Impact of Social Needs Navigation on Utilization Among High Utilizers in a Large Integrated Health System: a Quasi-experimental Study.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Programs addressing social determinants of health for high-utilizing patients are gaining interest among health systems as an avenue to promote health and decrease utilization. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate impacts of a social needs screening and navigation program for adult predicted high utilizers on total medical visit utilization. DESIGN:A prospective, quasi-experimental study using an intent-to-treat propensity-weighted difference-in-differences approach. Stratified analyses assessed intervention effects among three low-socioeconomic status sub-samples: patients in low-income areas, in low-education areas, and with Medicaid insurance. PARTICIPANTS:Predicted high utilizers-patients predicted to be in the highest 1% for total utilization in a large integrated health system. INTERVENTION:A telephonic social needs screening and navigation program. MAIN MEASURES:Primary difference-in-difference analyses compared total visit count utilization, including outpatient, emergency department (ED), and inpatient utilization, between the intervention and control groups at both in-network and out-of-network facilities. Prevalence of social needs among sample patients and their connection rates to social needs resources are also described. KEY RESULTS:The study included 34,225 patients (7107 intervention, 27,118 control). Most (53%) patients screened reported social needs, but only a minority (10%) of those with a need were able to connect with resources to address these needs. Primary analysis found total utilization visits decreased 2.2% (95% CI -?4.5%, 0.1%; p?=?0.058) in the intervention group. Stratified analyses showed decreases in total utilization for all low-socioeconomic status subgroups receiving the intervention compared with controls: -?7.0% (95% CI -?11.9%, -?1.9%; p?=?0.008) in the low-income area group, -?11.5% (-?17.6%, 5.0%; p?
SUBMITTER: Schickedanz A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6848288 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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