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Background Hospitals commonly provide a short-term supply of free P2Y12 inhibitors at discharge after myocardial infarction, but it is unclear if these programs improve medication persistence and outcomes. The ARTEMIS (Affordability and Real-World Antiplatelet Treatment Effectiveness After Myocardial Infarction Study) trial randomized hospitals to usual care versus waived P2Y12 inhibitor copayment costs for 1-year post-myocardial infarction. Whether the impact of this intervention differed between hospitals with and without pre-existing medication assistance programs is unknown. Methods and Results In this post hoc analysis of the ARTEMIS trial, we examined the associations of pre-study free medication programs and the randomized copayment voucher intervention with P2Y12 inhibitor persistence (measured by pharmacy fills and patient report) and major adverse cardiovascular events using logistic regression models including a propensity score. Among 262 hospitals, 129 (49%) offered pre-study free medication assistance. One-year P2Y12 inhibitor persistence and major adverse cardiovascular events risks were similar between patients treated at hospitals with and without free medication programs (adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95% CI, 0.82-1.05 and hazard ratio 0.92, 95% CI, 0.80-1.07, respectively). The randomized copayment voucher intervention improved persistence, assessed by pharmacy fills, in both hospitals with (53.6% versus 44.0%, adjusted odds ratio 1.45, 95% CI, 1.20-1.75) and without (59.0% versus 48.3%, adjusted odds ratio 1.46, 95% CI, 1.25-1.70) free medication programs (Pinteraction=0.71). Differences in patient-reported persistence were not significant after adjustment. Conclusions While hospitals commonly report the ability to provide free short-term P2Y12 inhibitors, we did not find association of this with medication persistence or major adverse cardiovascular events among patients with insurance coverage for prescription medication enrolled in the ARTEMIS tri

Background Hospitals commonly provide a short-term supply of free P2Y12 inhibitors at discharge after myocardial infarction, but it is unclear if these programs improve medication persistence and outcomes. The ARTEMIS (Affordability and Real-World Antiplatelet Treatment Effectiveness After Myocardial Infarction Study) trial randomized hospitals to usual care versus waived P2Y12 inhibitor copayment costs for 1-year post-myocardial infarction. Whether the impact of this intervention differed between hospitals with and without pre-existing medication assistance programs is unknown. Methods and Results In this post hoc analysis of the ARTEMIS trial, we examined the associations of pre-study free medication programs and the randomized copayment voucher intervention with P2Y12 inhibitor persistence (measured by pharmacy fills and patient report) and major adverse cardiovascular events using logistic regression models including a propensity score. Among 262 hospitals, 129 (49%) offered pre-study free medication assistance. One-year P2Y12 inhibitor persistence and major adverse cardiovascular events risks were similar between patients treated at hospitals with and without free medication programs (adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95% CI, 0.82-1.05 and hazard ratio 0.92, 95% CI, 0.80-1.07, respectively). The randomized copayment voucher intervention improved persistence, assessed by pharmacy fills, in both hospitals with (53.6% versus 44.0%, adjusted odds ratio 1.45, 95% CI, 1.20-1.75) and without (59.0% versus 48.3%, adjusted odds ratio 1.46, 95% CI, 1.25-1.70) free medication programs (Pinteraction=0.71). Differences in patient-reported persistence were not significant after adjustment. Conclusions While hospitals commonly report the ability to provide free short-term P2Y12 inhibitors, we did not find association of this with medication persistence or major adverse cardiovascular events among patients with insurance coverage for prescription medication enrolled in the ARTEMIS tri

BackgroundInsurance benefit features play a role in determining access to specialty mental health care. Previous research, primarily examining the effects of copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles in a fee-for-service setting, has concluded that specialty mental health use is highly sensitive to changes in financial requirements. Less is known about the effects of other benefit features and the effects of all of these features in a managed care environment.Aims of the studyDetermine whether increased generosity of three types of benefit features was associated with increases in specialty mental health use and expenditures in a managed care setting. Secondary analyses investigated whether these associations varied by income level.MethodsA first-differences design used linked claims, enrollment, and benefit data for 1,242,949 non-elderly adults (aged 18-64) with employer-sponsored insurance, before (2009) and after (2011) national behavioral health parity implementation. The data were provided by a large national managed behavioral health organization. Benefit design features included combined cost sharing from copayment and coinsurance, deductibles, the presence of annual use limits, cost sharing penalties associated with services used without getting required prior-authorization, and provider network. Outcomes included visits/days, total expenditures and patient out-of-pocket expenditures for individual psychotherapy and inpatient use, with separate values for in-network and out-of-network (OON) service use. Ordinary least squares regression was performed on change scores (2011 minus 2009 values) of all outcomes to implement the first-differences study design and normalize distributions of otherwise heavily skewed (towards zero) variables. Regressions stratified by higher income (>=USD75,000) and net worth (>=USD100,000) and lower income/net worth were also conducted.ResultsFor in-network individual psychotherapy, larger increases in cost sharing from copaym

ObjectiveDid mental health cost-sharing decrease following implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)?Data sourceSpecialty mental health copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, 2008-2013, were obtained from benefits databases for "carve-in" plans from a national commercial managed behavioral health organization.Study designBivariate and regression-adjusted analyses compare the probability of use and (conditional) level of cost-sharing pre- and postparity. An interaction term is added to compare differential levels of pre- and postparity cost-sharing changes for plans that were and were not already at parity pre-MHPAEA.FindingsControlling for employer/plan characteristics, MHPAEA is associated with higher intermediate care copayments ($15.9) but lower outpatient ($2.6) copayments among in-network-only plans. Among plans with in- and out-of-network benefits, MHPAEA is associated with lower inpatient ($23.2) and outpatient ($2.5) copayments, but increases in inpatient and intermediate in-network and out-of-network coinsurance (about 1 percentage point). Among the few plans not at parity pre-MHPAEA, changes in use and level of cost-sharing associated with MHPAEA were more dramatic.ConclusionMixed evidence that MHPAEA led to more generous mental health benefits may stem from the finding that many plans were already at parity pre-MHPAEA. Future policy focus in mental health may shift to slowing growth in cost-sharing for all health services.

ObjectivesWe examined the impact of the Affordable Care Act-mandated elimination of tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy (TCP) copayments on patient use of TCP, overall and by income.MethodsElectronic health record data captured any and combination (eg, nicotine gum plus patch) TCP use among adult smokers newly enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC). KPNC eliminated TCP copayments in 2015. We included current smokers newly enrolled in the first 6 months of 2014 (before copayment elimination, N=16,199) or 2015 (after elimination, N=16,469). Multivariable models estimated 1-year changes in rates of any TCP fill, and of combination TCP fill, and tested for differences by income (<$50k, $50≥75k, ≥$75k). Through telephone surveys in 2016 with a subset of smokers newly enrolled in 2014 (n=306), we assessed barriers to TCP use, with results stratified by income.ResultsSmokers enrolled in KPNC in 2015 versus 2014 were more likely to have a TCP fill (9.1% vs. 8.2%; relative risk, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.27), and combination TCP fill, among those with any fill (42.3% vs. 37.9%; relative risk, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.23); findings were stronger for low-income smokers. Low-income patients (<$50k) were less likely to report that clinicians discussed smoking treatments with them (58%) compared with higher income smokers ($50≥75k, 67%; ≥$75k, 83%), and were less aware that TCP was free (40% vs. 53% and 69%, respectively, P-values<0.05).ConclusionsThe Affordable Care Act's copayment elimination was associated with a modest increase in TCP use and a greater effect among low-income smokers. Uptake may have been enhanced if promoted to patients directly and via providers.

BACKGROUND: There has been a rapid scale up of HIV services and access to anti-retroviral therapy in Africa over the last 10 years as a result of multilateral donor funding mechanisms. However, in order to continue to expand and to sustain these services it is important that in country options are explored. This study sought to explore attitudes and perceptions of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and health care staff towards using a fee-based after hours clinic (AHC) at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design, using qualitative methods for data collection was used. A purposeful sample of 188 adults including PLHIV accessing care at IDI and IDI staff were selected. We conducted 14 focus group discussions and 55 in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis was conducted and Nvivo Software Version 10 was used to manage data. RESULTS: Findings suggested that some respondents were willing to pay for consultation, brand-name drugs, laboratory tests and other services. Many were willing to recommend the AHC to friends and/or relatives. However, there were concerns expressed of a risk that the co-pay model may lead to reduction in quality or provision of the free service. Respondents agreed that, as a sign of social responsibility, fees for service could help underprivileged patients. CONCLUSION: The IDI AHC clinic is perceived as beneficial to PLHIV because it provides access to HIV services at convenient times. Many PLHIV are willing to pay for this enhanced service. Innovations in HIV care delivery such as quality private-public partnerships may help to improve overall coverage and sustain quality HIV services in Uganda in the long term.

This paper examines the effects of the reference pricing program implemented by the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) in 2012. The program uses targeted cost-sharing to incentivize patient price shopping. We find that the program leads to a 10.3% increase in the use of low-price providers and reduces the average cost per procedure by 12.5%. We further estimate that the program reduces medical spending by $218.8 per procedure, which we estimate is approximately 53.7% of the excessive spending that is due to patient choice of higher price providers caused by insurance coverage, at the expense of a $94.3 (or 12.5%) reduction in consumer surplus. The cost savings from the reference pricing program is about two to three times as large as the reduction from implementing a high-deductible health plan, while the accompanying consumer surplus reduction is much smaller under reference pricing.

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of a pharmacy benefit change on mail order pharmacy (MOP) uptake.Data sources/study settingRace-stratified, random sample of diabetes patients in an integrated health care delivery system.Study designIn this natural experiment, we studied the impact of a pharmacy benefit change that conditionally discounted medications if patients used MOP and prepaid two copayments. We compared MOP uptake among those exposed to the benefit change (n = 2,442) and the reference group with no benefit change (n = 8,148), and estimated differential MOP uptake across social strata using a difference-in-differences framework.Data collection/extraction methodsAscertained MOP uptake (initiation among previous nonusers).Principal findingsThirty percent of patients started using MOP after receiving the benefit change versus 9 percent uptake among the reference group (p < .0001). After adjustment, there was a 26 percentage point greater MOP uptake (benefit change effect). This benefit change effect was significantly smaller among patients with inadequate health literacy (15 percent less), limited English proficiency (14 percent less), and among Latinos and Asians (24 and 16 percent less compared to Caucasians).ConclusionsConditionally discounting medications delivered by MOP effectively stimulated MOP uptake overall, but it unintentionally widened previously existing social gaps in MOP use because it stimulated less MOP uptake in vulnerable populations.

BackgroundMany health programs struggle with low enrollment rates.ObjectivesTo compare the characteristics of populations enrolled in a new health plan when employer groups implement voluntary versus automatic enrollment approaches.Study designWe analyzed enrollment rates resulting from 2 different strategies: voluntary and automatic enrollment. We used regression modeling to estimate the associations of patient characteristics with the probability of enrolling within each strategy. The subjects were 5014 eligible employees from 11 self-insured employers who had purchased the Diabetes Health Plan (DHP), which offers free or discounted copayments for diabetes related medications, testing supplies, and physician visits. Six employers used voluntary enrollment while 5 used automatic enrollment. The main outcome of interest was enrollment into the DHP. Predictors were gender, age, race/ethnicity, dependent status, household income, education level, number of comorbidities, and employer group.ResultsOverall, the proportion of eligible members who were enrolled within the automatic enrollment strategy was 91%, compared with 35% for voluntary enrollment. Income was a significant predictor for voluntary enrollment but not for automatic enrollment. Within automatic enrollment, covered dependents, Hispanics, and persons with 1 nondiabetes comorbidity were more likely to enroll than other subgroups. Employer group was also a significant correlate of enrollment. Notably, all demographic groups had higher DHP enrollment rates under automatic enrollment than under voluntary enrollment.ConclusionsFor employer-based programs that struggle with low enrollment rates, especially among certain employee subgroups, an automatic enrollment strategy may not only increase the total number of enrollees but may also decrease some enrollment disparities.

BackgroundMany health programs struggle with low enrollment rates.ObjectivesTo compare the characteristics of populations enrolled in a new health plan when employer groups implement voluntary versus automatic enrollment approaches.Study designWe analyzed enrollment rates resulting from 2 different strategies: voluntary and automatic enrollment. We used regression modeling to estimate the associations of patient characteristics with the probability of enrolling within each strategy. The subjects were 5014 eligible employees from 11 self-insured employers who had purchased the Diabetes Health Plan (DHP), which offers free or discounted copayments for diabetes related medications, testing supplies, and physician visits. Six employers used voluntary enrollment while 5 used automatic enrollment. The main outcome of interest was enrollment into the DHP. Predictors were gender, age, race/ethnicity, dependent status, household income, education level, number of comorbidities, and employer group.ResultsOverall, the proportion of eligible members who were enrolled within the automatic enrollment strategy was 91%, compared with 35% for voluntary enrollment. Income was a significant predictor for voluntary enrollment but not for automatic enrollment. Within automatic enrollment, covered dependents, Hispanics, and persons with 1 nondiabetes comorbidity were more likely to enroll than other subgroups. Employer group was also a significant correlate of enrollment. Notably, all demographic groups had higher DHP enrollment rates under automatic enrollment than under voluntary enrollment.ConclusionsFor employer-based programs that struggle with low enrollment rates, especially among certain employee subgroups, an automatic enrollment strategy may not only increase the total number of enrollees but may also decrease some enrollment disparities.

VI, 122 p., Ill, Les tickets modérateurs existent en Belgique depuis près de 50 ans, et ils sont fort différenciés et complexes. À la demande de l'INAMI, le Centre Fédéral d'Expertise des Soins de Santé (KCE) a étudié un nombre de points sensibles importants. Le système gagnerait à être simplifié. Ainsi, les différences de tickets modérateurs en fonction du nombre de patients examinés pour les visites à domicile du médecin généraliste ou le lieu de la visite pourraient être supprimées. Plus la plus-value sociétale d'une intervention médicale est élevée, plus le ticket modérateur associé devrait être faible. Ceci devrait contribuer à des soins de santé efficaces et de meilleure qualité. Le KCE recommande donc de ne plus comptabiliser le ticket modérateur comme un pourcentage des honoraires médicaux ou du cout d'un médicament. Il importe d'élaborer une vision globale, dans laquelle les objectifs des tickets modérateurs seraient pris en compte., SYNTHÈSE 9 -- 1. CONTEXTE 9 -- 2. DÉFINITION ET OBJECTIFS DE LA VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 10 -- 3. FORMES DE VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 11 -- 4. IMPACT DE LA VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 12 -- 5. PROBLÉMATIQUES DE LA VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 13 -- 5.1. CONDITIONS ET OBSTACLES À L’IMPLÉMENTATION D’UNE VBI 13 -- 5.2. « VALUE-BASED INSURANCE » VERSUS « VALUE-BASED PRICING » 14 -- 5.3. L’OPINION PUBLIQUE EST-ELLE FAVORABLE À UNE VBI ? 15 -- 5.4. VALUE-BASED INSURANCE ET TICKET MODÉRATEUR SOUS LA FORME D’UN MONTANT FIXE OU D’UN POURCENTAGE 15 -- 6. ILLUSTRATION D’UNE POSSIBLE APPLICATION DES PRINCIPES DE LA VALUE-BASED INSURANCE AUX MÉDICAMENTS ET IMPACT BUDGÉTAIRE 16 -- 7. CONCLUSION 18 -- SCIENTIFIC REPORT 19 -- 1. INTRODUCTION 19 -- 1.1. GENERAL BACKGROUND 19 -- 1.2. SCOPE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 20 -- 1.3. METHODS 20 -- 1.4. CONTENT OF THE REPORT 20 -- 2. THE ROLE OF DEMAND-SIDE COST SHARING IN A SOCIAL INSURANCE SYSTEM 21 -- 2.1. DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE 21 -- 2.1.1. Breadth of the coverage 21 -- 2.1.2. Depth of the coverage 21 -- 2.1.3. Height of the coverage 21 -- 2.2. A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ON OPTIMAL COST SHARING 22 -- 2.2.1. Cost shifting 22 -- 2.2.2. Fighting moral hazard... 22 -- 2.2.3. Steering behaviour of imperfectly informed patients 23 -- 2.3. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE AND VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 23 -- 2.4. DIFFERENTIATED COST SHARING IN BELGIUM 23 -- 2.4.1. Disease management programme for type 2 diabetes 23 -- 2.4.2. Pharmaceuticals 24 -- 2.4.3. Healthcare services 27 -- 3. THE CONCEPT OF VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 27 -- 3.1. THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 27 -- 3.2. DEFINITION OF VALUE 28 -- 3.2.1. Value in value-based insurance 28 -- 3.2.2. Value-based pricing 29 -- 3.2.3. Value in value-based pricing 30 -- 3.2.4. Issues with value-based pricing in practice 30 -- 3.2.5. Value-based insurance when value-based pricing fails 31 -- 4. TYPES OF VALUE-BASED INSURANCE DESIGNS 35 -- 4.1. DESIGNS IN GENERAL 35 -- 4.2. VALUE-BASED INSURANCE DESIGNS IN FUNCTION

V, 122 p., Ill, Remgelden bestaan in België al bijna 50 jaar, en ze zijn sterk gedifferentieerd en complex. Op vraag van het RIZIV bestudeerde het Federaal Kenniscentrum voor de Gezondheidszorg (KCE) een aantal belangrijke pijnpunten. Het systeem wordt best vereenvoudigd. Zo kunnen verschillen in remgelden op basis van het aantal patiënten dat de huisarts per huisbezoek ziet of de woonplaats van de patiënt worden afgeschaft. Hoe hoger de maatschappelijke meerwaarde van een medische interventie, hoe lager het remgeld zou moeten zijn. Dit zou bijdragen tot een meer kwaliteitsvolle en doeltreffende gezondheidszorg. Het KCE pleit er dus voor om het remgeld niet langer gewoon te berekenen als een percentage van het ereloon van de arts of de kostprijs van een geneesmiddel. Belangrijk is dat bij dit alles een globale visie wordt uitgewerkt, waarbij wordt nagedacht over de doelstellingen van de remgelden., SYNTHESE 9 -- 1. ACHTERGROND 9 -- 2. DEFINITIE EN DOELSTELLINGEN VAN VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 10 -- 3. VALUE-BASED INSURANCE DESIGNS 11 -- 4. EFFECTEN VAN VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 12 -- 5. ISSUES IN VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 13 -- 5.1. VOORWAARDEN EN HINDERPALEN OM VBI TE IMPLEMENTEREN 13 -- 5.2. “VALUE-BASED INSURANCE” VERSUS “VALUE-BASED PRICING” 13 -- 5.3. STEUNT DE PUBLIEKE OPINIE VBI?... 15 -- 5.4. VALUE-BASED INSURANCE EN REMGELD ALS VAST BEDRAG OF PERCENTAGE 15 -- 6. ILLUSTRATIE VAN EEN MOGELIJKE TOEPASSING VAN VALUE-BASED INSURANCE VOOR GENEESMIDDELEN EN DE BUDGETTAIRE IMPACT ERVAN 15 -- 7. BESLUIT 17 -- SCIENTIFIC REPORT 19 -- 1. INTRODUCTION 19 -- 1.1. GENERAL BACKGROUND 19 -- 1.2. SCOPE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 20 -- 1.3. METHODS 20 -- 1.4. CONTENT OF THE REPORT 20 -- 2. THE ROLE OF DEMAND-SIDE COST SHARING IN A SOCIAL INSURANCE SYSTEM 21 -- 2.1. DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE 21 -- 2.1.1. Breadth of the coverage 21 -- 2.1.2. Depth of the coverage 21 -- 2.1.3. Height of the coverage 21 -- 2.2. A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ON OPTIMAL COST SHARING 22 -- 2.2.1. Cost shifting 22 -- 2.2.2. Fighting moral hazard... 22 -- 2.2.3. Steering behaviour of imperfectly informed patients 23 -- 2.3. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE AND VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 23 -- 2.4. DIFFERENTIATED COST SHARING IN BELGIUM 23 -- 2.4.1. Disease management programme for type 2 diabetes 23 -- 2.4.2. Pharmaceuticals 24 -- 2.4.3. Healthcare services 27 -- 3. THE CONCEPT OF VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 27 -- 3.1. THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF VALUE-BASED INSURANCE 27 -- 3.2. DEFINITION OF VALUE 28 -- 3.2.1. Value in value-based insurance 28 -- 3.2.2. Value-based pricing 29 -- 3.2.3. Value in value-based pricing 30 -- 3.2.4. Issues with value-based pricing in practice 30 -- 3.2.5. Value-based insurance when value-based pricing fails 31 -- 4. TYPES OF VALUE-BASED INSURANCE DESIGNS 35 -- 4.1. DESIGNS IN GENERAL 35 -- 4.2. VALUE-BASED INSURANCE DESIGNS IN FUNCTION OF THE TYPE OF SERVICE 39 -- 4.2.1. One size does not fit all 39

12 p., Ill, Les tickets modérateurs existent en Belgique depuis près de 50 ans, et ils sont fort différenciés et complexes. À la demande de l'INAMI, le Centre Fédéral d'Expertise des Soins de Santé (KCE) a étudié un nombre de points sensibles importants. Le système gagnerait à être simplifié. Ainsi, les différences de tickets modérateurs en fonction du nombre de patients examinés pour les visites à domicile du médecin généraliste ou le lieu de la visite pourraient être supprimées. Plus la plus-value sociétale d'une intervention médicale est élevée, plus le ticket modérateur associé devrait être faible. Ceci devrait contribuer à des soins de santé efficaces et de meilleure qualité. Le KCE recommande donc de ne plus comptabiliser le ticket modérateur comme un pourcentage des honoraires médicaux ou du cout d'un médicament. Il importe d'élaborer une vision globale, dans laquelle les objectifs des tickets modérateurs seraient pris en compte.

ill.

11 p., Ill, Remgelden bestaan in België al bijna 50 jaar, en ze zijn sterk gedifferentieerd en complex. Op vraag van het RIZIV bestudeerde het Federaal Kenniscentrum voor de Gezondheidszorg (KCE) een aantal belangrijke pijnpunten. Het systeem wordt best vereenvoudigd. Zo kunnen verschillen in remgelden op basis van het aantal patiënten dat de huisarts per huisbezoek ziet of de woonplaats van de patiënt worden afgeschaft. Hoe hoger de maatschappelijke meerwaarde van een medische interventie, hoe lager het remgeld zou moeten zijn. Dit zou bijdragen tot een meer kwaliteitsvolle en doeltreffende gezondheidszorg. Het KCE pleit er dus voor om het remgeld niet langer gewoon te berekenen als een percentage van het ereloon van de arts of de kostprijs van een geneesmiddel. Belangrijk is dat bij dit alles een globale visie wordt uitgewerkt, waarbij wordt nagedacht over de doelstellingen van de remgelden.