Full Citation

Title: A proposed method for identifying Interfacility transfers in Medicare claims data

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2024

ISBN:

ISSN: 1475-6773

DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14367

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID: 39256893

Abstract: Objective: To develop a method of consistently identifying interfacility transfers (IFTs) in Medicare Claims using patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) as an example. Data Sources/Study Setting: 100% Medicare inpatient and outpatient Standard Analytic Files and 5% Carrier Files, 2011–2020. Study Design: Observational, cross-sectional comparison of patient characteristics between proposed and existing methods. Data Collection/Extraction Methods: We limited to patients aged 65+ with STEMI diagnosis using both proposed and existing methods. Principal Findings: We identified 62,668 more IFTs using the proposed method (86,128 versus 23,460). A separately billable interfacility ambulance trip was found for more IFTs using the proposed than existing method (86% vs. 79%). Compared with the existing method, transferred patients under the proposed method were more likely to live in rural (p < 0.001) and lower income (p < 0.001) counties and were located farther away from emergency departments, trauma centers, and intensive care units (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Identifying transferred patients based on two consecutive inpatient claims results in an undercount of IFTs and under-represents rural and low-income patients.

Url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39256893/

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Authors: Nikpay, Sayeh; Leeberg, Michelle; Kozhimannil, Katy; Ward, Michael; Wolfson, Julian; Graves, John; Virnig, Beth A.

Periodical (Full): Health services research

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