Key result
The national 2-year LVEF test rate was 79% for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure, ranging from 61% to 89% across most states.
Observational (n=46,583)
Yes
Using billing data over a 2-year window reveals a 79% LVEF test rate among Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure, demonstrating higher testing rates than previously reported.
LVEF testing in Medicare HF may exceed prior estimates; leaves open optimal benchmarks and drivers of state variation.
The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) test rate is increasingly used as a quality of care indicator for patients with heart failure. Our study produced benchmark LVEF test rates in a Medicare fee-for-service population for consideration by a clinical panel assembled by the Health Care Financing Administration. Our sample consisted of 46,583 beneficiaries admitted to the hospital for heart failure and with a complete set of Medicare fee-for-service bills dated 1996 or 1997. The national 2-year LVEF test rate was 79% for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure. Except for 1 state, the test rate ranged from 61% to 89% across states. Our analysis demonstrates the feasibility of using billing data to compute LVEF test rates. Using a 2-year time window and measuring tests performed in outpatient as well as inpatient settings, we find a higher LVEF test rate than has been reported by most previous studies.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wu et al. (2002) conducted an observational in Heart failure (n=46,583). Hospitalization for heart failure was evaluated on 2-year LVEF test rate. The national 2-year LVEF test rate was 79% for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure, ranging from 61% to 89% across most states.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: