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HMO family physicians: men and women differ in their work

HMO Pract 9:155-161. Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA OBJECTIVE: The goal was to identify differences in the type of work and […]

Effect of premium, copayments, and health status on the choice of health plans

Med Care 46:1033-1040. Division of Health Care Policy & Research, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA OBJECTIVE: Explore effects of comorbidity […]

Patient sharing among physicians and costs of care: a network analytic approach to care coordination using claims data

J Gen Intern Med 28:459-465. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA BACKGROUND: Improving care coordination is a national priority and a key […]

Case-mix index and length of hospitalization

G Chir 31:211-214. Published in Italian. Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. The ACG (Adjusted Clinical Groups) case-mix system is a classification […]

ACG case-mix system aids contract assessment, improves performance

Data Strateg Benchmarks 4:21-26. The ABCs of ACGs. Adjusted clinical groups, or ACGs, a risk adjustment system developed by Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University, are being […]

Realigning incentives in fee-for-service Medicare

Health Aff 22:59-70. Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA This paper proposes Medicare payment reform built on the fee-for-service system, with […]

Work limitations and their relationship to morbidity burden among academic health center employees with diabetes

Workplace Health Saf 60:425-434. Department of Acute and Chronic Care, John Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA The objective of this study was […]

Population-based trends in osteoporosis management after new initiations of long-term systemic glucocorticoids (1998-2008)

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97:1236-1242. University of Alberta and University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to describe changes in glucocorticoid-induced […]

Ambulatory care casemix measures

J Gen Intern Med 10:162-170. HSR&D Field Program, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA No abstract PMID: 7769475

Racial and ethnic differences in utilization of health services in patients with diabetes enrolled in Medicaid

J Health Care Poor Underserved 15:562-575. General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. We evaluated racial and […]

The effect of acupuncture utilization on healthcare utilization

Med Care 46:41-48. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Albany College of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Health Outcomes, Albany, NY, USA OBJECTIVE: To determine whether acupuncture is […]

A systematic review of health care efficiency measures

Health Serv Res 44:784-805. RAND, Arlington, VA, USA OBJECTIVE: To review and characterize existing health care efficiency measures in order to facilitate a common understanding […]

Achieving cost control, care coordination, and quality improvement in the Medicaid program

J Ambul Care Manage 33:38-49; discussion 69-70. ACS Government Healthcare Solutions, Helena, MT, USA As Medicaid spending rises quickly, controlling cost while coordinating care and […]

Bone microarchitecture assessed by TBS predicts osteoporotic fractures independent of bone density: the Manitoba study

J Bone Miner Res 26:2762-2769. Bone Disease Unit, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland The measurement of BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the “gold […]

Two-year trends in colorectal cancer screening after switch to a high-deductible health plan

Med Care 49:865-871. Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA BACKGROUND: Recent health reform laws might […]

Postoperative health-care utilization in Crohn’s disease: the impact of specialist care

Am J Gastroenterol 107:1522-1529. Mount Sinai Hospital Centre for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canad OBJECTIVES: Crohn’s disease (CD) patients frequently require […]

How does complementary private prescription drug insurance coverage affect seniors’ use of publicly funded medications?

Health Policy 110:147-155. School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada BACKGROUND: Like in many other high-income jurisdictions, the public drug […]

Division of primary care services between physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners for older patients with diabetes

Med Care Res Rev 70:531-541. University of Wisconsin–Madison, WI, USA; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Team-based care involving physician assistants and/or […]

Resources allocation and health care needs in diabetes care in Danish GP clinics

Health Policy 113:206-215. Institute of Public Health, Centre of Health Economics Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark BACKGROUND: In several […]

Measuring medical productivity to gauge the value of Medicare

Minn Med 96:46-48. Department of Finance, Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Having a measure of productivity […]

The effect of medical malpractice liability on rate of referrals received by specialist physicians

Health Econ Policy Law 8:453-475. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; University of Michigan, School of […]

Determinants of buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence

J Subst Abuse Treat 46:315-319. Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA; Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA This study assessed the social, demographic and […]

How is the electronic health record being used? Use of EHR data to assess physician-level variability in technology use

J Am Med Inform Assoc Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA BACKGROUND: Studies of the effects of electronic health records (EHRs) have had […]

Procedures take less time at ambulatory surgery centers, keeping costs down and ability to meet demand up

Health Aff 33:764-769. University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA During the past thirty years outpatient surgery has become an […]

The association between parental depression and children’s health care utilization and expenditures: exploring the dimensions of parental gender and timing of depressive symptoms

Baltimore, MD, USA: Johns Hopkins University (doctoral dissertation). Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA Methods: The study used multiple […]

A descriptive analysis of the Ontario MedsCheck annual pharmacy medication review service

Canadian Pharmacists Journal 148:S27. OBJECTIVES: A MedsCheck Annual (MCA) consultation is a medication review service funded by the Ontario government for people taking three or […]

Associations among socioeconomic status (SES), patterns of care and outcomes in breast cancer (BC) patients (pts) in a universal health care system: Ontario’s experience

2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Abstract 6625. J Clin Oncol 32 (suppl; abstr 6625). University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Health […]

The impact of not having a primary care physician among people with chronic conditions

Toronto, ON, Canada: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada BACKGROUND: Primary care plays a pivotal role in health […]

Using the Adjusted Clinical Groups System to identify high-risk hemodialysis patients in Taiwan

J Healthc Manag 11:311-326. Published in Chinese. OBJECTIVES: There has been a rising number and cost of patients with regular hemodialysis in Taiwan. The objective […]

Risk distribution and risk assessment among enrollees in Washington state’s Medicaid SSI population

Hamilton, NJ, USA: Center for Health Care Strategies. Center for Health Care Strategies, Hamilton, NJ, USA Washington state began enrolling Medicaid SSI (low income, disabled) […]

Risk adjustment and rate setting methods in public programs

A report to legislature. St. Paul, MN, USA: Minnesota Department of Health. Health Economics Program, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, USA The 1995 […]

Updating and calibrating the Johns Hopkins University ACG/ADG risk adjustment method for application to Medicare risk contracting

Final report to Health Care Financing Administration. Baltimore, MD, USA: Johns Hopkins University. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA The Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of […]

An operational framework for paying physician specialists a risk-adjusted fixed payment and incorporating the results in a global premium rating model

Los Angeles, CA, USA: UCLA (doctoral dissertation). University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA The demand for more accurate and equitable professional medical specialty payments […]

Characteristics and utilization patterns of high-cost recipients in Medicaid population

MEDTAP 2001-2003 Research Project #1. Cincinnati, OH, USA: University of Cincinnati and Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research. University of Cincinnati and Institute […]

Adjusting for patients’ clinical case mix explains variation in general practice prescribing

Research report no. 291, Department of Statistical Science. London, UK: University College London. University College London, London, UK BACKGROUND: The potential of using patient-level measures […]

Investigating whether the Johns Hopkins ACG case-mix system explains variation in UK general practice

London, UK: University College London (doctoral dissertation). University College London, London, UK This thesis describes the first large-scale studies in the United Kingdom to adjust […]

Familial aggregation of childhood health and the socioeconomic gradient of disease: a longitudinal population-based sibling analysis

Winnipeg, MB, Canada: University of Manitoba (masters thesis). University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada The Johns Hopkins ACG(r) Case-Mix System grouped various physician and hospital […]

Impact of rheumatoid arthritis on recognition of hypertension in a medically homed population

Arthritis Rheum 64:S712-S713. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Numerous studies report increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and others describe increased arterial stiffness in […]

Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) and co-morbidity

ImPrim Report D. Karlskrona, Sweden: ImPrim. Blekinge Centre of Competence, Karlskrona, Sweden No abstract

Depression, anxiety disorders, and related health care utilization in the Manitoba Metis population

Winnipeg, MB, Canada: Manitoba Metis Federation. Manitoba Metis Federation, Winnipeg, MB, Canada This report resulted from the need to understand further the findings in the […]

Leicester City CCG Case Study 3

Use of ACG® System output to support distribution of CCG Better Care Fund monies

Resource Allocation Case Study-Government

Sweden became one of the first international adopters of the Johns Hopkins ACG System in the mid 1990s and has expanded its use to cover […]

Poster: Morbidity Burden Resource Use and Quality of Care of Diabetic Patients

Morbidity burden, resource use and quality of care of diabetic patients: A 4-year cohort analysis at a regional hospital in Thailand. Roongkarn Pannarunothai, Buddhachinaraj Hospital, […]

Embedding ACGs in Berkshire

NHS Berkshire Embedding ACGs in Berkshire Karen Grannum Primary Care Business Intelligence Lead

Using the ACG Toolkit to Support Population Monitoring

DST Health Solutions Using the ACG Toolkit to Support Population Monitoring Lisa Kabasakalian

Monday(C3)-Identifying Potentially Actionable Chronic Disease Patterns From Diagnoses Reported in Administrative Claims-Dave Bodycombe

Identifying Potentially Actionable Chronic Disease Patterns From Diagnoses Reported in Administrative Claims —Dave Bodycombe, Johns Hopkins University

Tuesday(C6)-Integration of claim-based diagnoses with diagnoses from General Practitioners (GPs) clinical database records improves the comorbidity description”-Corti

 Integration of claim-based diagnoses with diagnoses from General  Practitioners (GPs) clinical database records improves the comorbidity description” Maria Chiara Corti,  E. Schievano F. Avossa, K. Kinder, […]

What causes ’poly-morbidity’? Searching for triggers of multi-morbidity: tracing patient record 30 years back

Lennart Carlsson, PhD; Gunnar H Nilsson, Professor; Centre for Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Beyond Risk Scores: Lisa Kabasakalian, DST Health Solutions

ACG System DST Health Solutions Beyond Risk Scores: Identifying “High-Risk” and “At-Risk” Populations Lisa Kabasakalian

The ACG System Worldwide

ACG System Executive Director Karen Kinder, PhD, provides a candid tour of the ACG System’s international history and evolution to what is now the most […]

Population Segmentation Case Study – Government

Three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) analyzed their local populations as part of a new national initiative to address the care of people who are frail.  Learn more.

Relation between primary care physician supply and diabetes care and outcomes: a cross-sectional study

Background: Higher primary care physician supply is associated with lower mortality due to heart disease, cancer and stroke, but its relation to diabetes care and […]

Home Palliative Service Utilization and Care Trajectory Among Ontario Residents Dying on Chronic Dialysis

Background: Many patients who receive chronic hemodialysis have a limited life expectancy comparable to that of patients with metastatic cancer. However, patterns of home palliative […]

Association Between Wait Time for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Early Postprocedural Outcomes

Abstract Background Rapid growth in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) demand has translated to inadequate access, reflected by prolonged wait times. Increasing wait times are […]

Variation in Revascularization Practice and Outcomes in Asymptomatic Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

Abstract   Objectives The aims of this study were to assess variation in revascularization of asymptomatic patients with stable ischemic heart disease, identify the predictors of variation, and […]

Trends in Providing Out-of-Office, Urgent After-Hours, and On-Call Care in British Columbia

Abstract   PURPOSE Providing care in alternative (non-office) locations and outside office hours are important elements of access and comprehensiveness of primary care. We examined […]

Impact of Predialysis Psychosocial Conditions on Kidney Transplant Recipient Survival: Evidence Using Propensity Score Matching

Abstract Background: An increased number of end-stage renal disease patients suffer psychosocial conditions and may experience delayed access to transplantation due to listing restrictions. However, […]

Days spent at home in the last 6 months of life: a quality indicator of end of life care in patients with hematologic malignancies

Abstract Despite advances in the management of hematologic malignancies, a significant proportion of patients die of their disease. We used administrative databases in Ontario, Canada […]

Comparison of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Outcomes Among Practicing Physicians vs the General Population in Ontario, Canada

Abstract IMPORTANCE Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in most developed countries, little is known about current physicians’ cardiovascular health and outcomes. […]

Overall mortality and causes of death in newly admitted nursing home residents

Abstract Background In spite of a rapidly ageing population, there is a lack of population-based data on mortality among nursing home residents in Southern Europe. […]

The measurement of multimorbidity.

Abstract Overview: The presence of multiple concurrent medical conditions (also known as multimorbidity) is now a common phenomenon, hence the importance of its measurement. Objective: […]

Medication use and its impact on high-cost health care users among older adults: protocol for the population-based matched cohort HiCOSTT study

Abstract Background Health interventions and policies for high-cost health care users (HCUs) who are older adults need to be informed by a better understanding of […]

Overall Health Care Cost During the Year Following Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer Stratified by History of Colorectal Evaluative Procedures

Abstract Background The cost-effectiveness of colorectal screening has been modeled; however, the cost of health care following the diagnosis of colorectal cancer has not been […]

Association Between Switching to a High-Deductible Health Plan and Major Cardiovascular Outcomes

Abstract Objective To describe the association between enrollment in high-deductible health plans and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This […]

Emergency department use in people who experience imprisonment in Ontario, Canada

Abstract Objectives The aims of this study were to describe emergency department (ED) utilization by people in provincial prison and on release, and to compare […]

Healthcare services use and costs for a cohort of high needs elderly diabetic patients

Abstract Background The worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing, which especially involves people aged >65 years. A recent study also found that almost 75% […]

Individual and social determinants of SARS-CoV-2 testing and positivity in Ontario, Canada: a population-wide study

ABSTRACT Background Optimizing the public health response to reduce the burden of COVID-19 necessitates characterizing population-level heterogeneity of risks for the disease. However, heterogeneity in […]

The influence of frailty on postoperative complications in geriatric patients receiving single-level lumbar fusion surgery

Abstract Purpose This study evaluates the influence of patient frailty status on postoperative complications in those receiving single-level lumbar fusion surgery. Methods The nationwide readmission […]

Medical use of cocaine and perioperative morbidity following sinonasal surgery—A population study

Abstract Background Topical cocaine is favoured by many surgeons for sinonasal surgery due to its superior vasoconstrictive and anesthetic properties. However, historical reports suggesting cocaine […]

Risk Factors and Outcomes of Early Hospital Readmission in Canadian Kidney Transplant Recipients: A PopulationBased Multi-Center Cohort Study

Abstract Background Early hospital readmissions (EHRs) occur commonly in kidney transplant recipients. Conflicting evidence exists regarding risk factors and outcomes of EHRs. Objective To determine […]

Understanding Deductible and Reimbursement Maximum:A Study of Rural China’s Tiered Medical System

Abstract A high-deductible coverage is shown to reduce inappropriate health care, while little is known about its effect on social welfare under a reimbursement limit. […]

Claims-based pharmacy markers for comprehensive medication management program case identification: Validation against concurrent and prospective healthcare costs and utilization

Abstract Background Three claims-based pharmacy markers (complex, costly and risky medications) were developed to help automatically identify patients for comprehensive medication management. Objective To evaluate […]

Estimating The Marginal Productivity Of Health Technology Adoption

Abstract Decisions to adopt health technologies rely, in part, on judgements about cost effectiveness. Cost effectiveness is commonly assessed against a willingness-to-pay threshold for health […]

Care Coordination Engagement Patterns in Long-Term Patients

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Health care networks are increasingly turning to programs that provide office-based care coordination to high-cost, high-need patients to control preventable health care costs. […]

Readmissions Infographic

Preventing avoidable hospital readmissions is considered by many to be the most important opportunity for reducing waste in health care.  The Johns Hopkins ACG® System can […]

Defining and Assessing Geriatric Risk Factors and Associated Health Care Utilization Among Older Adults Using Claims and Electronic Health Records

Abstract Background: Using electronic health records (EHRs), in addition to claims, to systematically identify patients with factors associated with adverse outcomes (geriatric risk) among older […]

Supporting Clinical Activities

The ACG System UK Team hosts a series of webinars aimed at providing an overview on a number of topics related to risk stratification, population […]

Predictive Modelling in Action

An introduction to the principles of predictive modeling in health care and examples of how predictive models are being used in the NHS in England. Learn more.

Do physicians who diagnose more mental health disorders generate lower health care costs?

J Fam Pract 49:305-310. University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA BACKGROUND: Underrecognition and undertreatment of mental health disorders in primary care […]

A cross-sectional, population-based study measuring comorbidity among people living with HIV in Ontario

BMC Public Health 14:161. Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada BACKGROUND: As people diagnosed with HIV and receiving combination antiretroviral […]

Health information exchange and the frequency of repeat medical imaging

Am J Manag Care 20:eSP16-24. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA OBJECTIVES: Medical imaging, which is expensive, is frequently repeated for the same […]

Missed strokes using computed tomography imaging in patients with vertigo: population-based cohort study

Stroke 46:108-113. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: […]

The effect of pelvic fractures on future stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery

Int Urogynecol J Western University, London, ON, Canad INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic fractures in women significantly disrupt the pelvic floor, which may cause stress urinary […]

Association between metformin use and mortality after cervical cancer in older women with diabetes

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 25:507-512. University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of […]

Effect of specialized diagnostic assessment units on the time to diagnosis in screen-detected breast cancer patients

Br J Cancer 112:1744-1750. Queen’s University, 10 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, Canada; Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada; Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON, Canada; University […]

Caring for dementia: a population-based study examining variations in guideline-consistent medical care

Alzheimers Dement 11:906-916. UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that early […]

What do we mean by multimorbidity? An analysis of the literature on multimorbidity measures, associated factors, and impact on health services organization

Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 62:305-314. Hôpital Jean-Verdier, Bondy, France; Université Paris, Paris Cité, Bobigny, France BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is a consequence of both epidemiological and demographic […]

The development of a risk-adjusted capitation payment system: the Maryland Medicaid model

J Ambul Care Manage 21:29-52. School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA This article describes the risk-adjusted payment methodology employed by the […]

Does high-risk pool coverage meet the needs of people at risk for disability?

Inquiry 45:340-352. University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA State high-risk insurance pools serve people denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. With benefit plans modeled on […]

Comparison of Rx-defined morbidity groups and diagnosis-based risk adjusters for predicting healthcare costs in Taiwan

BMC Health Serv Res 10:126./p> Institute of Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan BACKGROUND: Medication claims are commonly used to […]

Classification systems in case-mix groups in ambulatory care. Perspectives for our primary health care

Aten Primaria 17:76-82. Published in Spanish. Unitat d’Investigació Centre, Institut Català de la Salut, CESCA, Barcelona, Spain No abstract PMID: 8742149

Proton-pump inhibitor use is not associated with osteoporosis or accelerated bone mineral density loss

Gastroenterology 138:896-904. Section of Gastroenterology, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada BACKGROUNDS and AIMS: Recent studies have shown an association between […]

Primary care and specialty care for US children: what is the right mix?

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 157:219-220. Institute for Health Policy, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA THE VERY TITLE of the article by Forrest et […]

Evaluation of the equity of age-sex adjusted primary care capitation payments in Ontario, Canada

Health Policy 104:186-192. Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada OBJECTIVE: Several innovative primary care models have recently been introduced […]

Ambulatory care provided by office-based specialists in the United States

Ann Fam Med 7:104-111. National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK PURPOSE: Increasing use of specialist services in the United […]

Adjust utilization for case mix and make physicians responsible for remaining variation

Data Strateg Benchmarks 2:25-28. “But my patients are sicker!” Health Source/CIGNA put a stop to this physician complaint by switching to quarterly physician profiles that […]