Effects of state reinsurance programs on health insurance exchange premiums and insurer participation

Objective

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of the state-based reinsurance programs through the section 1332 State Innovation Waivers on health insurance marketplace premiums and insurer participation.

Data Source

2015 to 2022 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Insurance Exchange Compare Datasets.

Study Design

An event study difference-in-differences (DD) model separately for each year of implementation and a synthetic control method (SCM) are used to estimate year-by-year effects following program implementation.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Not applicable.

Principal Findings

Reinsurance programs were associated with a decline in premiums in the first year of implementation by 10%–13%, 5%–19%, and 11%–17% for bronze, silver, and gold plans (p < 0.05). There is a trend of sustained declines especially for states that implemented their programs in 2019 and 2020. The SCM analyses suggest some effect heterogeneity across states but also premium declines across most states. There is no evidence that reinsurance programs affected insurer participation.

Conclusion

State-based reinsurance programs have the potential to improve the affordability of health insurance coverage. However, reinsurance programs do not appear to have had an effect on insurer participation, highlighting the need for policy makers to consider complementary strategies to encourage insurer participation.     

Frequency of blood lactate elevation following esophagectomy and its association to postoperative complications

Background

Esophagectomy is a major surgical intervention and a cornerstone in the treatment of esophageal cancer. There is clinical experience that blood lactate concentration often is elevated in the period following esophagectomy, but the incidence and clinical consequences are sparsely studied.

Methods

We extracted data from all patients undergoing esophagectomy at Karolinska University Hospital 2016–2018, n = 153. Most were performed with minimally invasive technique, n = 130. Blood lactate values directly after surgery, highest value during the first night, and morning level on postoperative day one were recorded. Primary outcome was hospital length of stay and secondary outcome was a composite of postoperative infection, additional surgery, or intensive care during the hospital stay. Development of anastomotic leak was analyzed separately.

Results

Postoperative hyperlactatemia was common as 93% of patients had peak lactate concentration >1.6 mmol/L and 27% >3.5 mmol/L in the first night following operation. Median hospital length of stay was 14 days. Blood lactate showed a weak correlation to hospital stay and intensive care the morning following surgery, but not at arrival to postoperative ward. There were no statistical differences between those with and without anastomotic leak at any of the time points. Elevated lactate in the first 12–16 h postoperatively was related to surgical factors (open technique, surgery time, and perioperative bleeding) but not to patient related factors (ASA-class, Charlson comorbidity index, sex, age) or cumulative fluid balance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, elevated blood lactate in the immediate time following esophagectomy showed a weak association to intensive care and length of stay but not anastomotic leak.     

Care pathway of women with interval breast cancer in 2016, based on medico-administrative data

BackgroundSince 2004, an organised screening programme (OS) for breast cancer has been in place for 50-74 years women who are not at an increased risk. Despite this, 17% of cancers diagnosed within 24 months following an OS mammogram are interval cancers (IC), diagnosed even though the OS had not reported cancer. After identifying IC from the French administrative healthcare database (SNDS), our objective was to describe the care pathways of women with IC in 2016.Materials and MethodsThe IC identification algorithm is based on breast imaging tests conducted in the 24 months prior to diagnosis and on the compatibility of their timeline with ACR3 lesion follow-up (BIRADS guidelines). The care pathways of 3 groups were compared: women with IC, diagnosed through the OS, and diagnosed outside the OS programme (personalised screening or based on clinical signs, PSCS group).ResultsRespectively, 12,965 (46%), 3433 (12%), and 11,761 women (42%) were classified in the OS, IC and PSCS groups, i.e. 20.9% IC cases among the women taking part in the OS programme. The women from the IC group presented with more forms with lymph node or metastatic involvement than those of the OS group. Their pathways were more complex than in the OS group: at an equivalent stage, more total mastectomies and more adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens.ConclusionThe care pathways of women with IC are intermediate with respect to those of the OS or PSCS group.Cases of IC probably include several cancer prognosis profiles.     

2010—2020年北京市房山区梅毒防治效果分析

目的了解北京市房山区梅毒规划(2010—2020年)实施期间梅毒防治效果和各考核指标达标情况,为下一步制定有效的梅毒防治策略提供科学依据。方法根据《中国预防与控制梅毒规划(2010—2020年)》(以下简称《梅控规划》)终期评估的要求,通过专网、现场调查、APP答题等方式对涉及的16个指标进行收集,并将16个指标划分为梅毒防治保障措施的落实、防治工作开展和防治效果3个层面进行评估,同时将评估结果与终期评估标准进行比较。采用SPSS 18.0软件进行描述性统计分析。结果2010—2020年北京市房山区共报告梅毒病例3260例,年均报告发病率27.99/10万,年均增长0.08%,男女比例基本持平,以25岁年龄组病例数最多,历年病例均以隐性梅毒为主。保障措施与能力建设方面均达标;防治工作方面:感染梅毒的孕产妇所生婴幼儿接受规范诊疗服务的比例为50.00%,梅毒患者接受规范化治疗的比例86.11%,两指标未达标,其余均达标;防治效果中一期和二期梅毒年报告发病率增长幅度为3.80%,未达标,先天梅毒年报告发病率为9.25/10万活产数达到了《梅控规划》的工作要求。结论2010—2020年北京市房山区梅毒防治工作取得了一定成效,但部分指标仍未达标,应继续加强梅毒防治工作,尤其是需提高规范化诊疗的比例同时控制新发梅毒发病率。     

Improving Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual,Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Content in a Radiation Therapy Undergraduate Curriculum

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit plus (LGBTQ2S+) people have distinct healthcare needs that may be unaddressed in many undergraduate healthcare curricula. The Radiation Therapy Program (RADTH) at the University of Alberta underwent a review of the three-year didactic curriculum using an online survey. The survey sought to ascertain if, where and how topics related to LGBTQ2S + healthcare are taught. Results indicated that out of 10 RADTH program faculty respondents, three teach related topics. The total time dedicated within the three-year curriculum was approximately three and a half hours. Other findings showed that faculty are interested in receiving more education in this area and would favour discussions about how to incorporate these themes into appropriate courses. This preliminary investigation demonstrated that there has been some initial work in this area, but there is more to be done.     

河南省非订单定向全科住院医师规范化培训结业学员的就业状况及影响因素研究

背景 全科医生数量和质量是人力资源管理的两个重要维度，其中，医生数量的新增、保持和流失，是全科人力动态规划、管理和评价的重要考量，也是全科住院医师规范化培训（简称全科住培）的绩效指标。探讨全科住培学员的就业状况及影响因素，可以为今后住培政策和激励机制的制定提供参考，但目前针对非订单定向全科住培学员的相关研究较为缺乏。 目的 了解河南省非订单定向全科住培学员的就业状况，分析学员结业后未从事全科医学相关工作的原因，从而为完善培训管理和人力资源激励机制提供参考。 方法 于2021年8月，采用分层随机整群抽样法，在河南省选取2014—2017年入培且已结业的非订单定向全科住培学员326例进行问卷调查。问卷由课题组自行设计，主要内容为学员的基本信息、全科住培情况、目前工作情况及结业后从事与未从事全科医学相关工作的原因。问卷通过"问卷星"平台发放，由学员自行填写。 结果 共发放问卷326份，回收有效问卷271份（83.1%）。结业后，从事全科医学相关工作者77例（28.4%），从事非全科医学相关工作者194例（71.6%）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，年龄、文化程度、生源类型、全科住培基地所在区域是学员结业后是否从事全科医学相关工作的影响因素（P<0.05）。与结业后未从事全科医学相关工作的学员相比，结业后从事全科医学相关工作学员注册为全科医学专业的比例更高〔70.1%（54/77）比32.0%（62/194），P<0.05〕，在乡镇卫生院/社区卫生服务中心执业的比例更高〔49.4%（38/77）比6.2%（12/194），P<0.05）〕。194例未从事全科医学相关工作的学员中，从事内科学工作者78例（40.2%），从事急诊及危重症医学工作者33例（17.0%），从事外科学工作者17例（8.8%）。不选择从事全科医学相关工作的前3位原因分别为：单位安排〔34.5%（67/194）〕，所在单位没有全科医学科〔29.9%（58/194）〕，薪酬低〔26.8%（52/194）〕。 结论 非订单定向全科住培学员选择从事全科医学相关工作的比例较低，年龄、文化程度、生源类型及基地所在区域是影响因素。建议加大全科医学理念宣传，加快综合医院全科医学科建设，提高全科医生薪酬待遇，以此增加全科医生的职业吸引力。     

微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科患儿监护人出院宣教中的应用效果

目的 探讨微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科患儿出院宣教中的应用效果,为眼科护士出院宣教干预提供借鉴。方法 采用便利抽样法,选取98例眼科患儿监护人作为研究对象,将2021年2月-5月住院的49例患儿的监护人作为对照组,进行眼科常规出院宣教,将2021年6月-9月住院的49例患儿的监护人作为观察组,使用微信小程序合并时间管理器进行出院宣教干预。比较2组患儿监护人对疾病相关知识知晓情况、满意度及按时复诊人数。结果 干预1个月后,观察组疾病相关知识问卷得分、满意度得分及按时复诊率均高于对照组(t=-5.223,P=0.001;t=-5.419,P=0.001;χ²=6.874,P=0.009)。结论 使用微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科病房进行出院宣教,能有效提高患儿监护人出院后疾病相关知识水平、按时就诊率及监护人满意度,提升护理服务质量。     

基于世界卫生组织康复胜任力架构构建硕士研究生层次特殊体育教育专业研究

目的 探讨硕士研究生层次特殊体育教育专业教育体系。方法 运用世界卫生组织康复胜任力架构(RCF),形成特殊体育教育专业胜任力,并应用于特殊体育教育专业建设,探讨硕士研究生层次的特殊体育教育专业建设理论架构与方法体系。结果 基于RCF,构建了特殊体育教育教师的胜任力架构,涉及特殊体育教师的实践、专业精神、学习与发展、管理与领导力和研究5个领域,胜任力和活动的熟练程度须达到相应水平。特殊体育教育专业建设应在培养目标、教学方式、专业课程设置和教学评估4个方面突出RCF特色和围绕胜任力的培养进行建设。结论 运用RCF构建了基于胜任力的特殊体育教育硕士研究生层次的专业教育方案。该方案使用RCF说明特殊教师职业能力标准,并可以将此转化为基于胜任力的硕士研究生层次特殊体育教育专业建设的内容。运用RCF构建基于胜任力的特殊体育教育体系,该体系可以用于确定硕士研究生层次的特殊体育教育专业建设中的培养目标、教学形式、专业核心课程和教学评估内容与方法。     

You are not in the army now! A field study on the impact of a Preparation for Civilian Life program on young soldiers

Recent years have seen the implementation of educational programs aimed at developing future orientation and better employability skills, mostly for people new to or returning to the job market. In a field study, we investigated the impact of a 5-day program on reintegration to civilian life on young Israeli combat soldiers' time preferences, gratitude, patriotism, and perceptions of their combat experience. Questionnaires administered before and after the program revealed a positive effect on future orientation but a negative effect on gratitude and perceptions of the combat experience. Although the positive effect on future orientation is in line with the program design, the negative effects found should be taken into consideration when planning or improving similar educational programs.