: 29 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LYMPHOID LEUKEMIA Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) ICD-9: 204.1-. 9 CPT: 38240 Line: 29 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: SYSTEMIC LUPIS EQYTHEMATOSUS, OTHER DIFFUSE DISEASES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 710.0,710.8,710. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 29 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HYPOPLASIA AND DYSPLASIA OF LUNG Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 748.5 CPT: 90000-99$99 Line: 29 6 Category: 2 Diagnosis: PORTAL VEIN THROMBOSIS Treatment: SHUNT [CD-9: 452 CPT: 37140,49625 Line: 29 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: TETANUS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 037 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 29 8 Category: 1
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List l 261 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: VESICOURETERAL REFLUX Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, REPLANTATION ICD-9: 593.7 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 29 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL HYDRONEPHROSIS Treatment: NEPHRECTOMY/REPAIR ICD-9: 753.2 CPT: 50230,50400-504 Line: 30 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF PARATHYROID GLAND; BENIGN NEOPLASM OF PARATHYROID GLAND Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 227.1,252 CPT: 60500-05,90000-99999 Line: 301 Category: 5 Diagnosis: PULMONARY FIBROSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 515-517 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 30 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 431 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 30 3 Category: 3 Diagnosis: COARCTATION OF THE AORTA Treatment: BALLOON DILATION VALVE REPLACEMENT ICD-9: 747.10 CPT: 33405-33417 Line: 30 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LEPROSY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 030 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 30 5 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 492,496 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 30 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CONSTITUTIONAL APLASTIC ANEMIAS Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) ICD-9: 284.0 CPT: 38240 Line: 30 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIAS (ADULT) AND MULTIPLE MYELOMA Treatment: CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY ICD-9: 204.0,203.0,203. 8 CPT: 45360,90000-99999 Line: 30 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISORDERS RELATING TO LONG GESTATION AND HIGH BIRTHWEIGHT Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 766 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 30 9 Category: 2
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262 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: NEPHROTIC SYNDROME AND OTHER CHRONIC RENAL FAILUR E Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY INCLUDING DIALYSIS CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 31 0 Category: 5 $98.51 Pm CqdWCo8tPw#onttt Diagnosis: ACUTE NON-LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIAS Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) ICD-9: 205.0, 206.0,207.0,208.0 CPT: 38230-41 Line: 311 Category: 5 Diagnosis: END STAGE RENAL DISEASE Treatment: RENAL TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 583.8-. 9 CPT: 50360 Line: 31 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: OTHER ANEURYSM OF ARTERY, PERIPHERAL Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 442.0,462.3,442. 9 21.35141-62 Line: 31 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISORDERS MINERAL METABOLISM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 275 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 31 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: NEONATAL CONJUNCTIVITIS, DACRYOCYSTITIS AND CANDIDA INFECTION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 771.6-. 7 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 31 5 Category: 2 Diagnosis: ESOPHAGEAL VARICES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY/SHUNT/SCLEROTHERAPY ICD-9: 456.0-. 2 Line: 31 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CHRONIC PANCREATITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CO-9: 577.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 31 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HYPERPLASIA OF PROSTATE Treatment: TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 600 Line: 31 8 Category: 11 Diagnosis: END STAGE RENAL DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY INCLUDING DIALYSIS ICD-9: 250.4,583.8-. 9 CPT: 11060,90000-99999 Line: 31 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: GIANT CELL ARTERITIS, KAWASAKI DISEASE, HYPERSENSITIVITY ANGIITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 446.1.2,446.5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 32 0 Category: 3 Diagnosis: DERMATOMYOSITIS, POLYMYOSITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 710.3,710. 4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 321 Category: 5
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List 263 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 710.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 32 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: UNWANTED PREGNANCY (Note: This line item is not priced as part of the list.) Treatment: ABORTION ICD-9: 635-639,779. 6 CPT: 59105-06,59840-52 Line: 32 3 Category: 6 Diagnosis: COMMON VENTRICLE Treatment: TOTAL REPAIR TETRALOGY ICD-9: 745.3 CPT: 33692-33696 Line: 32 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HERPES ZOSTER & HERPES SIMPLEX U/OPHTHALMIC COMPLICATIONS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 053.2,054. 4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 32 5 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: HYPHEMA Treatment: REMOVAL OF BLOOD CLOT ICD-9: 364.41 CPT: 65815,65930 Line: 32 6 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: PENETRATING WOUND OF ORBIT Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 870.3,870.8,870. 9 Line: 32 7 Category: 12 Diagnosis: PURULENT ENDOPHTHALMITIS Treatment: VITRECTOMY ICD-9: 360.0 CPT: 67005-67036 Line: 32 8 Category: 12 Diagnosis: PRIMARY AND OTHER ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA Treatment: IRIDECTOMY, LASER SURGERY ICD-9: 365.20,365.22 CPT: 66761,66505,66625-66630 Line: 32 9 Category: 10 Diagnosis: GLAUCOMA ASSOCIATED WITH DISORDERS OF THE LENS Treatment: EXTRACTION OF CATARACT ICD-9: 365.5,360.1 9 CPT: 66920-66984 Line: 33 0 Category: 11 Diagnosis: PRIMARY AND OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA Treatment: TRABECULECTOMY ICD-9: 365.10-365.11 CPT: 66170 Line: 331 Category: 11 Diagnosis: GLAUCOMA: BORDERLINE, OPEN-ANGLE, CORTICOSTEROID-INDUCED, ASSOC. U/CONGENITAL ANOMALIES, DYSTROPHIES & SYSTEMIC SYNDROMES, ASSOC. U/DISORDER OF THE LENS, ASSOC. U/OTHER OCULAR DISORDERS, OTHER & UNSPECIFIED Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 365.0-365 .1,365.3-365.9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 33 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: DEGENERATION OF MACULA AND POSTERIOR POLE Treatment: VITRECTOMY, LASER SURGERY [CD-9: 362.5 CPT: 67038,67210 Line: 33 3 Category: 11 Diagnosis: VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE Treatment: VITRECTOMY ICD-9: 379.23 CPT: 67036 Line: 334 Category: 12
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264 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: PRIMARY AND OTHER OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA Treatment: LASER TRABECULOPLASTY ICD-9: 365.10-365.11 CPT: 65855 Line: 33 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: PRIMARY AND OTHER OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA Treatment: CYCLOCRYOTHERAPY ICD-9: 365.10-365.11 CPT: 66720-66721 Line: 33 6 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CATARACT Treatment: EXTRACTION OF CATARACT ICD-9: 366.0-. 3 CPT: 66920-84 Line: 33 7 Category: 11 Diagnosis: RETINAL DETACHMENT WITH RETINAL DEFECT Treatment: VITRECTOMY ICD-9: 361.0 CPT: 67036-67112 Line: 33 8 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: OPEN WOUND OF EYEBALL Treatment: CORNEAL LACERATION REPAIR ICD-9: 871 CPT: 65280-65285 Line: 33 9 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISORDER OF ORBIT Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC D -9: 376. 1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 34 0 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: AFTER CATARACT Treatment: DISCISSION, LENS CAPSULE ICD-9: 366.5 CPT: 66800-66821 Line: 34 1 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ACUTE, SUBACUTE, CHRONIC AND OTHER CERTAIN TYPES OF IRIDOCYCLITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 364.0-. 3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 34 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: DIABETIC AND OTHER RETINOPATHY Treatment: LASER SURGERY ICD-9: 250.5,362.0-362. 2 CPT: 67210,67227-8 Line: 34 3 Category: 11 Diagnosis: RETROLENTAL FIBROPLASIA Treatment: CRYOSURGERY ICD-9: 362.21 CPT: 67101-67122 Line: 34 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: APHAKIA AND OTHER DISORDERS OF LENS Treatment: INTRAOCULAR LENS ICD-9: 379.3 CPT: 66985 Line: 345 Category: 11 Diagnosis: EXOTROPIA Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 378 Line: 34 6 Category: 11
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 265 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: FOREIGN BODY IN CONJUNCTIVAL SAC Treatment: REMOVAL CONJUNCTIVAL FOREIGN BODY ICD-9: 930.1 CPT: 65205-22 Line: 34 7 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASM OF PITUITARY GLAND Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 227.3 Line: 34 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: TRAUMATIC AMPUTATION OF THUMB OR OTHER FINGER (COMPLETE)(PARTIAL) U/ & U/O COMPLICATION Treatment: REPLANTATION/AMPUTATE ICD-9: 885-886 Line: 34 9 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: OPEN WOUNDS Treatment: REPAIR 891,892.2,893,894.2 7,69440,69666,69667 Line: 35 0 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: ABSCESSES AND CYSTS OF BARTHOLINS GLAND AND VULVA Treatment: INCISION AND DRAINAGE, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 616.2-. 9 Line: 351 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: PILONIDAL CYST WITH ABSCESS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT [CD-9: 685.0 CPT: 10080-81 ,11770-72,90000-99999 Line: 35 2 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ACUTE THYROIDITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 245.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 35 3 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 35 4 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA Treatment: PE TUBES/T & A/TYMPANOPLASTY ICD-9: 381.5.7,382.1-.3 CPT: 69400-69410,42820,69631-69633 Line: 35 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CHOLESTEATOMA Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 385.30 Line: 35 6 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: ACUTE SINUSITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 461 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 35 7 Category: 1
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266 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ACUTE CONJUNCTIVITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 372.0,077 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 35 8 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: SPINA BIFIDA WITHOUT HYDROCEPHALUS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 741.9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 35 9 Category: 2 Diagnosis: EDEMA AND OTHER CONDITIONS INVOLVING THE INTEGUMENT OF THE FETUS AND NEWBORN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 778.5-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 36 0 Category: 2 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL RUBELLA AND OTHER CONGENITAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 771.0-. 2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 361 Category: 2 Diagnosis: FEEDING PROBLEMS IN NEWB0RN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CO-9: 779.3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 36 2 Category: 2 Diagnosis: DYSTONIA (UNCONTROLLABLE) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 333 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 36 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: MULTIPLE VALVULAR DISEASE Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 396-397 CPT: 33450-74,33480-92 Line: 364 Category: 5 Diagnosis: BILIARY ATRESIA Treatment: LIVER TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 751,6 1 CPT: 47135 Line: 365 Category: 5 S102.26 Per Capita Cost Per Month Diagnosis: CIRRHOSIS OF LIVER OR BILIARY TRACT WITHOUT MENTION OF ALCOHOL Treatment: LIVER TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 571 .5-.6 CPT: 47135 Line: 36 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CHRONIC PULMONARY HEART DISEASE, OTHER DISEASES OF PULMONARY CIRCULATION, ACUTE & SUBACUTE ENDOCARDITIS, ACUTE MYOCARDITIS, CARDIOMYOPATHY, OTHER CONG. ANOMALIES OF HEART AND CIRC. SYSTEM Treatment: CARDIAC TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 416-417,421-422,425,746-747 CPT: 33945 Line: 36 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ACUTE AND SUBACUTE NECROSIS OF LIVER Treatment: LIVER TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 570 CPT: 47135 Line: 36 8 Category: 3 Diagnosis: DIVERTICULITIS OF COLON Treatment: COLON RESECTION IC D -9: 562. 1 Line: 36 9 Category: 3
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 267 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 CYST AND PSEUDOCYST OF PANCREAS DRAINAGE OF PANCREATIC CYST 577. 2 370 Category: 5 CANCER OF BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 371 Category: 5 ATHEROSCLEROSIS, VISCERAL SURGICAL TREATMENT 440.0-. 1 35501-15,35526-31,35536-51 ,35560-63,35601-16,35626-46,35663 372 Category: 5 HYPERSOMNIA W/SLEEP APNEA MEDICAL THERAPY, TRACHEOTOMY 780.53,34 7 90000-99999,31600-10 373 Category: 5 DISLOCATION KNEE & HIP, CLOSED RELOCATION 835.0,836.3,836. 5 8 718.35.36 374 Category: 1 2 DISLOCATION OF ELBOW, HAND, ANKLE, FOOT, CLAVICLE AND SHOULDER, CLOSED RELOCATION 375 Category: 1 2 TRACHOMA MEDICAL THERAPY 076 90000-99999 376 Category: 1 0 CLEFT LIP, CONGENITAL FISTULA OF LIP LIP EXCISION AND REPAIR 749.1,750.25 40650-720 377 Category: 11 CLEFT PALATE REPAIR & PALATOPLASTY 749. 0 42200-26,42235-81 378 Category: 11 CLEFT PALATE WITH CLEFT LIP EXCISION & REPAIR VESTIBULE OF MOUTH 749.2 40800-40899 379 Category: 11 CLOSED FRACTURE OF EPIPHYSIS OF LOWER EXTREMITIES REDUCTION 820.01,821.22 27516-27519 380 Category: 12 FRACTURE OF SHAFT OF BONE, CLOSED REDUCTION 381 Category: 10
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268 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: PARAPLEGIA, QUADRIPLEGIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION [CD-9: 343,344.0-. 1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 38 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: PARKINSON'S DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 332 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 38 3 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND OTHER DEMYELINATING DISEASES OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION ICD-9: 340-341,334 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 38 4 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CEREBRAL PALSY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 343.0-.3,.9,344.1,741 .9,335.21 ,335.11,335.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 38 5 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: SUPERFICIAL INJURIES WITH INFECTION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 12001-14,90000-99999 Line: 38 6 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: LYME DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 088 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 38 7 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: CHRONIC ULCER OF SKIN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 707 CPT: 90000-99999, 11000-44,15920-99 Line: 38 8 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: CELLULITIS, NON-ORBITAL Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 38 9 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: ATOPIC DERMATITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 691.8 CPT: 90000-99999,11100 Line: 39 0 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: CONTACT DERMATITIS AND OTHER ECZEMA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 692 CPT: 90000-99999,11900-11901 Line: 391 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: ACNE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 695.3 Line: 39 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: PSORIASIS AND SIMILAR DISORDERS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [cD-9: 69 6 CPT: 90000-99999,11900-11901 Line: 39 3 Category: 1 3
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 269 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ABSCESS OF BURSA OR TENDON Treatment: INCISION AND DRAINAGE ICD-9: 727.89 CPT: 27301 ,26990,26034,23930,23030,28001 ,27603 Line: 39 4 Category: 10 Diagnosis: ABSCESS OF PROSTATE Treatment: TURP, DRAIN ABSCESS ICD-9: 601.2 CPT: 52601 Line: 39 5 Category: 10 Diagnosis: INFECTIVE OTITIS EXTERNA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 380.1-.2,054.73,112.8 2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 39 6 Category: 14 Diagnosis: CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 39 7 Category: 13 Diagnosis: DENTAL SERVICES (EC. DENTAL CARIES, FRACTURED TOOTH) Treatment: RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICE ICD-9: o Line: 39 8 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, OSTEOARTHRITIS, AND ASEPTIC NECROSIS OF BONE Treatment: ARTHROPLASTY 24366,24800-2&802,26516-26536 Line: 39 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND OTHER INFLAMMATORY POLYARTHROPATHIES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 714 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 40 0 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: GOUT Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 274 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 401 Category: 13 Diagnosis: CRYSTAL ARTHROPATHIES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 712 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 40 2 Category: 13 Diagnosis: SYMPATHETIC UVEITIS AND DEGENERATIVE DISORDERS AND CONDITIONS Treatment: ENUCLEATION ICD-9: 360.11 ,360.2,360.4 CPT: 65105 Line: 40 3 Category: 12 Diagnosis: DISLOCATIONS OF NON-CERVICAL VERTEBRA, CLOSED Treatment: REPAIR/RECONSTRUCTION [CD-9: 839.2,839.4,839. 6 Line: 40 4 Category: 12
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270 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS Treatment: LAMINECTOMY/LAMINOTOMY ICD-9: 344.6 CPT: 63005,63017,63031 ,63042,63047 Line: 40 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: FISTULA INVOLVING FEMALE GENITAL TRACT Treatment: CLOSURE OF FISTULA ICD-9: 619 Line: 40 6 Category: 11 Diagnosis: HYMEN AND VAGINAL SEPTUM Treatment: HYMENECTOMY ICD-9: 623.2-.3,752.40,752.4 2 CPT: 56700-20 Line: 40 7 Category: 11 Diagnosis: RECTAL PROLAPSE Treatment: PARTIAL COLECTOMY [CD-9: 569.1 CPT: 44140-44 Line: 40 8 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL ABSENCE OF VAGINA Treatment: ARTIFICIAL VAGINA ICD-9: 752.49 CPT: 57291-57292 Line: 40 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: PLEURISY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 511 CPT: 90000-99999,32000 Line: 41 0 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: HYPOSPADIAS AND EPISPADIAS Treatment: REPAIR ICD-9: 752.6 CPT: 54300-440 Line: 41 1 Category: 11 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF VERTEBRAL COLUMN WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY, SACRUM AND COCCYX Treatment: LAMINECTOMY ICD-9: 806.6-806. 9 CPT: 61720-61793 Line: 41 2 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: LOWER EXTREMITY: COMPARTMENT SYNDROME Treatment: DECOMPRESSION ICD-9: 958.8 CPT: 27600-02 Line: 41 3 Category: 3 Diagnosis: OCCLUSION AND STENOSIS OF PRECEREBRAL ARTERIES Treatment: THROMBOENDARTERECTOMY ICD-9: 433 CPT: 35301 Line: 41 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ATHEROSCLEROSIS, PERIPHERAL Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT Line: 41 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: DISPLACEMENT OF CERVICAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC WITHOUT MYELOPATHY Treatment: CERVICAL LAMINECTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 722.0,722. 2 Line: 41 6 Category: 11
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 271 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosls: CALCULUS OF BLADDER OR KIDNEY Treatment: OPEN RESECTION, PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOLITHOTOMY, NEPHROLITHOTOMY, LITHOTRIPSY ICD-9: 592.0,594. 1 CPT: 50060-81 ,50130,50392-93,5070016,50590,52317 Line: 41 8 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ANAL FISTULA Treatment: FISTULECTOMY ICD-9: 565.1 CPT: 46211,46270-85,46000-30 Line: 41 9 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: RESIDUAL FOREIGN BODY IN SOFT TISSUE Treatment: REMOVAL ICD-9: 729.6 CPT: 28190,28192 Line: 42 0 Category: 1 0 S11O.59 Per Capita Cost Per Month Diagnosis: GLYCOGENOSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 271.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 421 Category: 5 Diagnosis: MALUNION & NONUNION OF FRACTURE Treatment: SURGICAL TX ICD-9: 733.8 Line: 42 2 Category: 11 Diagnosls: OSTEOPOROSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 733.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 42 3 Category: 13 Diagnosis: OPHTHALMIC INJURY: LACRIMAL SYSTEM LACERATION Treatment: CLOSURE ICD-9: 870.2 CPT: 68760 Line: .424 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF REFRACTION AND ACCOMMODATION Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 367 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 425 Category: 13 Diagnosis: VINCENTS DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 101 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 42 6 Category: 1 Diagnosis: URETHRITI S Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 597 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 42 7 Category: 10
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272 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: TRICHOMONAL URETHRITIS, TRICHOMONAL PROSTATITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 131.02,131.03,131.8,131 .9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 42 8 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: UTERINE LEIOMYOMA Treatment: TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY OR MYOMECTOMY [CD-9: 218-219 Line: 42 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: REDUCTION DEFORMITY OF LOWER LIMB Treatment: EPIPHYSEAL,OSTEOPLASTY [CD-9: 755.3 Line: 43 0 Category: 11 Diagnosis: MIGRAINE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 346 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 43 1 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: ANAL FISSURE Treatment: FISSURECTOMY ICD-9: 565.0 CPT: 46200,46700,46940 Line: 43 2 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: STRESS INCONTINENCE, FEMALE Treatment: URETHROPEXY/PESSARY ICD-9: 625.6 CPT: 51840-41,57160 Line: 43 3 Category: 11 Diagnosis: BODY INFESTATIONS (EG. LICE, SCABIES) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 132-134 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 43 4 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: SIALOLITHIASIS, MUCOCELE, DISTURBANCE OF SALIVARY SECRETION, OTHER AND UNSPECIFIED DISEASES OF SALIVARY GLANDS Treatment: SURGERY [co-9: 527.5-527. 9 Line: 43 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ANOMALIES OF EXTERNAL EAR U/ IMPAIRMENT OF HEARING Treatment: RECONSTRUCT OF EAR CANAL ICD-9: 744.0 CPT: 69320 Line: 436 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CERVICITIS, ENDOCERVICITIS, HEMATOMA OF VULVA, OVARIAN CYSTS AND NONINFLAMMATORY DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 616.0,620.0.2,620.9,622.3.4,622.6.7,623.6,623.8.9,624.5,626.7 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 43 7 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASM OF KIDNEY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 223.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 43 8 Category: 11
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Appendix Prioritized Health Services List l 273 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 NONINFLAMMATORY DISORDERS OF CERVIX MEDICAL THERAPY 622.4.9,624.2,624.5-.9 90000-99999 439 Category: 11 CEREBRAL PALSY REPAIR/RECONSTRUCTION 343.0.38343.9,344.1,741.9,335 .21,335.11,335.0 .440 Category: 11 HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME NORWOOD PROCEDURE 746. 7 33480-33485 441 Category: OTHER SPECIFIED ANOMALIES APICAL-AORTIC CONDUIT 746.8 33404 442 Category: UTERINE PROLAPSE SURGICAL REPAIR 618 57160,58150,58260-85 2 OF HEART 5 443 Category: 11 SHIGELLOSIS, GIARDIASIS, INTESTINAL HELMINTHIASIS MEDICAL THERAPY 004,007. 1,120-122,123.0,125129 90000-99999 444 Category: 10 CORNEAL ULCER MEDICAL THERAPY 370.0 90000-99999,65286 445 Category: 10 CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME, CONTRACTURE OF PALMAR FACIA SURGICAL TREATMENT 354.0,354.2,728. 6 446 Category: 11 DEFORMITIES OF UPPER BODY & LIMBS REPAIR/REVISION/RECONSTRUCTION/RELOCATION/FASCIECTOMY 447 Category: 11 MENSTRUAL BLEEDING DISORDERS MEDICAL THERAPY 626.2.6,626.8,627.0 90000-99999 448 Category: 10 RUPTURE OF SYNOVIUM REMOVAL OF BAKERS CYST 727.51 27435 449 Category: 11
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274 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF HAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: DEFORMITIES OF FOOT Treatment: FASCIOTOMY/lNCISION/REPAIR/ARTHRODESIS Line: 45 0 Category: 11 Diagnosis: FOREIGN BODY IN UTERUS, VULVA AND VAGINA Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT [CD-9: 939.1-. 2 CPT: 57410,58120,90000-99999 Line: 451 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: VAGINITI S Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 112. 1,131.00-.01,131.09,623.5,625 .1 CPT: 57150,90000-99999 Line: 45 2 Category: 10 Diagnosis: PRIAPISM, ORCHITIS, EPIDIDYMITIS, SEMINAL VESICULITIS, FOREIGN BODY IN PENIS, URETHRAL STRICTURE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, REMOVAL OF FOREIGN BODY, DILATION ICD-9: 595.0,598,604,607.3,608.0,939. 9 CPT: 51700,52275-76,53600-01 ,53620-21 ,53660-61 ,53670,54115,54154,54640,54700-861 ,55401,55450,90000-99999 Line: 45 3 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASM OF EXTERNAL FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS Treatment: BIOPSY/EXCISION IC D -9: 221 .1-221.9 CPT: 56-440, 56501,56600,57105,57135 Line: 45 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: BALANOPOSTHITIS AND OTHER DISORDERS OF PENIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 607.1,607. 8 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 45 5 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: NONINFLAMMATORY DISORDERS AND BENIGN NEOPLASMS OF OVARY AND FALLOPIAN TUBES Treatment: SALPINGECTOMY, OOPHORECTOMY ICD-9: 620.4,620.8,220,221. 0 CPT: 58140-50,58700-58720,58925,58940 Line: 45 6 Category: 11 Diagnosis: BONE SPUR Treatment: OSTECTOMY ICD-9: 726.91 CPT: 28119,28899 Line: 45 7 Category: 11 Diagnosis: BELLS PALSY, EXPOSURE KERATOCON JUNCTIVITIS Treatment: TARSORRHAPHY ICD-9: 351.0,370.3 4 CPT: 67880 Line: 45 8 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: NASAL POLYP, BENIGN NEOPLASM OF NASAL CAVITIES, MIDDLE EAR & ACCESSORY SINUSES Treatment: RECONSTRUCTION [CD-9: 471 .9,212.0 Line: 45 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CYST OF THYROID Treatment: SURGERY EXCISION ICD-9: 246.2 CPT: 60200,60100 Line: 46 0 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ORBITAL CYST Treatment: ORBITOTOMY ICD-9: 376.81 CPT: 67400-67450 Line: 461 Category: 11
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 275 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 OTOSCLEROSIS STAPEDECTOMY 387 69650-62 462 Category: 11 FOREIGN BODY: ACCIDENTALLY LEFT DURING A PROCEDURE, GRANULOMA OF MUSCLE, GRANULOMA OF SKIN & SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE REMOVAL OF FOREIGN BODY 998.4,728.82,709. 4 463 Category: 11 HYPERTROPHY OF BREAST SUBCUTANEOUS TOTAL MASTECTOMY, BREAST REDUCTION 611.1 19140,19318 464 Category: 11 OBSTRUCTION OF NASOLACRIMAL PROBING NASOLACRIMAL DUCT 375.55 68825-68830 465 Category: 11 DUCT, NEONATAL THROMBOSED AND COMPLICATED HEMORRHOIDS HEMORRHOIDECTOMY, INCISION 455.1-.2,455.4-.5,455.7. 8 10140,45336,46083,46220,46250-62,66320,46934-36 466 Category: 11 STENOSIS OF NASOLACRIMAL DUCT (ACQUIRED) DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY 375.4,375.5 6 68720-68730 467 Category: 11 URETHRAL FISTULA EXCISION, MEDICAL THERAPY 599.1 50650-50660,90000-99999 468 Category: 11 ENDOMETRIOSIS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT WITHOUT HYSTERECTOMY 617 58145-50,58984,90000-99999 469 Category: 13 PTOSIS (ACQUIRED) WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT PTOSIS REPAIR 374.3 15823,67904 470 Category: 11 ENTROPION AND TRICHIASIS OF EYELID; ECTROPION; BENIGN NEOPLASM OF EYELID ECTROPION/ENTROPION REP. 216. 1,374.0-374.1 17340,67700-67850,67880, 67914-67924 471 Category: 11 BENIGN NEOPLASM BONE & ARTICULAR CARTILAGE, OTHER BENIGN NEOPLASM OF CONNECTIVE AND OTHER SOFT TISSUE BIOPSY-EXCISION 213,215,225.3-. 4 10003,11050,11400-46, 13131 ,17100-200,20550,21556, 21600, 21920-21935,22106,2306523077,23140-23156,2310023101,24065-24077,24110, 25120-25136,25170,26100-261 17,2620015,26250-62,26449,27040-49, 27065-7,270759,27323-9, 27637,28108,28122-4 ,28285,64774,69140 472 Category: 11
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276 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: FOREIGN BODY IN EAR & NOSE Treatment: REMOVAL OF FOREIGN BODY [CD-9: 931-932 CPT: 69200-69205,30300-20 Line: 47 3 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: PTERYGIUM Treatment: EXCISION OR TRANSPOSITION OF PTERYGIUM U/O GRAFT ICD-9: 372.4 CPT: 65420 Line: 47 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: OPEN WOUND OF EAR DRUM Treatment: TYMPANOPLASTY ICD-9: 872.61 CPT: 69610-43 Line: 47 5 Category: 1 0 $117.21 Per Capita Cost Per Month Diagnosis: ENOPHTHALMOS Treatment: ORBITAL IMPLANT ICD-9: 376.50 CPT: 67550 Line: 47 6 Category: 11 Diagnosis: HEARING LOSS OVER AGE OF THREE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 388-389 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 477 Category: 11 Diagnosis: PARALYSIS OF VOCAL CORDS OR LARYNX, OTHER DISEASES OF LARYNX Treatment: INCISION/EXCISION/ENDOSCOPY ICD-9: 478.3,478. 7 CPT: 31300-31579,31580-31605 Line: 47 8 Category: 11 Diagnosis: DENTAL CARIES (PERIAPICAL INFECTION) Treatment: SURGERY ICD-9: 521.0 CPT: 41899 Line: 47 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: IMPACTED TEETH Treatment: SURGERY ICD-9: 520.6,524.3-. 4 CPT: 21254,30520,41899 Line: 48 0 Category: 11 Diagnosis: RECURRENT EROSION OF THE CORNEA Treatment: CORNEAL TATTOO, REMOVAL OF CORNEAL EPITHELIUMS; WITH OR WITHOUT CHEMOCAUTERIZATION ICD-9: 371.42 CPT: 65600,65435 Line: 48 1 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CHRONIC SINUSITIS, NASAL POLYPS, OTHER DISORDERS OF NASAL CAVITY AND SINUSES Treatment: SURGICAL ICD-9: 471,473,478.1 CPT: 11426-41,30000-31299 Line: 48 2 Category: 11 Diagnosis: OSTEOARTHRITIS AND ALLlED DISORDERS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 715 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 48 3 Category: 13 Diagnosis: DEVIATED NASAL SEPTUM, ACQUIRED DEFORMITY OF NOSE, OTHER DISEASES OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT Treatment: EXCISION OF CYST/RHINECTt14Y/PROSTHESES Line: 48 4 Category: 11
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List l 277 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF HAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS OF SHOULDER, ARTICULAR CARTILAGE DISORDER OF SHOULDER, PERIOSTITIS OF SHOULDER Treatment: REPAIR/RECONSTRUCTION Line: 48 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: MENOPAUSAL MANAGEMENT Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY OTHER THAN HORMONE REPLACEMENT ICD-9: 627.2-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 48 6 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: EQUINUS DEFORMITY OF FOOT, ACQUIREO Treatment: ARTHROTOMY ICD-9: 736.72 CPT: 27612 Line: 48 7 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CYSTS OF ORAL SOFT TISSUES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 528.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 48 8 Category: 11 Diagnosis: STOMATITIS, CELLULITIS AND ABSCESS OF ORAL SOFT TISSUE, AND DISEASES OF LIPS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 528.0,528.3,528. 5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 48 9 Category: 10 Diagnosis: OTHER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS OF THE TONGUE Treatment: EXCISION, BIOPSY ICD-9: 529.8 Line: 49 0 Category: 11 Diagnosis: SPECIFIC DISORDERS OF THE TEETH AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURES Treatment: EXCISION OF DENTOALVEOLAR STRUCTURE ICD-9: 525.8 Line: 49 1 Category: 11 Diagnosis: PARAPLEGIA Treatment: SURGICAL PREVENTION OF CONTRACTURES ICD-9: 344.1 CPT: 27003 Line: 49 2 Category: 11 Diagnosis: PERIPHERAL ENTHESOPATHIES Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT 10,29345,29355,29365 Line: 49 3 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CHRONIC DISEASE OF TONSILS AND ADENOIDS Treatment: TONSILLECTOMY AND ADENOIDECTOMY ICD-9: 474 CPT: 42820-36,42860,42870 Line: 49 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: GANGLION OF TENDON OR JOINT Treatment: EXCISION ICD-9: 727.4 CPT: 28090 Line: 49 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: KERATOCON JUNCTIVITIS SICCA, NOT SPECIFIED AS SJOGRENS Treatment: PUNCTAL OCCLUSION, TARSORRHAPHY ICD-9: 370.33 CPT: 68760,67880 Line: 49 6 Category: 11
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278 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: PARAPLEGIA Treatment: ARTHRODESIS ICD-9: 344.1 CPT: 27870 Line: 49 7 Category: 11 Diagnosis: OVARIAN CYST Treatment: OOPHORECTOMY IC D -9: 256.1,256. 4 CPT: 58940 Line: 49 8 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: HISTIOCYTOSI S Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC D -9: 277. 8 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 49 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF ESOPHAGUS, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 150,195.2,230.1 Line: 500 Category: 5 Diagnosis: OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 500-505 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 501 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LESION OF PLANTAR NERVE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, EXCISION ICD-9: 355.6 CPT: 28080,90000-99999 Line: 50 2 Category: 11 Diagnosis: NONTOXIC NODULAR GOITER Treatment: THYROIDECTOMY ICD-9: 241 CPT: 60245,60220 Line: 50 3 Category: 11 Diagnosis: HERNIA WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION OR GANGRENE Treatment: REPAIR ICD-9: 550.9,553 Line: 50 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASM OF RESPIRATORY AND INTRATHORACIC ORGANS Treatment: LOBECTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 212 Line: 50 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 359 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 50 6 Category: 5 Diagnosis: TRANSIENT CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 435 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 50 7 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: PERITONEAL ADHESION Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 568 CPT: 44005,44610,45110,49000 Line: 50 8 Category: 1
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 279 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 571.0-. 1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 50 9 Category: 5 Diagnosis: SPINA BIFIDA WITH HYDROCEPHALUS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 741.0 CPT: 90000999999,63706 Line: 51 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: OTHER DEFICIENCIES OF CIRCULATING ENZYMES (ALPHA 1-ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC O -9: 277. 6 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 511 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DIABETES MELLITUS WITH END STAGE RENAL DISEASE Treatment: PANCREAS/KIDNEY TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 250.4 CPT: 50389 Line: 51 2 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF GALLBLADDER AND OTHER BILIARY, TREATABLE Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 156,197.8,230. 8 Line: 51 3 Category: 5 Diagnosis: ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 045 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 51 4 Category: 3 Diagnosis: PITUITARY DWARFISM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 253.3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 51 5 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: UNSPECIFIED POLYNEUROPATHY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 357.9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 51 6 Category: 3 Diagnosis: HEREDITARY HEMORRHAGIC TELANGIECTASIA Treatment: EXCISION ICD-9: 448.0 CPT: 11400-11426 Line: 51 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: DISEASES OF THYMUS GLAND Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 254 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 51 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CEREBRAL DEGENERATIONS USUALLY MANIFEST IN CHILDHOOD Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 330 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 51 9 Category: 5 Diagnosls: CHRONIC RHEUMATIC PERICARDITIS, RHEUMATIC MYOCARDITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 393,398.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 52 0 Category: 5
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280 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 199 1 CANCER OF LIVER, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 155, 197.7,235.3 31300,31540-1 ,32100,39200,42415,45333,46917, 11042,32900,37617,43260,4363038,43860,44005,44025,44305,47010,48150,44131 ,47120-30,47600-20,47710,49000,49080,90000-99999 521 Category: 5 ACUTE NON-LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIAS CHEMOTHERAPY 205.0,206.0,207.0,208.0 522 Category: 5 MULTIPLE MYELOMA AND CHRONIC LEUKEMIAS BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) 202.4,203,205.1-.9,206.1.9,207.1.8,208.1-.9 38230-41 523 Category: 5 MALIGNANT NEOPLASM OF OTHER ENDOCRINE GLANDS AND RELATED STRUCTURES, TREATABLE BONE MARROW RESCUE AND TRANSPLANT 194 38240,38230 524 Category: 5 ANOMALIES OF GALLBLADDER, BILE DUCTS, AND LIVER MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 751.6 90000-99999,47400-47999 525 Category: 5 CANCER OF PANCREAS, TREATABLE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT 157,230.9 526 Category: PARASITIC INFESTATION OF MEDICAL THERAPY 373. 6 90000-99999 527 Category: ATELECTASIS (COLLAPSE OF MEDICAL THERAPY 518.0-.1 90000-99999,31645 528 Category: 5 EYELID 10 LUNG) 10 HEMORRHAGE AND INFARCTION OF THYROID MEDICAL THERAPY 246.3 90000-99999 529 Category: 10 RETINAL TEAR LASER PROPHYLAXIS 361.30 67141-67145 530 SPONTANEOUS MEDICAL AND category: 10 AND MISSED ABORTION SURGICAL TREATMENT 631-632,634.2-.9 59820-21,90000-99999 531 Category: INFLAMMATION OF LACRIMAL MEDICAL THERAPY 375 90000-99999 532 Category: 10 PASSAGES 10 S120.76 Per capita Cost Pe~ Month
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 281 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: MINOR BURNS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 11000-1,11040-4,11960-70, 14020,14040-1,14060,15200, 15220,15240,15260,15350, 15400, 15500-10,15770,1600016035,20550,20610,35206,64450,90000-99999 Line: 53 3 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND CONJUNCTIVITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY lCD-9: 477,471,472,372.00-.1 4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 53 4 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: CORNEAL ULCER Treatment: CONJUNCTIVAL FLAP ICD-9: 370.0 CPT: 68360 Line: 53 5 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: HYPERESTROGENISM Treatment: HYSTERECTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 256.0 CPT: 58120,58150,90000-99999 line: 53 6 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 614.1 -.2,614.4,614.6-.9,615. 1-.9,625.0-.2,625.4-.5,625 .8-.9 CPT: 11043,58150,58805,58925,58980,90000-99999 Line: 537 Category: 13 Diagnosis: RETAINED DENTAL ROOT Treatment: EXCISION OF DENTOALVEOLAR STRUCTURE ICD-9: 525.3 Line: 53 8 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: KERATITIS: CORNEAL ULCER, SUPERFICIAL U/O CONJUNCTIVITIS, OTHER AND UNSPECIFIED KERATOCON JUNCTIVITIS, INTERSTITIAL & DEEP, CORNEAL NEOVASCULARIZATION Treatment: KERATOPLASTY ICD-9: 370.0,371 .0-371.1,371.23,371 .4-371.6 CPT: 65730,65920,66985 Line: 53 9 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: TRANSIENT NEPHROTIC SYNDROME WITH LESION OF MINIMAL CHANGE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 581. 3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 540 Category: 10 Diagnosis: TONGUE TIE AND OTHER ANOMALIES OF TONGUE Treatment: FRENOTOMY, TONGUE TI E ICD-9: 750.0-.1 CPT: 40806,40819,41010,41115 Line: 541 Category: 11 Diagnosis: BRANCHIAL CLEFT CYST Treatment: EXCISION ICD-9: 744.42 CPT: 42810,42815 Line: 54 2 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ATROPHY OF EDENTULOUS ALVEOLAR RIDGE Treatment: VESTIBULOPLASTY, GRAFTS, IMPLANTS IC D -9: 525. 2 Line: 54 3 Category: 11 328-308 0 92 10
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282 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 199 1 Diagnosis: SPINE DEFORMITIES Line: 54 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASM OF MALE GENITAL ORGANS: TESTIS, PROSTATE, EPIDIDYMIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 222.0,222.2,222.3,222.8, 222. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 54 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF BLADDER Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 596.0-.5,5%.7-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999,51800-45,51880-980,53660-61 ,53670 Line: 54 6 Category: 11 Diagnosis: HYPERTELORISM OF ORBIT Treatment: ORBITOTOMY ICD-9: 376.41 CPT: 67400 Line: 54 7 Category: 11 Diagnosis: DENTAL SERVICES (EG. TOOTH LOSS) Treatment: RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICE ICD-9: O 80,07950,09630 Line: 54 8 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: DENTAL SERVICES (EG. MALPOSITIONED TOOTH) Treatment: RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICE ICD-9: O Line: 54 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: DENTAL SERVICES (EG. INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO RESTORE TOOTH) Treatment: RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICE ICD-9: 0 Line: 55 0 Category: 11 Diagnosis: UNSPECIFIED DISEASE OF HARD TISSUES OF TEETH (AVULSION) Treatment: INTERDENTAL WIRING [CD-9: 525.9 CPT: 21497 Line: 55 1 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: RETAINED INTRAOCULAR FOREIGN BODY, MAGNETIC & NONMAGNETIC Treatment: FOREIGN BODY REMOVAL ICD-9: 360.5-360.6 CPT: 65230,65260-65265 Line: 552 Category: 12 Diagnosis: INTERNAL DERANGEMENT OF KNEE Treatment: ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR IC D -9: 717.1-.3,717.40,717.42-.4 9 CPT: 29870-89,27403-29 Line: 55 3 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: CLOSED FRACTURE OF EPIPHYSIS OF UPPER EXTREMITIES Treatment: REDUCTION ICD-9: 812.09,812.44,813.4 3 CPT: 25350,25600-20 Line: 55 4 Category: 1 2
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 283 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL DISLOCATION OF HIP; COXA VARA & VALGA, CONGENITAL Treatment: REPAIR/RECONSTRUCTION ICD-9: 754.3,755.62,755.6 1 CPT: 27179,27181,27185 Line: 55 5 Category: 1 2 Diagnosis: MECHANICAL AND OTHER COMPLICATION OF INTERNAL ORTHOPEDIC AND PROSTHETIC DEVICE, IMPLANT AND GRAFT; IMP LANT OR GRAFT; INFECTION & INFLAMMATORY REACTION DUE TO INTERNAL PROSTHETIC DEVICE Treatment: TREATMENT, ARTHROPLASTY CPT: 27485-27488,27265,27266, 27134,27137,27138 Line: 55 6 Category: 12 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF SHOULDER Treatment: REPAIR/RECONSTRUCTION ICD-9: 727.61 ,726.10,840.4 Line: 55 7 Category: 12 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL DISLOCATION OF KNEE, GENU VARUM & VALGUM (ACQD), CONGENITAL BOWING OF FEMUR, TIBIA & FIBULA, GENU RECURVAUM (ACQD), CONGITAL GENU RECURVATUM LONG BONES OF LEGS, CONGENITAL DEFORMITIES OF KNEE Treatment: OSTEOTOMY ICD-9: 736.42,754.40-.43,755.6 4 CPT: 27455,27448-27450 Line: 55 8 Category: 12 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL DEFORMITIES OF KNEE Treatment: ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR ICD-9: 755.64 CPT: 29870-89,27403-29 Line: 55 9 Category: 13 Diagnosis: UNSPECIFIED RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSION; CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION, VENOUS TRIBUTARY (BRANCH) OCCLUSION Treatment: LASER SURGERY ICD-9: 362.30,362.35,362.3 6 CPT: 67228 Line: 56 0 Category: 12 Diagnosis: EXFOLIATION OF TEETH DUE TO SYSTEMIC CAUSES Treatment: EXCISION OF DENTOALVEOLAR STRUCTURE ICD-9: 525.0 Line: 561 Category: 12 Diagnosis: RUBEOSIS IRIDI S Treatment: LASER SURGERY ICD-9: 364.42 CPT: 67228,66720-66721 Line: 56 2 Category: 12 Diagnosis: TRAUMATIC AMPUTATION OF TOE (COMPLETE)(PARTIAL) W/ & W/O COMPLICATION Treatment: REPLANTATION/AMPUTATE ICD-9: 895 CPT: 20838-40,28810-25 Line: 56 3 Category: 12 Diagnosis: PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS (NON-INJURY) Treatment: NEUROPLASTY Line: 56 4 Category: 12 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF SWEAT GLANDS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 705.0,705.81,705.89,705.9, 780.8 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 56 5 Category: 13
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284 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: CHONDROMALACIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 733.92 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 56 6 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: EPIPHYSEAL ARREST Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 733.91 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 56 7 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: DIAPHYSITI S Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 733.99 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 56 8 Category: 13 Diagnosis: FRACTURES OF RIBS AND STERNUM, CLOSED Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IcD-9: 807.0,807.2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 569 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF ONE OR MORE PHALANGES OF FOOT Treatment: SET ICD-9: 826 Line: 570 Category: 10 Diagnosis: BRACHIAL PLEXUS LESIONS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 353.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 571 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: CHRONIC SINUSITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 473 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 572 Category: 13 Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 724.2,724.4,722.8 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 573 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: DYSMENORRHEA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 625.3 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 57 4 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: TIBIAL BURSITIS, OSTEOCHONDROPATHIES AND CONGENITAL DEFORMITIES OF KNEE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 57 5 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: EPICONDYLITIS AND RADIAL STYLOID TENOSYNOVITIS Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT [CD-9: 726.31-.32,727.0 4 Line: 57 6 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: ROLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 725 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 57 7 Category: 1 3
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Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List l 285 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: RAYNAUD SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 443 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 57 8 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: REITE R I S DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 099.3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 579 Category: 13 Diagnosis: URTICARIA, CHRONIC Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC D -9: 708,995. 1 CPT: 90000-99999,11000-11101 Line: 58 0 Category: 13 Diagnosis: KERATODERMA, ACQUIRED; ACQUIRED ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS, STRIAE ATROPHICAE, OTHER AND UNSPECIFIED HYPERTROPHIC AND ATROPHIC CONDITIONS OF SKIN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 690,698,700,701.1-.3,701 .8,701.9,706.7 CPT: 11000101,11900,11950-54,90000-99999 Line: 581 Category: 13 Diagnosis: VERTIGINOUS SYNDROMES AND OTHER DISOROERS OF VESTIBULAR SYSTEM Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 386.0-.2,386.4-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 58 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: DISORDERS OF CERVICAL REGION Treatment: CERVICAL LAMINECTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 721.0,722.4,722.81,72 3 Line: 58 3 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: ERYTHEMATOUS CONDITIONS: TOXIC, NODOSUM, ROSACEA, LUPUS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 695.0,695.2-. 9 CPT: 90000-99999,11100-1110 1 Line: 58 4 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: SPONDYLOSIS AND OTHER CHRONIC DISOROERS OF BACK Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT Line: 58 6 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: ESOPHAGITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 530.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 58 7 Category: 13 Diagnosis: INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISORDERS Treatment: THORACIC-LUMBAR LAMINECTOMY, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 722.0-.1,722.7,952.1-. 9 91,63170,63173,90000-99999 Line: 58 8 Category: 13
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286 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: CHRONIC PROSTATITIS, OTHER DISORDERS OF PROSTATE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 601.1,602 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 58 9 Category: 13 Diagnosis: CHRONIC CYSTITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 595.1-595. 3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 59 0 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: IMPETIGO HERPETIFORMIS AND SUBCORNEAL PUSTULAR DERMATOSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [co-9: 694.0-. 3 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 591 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: TRIGEMINAL NERVE DISORDERS Treatment: MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 350 CPT: 64400,64600-64610,61450,61458,90000-99999 Line: 59 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: MYASTHENIA GRAVIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, THYMECTOMY ICD-9: 358 CPT: 90000-99999,60520 Line: 59 3 Category: 13 Diagnosis: SPRAINS, STRAINS AND NON-ALLOPATHIC SPINAL LESIONS: THORACIC, LUMBAR AND SACRUM ACUTE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 59 4 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: HORDEOLUM AND OTHER DEEP INFLAMMATION OF EYELID; CHALAZION Treatment: INCISION AND DRAINAGE/MEDICAL THERAPY IcD-9: 373.1-.2 Line: 595 Category: 14 Diagnosis: LABYRINTHITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 386. 3 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 59 6 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: VIRAL HEPATITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 070 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 59 7 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ANOVULATION (INFERTILITY) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 621 .3,626.0-.1,628. 0 Line: 59 8 Category: 1 5 Diagnosis: HYDROCELE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, EXCISION ICD-9: 603 Line: 59 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ABSENCE OF BREAST AFTER MASTECTOMY AS TREATMENT FOR NEOPLASM Treatment: BREAST RECONSTRUCT ICD-9: 176,217,233.0,238. 3 Line: 60 0 Category: 11
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 287 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: SPASTIC DYSPHONIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 478.79 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 60 1 Category: 11 Diagnosis: FEMALE INFERTILITY OF CERVICAL ORIGIN, MALE INFERTILITY Treatment: ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 628.8-.9,60 6 CPT: 90000-99999,58310-58311 Line: 60 2 Category: 15 Diagnosis: TUBAL DISEASE Treatment: MICROSURGERY ICD-9: 256,628.2-. 4 CPT: 58700,58740-70 Line: 60 3 Category: 15 Diagnosis: KELOID SCAR; OTHER ABNORMAL GRANULATION TISSUE Treatment: INTRALESIONAL INJECTIONS/DESTRUCTION/EXCISION ICD-9: 701 .4-.5 CPT: 1190011901,17000-17105,1 1200-11446 Line: 60 4 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: CONJUNCTIVAL CYST Treatment: EXCISION OF CONJUNCTIVAL CYST ICD-9: 372.7 5 CPT: 68110 Line: 605 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: HEPATORENAL SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 572.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 60 6 Category: 3 Diagnosis: OTHER DEFICIENCIES OF CIRCULATING ENZYMES (ALPHA 1-ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY) Treatment: LUNG TRANSPLANT 1(X)-9: 277.6 CPT: 33935 Line: 60 7 Category: 5 Diagnosis: LETHAL MIDLINE GRANULOMA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 446.3 CPT: MEDICAL THERAPY Line: 60 8 Category: 5 Diagnosis: AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 335.20,335.22-.29 CPT: 90000-999999 Line: 609 Category: 5 Diagnosis: CANCER OF LIVER AND INTRAHEPATIC BILE DUCTS Treatment: LIVER TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 15 5 CPT: 47135 Line: 61 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: HEMATOMA OF AURICLE OR PINNA AND HEMATOMA OF EXTERNAL EAR Treatment: DRAINAGE ICD-9: 216.2,380.0,380.31 CPT: 69000-20 Line: 61 1 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: ENOPHTHALMOS Treatment: REVISION ICD-9: 376.5 CPT: 67400 Line: 61 2 Category: 10
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288 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: ACUTE LYMPHADENITIS Treatment: INCISION AND DRAINAGE ICD-9: 683 CPT: 10060 Line: 61 3 Category: 10 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 752.0-.3,752.4 1 Line: 61 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: GENERALIZED CONVULSIVE OR PARTIAL EPILEPSY WITHOUT MENTION OF IMPAIRMENT OF CONSCIOUSNESS Treatment: FOCAL SURGERY ICD-9: 345.1,345. 5 CPT: 61720,61533-61536 Line: 61 5 Category: 11 Diagnosis: VARICOSE VEINS OF LOWER EXTREMITIES Treatment: STRIPPING/SCLEROTHERAPY ICD-9: 454 Line: 61 6 Category: 1 1 Diagnosis: DISEASE OF CAPILLARIES Treatment: EXCISIO N ICD-9: 448.1-. 9 CPT: 11400-1142 6 Line: 61 7 Category: 1 1 Diagnosis: ANOMALIES OF RELATIONSHIP OF JAW TO CRANIAL BASE, MAJOR ANOMALIES OF JAW SIZE, OTHER SPECIFIED AND UNSPECIFIED DENTOFACIAL ANOMALIES Treatment: OSTEOPLASTY, MAXILLA/MANDIBLE ICD-9: 524.0.2,524.5,524.85,524. 9 Line: 61 8 Category: 1 1 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF THE EAR WITHOUT IMPAIRMENT OF HEARING Treatment: OTOPLASTY, REPAIR & AMPUTATION ICD-9: 744.1-. 3 CPT: 69300,69110 Line: 61 9 Category: 1 1 Diagnosis: TMJ DISORDER Treatment: TMJ SPLINTS ICD-9: 524. 6 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 62 0 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: TMJ DISORDERS Treatment: TMJ SURGERY Line: 621 Category: 11 Diagnosis: DISEASE OF NAILS, HAIR AND HAIR FOLLICLES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 703.8.9,704.0,704.2-.9,757.4. 5 CPT: 11900, 11700-11765,11000-11001 ,90000-99999 Line: 62 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: CIRCUMSCRIBED SCLERODERMA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 701. 0 CPT: 90000-99999,11900-1190 1 Line: 62 3 Category: 13
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. Appendix D-Prioritized Health Services List l 289 I PRIORITIZED HEALTH SE R VICES LIST OF MAY 1, IW1 CAVUS DEFORMITY OF FOOT MEDICAL THERAPY, ORTHOTIC 736.73 90000-99999 624 Category: 1 3 CERVICAL RIB SURGICAL TREATMENT 756. 2 21615-16,21705 625 Category: 11 ERYTHROPLAKIA, LEUKOEDEMA OF MOUTH OR TONGUE MEDICAL THERAPY 528. 7 90000-99999 626 Category: 1 3 CHRONIC CONJUNCTIVITIS, ELEPHAROCON JUNCTIVITIS MEDICAL THERAPY 372.1-372. 3 90000-99999 627 Category: 1 3 DERMATOPHYTOSIS MEDICAL THERAPY 110-111 90000-99999,11100 628 Category: 1 3 KERATITIS: SUPERFICIAL U/O CONJUNCTIVITIS, CERTAIN TYPES, OTHER AND UNSPECIFIED K-CONJUNCTIVITIS, INTERSTITIAL & DEEP, CORNEAL NEOVASCULARIZATION, OTHER AND UNSPECIFIEO FORMS MEDICAL THERAPY 370.2-370. 9 90000-99999 629 Category: 1 3 DISORDERS OF SYNOVIUM, TENDON AND BURSA; DISORDERS OF SOFT TISSUE AND JOINTS MEDICAL THERAPY 630 Category: 13 TENDINITIS AND BURSITIS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL THERAPY 631 Category: 14 BLEPHARITIS MEDICAL THERAPY 373.0 90000-99999 632 Category: 13 XEROSIS MEDICAL THERAPY 706.8 9OOOO-99999,11OOO-111O1 633 Category: 13 OBESITY NUTRITIONAL AND LIFE STYLE COUNSELING 278 90000-99999 634 Category: 13
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290 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal DISORDERS OF FUNCTION OF MEDICAL THERAPY 536,564 90000-99999 635 Category: LICHEN PLANUS MEDICAL THERAPY 697 90000-99999, 11900-11901 636 Category: MONONEUROPATHY MEDICAL THERAPY 354.0,354.2-. 9 90000-99999 637 Category: POSTCONCUSSION SYNDROME MEDICAL THERAPY 310.2 90000-99999 638 Category: PRIORITIZED HEALTH STOMACH AND OTHER 13 13 13 13 HERPES SIMPLEX WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS MEDICAL THERAPY 054.0,054.2,054.6,054.8-.9 90000-99999 639 Category: 13 SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 FUNCTIONAL DIGESTIVE DISORDERS OTOSCLEROSIS MEDICAL THERAPY 38 7 90000-9999 9 641 Category: 1 3 PERIPHERAL ENTHESOPATHIES MEDICAL THERAPY 726.30.32,726.4-.6,726.70,726.8,726.90 90000-99999 642 Category: 13 CHRONIC BRONCHITIS MEDICAL THERAPY 490-491,493.9 90000-99999 643 Category: 13 SARCOIDOSIS MEDICAL THERAPY 135 90000-99999 644 Category: 13 BENIGN INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION MEDICAL THERAPY 348. 2 90000-9999 9 645 Category: 1 3 LYMPHEDEMA MEDICAL THERAPY, OTHER OPERATION ON LYMPH CHANNEL 457,140-144 90000-99999, 38300-38308,38382-38555,3870038761 646 Category: 13
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 291 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF HAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: PHLEBITIS AND THROMBOPHLEBITIS, SUPERFICIAL Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 451 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 64 7 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: SYNOVITIS AND TENOSYNOVITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 727.0 CPT: 90000-99999,20550 Line: 64 8 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: DIAPER OR NAPKIN RASH Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 691.0 CPT: 9oooo-99999,11100 Line: 64 9 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ORAL APHTHAE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 528.2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 65 0 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: DERMATITIs DUE TO SUBSTANCES TAKEN INTERNALLY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 693 CPT: 90000-99999,11100 Line: 65 1 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: FOOD ALLERGY Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 692.5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 65 2 Category: 1 3 Diagnosis: SPRAINS OF JOINTS AND ADJACENT MUSCLES Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY Line: 65 3 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: SUBLINGUAL, SCROTAL, AND PELVIC VARICES Treatment: VENOUS INJECTION, VASCULAR SURGERY ICD-9: 456.3-. 5 Line: 65 4 Category: 11 Diagnosis: SPRAIN/STRAIN OF ACHILLES TENDON Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 845.09 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 65 5 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: FRACTURE OF VERTEBRAL COLUMN WITHOUT SPINAL CORD INJURY, SACRUM AND COCCYX Treatment: LAMINECTOMY ICD-9: 805.6-805. 9 CPT: 22845,61720-61793 Line: 65 6 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ACUTE URTICARIA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 708,995.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 65 7 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: CANDIDIASI S Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY [CD-9: 112.0,112. 3 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 65 8 Category: 14
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292 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF HAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: SCLERITIS & EPISCLERITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 379.0 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 65 9 Category: 14 Diagnosis: INTERNAL INFECTIONS AND OTHER BACTERIAL FOOD POISONING Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 66 0 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: OPEN WOUND OF INTERNAL STRUCTURES OF MOUTH U/O COMPLICATION Treatment: REPAIR SOFT TISSUES ICD-9: 873.6 Line: 661 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: VIRAL, SELF-LIMITING ENCEPHALITIS, MYELITIS AND ENCEPHALOMYELITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC D -9: 056.0,32 3 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 66 2 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ACUTE TONSILLITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IcD-9: 46 3 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 66 3 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY Ire-9: 695. 1 Line: 66 4 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: CENTRAL SEROUS RETINOPATHY Treatment: LASER SURGERY ICD-9: 362.41 CPT: 67210 Line: 66 5 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: VULVAL VARICES Treatment: VASCULAR SURGERY lCD-9: 456. 6 CPT: 37799 Line: 66 6 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ASEPTIC MENINGITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 047-04 9 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 66 7 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY lCD-9: 075 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 66 8 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: OTHER NONFATAL VIRAL INFECTIONS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 66 9 Category: 1 4 Diagnosis: ACUTE PHARYNGITIS AND LARYNGITIS AND OTHER DISEASES OF VOCAL CORDS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 462,478.5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 67 0 Category: 14
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 293 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH QUESTIONABLE OR NO PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: O CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 67 1 Category: 1 6 Diagnosis: OLD LACERATION OF CERVIX AND VAGINA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 622.38624.4 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 67 2 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: BENIGN NEOPLASMS OF SKIN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 210,214,216,221 ,222.1,222.4 Line: 67 3 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: REDUNDANT PREPUCE AND PHIMOSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, DILATION ICD-9: 605 CPT: 54150-61,90000-99999 Line: 674 Category: 17 Diagnosis: VITILIGO, CONGENITAL PIGMENTARY ANOMALIES OF SKIN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 709.0,757.3,757. 9 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 67 5 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: DENTAL SERVICES (MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT) Treatment: RESTORtATIVE DENTAL SERVICE ICD-9: o Line: 67 6 Category: 17 Diagnosis: SEB0RRHEIC KERATOSIS, DYSCHROMIA, AND VASCULAR DISORDERS, SCAR CONDITIONS, AND FIBROSIS OF SKIN Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 702,709.1-.3,709.8-.9 CPT: 11000, 11050,17000,90000-99999 Line: 67 7 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: VIRAL WARTS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, CRYOSURGERY ICD-9: 078.1 Line: 67 8 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: UPPER EXTREMITY: FINGERTIP EVULSION W/O PEDICLE GRAFT Treatment: REPAIR ICD-9: 883.1,883.2 CPT: 12401 Line: 679 Category: 17 Diagnosis: AGENESIS OF LUNG Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 748. 5 CPT: 9oooo-99999 Line: 68 0 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: GALLSTONES WITHOUT CHOLECYSTITIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY, CHOLECYSTECTOMY ICD-9: 574.2,575. 6 CPT: 90000-99999,47490,47600-20,49000 Line: 68 1 Category: 1 7
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294 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: SIMPLE AND UNSPECIFIED GOITER, NONTOXIC NODULAR GoITER Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 260-241 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 68 2 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: SICCA SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 710.2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 68 3 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, STATIC DEMENTIA, BRAIN ANOXIA DUE TO INFECTION OR TRAUMA Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY CPT: 61107,90000-99999 Line: 68 4 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: ICHTHYOSIS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 757.1 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 68 5 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: PROGRESSIVE DEMENTIA, ORGANIC BRAIN SYNDROME Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 046. 1,090.40,094.1,290,294. 1,310,331 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 68 6 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: INTRAVENTRICULAR AND SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE OF FETUS OR NEONATE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICO-9: 772.1-. 2 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 68 7 Category: 2 Diagnosis: CANCER OF VARIOUS SITES WITH DISTANT METASTASIS WHERE TREATMENT WILL NOT RESULT IN A 10% 5 YEAR SURVIVAL Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 140-198 61546-68,90000-99999 Line: 68 8 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS Treatment: COCHLEAR IMPLANT ICD-9: 389.1 CPT: 69930 Line: 68 9 Category: 11 Diagnosis: ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS OF LIVER Treatment: LIVER TRANSPLANT ICD-9: 571. 2 CPT: 47135 Line: 69 0 Category: 5 Diagnosis: NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMAS Treatment: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT (5-6 LOCI MATCH) ICD-9: 200,202.0.2,202.8-.9 CPT: 38230-41 Line: 691 Category: 5 Diagnosis: OBESIT Y Treatment: GASTROPLASTY ICD-9: 278 CPT: 43845 Line: 69 2 Category: 11 Diagnosis: CONGENITAL CYSTIC LUNG SEVERE Treatment: LUNG RESECTION [CD-9: 748.4 CPT: 32500 Line: 693 Category: 1 7
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. Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 295 PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 Diagnosis: BENIGN POLYPS OF VOCAL CORDS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 478. 4 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 694 Category: 1 0 Diagnosis: ACUTE UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND COMMON COLD Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY IC D -9: 460,46 5 CPT: 90000-99999 Line: 69 5 Category: 1 4 $142.44 Per Capita Cost Per Month Diagnosis: TUBAL DYSFUNCTION AND OTHER CASES OF INFERTILITY Treatment: IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION, GIFT ICD-9: 256 CPT: 58970-76 Line: 69 6 Category: 1 5 Diagnosis: DENTAL SERVICES (EG. OBSOLETE TREATMENTS FOR VARIOUS CONDITIONS) Treatment: RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICE ICD-9: O Line: 69 7 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: UNCOMPLICATED HEMORRHOIDS Treatment: HEMORRHOIDECTOMY ICD-9: 455.0,455.3,455 .6,455. 9 Line: 69 8 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: MINOR HEAD INJURY: HEMATOMA/EDEMA W/ NO/BRIEF LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 851.02,851.12,851.82,851 .92,851 .42,851.52,850.9 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 69 9 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: GYNECOMASTIA Treatment: MASTOPEXY ICD-9: 611.1 CPT: 19316 Line: 70 0 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: CYST OF KIDNEY, ACQUIRED Treatment: MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 593. 2 CPT: 50010,50390,90000-99999 Line: 701 Category: 17 Diagnosis: END STAGE HIV DISEASE Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY ICD-9: 042-04 3 CPT: 90000-9999 9 Line: 702 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: CHRONIC PANCREATITIS Treatment: SURGICAL TREATMENT ICD-9: 577.1 CPT: 48000,48999,49000 Line: 70 3 Category: 1 7 Diagnosis: SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS WITHOUT INFECTION AND CONTUSIONS Treatment: MEDICAL THERAPY .6, .8,916.0, .2,.4,.6, .8,917.0, .2,.4,.6,.8,919. 0,.2,.4,.6,.8,920-92 4 Line: 704 Category: 1 7
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296 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal PRIORITIZED HEALTH SERVICES LIST OF MAY 1, 1991 CONSTITUTIONAL APLASTIC ANEMIA MEDICAL THERAPY 284.0 90000-99999 705 Category: 1 7 PROLAPSED URETHRAL MUCOSA SURGICAL TREATMENT 599.5 51840-41 706 Category: 11 CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION PARACENTESIS OF AQUEOUS 362.31 67015,67505 707 EXTREMELY LOU LIFE SUPPORT 765.0,765.11 0 708 ANENCEPHALOUS LIFE SUPPORT 740,742.2 0 709 Category: 1 7 BIRTH WEIGHT (UNDER 500 GM) AND UNDER 23 WEEK GESTATION Category: 1 7 AND SIMILAR ANOMALIES AND REDUCTION DEFORMITIES OF THE BRAIN Category: 1 7 S145.15 Per Cavita Cost Per Month
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 297 CONDITI0N ABORT 10N MISSED NON-SPONTANEOUS SPONTANEOUS, COMPLICATED BY INFECTION AND/OR HEMORRHAGE SPONTANEOUS, UNCOMPLICATED ABSCESS BARTHOLINS GLAND BURSA INTESTINE INTRASPINAL AND INTRACRANIAL KIDNEY LIVER LUNG ORAL SOFT TISSUE PERITONSILLAR PROSTATE SALIVARY GLANDS TENDON VULVA ABSENCE BREAST AFTER MASTECTOMY VAGINA (CONGENITAL) ABUSE, PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL (INCLUDING RAPE) ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS (ACQUIRED) ACCIDENTS INVOLVING EXPOSURE TO NATURAL ELEMENTS ACNE ACROMEGALY ACTINOMYCOTIC INFECTIONS ADDISONS DISEASE ADHESION, PERITONEAL AFTER-CATARACT AGENESIS OF LUNG AGRANULOCYTOSIS AMEBIASIS AMPUTATION, TRAUMATIC ARM(S) & HAND(S) FOOT/FEET LEG(S) THUMB/FINGER TOE AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK DUE TO FOOD, DRUG OR OTHER NON-VENOMOUS SOURCE ANEMIA APLASTIC DUE TO DISEASE OR TREATMENT CONSTITUTIONAL BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT MEDICAL THERAPY OTHER SPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED DUE TO ISOIMMUNIZATION HEMOLYTIC ACQUIRED HEREDITARY OF PREMATURITY PERNICIOUS ANENCEPHALOUS ANEURYSM ARTERY, PERIPHERAL DISSECTING OR RUPTURED NECK, ARTERIAL NON-DISSECTING WITHOUT RUPTURE PULMONARY ARTERY ANGINA PECTORIS ANOMALIES BILE DUCTS CIRCULATORY SYSTEM (CONGENITAL) LINE 531 323 105 531 351 394 111 128 14 223 8 0 489 5 7 395 269 394 351 600 40 9 156 581 121 392 226 108 180 508 341 680 249 222 134 141 140 349 563 609 15 260 307 181 214 705 19 191 160 45 247 709 313 122 208 194 129 177 525 367 INDEX CONDITION ANOMALIES (CONT) CORONARY ARTERY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM EXCLUDING NECROSIS (CONGENITAL) EAR WITH IMPAIRMENT OF HEARING WITHOUT IMPAIRMENT OF HEARING (CONGENITAL) FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS (CONGENITAL) GALLBLADDER HEART, CONGENITAL HEART TRANSPLANT SURGICAL TREATMENT JAW-CRANIAL RELATIONSHIP AND JAW SIZE LIVER TONGUE UPPER ALIMENTARY TRACT, EXCLUDING TONGUE (CONGENITAL) URINARY SYSTEM (CONGENITAL) ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VENOUS CONNECTION, TOTAL ANOVULATION (INFERTILITY) ANOXIA OF BRAIN DUE TO INFECTION OR TRAUMA APHAKIA APHTHAE, ORAL APPENDICITIS ARRHYTHMIAS LIFE-THREATENING NON LIFE-THREATENING ARTERITIS, GIANT CELL ARTHRITIS PYOGENIC RHEUMATOID ARTHROPLASTY MEDICAL THERAPY ARTHROPATHIES, CRYSTAL ASTHMA ATELECTASIS (COLLAPSE OF LUNG) ATHEROSCLEROSIS PERIPHERAL AMPUTATION SURGICAL TREATMENT VISCERAL ATRESIA PULMONARY VALVE (CONGENITAL) TRICUSPID VALVE (CONGENITAL) ATROPHIC CONDITIONS OF SKIN LINE 182 124 436 619 614 525 367 442 618 525 541 146 183 184 598 684 345 650 5 53 293 320 37 399 400 402 151 528 253 415 372 193 199 581 ATROPHY OF ALVEOLAR RIDGE (EDENTULOUS) 543 AVULSION OF FINGERTIP U/O PEDICLE GRAFT 679 BALANOPOSTHITIS 455 BELLS PALSY 458 BILIARY ATRESIA 365 BIRTH CONTROL CONTRACEPTION MANAGEMENT 163 TUBAL LIGATION 162 VASECTOMY 161 BIRTH TRAUMA FOR BABY 42 BIRTH, IMMATURE 500 GRAMS AND OVER 27 UNDER 500 GRAMS AND UNDER 23 WEEK GESTATION 708 BLASTOMYCOTIC INFECTION 127 BLEPHARITIS 632 BLEPHAROCON JUNCTIVITIS (CHRONIC) 627 BONE SPUR 457 BOTULISM 109 BOWING OF LEGS (CONGENITAL) 558 BRONCHITIS (CHRONIC) 643 BUDD-CHIARI SYNDROME 254 328-308 0 92 11
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298 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal CONDITI0N L INE BURN WITH VITAL SITE, LESS THAN 10% OF BODY SURFACE FULL THICKNESS GREATER THAN 10% OF BODY SURFACE MINOR PARTIAL THICKNESS GREATER THAN 30% OF BODY SURFACE WITH VITAL SITE WITHOUT VITAL SITE, 10-30% OF BODY SURFACE BURSITIS TIBIAL CALCULUS BILE DUCT WITH OTHER CHOLECYSTITIS BLADDER KIDNEY URETER CANCER TREATABLE ANUS BILIARY TRACT BONES BRAIN BREAST BRONCHUS CERVIX COLON ENDOCRINE GLANDS BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT ESOPHAGUS EYE FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS GALLBLADDER LARYNX LIVER LIVER TRANSPLANT MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT LUNG MALE GENITAL ORGANS MEDIASTINUM MESENTERY NERVOUS SYSTEM NOSE OMENTUM ORAL CAVITY ORBIT OVARY PANCREAS PENIS PERITONEUM PHARYNX PLEURA PROSTATE GLAND RECTUM RESPIRATORY ORGANS RETROPERITONEUM SKIN, EXCLUDING MALIGNANT MELANOMA SMALL INTESTINE SOFT TISSUE STOMACH TESTIS TRACHEA URINARY SYSTEM UTERUS VAGINA VULVA UNTREATABLE, VARIOUS SITES WITH DISTANT METASTASIS 115 117 533 136 115 4 9 631 575 155 418 418 419 245 513 221 371 172 235 169 245 524 178 500 206 204 513 265 610 521 235 215 235 262 371 265 262 265 206 179 526 215 262 265 235 258 245 235 262 257 245 207 240 174 235 205 186 204 204 688 CONDITION LINE CANCRUM ORIS 9 3 CANDIDAL ENDOCARDITIS 94 MENINGITIS 94 CANDIDIASIS 658 DISSEMINATE 94 LUNG 94 NEONATAL 315 CAPSULITIS, ADHESIVE (SHOULDER) 485 CARCINOMA IN SITU CERVIX 171 SKIN 267 CARDIOMYOPATHY CARDIAC TRANSPLANT 367 MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT 246 CARIES, DENTAL (PERIAPICAL INFECTION) 479 CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME 446 CATARACT 337 CAVUS DEFORMITY OF FOOT (ACQUIRED) 624 CELLULITIS NON-ORBITAL 389 ORAL SOFT TISSUE 489 ORBITAL (ACUTE) 9 CERVICAL RIB 625 CERVICITIS 437 CESTODE INFECTION 279 CHALAZION 595 CHOLERA 9 8 CHOLESTEATOMA 356 CHONDROMALACIA 566 CIRRHOSIS BILIARY TRACT NONALCOHOLIC 366 LIVER ALCOHOLIC 690 NONALCOHOLIC 366 CLEFT LI P 377 PALATE 378 WITH AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION 75 WITH CLEFT LIP 379 COAGULATION, INTRAVASCULAR, DISSEMINATED 102 COARCTATION OF THE AORTA BALLOON DILITATION 304 SURGICAL TREATMENT 175 VALVE REPLACEMENT 304 127 COLITIS, NONINFECTIOUS 107 COMA HEPATIC 223 NEWBORN 103 COMFORT CARE 164 COMMON COLD 695 COMMON TRUNCUS 188 COMMON VENTRICLE 324 COMPLICATION, MECHANICAL OF INTERNAL ORTHOPEDIC AND PROSTHETIC DEVICE, IMPLANT AND GRAFT 556 CONJUNCTIVITIS ACUTE 358 ALLERGIC 534 CHRONIC 627 NEONATAL 315 CONTRACTURE OF PALMAR FASCIA 446 CONTUSION OF LUNG 70 CONVULSIONS IN NEWBORN 125 CORNEAL ULCER 539 COXA VARA & VALGA (CONGENITAL) 555 CROUP SYNDROME 8 CRUSH INJURIES 119 CUSHINGS SYNDROME 286
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. Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 299 CONDITI0N L INE -- CYST BARTHOLINS GLAND 351 BRAIN, BENIGN 220 BRANCHIAL (CLEFT) 542 CONJUNCT I VA 605 KIDNEY (ACQUIRED) 701 ORAL SOFT TISSUES 488 ORBITAL 461 OVARIAN MEDICAL THERAPY 437 OOPHORECTOMY 498 PANCREAS 370 PILONIDAL WITH ABSCESS 352 THYROID 460 VULVA 351 CYSTIC FIBROSIS 248 CYSTIC LUNG, CONGENITAL MILD/MODERATE 212 SEVERE 693 CYSTICERCOSIS 279 CYSTITIS (CHRONIC) 590 DACRYOCYSTITIS, NEONATAL 315 DEFECT ATRIAL SEPTAL, PRIMUM 251 ATRIAL SEPTAL, SECUNDUM 250 COAGULATION 187 ENDOCARDIAL CUSHION 196 VENTRICULAR SEPTAL 256 DEFICIENCIES OF CIRCULATING ENZYMES (ALPHA 1-ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY) LUNG TRANSPLANT 607 MEDICAL THERAPY 511 DEFORMITIES FOOT 450 HEAD 62 KNEE CONGENITAL ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR 559 MEDICAL THERAPY 575 OSTEOTOMY 558 NOSE (ACQUIRED) 484 REDUCTION BRAIN 709 LOWER LIMB 430 SPINE 544 UPPER BODY & LIMBS 447 DEGENERATIONS BRAIN, USUALLY MANIFEST IN CHILDHOOD 519 GLOBE 403 MACULA AND POSTERIOR POLE 333 DELIRIUM DRUG 9 9 WITHDRAWAL, ALCOHOLIC 142 DEMENTIA PROGRESSIVE 686 STATIC 684 TREATABLE 230 DENTAL SERVICES EG. DENTAL CARIES, FRACTURED TOOTH 398 EG. INFECTIONS 165 EG. INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO RESTORE TOOTH 550 EG. MALPOSITIONED TOOTH 549 EG. OBSOLETE TREATMENTS FOR vARIOUS CONDITIONS 697 EG. TOOTH LOSS 548 MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT PROVIDED 676 PREVENTIVE 166 DEPRESSION, CEREBRAL OF NEWBORN 103 DERANGEMENT OF KNEE, INTERNAL 553 CONDITION LINE DERMATITIS ATOPIC 390 CONTACT 391 DUE TO SUBSTANCES TAKEN INTERNALLY 651 DERMATOMYOSITIS 321 DERMATOPHYTOSIS 628 DERMATOSES, BULLOUS 224 DERMATOSIS, PUSTULAR SUBCONEAL 591 DETACHMENT, RETINAL WITH DEFECT 338 DEVIATED NASAL SEPTUM 484 DIABETES INSIPIDUS 284 DIABETES MELLITUS U/PERIPHERAL CIRCULATORY DISORDER 253 WITH END STAGE RENAL DISEASE 512 NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT 153 TYPE I 150 DIAPER RASH 649 DIAPHYSITIS 568 DISACCHARIDASE, INTESTINAL 198 DISEASE ADENOIDS (CHRONIC) 494 AORTIC VALVE 200 ARTHROPOD-BORNE OTHER 55 VIRAL 114 CAPILLARIES 617 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM 384 CONNECTIVE TISSUE, DIFFUSE 295 ENDOCARDIUM 277 FALLOPIAN TUBES 603 HAIR AND HAIR FOLLICLES 622 HARD TISSUES OF TEETH (AVULSION) 551 HEART ISCHEMIC (CHRONIC) 177 PULMONARY (CHRONIC) 367 INFECTIOUS (CONGENITAL) 361 LARYNX 478 LIPS 489 LUNG, OCCUPATIONAL 501 MITRAL VALVE 202 NAILS 622 PHARYNX INCLUDING RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESS 32 PULMONARY CIRCULATION 367 HEART (ACUTE) 51 OBSTRUCTIVE (CHRONIC) 306 RESPIRATORY, NEONATAL (CHRONIC) 292 SALIVARY GLANDS 435 TONGUE 490 THYMUS GLAND 518 TONSILS (CHRONIC) 494 UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT 484 VALVES WITH MULTIPLE INVOLVEMENT 364 VASCULAR, PERIPHERAL 253 VOCAL CORDS (ACUTE) 670 WHITE BLOOD CELLS 264 DISLOCATION JOINT (EXCEPT HIP & KNEE) CLOSED 375 OPEN 63 HIP CLOSED 374 CONGENITAL 555 OPEN 79 KNEE CLOSED 374 CONGENITAL 558 OPEN 79 VERTEBRAL NON-CERVICAL, CLOSED 404 CERVICAL, CLOSED 81 OPEN 81
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300 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal CONDITION DISORDERS ADRENOGENITAL AMINO-ACID TRANSPORT AORTIC VALVE ARTERIES, VISCERAL BACK, CHRONIC BILE DUCT BLADDER BURSA CARTILAGE, ARTICULAR (SHOULDER) CERVICAL REGION CERVIX, NONINFLAMMATORY CORNEA DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, PERINATAL FALLOPIAN TUBES, NONINFLAMMATORY HEMATOLOGICAL, FETUS AND NEWBORN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC JOINTS LENS METABOLISM AMINO-ACID (NON PKU) LIPOID MINERAL METABOLISM NASAL CAVITY NERVE PERIPHERAL (NON-INJURY) TRIGEMINAL OVARY, NONINFLAMMATORY PANCREATIC ENDOCRINE SECRETION PARATHYROID GLAND PENIS PITUITARY GLAND PLASMA PROTEIN METABOLISM PROSTATE (CHRONIC) REFRACTION AND ACCOMMODATION RELATING TO LONG GESTATION AND HIGH BIRTHWEIGHT SHOULDER SINUSES SOFT TISSUE STOMACH SWEAT GLANDS SYNOVIUM TEETH AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURES TENDON THYROCALCITONIN SECRETION VAGINA, NONINFLAMMATORY VESTIBULAR SYSTEM DISPLACEMENT OF CERVICAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC WITHOUT MYELOPATHY DISTURBANCES ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, FETUS AND NEWBORN METABOLISM, FETUS AND NEWBORN SALIVARY SECRETION DIVERTICULITIS OF COLON DOUBLE OUTLET, RIGHT VENTRICLE DRUG REACTIONS, NEWBORN DUODENITIS DWARFISM, PITUITARY DYSCHROMIA DYSFUNCTION FALLOPIAN TUBES POLYGLANDULAR TESTICULAR DYSMENORRHEA DYSPHONIA, SPASTIC DYSPLASIA CERVIX LUNG DYSTONIA (UNCONTROLLABLE) DYSTROPHY MUSCULAR VULVA LINE 203 237 200 276 586 6 7 546 630 485 583 439 539 4 4 456 4 0 588 630 345 237 270 314 482 564 592 456 287 301 455 195 285 589 425 309 557 482 630 635 565 630 491 630 241 437 582 416 4 3 4 3 435 369 192 73 152 515 67 7 696 640 640 574 601 171 296 363 506 234 CONDITION LINE EBSTEINS ANOMALY 263 ECTOPIC PREGNANCY 10 ECTROPION 471 ECZEMA 391 EDEMA ANGIONEUROTIC, HEREDITARY 290 FETUS AND NEWBORN 360 EMBOLISM AORTIC ABDOMINAL 123 THORACIC 123 PULMONARY 51 VENOUS 254 EMPYEMA 8 0 ENCEPHALITIS, VIRAL, SELF-LIMITIN G 662 ENCEPHALOCELE 281 ENCEPHALOMYELITIS. VIRAL, SELF-LIMITING 662 ENDOCARDITI S CARDIAC TRANSPLANT MEDICAL THERAPY ENDOCERVICITIS ENDOMETRIOSIS ENDOPHTHALMITIS, PURULENT ENOPHTHALMOS ORBITAL IMPLANT REVISION ENTERITIS, REGIONAL ENTEROCOLITIS, NECROTIZING, IN FETUS OR NEWBORN ENTHESOPATHIES, PERIPHERAL MEDICAL THERAPY SURGICAL TREATMENT ENTROPION OF EYELID EPICONDYLITIS EPIDIDYMITIS EPILEPSY FOCAL SURGERY MEDICAL THERAPY EPIPHYSEAL ARREST EPISCLERITIS EPISPADIAS EPISTAXIS, LIFE-THREATENING EQUINUS DEFORMITY OF FOOT (ACQUIRED) EROSION OF THE CORNEA (RECURRENT) ERYSIPELAS ERYTHEMA MULTIFORM NODOSUM TOXIC ERYTHROPLAKIA OF MOUTH AND TONGUE ESOPHAGITIS EXFOLIATION OF TEETH DUE TO SYSTEMIC CAUSES EXOPHTHALMOS, ENDOCRINE EXOTROPIA FAILURE, RENAL ACUTE CHRONIC FATAL RICKETTSIAL FATTY LIVER, ALCOHOLIC FEEDING PROBLEMS IN NEWBORN FEVER, RHEUMATIC WITH ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART FIBROMATOSIS, PLANTAR FASCIAL FIBROPLASIA, RETROLENTAL FIBROSIS PULMONARY SKIN FISSURE, ANAL FISTULA ANAL FEMALE GENITAL TRACT 367 95 437 469 328 476 612 273 101 642 493 471 576 453 615 159 567 659 411 6 0 487 481 65 664 584 584 626 587 561 52 346 120 310 55 509 362 145 85 585 344 302 677 432 &19 406
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List l 301 CONDITION LINE FISTULA (CON T) LIP (CONGENITAL) 377 PULMONARY, AORTIC 242 SALIVARY GLANDS 269 URETERAL (INTESTINAL) 275 URETHRAL 468 FLAIL CHEST 130 FOOD ALLERGY 652 FOREIGN BODY ACCIDENTALLY LEFT DURING PROCEDURE 463 BRONCHUS 4 CONJUNCTIVAL SAC 347 EAR 473 ESOPHAGUS 4 INTRAOCULAR, MAGNETIC & NONMAGNETIC, RETAINED 552 LARYNX 4 NOSE 473 PENIS 453 PHARYNX 4 TRACHEA 4 UTERUS 451 VAGINA 451 VULVA 451 FRACTURE EPIPHYSIS OF LOWER EXTREMITIES CLOSED 380 OPEN 82 EPIPHYSIS OF UPPER EXTREMITIES CLOSED 554 FACE BONES 5 9 HIP, CLOSED 8 7 JOINT EXCEPT HIP, CLOSED 417 OPEN 110 LARYNX, OPEN 31 PELVIS 116 PHALANGES OF FOOT 570 RIBS CLOSED 569 OPEN 54 SHAFT OF BONE CLOSED 381 OPEN 35 SKULL, COMPOUND/DEPRESSED 6 2 STERNUM CLOSED 569 OPEN 54 TRACHEA, OPEN 31 VERTEBRAL COLUMN SACRUM & COCCYX WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY 412 WITHOUT SPINAL CORD INJURY 656 CERVICAL 8 6 GALACTOSEMIA 25 GALLSTONE WITH CHOLECYSTITIS 16 WITHOUT CHOLECYSTITIS 681 GANGLION OF TENDON OR JOINT 495 GANGRENE 253 GAS GANGRENE 253 GASTRITIS 152 GASTROENTERITIS, NONINFECTIOUS 107 GENU RECURVATUM 558 GENU VARUM & VALGUM (ACQUIRED) 558 GIARDIASIS 444 GIGANTISM 226 GLAUCOMA 332 ANGLE-CLOSURE 329 ASSOCIATED WITH DISORDERS OF THE LENS 330 CONDITION GLAUCOMA (CONT) OPEN ANGLE CYCLOCRYOTHERAPY LASER TRABECULOPLASTY TRABECULECTOMY GLOMERULONEPHRITIS, ACUTE WITH LESION OF RAPIDLY PROGRESSIVE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS GLYCOGENOSIS GOITER DYSHORMONOGENIC NONTOXIC NODULAR MEDICAL THERAPY THYROIDECTOMY SIMPLE GONOCOCCAL INFECTIONS OF EYE GOUT GRANULATION TISSUE, ABNORMAL GRANULOMA LETHAL MIDLINE SKIN, MUSCLE & SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME GYNECOMASTIA HEARING LOSS AGE 3 OR UNDER OVER AGE OF THREE SENSORINEURAL HEART FAILURE HELMINTHIASIS, INTESTINAL HEMATOMA AURICLE, PINNA OR EXTERNAL EAR SUBARACHNOID AND INTERCEREBRAL VULVA HEMOLYTIC DISEASE DUE TO ISOIMMUNIZATION HEMORRHAGE ADRENAL, FETUS OR NEONATE CUTANEOUS, FETUS OR NEONATE GASTROINTESTINAL INTERCEREBRAL INTRACEREBRAL INTRAVENTRICULAR, FETAL OR NEONATE SUBARACHNOID FETUS OR NEONATE THYROID TRANSPLACENTAL VITREOUS HEMORRHOIDS COMPLICATED THROMBOSED UNCOMPLICATED HEMOTHORAX HEPATITIS ALCOHOLIC CHRONIC VIRAL HERNIA WITH OBSTRUCTION AND/OR GANGRENE WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION OR GANGRENE HERPES SIMPLEX U/OPHTHALMIC COMPLICATIONS WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS HERPES ZOSTER U/OPHTHALMIC COMPLICATIONS HERPETIC ENCEPHALITIS HISTIOCYTOSIS HISTOPLASMOSIS HIV DISEASE, INCLUDING AIDS END STAGE COMFORT CARE MEDICAL THERAPY OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS OF LINE 336 335 331 120 137 421 154 682 503 682 170 157 401 604 608 463 288 700 218 477 689 259 444 611 8 8 437 19 268 268 185 8 8 303 687 8 8 687 529 71 334 466 466 698 33 509 213 597 7 504 325 639 325 113 499 127 158 164 702 255
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302 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal CONDITION HODGKINS DISEASE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY HORDEOLUM AND OTHER DEEP INFLAMMATION OF EYELID HYDATIDIFORM MOLE HYDROCELE HYDROCEPHALUS (CONGENITAL) HYDRONEPHROSIS (CONGENITAL) HYDROPS FETALIS HYPERALDOSTERONISM HYPERESTROGENISM HYPERFUNCTION MEDULLOADRENAL PITUITARY (ANTERIOR) HYPERPLASIA OF PROSTATE HYPERSENSITIVITY ANGIITIS HYPERSOMNIA W/SLEEP APNEA HYPERTELORISM OF ORBIT HYPERTENSION INTRACRANIAL, BENIGN HYPERTENSIVE HEART AND RENAL DISEASE HYPERTROPHIC BREAST MUSCLE SKIN HYPHEMA HYPOCALCEMIA HYPOGLYCEMIA NEONATAL HYPOGLYCEMIC COMA HYPOMAGNESEMIA HYPOPLASIA HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME HYPOSPADIAS HYPOTENSION HYPOTHERMIA HYPOTHYROIDISM ACQUIRED CONGENITAL ICHTHYOSIS IMPACTED TEETH IMPETIGO HERPETIFORMIS INCONTINENCE, STRESS (FEMALE) INFARCTION MYOCARDIAL (ACUTE) THYROID INFECTIONS ANAEROBIC, REQUIRING HYPERBARIC OXYGEN METASTATIC WITH LOCALIZED SITES OPPORTUNISTIC IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HOSTS RESPIRATORY, UPPER (ACUTE) VIRAL, NONFATAL INFECTIOUS SKIN CONDITIONS INFERTILITY FEMALE, CERVICAL ORIGIN MALE INFESTATIONS BODY (EG. LICE, SCABIES) EYELID, PARASITIC INFLAMMATION LACRIMAL PASSAGES ORBIT, CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE, PELVIC (ACUTE) INFLUENZA WITH PNEUMONIA INJURY BLOOD VESSELS OF THE THORACIC CAVITY 100 BRAIN, TRAUMATIC 684 CONDITION INJURY (CONT) HEAD MINOR SEVERE MAJOR BLOOD VESSELS OF UPPER EXTREMITY NERVE, PERIPHERAL SPINAL CORD CERVICAL WITHOUT VERTEBRAL INJURY SUPERFICIAL WITH INFECTION WITHOUT INFECTION OR CONTUSION INSUFFICIENCY AORTIC VALVE (CONGENITAL) VASCULAR, INTESTINE (ACUTE) INTERRUPTED AORTIC ARCH INTOLERANCE, FRUCTOSE (HEREDITARY) INTOXICATION SPECIFIC TO NEWBORN IRIDOCYCLITIS IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA ISCHEMIA, CEREBRAL, TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE, ACUTE/SUBACUTE JAUNDICE, FETAL AND NEONATAL KAWASAKI DISEASE KELOID SCAR KERATITIS, EXCLUDING CORNEAL ULCER KERATOCON JUNCTIVITIS EXPOSURE SICCA, NOT SPECIFIED AS SJOGRENS KERATODERMA (ACQUIRED) LABYRINTHITIS LACERATION CERVIX, OLD LACRIMAL SYSTEM LUNG VAGINA, OLD LARYNGITIS LARYNGOTRACHEITIS (ACUTE) LEIOMYOMA OF UTERUS LEPROSY LEPTOSPIROSIS LESION BRACHIAL PLEXUS PLANTAR NERVE PREMALIGNANT SPINAL, NON-ALLOPATHIC (ACUTE) LEUKEMIA CHRONIC BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY LYMPHOCYTIC, ACUTE ADULT CHILD LYMPHOID MONOCYTIC MYELOID NON-LYMPHOCYTIC, ACUTE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT CHEMOTHERAPY LEUKOEDEMA, MOUTH AND TONGUE LEUKOPLAKIA CERVIX ORAL MUCOSA, INCLUDING TONGUE MEDICAL THERAPY SURGICAL TREATMENT LICHEN PLANUS LIPIDOSES LUMBAGO LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS LINE 699 131 11 3 6 8 6 8 3 386 704 458 496 581 596 672 424 70 672 670 8 42 9 305 280 571 502 267 594 523 278 244 308 236 294 244 244 311 522 626 234 289 271 636 270 573 584
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List .303 CONDITI0N L I NE LYMES DISEASE 387 LYMPHADENITIS (ACUTE) 613 LYMPH EDEMA 646 LYMPHOMA, NON-HODGKINS BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT 691 CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY 239 MALABSORPTION, INTESTINAL 225 MALARIA 272 MALUNION OF FRACTURE 422 MASTITIS, INFECTIVE, NEONATAL 24 MASTOIDITIS (ACUTE) 61 MELANOMA OF SKIN, MALIGNANT, TREATABLE 227 MENINGITIS ASEPTIC BACTERIAL (ACUTE) SUBACUTE MENOPAUSAL MANAGEMENT MENSTRUAL BLEEDING DISORDERS MIGRAINE MONONEUROPATHY MONONUCLEOSIS, INFECTIOUS MUCOCELE MYASTHENIA GRAVIS NEONATAL MYCOBACTERIAL INFECTIONS MYCOSES MYELITIS, VIRAL, SELF-LIMITIN G MYELOMA, MULTIPLE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION THERAPY MYOCARDITIS CARDIAC TRANSPLANT MEDICAL THERAPY NAPKIN RASH NECROLYSIS, TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROSIS BONE, ASEPTIC LIVER, ACUTE LIVER TRANSPLANT MEDICAL THERAPY NEOPLASM, BENIGN BONE & ARTICULAR CARTILAGE BRAIN CONNECTIVE AND OTHER SOFT TISSUE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ENDOCRINE GLANDS EXTERNAL FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS EYELID FALLOPIAN TUBES ISLETS OF LANGERHANS KIDNEY MALE GENITAL ORGANS MIDDLE EAR NASAL CAVITIES AND ACCESSORY SINUSES OVARY PARATHYROID GLAND PITUITARY GLAND RESPIRATORY AND INTRATHORACIC ORGANS SKIN NEPHROTIC SYNDROME TRANSIENT WITH LESION OF MINIMAL CHANGE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS NEURITIS, THORACIC OR LUMBOSACRAL NONUNION OF FRACTURE NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES OBESITY GASTROPLASTY MEDICAL THERAPY OBSTRUCTION BILE DUCT INTESTINE U/O MENTION OF HERNIA NASOLACRIMAL DUCT, NEONATAL RESPIRATORY SYSTEM URETER CONDITION OCCLUSION CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN PRECEREBRAL ARTERIES VENOUS TRIBUTARY (BRANCH) OMPHALITIS OF THE NEWBORN ORCHITIS OSTEOARTHRITIS ARTHROPLASTY MEDICAL THERAPY OSTEOCHONDROPATHIES OSTEOMYELITIS ACUTE CHRONIC OSTEOPOROSIS OTITIS EXTERNA, INFECTIVE OTITIS MEDIA ACUTE CHRONIC MEDICAL THERAPY SURGICAL TREATMENT OTOSCLEROSIS MEDICAL THERAPY STAPEDECTOMY OVERACTIVITY, CORTICOADRENAL PALSY, CEREBRAL MEDICAL THERAPY SURGICAL TREATMENT PANCREATITIS, ACUTE PANCREATITIS, CHRONIC MEDICAL THERAPY SURGICAL TREATMENT PANHYPOPITUITARISM PARALYSIS OF VOCAL CORDS OR LARYNX PARALYTIC ILEUS PARAPLEGIA ARTHRODESIS MEDICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION SURGICAL PREVENTION OF CONTRACTURES PARKINSONS DISEASE PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME PEMPHIGUS/PEMPHIGOID PERFORATION OF INTESTINE, PERINATAL PERICARDITIS PERIOSTITIS OF SHOULDER PERITONITIS PHARYNGITIS PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU) PHLEBITIS DEEP SUPERFICIAL PIERRE ROBIN DEFORMITY PIGMENTARY ANOMALIES OF SKIN (CONGENITAL) PLEURISY PNEUMONIA ASPIRATION BACTERIAL BRONCHIAL PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMOTHORAX POISONING FOOD, BACTERIAL AND OTHER GAS/FUMES/VAPORS, REQUIRING HYPERBARIC OXYGEN INGESTION AND INJECTION MUSHROOMS, FISH, BERRIES, ETC. INTERNAL INFECTIONS POLIOMYELITIS (ACUTE) POLYARTERITIS NODOSA AND ALLIED CONDITIONS POLYARTHROPATHIES, INFLAMMATORY LINE
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304 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal CONDITION POLYCYTHEMIA NEONATORUM, SYMPTOMATIC POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA POLYMYOSITIS POLYNEUROPATHY, UNSPECIFIED POLYPS ANAL AND RECTAL NASAL RECONSTRUCTION SURGICAL TREATMENT VOCAL CORDS, BENIGN POSTCONCUSSION SYNDROME POSTLAMINECTOMY SYNDROME PREGNANCY PREVENTIVE SERVICES ADULTS WITH PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS WITH QUESTIONABLE OR NO PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS CHILDREN DENTAL PRIAPISM PROCTOCOLITIS, IDIOPATHIC PROLAPSE RECTAL UTERINE PROLAPSED URETHRAL MUCOSA PROSTATITIS TRICHOMONAL PSEUDOCYST OF PANCREAS PSORIASIS AND SIMILAR DISORDERS PTERYGIUM PTOSIS (ACQUIRED) WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT PYELONEPHRITIS ACUTE CHRONIC PYODERMA QUADRIPLEGIC RADICULITIS, THORACIC OR LUMBOSACRAL RAT-BITE FEVER RAYNAUDS SYNDROME REDUNDANT PREPUCE AND PHIMOSIS REFLUX, VESICOURETERAL REITERS DISEASE RELAPSING FEVER RENAL DISEASE, END STAGE MEDICAL THERAPY INCLUDING DIALYSIS RENAL TRANSPLANT RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS OF FETUS AND NEWBORN RESPIRATORY FAILURE RETAINED DENTAL ROOT FOREIGN BODY IN SOFT TISSUE RETINOPATHY CENTRAL SEROUS DIABETIC/OTHER RHEUMATIC MYOCARDITIS AND PERICARDITIS (CHRONIC) RHINITIS, ALLERGIC ROSACEA RUBELLA RUBEOSIS IRIDIS RUPTURE BLADDER, NONTRAUMATIC ESOPHAGUS INTESTINE LIVER PAPILLARY MUSCLE SPLEEN SYNOVIUM CONDITION SARCOIDOSIS SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME SCAR CONDITIONS SCARLET FEVER SCLERITIS SCLERODERMA, CIRCUMSCRIBED SCLEROSIS MULTIPLE SYSTEMIC SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS SEPTICEMIA SEPTUM, HYMEN AND VAGINAL SHIGELLOSIS SIALOADENITIS SIALOLITHIASIS SICCA SYNDROME SINUSITIS ACUTE CHRONIC MEDICAL THERAPY SURGICAL TREATMENT SOMATIC MEDICINE SORE THROAT, STREPTOCOCCAL SPINA BIFIDA WITH HYDROCEPHALUS WITHOUT HYDROCEPHALUS SPONDYLOSIS SPRAIN/STRAIN ACHILLES TENDON BACK JOINTS AND ADJACENT MUSCLES STENOSIS AORTIC VALVE (CONGENITAL) MITRAL VALVE (CONGENITAL) NASOLACRIMAL DUCT (ACQUIRED) PRECEREBRAL ARTERIES PULMONARY VALVE (CONGENITAL) SPINAL, LUMBAR TRICUSPID VALVE (CONGENITAL) STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME STOMATITIS STRIAE ATROPHICAE STRICTURE URETER URETHRAL STROKE SYNDROME COMPARTMENT HEPATORENAL INFANT OF A DIABETIC MOTHER i ORGANIC BRAIN RESPIRATORY DISTRESS (ADULT) VERTIGINOUS SYNOVITIS AND TENOSYNOVITIS SYPHILIS SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS TEAR, RETINAL TELANGIECTASIA, HEMORRHAGIC, HEREDITARY 517 TEMPERATURE REGULATION OF NEWBORNS, 41 CONDITIONS INVOLVING THE TENDINITIS 631 TENOSYNOVITIS, RADIAL STYLOID 576 TETANUS 298 NEONATORUM 139 TETRALOGY OF FALLOT (TOF) 210 THROMBOCYTOPENIA 91 THROMBOPHLEBITIS DEEP 78 SUPERFICIAL 647
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Appendix D--Prioritized Health Services List 305 CONDITION THROMBOS I S AORTIC, ABDOMINAL AND THORACIC PORTAL VEIN VENOUS T H YROI D I TI S ACUTE CHRONIC THYROTOXICOSIS NEONATAL TMJ DISORDERS SPLINTS SURGICAL TREATMENT TONGUE TIE TONSILLITIS (ACUTE) TORSION OVARY TESTIS TOXOPLASMOSIS TRACHOMA TRANSPOSITION OF GREAT VESSELS TRICHIASIS OF EYELID TRICHINOSIS TUBERCULOSIS ULCER CORNEA CONJUNCTIVAL FLAP MEDICAL THERAPY GASTRIC, DUODENAL, PEPTIC, GASTROJEJUNAL HEMIGASTRECTOMY MEDICAL THERAPY INTESTINAL SKIN, CHRONIC AMPUTATION MEDICAL THERAPY UNDESCENDED TESTICLE URETHRITIS TRICHOMONAL URTICARIA ACUTE CHRONIC UVEITIS, SYMPATHETIC VAGINITIS VARICES ESOPHAGEAL LOWER EXTREMITIES SUBLINGUAL, SCROTAL AND PELVIC VULVAL VENEREAL DISEASES VENOM POISONING VESICULITIS, SEMINAL VINCENTS DISEASE VITILIG O WARTS, VIRAL WHOOPING COUGH WITHDRAWAL ALCOHOL DRUG OR NARCOTIC SYNDROME, NEWBORN DUE TO DRUGS WOUND, OPEN EAR DRUM EYEBALL MOUTH W/O COMPLICATION NECK, INCLUDING LARYNX (DEEP) ORBIT, PENETRATING XEROSIS LINE 123 297 254 353 52 52 72 535 445 185 152 261 253 388 173 427 428 657 580 403 452 316 616 654 666 170 92 453 426 675 678 2 7 142 142 76 350 475 339 661 31 327 633
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Appendix E Glossary of Terms Access: Potential and actual entry of a population into the health care delivery system. Acute: In medical care, used to describe a condition that has a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course (compare with chronic). Adverse event (outcome): Any disease or injury. Usually used in the context of an injury that arises during the course of medical treatment, e.g., a premature death or unnecessary morbidity. Age-adjusted mortality rate: The death or mortality rate adjusted for the age distribution of the population under study. Age adjustment allows a direct comparison of the overall mortality experience of two or more populations, or examination of mortality over time in a single population, by using a single statistic. Age adjustment is necessary because populations differ in their proportions of people in different age categories, and different age groups have different mortality rates; for example, death rates for 25 to 34 year olds are much lower than for 55-64 year olds. Comparing populations without adjusting for the different age distributions of persons within each population could lead to erroneous conclusions about the relative health of the populations being compared. Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC): A program, established by the Social Security Act of 1935, providing cash payments to needy children (and their caretakers) who lack support because at least one parent is dead, disabled, continually absent from the home, or unemployed. Eligible families must meet income and resource criteria specified by the State. Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver: A liver condition caused by continued alcoholic intake over time, which destroys liver cells and stimulates the formation of collagen nodules that impede the livers functioning by causing it to shrink and harden. Alcoholic cirrhosis can be fatal. Allowable costs or charges: Costs or charges that are within the limits recognized as reimbursable under a particular insurance program (e.g., Medicare). Ambulatory care: See outpatient care. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A degenerative disease of the spinal motor neurons that control skeletal muscles, resulting in gradual paralysis and ultimately, death. The cause of the disorder, which most frequently attacks men in their 40s, is unknown. Also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. Ancillary services or technology: In this report, medical technology or services used directly to support basic clinical services, including diagnostic radiology, radiation therapy, clinical laboratory, physical therapy, and other special services. Anencephaly: A neural tube defect characterized by a failure of the brain to develop. Asthma: Constriction of the bronchial tubes, producing wheezing and difficulty breathing, in response to irritation, allergy, or other stimuli. Beneficiary: An individual receiving benefits (e.g., Medicaid). In this report, someone who is enrolled and participating in the Medicaid program. See enrollee. Benefit package: The package of health care services covered by a particular insurer. Billed charges: The physicians (or suppliers) actual (billed) charge for a service. Compare with customary, prevailing, and reasonable charges. Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes of the lungs. Capitated payment: Periodic (e.g., monthly) payment to a health care provider to cover all costs of providing all or selected types of health care services to a single individual (i.e., per capita). The provider assumes financial risk for patients whose actual costs exceed the average. Capitated services: Health care services covered under a capitated payment (see capitated payment). Cavitation rate: See capitated payment. Case-managed fee-for-service system: A system of health care delivery where each patient is enrolled with a primary care provider who preauthorizes all the patients health care and where all authorized health services are paid for on a fee-for-service basis. Case management: As used in this report, a system wherein a single gatekeeper (the case manager) provider monitors, coordinates, or preauthorizes all or selected health care services for an enrolled patient. Catastrophic cost: High cost related to treatment of severe or lengthy illness or disability. Categorically eligible Medicaid beneficiary: An individual qualifying for Medicaid under the federally mandated coverage groups which include: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) participants; unemployed parent families; poverty level medical (PLM) women and children; foster care children; and, certain aged, blind, and disabled individuals. Charity care: Care provided free of charge to individuals who the provider knows are unable to pay for services rendered (compare with uncompensated care).
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Appendix E--Glossary of Terms l 307 Chronic: Persistent or long-lasting (compare with acute). Coinsurance: That percentage of covered medical expenses, after subtraction of any deductible, for which an insured person is responsible. Under Medicare Part B, after the annual deductible has been met, Medicare will generally pay 80 percent of approved charges for covered services and supplies; the remaining 20 percent is the coinsurance, for which the beneficiary is liable. Also see copayment and deductible. Comorbidity: Coexisting health problems that tend to worsen the patients overall clinical condition. Community health center (CHC): An organization that provides primary health care and other healthrelated services to individuals in the local community. As of 1989, there were about 1,200 community health centers providing services at more than 2,000 sites throughout the country. Roughly half of these centers were receiving Federal grants under section 330 of the Public Health Services Act, which authorizes grants to public and private nonprofit organizations that provide primary health care to populations or areas that are medically undeserved. (See also federally qualified health center.) Community hospital: A hospital-public or private whose services are available to the general public. Excludes military and veterans hospitals. Condition-treatment (CT) pair: The basic unit of the prioritized list compiled by the Oregon Health Services Commission, which couples medical condition codes from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) with corresponding treatment/ therapy codes from the Physicians Current Procedural Terminology, 4th Edition (CPT-4). An example of a (CT pair is the condition appendicitis, with the treatment appendectomy. Control group: In a randomized clinical trial or other experiment, the group with which the group receiving experimental treatment is compared. The control group generally receives either a standard treatment, a placebo, or no treatment. The control group can be established by random assignment of subjects, or by nonrandomized distribution, Nonrandom methods include historical controls, in which individuals treated with a control treatment outside the study proper, at some time previous to the trial, are compared with the experimentally treated individuals; and matched controls, in which individuals in the control group are selected for their similarity to members of the experimental group. In the case of evaluating the Oregon Medicaid population, for example, individuals in the program could be matched and compared to another States Medicaid population. Copayment: In insurance, a form of cost sharing whereby the insured pays a specific amount at the point o f service or use (e.g., $10 per visit). See also coinsurance and deductible. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery: A surgical procedure in which a blood vessel from elsewhere in the body is used to bypass a constricted portion of one or more arteries feeding the heart muscle. This procedure has become the primary surgical approach to the treatment of coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which usually results in reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Coronary heart disease: See coronary artery disease. Cost-based reimbursement: Reimbursement based on the actual or reported costs of a provider for delivering a health care service or services. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA): An analytical technique that compares the costs of a project or technological application to the resultant benefits, with both costs and benefits expressed by the same measure. This measure is nearly always monetary. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA): An analytical technique that compares the costs of alternative projects to the resultant benefits, with costs and benefits/ effectiveness expressed by different measures. Costs are usually expressed in dollars, but benefits/ effectiveness are ordinarily expressed in terms such as lives saved, disability avoided, qualityadjusted life years saved, or some other relevant objective, Coverage (Medicaid): In the Medicaid program, coverage refers to the benefits available to eligible beneficiaries. It differs from payment, which refers to the amount and methods of payment for covered services. See also benefit package. Covered services: See coverage. Current Procedural Terminology, 4th Revision (CPT4) Coding: A taxonomy of procedures performed by physicians that is used for recording and billing for services rendered. In this taxonomy, each procedure is assigned a unique numerical code. Customary, prevailing, and reasonable (CPR) method: The method used by some insurers (including Medicare) to determine the allowed charge for certain services of physicians or suppliers based on the actual charge for the service, previous charges for the service by the physician or supplier in question, and previous charges by peer physicians or suppliers in the same locality. Customary charge: In the absence of unusual medical circumstances, the maximum amount that the insurer will approve for payment for a particular service provided by a particular physician practice. The insurer computes the customary charge on the basis of the actual amount that a physician practice or supplier generally charges for a specific service. Prevailing
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308 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal charge: In the absence of unusual medical circumstances, the maximum amount an insurer will approve for payment for a particular service provided by any physician practice within a particular peer group and locality. Generally, this amount is equal to the lowest charge in an array of customary charges that is high enough to include 75 percent of all the relevant customary charges. Approved or reasonable charge: An individual charge determination made by an insurer on a covered medical service or supply. In the absence of unusual medical circumstances, it is the lowest of: 1) the physicians or supplierss customary charge for that service; 2) the prevailing charge for similar services in the locality; 3) the actual charge made by the physician or supplier and 4) for Medicare, the carriers private business charge for a comparable service. Also called the allowed charge. Deductible: In insurance, an aspect of cost sharing in which the insured incurs an initial expense of a specified amount within a given time period (e.g., $250 per year) before the insurer assumes liability for any additional costs of covered services. Delphi technique: A technique used to obtain the most reliable consensus of opinion from a group of experts. Consensus is achieved after an iterative process where group members offer written individual opinions, discuss group opinion, and then revise individual opinions. Demonstration (Medicaid): An experiment designed to test alternative health care financing, delivery, and/or coverage mechanisms within the context of a State Medicaid program. States must apply to the Federal Government for special waiver permission if any aspect of the proposed demonstration does not fall within what is allowed under Federal Medicaid law. The demonstration can be populationbased (e.g., apply only to certain eligibility categories), geography-based, or statewide. Dental care organization: In Oregon, an organization that provides dental services on a prepaid, capitated basis. Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs): Groupings of diagnostic categories drawn from the International Classification of Diseases and modified by the presence of a surgical procedure, patient age, presence or absence of significant comorbidities or complications, and other relevant criteria. DRGs are the case-mix measure mandated for Medicares prospective hospital payment system by the Social Security Amendments of 1983 (Public Law 98-21). They are also the basis for Oregons current inpatient hospital payment under Medicaid. Disability: A term used to denote the presence of one or more functional limitations. A person with a disability has a limited ability or an inability to perform one or more basic life functions (e.g., walking) at a level considered typical. Disproportionate-share hospital: A hospital that serves a relatively high number of low-income patients. Disproportionate-share hospitals are eligible for special payment bonuses under Medicare and Medicaid. For Medicare, the increased reimbursement takes the form of a percentage adjustment in payment rates under Prospective Payment System (PPS). Under Medicaid, each State must establish its own methodology for adjusting Medicaid reimbursement to disproportionate-share hospitals. Doctor of Osteopathy (DO): A physician trained in a system of therapy that utilizes generally accepted physical, medicinal, and surgical methods of diagnosis and therapy, while placing chief emphasis on the importance of normal body mechanics and manipulative methods of detecting and correcting illness and injury. (DOS make up approximately 5 percent of the total physician population in the United States. In general, State licensing boards recognize the DO degree as equivalent to the MD (allopathic) degree. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (EPSDT): A State and federally funded program, administered by the State under the Medicaid program, that is intended to provide screening exams and followup services for illnesses, abnormalities, and treatable conditions to Medicaid-eligible children under age 21, The EPSDT benefit was enacted in 1967, Effectiveness: Same as efficacy (see below) except that it refers to average conditions of use. Efficacy: The probability of benefit to individuals in a defined population from a medical technology applied for a given medical problem under ideal conditions of use. Elective procedure: A surgical procedure that may be important to an individuals health but is neither an emergency nor life threatening. Eligibility: The quality of meeting specific requirements to qualify for a particular program (e.g., Medicaid) or benefit. Eligible: An individual who qualifies for a program (e.g., Medicaid) or benefit whether or not he or she actually takes advantage of that qualification and participates in the program (see enrollee). Encounter data: Data describing the content of care and other characteristics of discrete outpatient health care visits. Encounter data usually include provider identification, patient demographics, diagnoses, procedures performed, charges, and date and setting of service. Enrollee: An individual who qualifies for (Medicaid) benefits and is enrolled in the (Medicaid) program, receiving benefits when needed.
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... Appendix E--Glossary of Terms l 309 External validity: A measure of the extent to which study results can be generalized to the population that is represented by individuals in the study, assuming that the characteristics of that population are accurately specified. Federal poverty level (FPL): The official U.S. Government definition of poverty based on cash income levels for families of different sizes. In 1992, the FPL for a family of three in the continental United States was $11,570. (The FPL is slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii.) Responsibility for changing poverty concepts and definitions rests with the Office of Management and Budget. Federally qualified health center (FQHC): A community health center, migrant health center, or health center for the homeless that provides primary care services for uninsured and Medicaid patients. These clinics are funded under sections 329, 330, and/or 340 of the Public Health Services Act. Fee-for-service payment: A method of paying for medical services in which each service performed by an individual provider bears a related charge. This charge (or some related fee) is paid by the individual patient receiving the service or by an insurer on behalf of the patient. Fee schedule: A list of covered health care services in which each entry is associated with a specifi c monetary amount that represents the approved payment level for that service under a given insurance plan. Fixed costs: The portion of total costs of a program incurred even when output is negligible-e. g., costs associated with overhead, facilities, and overhead salaries (compare with variable costs). Freestanding facilities: Facilities that are not physically, administratively, or financially connected to a hospital, such as a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. Fully capitated health plan (FCHP): Under the Oregon Medicaid program, FCHPs are prepaid on a per capita basis for all inpatient, outpatient, and ancillary services provided to enrollees, with certain exceptions (e.g., dental and psychiatric care). The FCHP provides these services either directly or through subcontractors. (See capitated payment). General assistance ((; A): An Oregon State program of limited health care benefits provided (without Federal funding) to medically unemployable adults who would not be disabled long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits. Health maintenance organization (HMO): A health care organization that, in return for prospective per capita (cavitation) payments, acts as both insurer and provider of comprehensive but specified medical services. A defined set of physicians provide services to a voluntarily enrolled population. Prepaid group practices and individual practice associations are types of HMOs. A Federally qualified HMO is one that has been determined by the Department of Health and Human Services to meet the standards set forth in Title XIII of the Public Health Service Act, in such areas as financial and administrative stability, quality, scope of services covered, and rate-setting practices. Health Services Commission (HSC): An 1 l-member committee authorized in the Oregon Basic Health Services Act (Oregon Senate Bill 27) and appointed by the Governor to formulate a list of health services ranked in order of priority. Historical controls: See control group. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): The virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Impetigo herpetiformis: A rare, redness and inflammation of the pustules of the skin that affects pregnant women and results in fetal death, stillbirth, placental insufficiency, and perinatal death. Steroid treatments and antipsoriatic agents are ineffective and termination of the pregnancy is the only cure. Independent practice association (IPA): See health maintenance organization (HMO). infant mortality rate: Number of deaths among children less than 1 year old as a fraction of the total number of live births in a year. Inpatient care: Care that includes an overnight stay in a medical facility. Internal validity: A measure of the extent to which study results reflect the true relationship of a risk factor (e.g., treatment or technology) to the outcome of interest in study subjects. International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) Coding: A two-part system of coding patient medical information used in abstracting systems and for classifying patients into diagnosis-related groups for Medicare. The first part is a comprehensive list of diseases with corresponding codes compatible with the World Health Organizations list of disease codes, The second part contains procedure codes, which are independent of the disease codes. (Oregon did not use the ICD-9-CM procedure codes in its prioritized list.) Joint and several liability: The ability of a plaintiff to sue one or more parties for a tort and the right of a plaintiff to collect the entire compensation from a single entity. Length of stay (LOS): The number of days a patient remains in the hospital from admission to discharge. Managed health care: Care provided to enrollees in case-managed fee-for service plans, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs). Patients in managed
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310 Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal health care plans do not have open access to physicians or hospitals and usually must obtain prior approval from a gatekeeper primary care provider from the health plan administration before admission to a hospital. HMOs and PPOs may also require that the health providers treatment plan be reviewed to ensure that all services are necessary. Patients who do not follow the HMO or PPO guidelines may face larger out-of-pocket costs or be denied payment altogether. Some managed health care plans contain individual benefits management programs that allow payment for otherwise uncovered benefits (e.g., homeand communitybased services) in order to avoid the utilization of more costly covered services. Mandatory benefits (Medicaid): The core package of Medicaid services that by Federal law (Title XIX of the Social Security Act) must be covered by State Medicaid programs. Includes basic hospital, ambulatory, long-term care, and ancillary services, (Compare with optional benefits (Medicaid)). Mandatory group (Medicaid): Refers to Medicaid eligibility groups that must be covered by a State Medicaid program according to Federal law. Includes Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) participants, unemployed parent families, certain pregnant women and young children, foster care children, and some aged, blind, and disabled individuals. Matched control group: See control group. Medicaid: A federally aided, State-administered program that provides medical assistance for low-income people meeting specific income and family structure requirements. Medical technology: The drugs, devices, and medical and surgical procedures used in medical care, and the organizational and support systems within which such care is provided. Medically needy Medicaid recipients: People who receive Medicaid under State medically needy programs. States have the option to offer Medicaid to medically needy people who would be categorically eligible for Medicaid but whose income and resources lie above the standards for AFDC. Each State sets its own medically needy resource and income standards up to 133 percent of State AFDC income standards. Medicare: A nationwide, federally administered health insurance program authorized in 1965 to cover the cost of hospitalization, medical care, and some related services for eligible persons over age 65, persons receiving Social Security Disability Insurance payments for at least 2 years, and persons with end-stage renal disease. Medicare consists of two separate but coordinated programs----hospital insurance (Part A) and supplementary medical insurance (Part B). Health insurance protection is available to insured persons without regard to income. Migrant health center (MHC): A center that receives Federal funds to provide primary health care to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families under section 329 of the Public Health Services Act. See federally qualified health center. Morbidity: Sickness or disease; any unhealthful condition. Mortality rate: The death rate, often made explicit for a particular characteristic; e.g., age, sex, or specific cause of death. A mortality rate contains three essential elements: 1) the number of people in a population group exposed to the risk of death (the denominator); 2) a time factor; and 3) the number of deaths occurring in the exposed population during a certain time period (the numerator). Myasthenia gravis: An autoimmune disorder in which the body reacts against a normal substance that communicates between nerve and muscle cells, resulting in muscle weakness and fatigue. Negotiated rate: A payment rate whose final amount is the result of a negotiation between the payer and the health care provider (with negotiations taking place before the service is provided). Neonatal: Pertaining to the first 4 weeks after birth. Net benefit: In this report, a number associated with a given CT pair that reflects both clinicians estimates of treatment effects and consumers perception of the desirability of experiencing those effects. The Oregon Health Services Commission used net benefit information in its ranking process for the prioritized list. New eligible: In this report, refers to individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid under current rules but would be eligible under the proposal set out in the Oregon waiver application. Noncapitated services: Services not covered under a per capita payment system. Generally, providers are reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis for covered noncapitated services. See fee-for-service payment and capitated payment. Noncategorical eligibles: Individuals that qualify for Medicaid, but do not fit into one of the categorically needy groups. (See categorically eligible Medicaid beneficiary.) They include children aged 9 to 21 of 2-parent families whose income meet income eligibility standards, and medically needy individuals who spend down. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma: A cancerous disorder of the lymphoid tissue; also known as lymphocytic lymphoma. Treatment varies according to the grade of the condition but usually includes bone marrow transplantation and/or chemotherapy. occupancy rate: The average percentage of a hospitals beds occupied at any one time, determined by
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... Appendix E--Glossary of Terms l 311 dividing available bed days by patient days. Operating margin: A measure of the financial health and profitability of a hospital, defined as: (total operating revenue minus operating expenses) divided by total operating revenue. A positive operating margin implies a surplus; a negative operating margin implies a loss. Optional benefits (Medicaid): Benefits that States are allowed, but not required, to provide to Medicaid recipients. States may receive Federal finding for up to 32 optional services under the Medicaid program, Among the most common are prescription drugs and dental services. Compare with mandatory benefits (Medicaid). optional eligibility group (Medicaid): States may receive Federal funding to provide Medicaid benefits to several optional eligibility groups, including pregnant women and infants under age 1 with incomes between 100 and 133 percent of the Federal poverty level, AFDC children between 18 and 21 years old, and children ages 9 to 21 of two-parent families whose incomes meet Medicaid income eligibility standards, but who are categorically ineligible. Outcome measure: Any measure of an intermediate or final outcome experienced by a patient with a given condition. Mortality (deaths within a given time period) is a common outcome measure. Various measures of morbidity (e.g., the ability to walk without assistance) can also be outcome measures. outpatient care: Care provided in a health care facility that does not include an overnight stay. Palliative treatment: Treatment designed to provide relief from a disease or condition (e.g., to provide comfort or reduce pain), but not to cure the disease or condition. Partially capitated health plan: Under the Oregon Medicaid program, partially capitated health plans are prepaid on a per capita basis for certain types of health services (e.g., physician services, laboratory, and X-ray services), which they deliver to enrolled patients either directly or through subcontractors. In addition, partially capitated health plans often coordinate and/or preauthorize noncapitated services (e. g., inpatient care, chiropractic services) for their enrolled patients. See also physician care organization. Compare with fully capitated health plan. Participation (Medicaid): Acceptance of Medicaid patients by a health care practitioner. Participation rate: The proportion of all active health care practitioners in a given area who accept Medicaid patients in their practice. Patient dumping: Transferring a patient to another hospital for economic reasons alone (e.g., because the patient has no health insurance). Per-case payment: A type of hospital payment system in which the hospital is paid a specific amount for each case treated, regardless of the number and types of services or number of days of care provided. Medicares DRG payment system for inpatient services is a per-case payment system. See also prospective payment. Percent-of-cost limit: A payment method wherein a payer reimburses a provider based on a percentage (e.g., 80 percent) of the providers actual costs for providing a service. Oregon pays most hospitals for outpatient services on a percent-of-cost basis, where costs are determined based on the hospitals Medicare cost reports. Physician care organization (PC O): A group of primary care physicians prepaid to provide a basic package of services that include: physician services, laboratory, radiology, and EPSDT services. PCOs are also required to act as gatekeepers to preapprove all nonemergency inpatient and outpatient hospital services. Physician Payment Review Commission (PPRC): A commission, established by the Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-272), that makes recommendations to Congress on various issues relating to physician payment under Medicare and Medicaid. Poor: A term defined in relation to the Federal poverty level (FPL), a cash income level which varies with family size and the age of family members. Poor families are families with incomes below 100 percent of the Federal poverty level. In 1992 the Federal poverty level for a family of three in the continental United States was $11,570. Poverty level medical (PLM): A term used by the Oregon Medicaid program to describe pregnant women and children under 6 years old whose family income is less than 133 percent of the Federal poverty level (FPL) and all children up to age 19 born after September 30, 1983, whose income is less than 100 percent of the FPL. This group was mandated Medicaid coverage under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-239). Preexisting condition: As defined by insurers, a health care condition existing before an insurance policy goes into effect and that would cause an ordinarily prudent person to seek diagnosis, care, or treatment. Preferred provider organization (PPO): A health care delivery arrangement in which an agreement is made between providers and purchasers of medical care that patients who use the preferred providers will obtain additional benefits, such as reduced cost sharing. In return for the potential increase in volume of patients, the preferred providers may
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312 l Evaluation of the Oregon Medicaid Proposal agree to discount their charges or to submit to enhanced utilization review. Prenatal care: Medical services related to fetal, infant, and maternal health, delivered from time of conception to labor. Prepaid health plan: An organized group (e.g., a health maintainance organization or group of physicians) that is prepaid on a periodic basis, an amount to cover some or all services provided to its enrollees (see capitated payment). Preventive medical services: Clinical services provided to patients to reduce or prevent disease, injury, or disability. Primary care: A basic level of health care, usually provided in an outpatient setting, that emphasizes a patients general health needs (e.g., preventive services, treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, identification of problems that require referral to specialists). Primary care specialty: One of the medical specialties of family practice, general practice, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology. Primary condition: See primary diagnosis. Primary diagnosis: The chief diagnosis for which a patient is treated during a given episode of care (e.g., a hospitalization). Prospective payment: Payment for medical care on the basis of rates set in advance of the time period in which they apply. The service provider is at least partially at risk for losses and stands to gain from surpluses that accrue in the payment period. The unit of payment may vary from individual medical services to broader categories, such as hospital case, episode of illness, or person (cavitation). See also cavitation financing method. Compare retrospective cost-based reimbursement. Prospective Payment Assessment Commission (ProPAC): A commission, established by the same law that created the Medicare DRG-based prospective payment system for hospitals (Public Law 98-21), that advises Congress on various issues relating to how Medicare pays hospitals and other health care institutions. p value: In epidemiologic studies, the probability of concluding that a statistical association exists between, for instance, a risk factor and a health endpoint, when, in fact, there is no real association. In other words, the likelihood that an observed association in a study is due to the play of chance. Also called Type I error, alpha, or the level of significance. Reasonable charge: See customary, prevailing, and reasonable (CPR) method and usual, customary and reasonable charges. Recipient (Medicaid): See beneficiary. Referral services: Health care services obtained from a provider to whom the patient was referred by his or her physician. Includes physician specialist care and various ancillary services (e.g., physical therapy services). Relative value scale (RVS): A list of all physician services containing a cardinal ranking of those services with respect to some conception of value, such that the difference between the numerical rankings for any two services is a measure of the difference in value between those services. Retrospective cost-based reimbursement: A payment method for health care services in which hospitals (or other providers) are paid their incurred costs of treating patients after the treatment has occurred. Compare prospective payment. Risk-based provider: A provider of health care (e.g., a health maintenance organization) that accepts prepayment on a per-patient basis for some or all health care services needed by that patient and thus assumes some degree of financial risk for service costs exceeding the prepaid amount. See also capita ted payment. Rural health clinic (RHC): A clinic certified according to the provisions of Public Law 95-210. These clinics qualify for facility-specific cost-based reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid. Schmidts syndrome: A rare hormonal deficiency syndrome that primarily affects females. It is characterized by insufficiency in the adrenal gland, gonads, and/or thyroid. Treatment includes hormone replacement therapy. Secondary care: Services provided by the medical specialists who generally do not have the first contact with patients (e.g., cardiologist, urologist, dermatologist). In the United States, however, there has been a trend toward self-referral by patients for these services, rather than referral by primary care providers. Self-limited: Refers to medical conditions that tend to be limited in duration or course even if untreated. Statistical significance: See p value. Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A Federal income support program for low-income disabled, aged, and blind persons which was established by Title XVI of the Social Security Act. Eligibility for the program is based on income and resources. Tertiary care: Services provided by highly specialized providers (e.g., neurologist, neurosurgeon, thoracic surgeon). Such services frequently require highly sophisticated equipment and support facilities. Tertiary care lies at the end of the continuum of type of care (i.e., primary, secondary, tertiary), of which many services overlap, and is difficult to define precisely,
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Appendix E-Glossary of Terms l 31 3 Third-party payment: Payment by a private insurer or government program to a medical provider on behalf of a patient for care given to that patient. Tort liability: A legal basis for compensation when property has been damaged or a person has been injured. Trigeminal nerve disorder: The trigeminal nerve supplies sensation to the skin of the face. Patients with disorders of the trigeminal nerve experience pain in the lip, gums, cheek, and chin areas. Uncompensated care: Health care services for which the provider receives no compensation. When reporting uncompensated care costs, providers generally include charity care, bad debt (i.e., unpaid bills), and disparities between providers billed charges and actual reimbursement for health care services. (Compare with charity care.) Unrestricted fee-for-service system: A health care delivery system where patients are free to seek health care services from any willing provider without prior authorization. Services are paid on a fee-for-service basis, (See fee-for-service; contrast with case-managed fee-for-service system. ) Uptake rate: In this report, a measure of how quickly new eligibles under Oregons proposal would enroll in the Medicaid program. Usual, customary, and reasonable charges: In private health insurance, a basis for determining payment for individual physician services. Usual refers to the individual physicians fee profile, equivalent to Medicares customary charge screen. Customary, in this context, refers to a percentile of the pattern of charges made by physicians in a given locality (comparable to Medicares prevailing charges). Reasonable is the lesser of the usual or customary screens. See customary, prevailing, and reasonable charges. Variable costs: The portion of total cost that increases with greater output+. g., the costs associated with increasing numbers of persons seen in a health clinic. Viral warts: Skin eruptions resulting from infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can occur on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms, and legs, Of particular interest are anogenital warts (or venereal warts), a very common sexually transmitted disease correlated with cervical and anal cancer. Treatment includes topical application of caustic agents, cryosurgery, and laser surgery. Waiver: States may apply to the Health Care Financing Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services for Federal waivers that would grant the State permission to waive certain provisions of the Medicaid statue, thereby allowing implementation of the proposed demonstration project. See also demonstration.
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References
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