141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

279402
Role of utilization and price in spending variation in a privately insured Texas population: 2008-2011

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Luisa Franzini, PhD , Management, Policy and Community Health Division, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Cecilia Ganduglia, MD DrPH , Management Policy and Community Health Department, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Rohan Parikh, MS , Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas, School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Suthira Taychakhoonavudh, MS , Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas, School of Public Helath, Houston, TX
Ibrahim Abbass , Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Osama Mikhail, PhD , Managment, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Mark Zezza, PhD , Coomonwealth Fund, New York, NY
Background: A great deal of research has gone into understanding the inefficiencies inherent in the US health care system and policy makers have been seeking ways to control costs and improve quality. Central to these efforts has been the research on health care cost variation. Current research on spending variation has predominantly focused on Medicare and this is a limitation in its potential to affect policies. More insight on the amount of inappropriate variation may be gained by exploring spending variation levels in the commercial sector. We examine and contrast the drivers of trends and geographic variation in spending, price, and utilization, by health care market areas - Hospital Referral Regions (HRRs) or Hospital Service Areas (HSAs,) - for the populations covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), the state's largest private insurer. Methods: The study uses claims and enrollment data from 2008 through 2011 for BCBSTX members living in Texas, aged under 65, and members of PPO plans. The outcome variables are: spending per member per year, utilization metrics, and price (allowed amount per service). Spending, utilization and price are decomposed into hospital inpatient services, hospital outpatient services, professional services, and prescription drugs. We report the range, mean, median, standard deviation and coefficients of variation (standard deviation/mean) for each outcome variable. To indicate how each geographic area differs from the overall Texas mean we use maps and scatterplots reporting the standard deviation from the mean and the index of variation. Spending trends and variation in BCBSTX are decomposed into price and utilization indices. The price index is further decomposed into a cost-of-doing-business index and an ‘excess price' index. Similarly, the utilization index is decomposed into an age-sex index, a health-risk index, and an ‘excess utilization' index. Results: We found considerable variation in spending, utilization, and price at the HRR level, and even higher variation at the HSA level. Overall, growth in spending declined from 2008/09 to 2010/11. This trend masks increased price growth in 2009/10 accompanied by significant reduction in utilization growth. In 2010/11, we saw continued low spending growth, with a reduction in price growth, but a constant or increasing utilization growth. Conclusions: There is evidence of considerable inefficiencies in health care delivery in this Texas population as reflected in large spending variations. Trend analyses indicate a slowing of spending growth

Learning Areas:
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Assess and contrast the drivers of trends and geographic variation in spending, price, and utilization, by health care market areas - Hospital Referral Regions (HRRs) or Hospital Service Areas (HSAs,) in Texas for a privately insured population

Keywords: Economic Analysis, Health Care Utilization

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have wide experience as a health economist,professor and Director of the Management, Policy and Community Health Department at the University of Texas School of Public Health. I have been principal and co-principal investigator in multiple funded grants on health services research and economic evaluations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4238.0: Health economics and costs