A B S T R A C T Purpose Historically, African American women have experienced higher breast cance... more A B S T R A C T Purpose Historically, African American women have experienced higher breast cancer mortality than white women, despite lower incidence. Our objective was to evaluate whether costs of increasing rates of screening or application of intensive treatment will be offset by survival benefits for African American women. Methods We use a stochastic simulation model of the natural history of breast cancer to evaluate the incremental societal costs and benefits of status quo versus targeted biennial screening or treatment improvements among African Americans 40 years of age and older. Main outcome measures were number of mammograms, stage, all-cause mortality, and discounted costs per life year saved (LYS). Results At the current screening rate of 76%, there is little incremental benefit associated with further increasing screening, and the costs are high: $124,053 and $124,217 per LYS for lay health worker and patient reminder interventions, respectively, compared with the status quo. Using reminders would cost $51,537 per LYS if targeted to virtually unscreened women or $78,130 per LYS if targeted to women with a twofold increase in baseline risk. If all patients received the most intensive treatment recommended, costs increase but deaths decrease, for a cost of $52,678 per LYS. Investments of up to $6,000 per breast cancer patient could be used to enhance treatment and still yield cost-effectiveness ratios of less than $75,000 per LYS. Conclusion Except in pockets of unscreened or high-risk women, further investments in interventions to increase screening are unlikely to be an efficient use of resources. Ensuring that African American women receive intensive treatment seems to be the most cost-effective approach to decreasing the disproportionate mortality experienced by this population.
Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is not recommended for all persons infected with tubercle bacilli. Bec... more Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is not recommended for all persons infected with tubercle bacilli. Because of the small but significant risk of isoniazid hepatotoxicity, chemoprophylaxis is reserved for only those at the highest risk of tuberculosis activation. To evaluate this policy, we performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of isoniazid chemoprophylaxis for two populations with positive tuberculin skin tests: recent tuberculin converters, who are at high risk for activation, and older tuberculin reactors, who have a low risk for activation and for whom chemoprophylaxis is not now recommended. The cost-effectiveness ratios found were stable, despite wide variations in model assumptions and probability estimates. For high-risk tuberculin reactors, chemoprophylaxis resulted in net medical care monetary savings, extended life expectancy, and fewer fatal illnesses. For low-risk tuberculin reactors, chemoprophylaxis resulted in positive, but small, health effects. Because the cost to gain these positive effects were also small, the resulting cost-effectiveness ratios were reasonable and in the realm of accepted prevention strategies: $12,625 to gain one year of life and $35,011 to avert one death. These findings suggest that the current policy is too restrictive and that many in the large population of low-risk tuberculin reactors should be considered for isoniazid chemoprophylaxis.
Journal of hypertension. Supplement: official journal of the International Society of Hypertension
The detection and treatment of hypertension can prevent cerebrovascular disease and, to some exte... more The detection and treatment of hypertension can prevent cerebrovascular disease and, to some extent, coronary heart disease. For mild hypertension this process is not efficient because many patients must be treated with antihypertensive medication to benefit only a few. The costs of identification, diagnosis and drug treatment of mild hypertension are significant. These costs have increased recently, in part due to changing patterns of drug selection favoring newer agents. Primary and secondary screening for hypertension has relied on casual blood pressure measurement which has high sensitivity, but low specificity, i.e. many false-positives can be expected. Incorporation of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring into secondary screening has potential for greater specificity by excluding from treatment 20-40% of those initially identified as having mild hypertension. Computer analysis of simulated populations selected for treatment by either casual blood pressure or by use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with echocardiography (for borderline cases) demonstrates no difference in calculated life expectancy for the two groups. However, the former strategy selected 23% of the subjects for treatment, while the latter selected 6%. These results imply that appropriate use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in secondary screening of mild hypertension may have a significant impact on cost-effectiveness.
Both AIDS and cervical neoplasia (CN) can result from sexual transmission of HIV infection and ma... more Both AIDS and cervical neoplasia (CN) can result from sexual transmission of HIV infection and may affect similar groups of women. Available data on the association between AIDS and CN have practical implications for gynecological care. We review these data to provide an estimate of the magnitude of the association between CN and HIV infection. Twenty-one studies were reviewed, including reports and abstracts published from January 1986 to July 1990. Of these, five included a comparison group and had sufficient data for inclusion in the analysis. All five controlled studies reported a significant association between HIV infection and CN. One included women with both intraepithelial and invasive lesions; the other four considered women with intraepithelial lesions only. The summary odds ratio indicated that the odds of HIV-infected women having CN are 4.9 (95% confidence interval, 3.0-8.2) times that of HIV-negative women. Research is needed to clarify etiological relationships and the role of human papillomavirus in the causal pathway of the observed association. Meanwhile, available data are sufficient to encourage regular Papanicolaou's smear screening of HIV-infected women, and HIV testing and counseling of women with CN considered at risk for HIV infection.
Because there is no tuberculin screening schedule currently recommended for adults, we used a Mar... more Because there is no tuberculin screening schedule currently recommended for adults, we used a Markov process in a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine an optimal strategy. We simulated the prognosis of a cohort of black 20-year-olds to evaluate the effects of various screening schedules with intradermal tuberculin and administration of isoniazid prophylaxis to those with positive results. The schedule with the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio is a single screening at 50 years of age, which costs $41,672 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. The cost-effectiveness ratio is nearly the same for all schedules involving a single screening between 30 and 70 years of age. Repeated screening strategies are less cost effective. Sensitivity analysis shows that the range of acceptable screening strategies changes significantly under alternate assumptions about the mortality from isoniazid hepatitis. However, screening at 50 years of age remains nearly optimal under the alternatives considered. Altering the values of other parameters generally produced only small changes. Tuberculin screening at 50 years of age should be added to primary care preventive practices because the strategy is as cost effective as standard health interventions and is robust to alternative assumptions. If further research confirms the base case assumptions about isoniazid toxicity, consideration should be given to increasing screening to every 10 years, which would produce a larger health benefit, albeit at substantially higher cost.
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine
The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical aspects of laparoscopic management of adn... more The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical aspects of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated, but the safe and effective use of laparoscopy for this indication requires training, technical skills and experience on the part of the laparoscopist. If used appropriately, many patients will benefit from minimally-invasive surgery. We compared clinical factors of patients having laparoscopy to those having laparotomy in a case-control study of 30 patients with adnexal masses. Oophorectomy or ovarian cystectomy was performed by laparoscopy for 20 women and by laparotomy for 10 women. Comparing the 2 groups, the most significant difference was the decrease in length of hospital stay in the laparoscopy group. There were no significant differences in operative time or intraoperative complications. Estimated blood loss was lower in the laparoscopy group, and no intraoperative complications occurred. No patient required conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy. All patients had benign disease despite the inclusion of patients with risk factors for ovarian carcinoma. This study clearly demonstrates the clinical benefits of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses treated with oophorectomy or ovarian cystectomy.
To evaluate the potential benefits, harms, and economic consequences of digital rectal examinatio... more To evaluate the potential benefits, harms, and economic consequences of digital rectal examination and measurement of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for the early detection of prostate cancer. Relevant studies were identified from a MEDLINE search (1966 to 1995), reviews, bibliographies of retrieved articles, author files, and abstracts. Probabilities for individual clinical outcomes were derived from various sources, including the largest screening study of community volunteers to data, analyses of Medicare claims, and recently published meta-analyses of the outcomes of alternative treatment strategies. Cost estimates were based on the 1992 Medicare fee schedule. A cost-effectiveness model for one-time digital rectal examination and PSA measurement was constructed to examine the possible outcomes. If a favorable set of assumptions is used, one-time digital rectal examination and PSA measurement may increase average life expectancy by approximately 2 weeks at a reasonable marginal cost for men who are between 50 and 69 years of age. Considerable iatrogenic illness would occur. If less favorable assumptions are used, the estimated net benefit would decrease and cost-effectiveness ratios would dramatically increase. Even if favorable assumptions are used, the model suggests that screening adds only a few days to the average life expectancy of men who are older than 69 years of age. If the assumptions are less favorable, older men are harmed. The model suggests that screening may be reasonable in younger men if optimistic assumptions consistent with existing observational data are made. The lack of direct evidence showing a net benefit of screening for prostate cancer seems to mandate more clinician-patient discussion for this procedure than for many other routine tests.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Hospitals are a major provider of resources for individuals with HIV-related conditions. With the... more Hospitals are a major provider of resources for individuals with HIV-related conditions. With the changing nature of HIV, tracking the dependence on and impact of related care delivered in these institutions is critical to monitoring overall resource need. This report documents HIV inpatient care in U.S. hospitals during 1991 by surveying 1,931 acute care institutions (19% of all acute care institutions). In addition, this report documents changes in HIV care in 124 teaching hospitals between 1988 and 1991. Of the 1,081 hospitals completing the 1991 survey (56%), 773 reported treating at least one HIV inpatient and a total of 58,211 inpatients. Northeastern and public hospitals provided significantly more care. Public-related payer sources financed almost 90% of care in public institutions and > 60% in private institutions. Hospitals reported an average loss of $ 92,025 and an estimated total cost-based loss of $ 71.1 million among all responding institutions. The number of HIV inpatients increased 68% between 1988 and 1991. During these years, substantial increases in revenue and modest reductions in per patient use led to a decrease in total inpatient losses of $ 540,748 to $ 260,331 per hospital. Results show that HIV-associated inpatient care is extensive and increasing and that support for care has become a predominantly public sector responsibility. Teaching hospitals' increase in care suggests that they have become "magnets" for patients with HIV-related disease. However, treatment economies and reimbursement rate improvements have worked to lower losses. Any HIV financing policies should work to balance support for non-hospital care with the continuing need for inpatient treatment.
A number of intervention strategies to improve the rate of early stage breast cancer detection ha... more A number of intervention strategies to improve the rate of early stage breast cancer detection have been proposed and evaluated.
Background. New York City (NYC), one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the wo... more Background. New York City (NYC), one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the world, provides an opportunity to examine effective strategies to reduce health disparities among older s. Currently, 47% of older s living in NYC belong to racial/ethnic minority groups. With increasing diversity nationwide, reliable information by race/ethnicity is needed to predict and prioritize health and social services most needed by older s. Yet there is a paucity of data that differentiates health status of community-based seniors by race/ethnicity. In particular, it is striking that until now, no data were available regarding the health status of senior citizens who attend senior centers, a vital structural component of today's urban aging policy, serving the needs of older s in over 300 locations in NYC's neighborhoods. Methods. The research design is cross-sectional. A stratified sample of ten senior centers was selected, representing racial/ethnic diversity across NYC,...
Although there is general evidence that individuals living in poverty are significantly less like... more Although there is general evidence that individuals living in poverty are significantly less likely to receive preventive health care, research specifically targeted to older populations is limited. This study assesses the relationship between poverty and preventive care use among older adults in New York City. We analyze data from the 2008 Health Indicators Project, a sample of 1,870 participants of New York City senior centers. We focus on two outcomes which are uncovered or only partially covered by Medicare: self-reported dental and eye examinations. The outcome variables are binary coded. Poverty level is dummy coded, based on a three-level (<100% [ref.], 100% -199%, ≥200%) categorical variable that we construct by comparing size-adjusted household income to Census Bureau thresholds for poverty. We fit logistic regression models to identify the association of poverty level on receiving dental and eye care, controlling for various demographic factors and health conditions. Re...
Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoid... more Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoidance, however, lessens the public health benefits of higher-priced cigarettes. Few studies examine responses to cigarette tax policies, particularly among high-risk minority populations. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of tax avoidance and changes in smoking behaviors among Chinese American smokers in New York City after a large tax increase. We conducted a cross-sectional study with data for 614 male smokers from in-person and telephone interviews using a comprehensive household-based survey of 2,537 adults aged 18-74 years. Interviews were conducted in multiple Chinese dialects. A total of 54.7% of respondents reported engaging in at least one low- or no-tax strategy after the New York City and New York State tax increases. The more common strategies for tax avoidance were purchasing cigarettes from a private supplier/importer and purchasing duty free/overseas. Higher...
International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, Jan 20, 1996
To evaluate an infant hearing screening program utilizing the high risk register (HRR) and audito... more To evaluate an infant hearing screening program utilizing the high risk register (HRR) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). A cost-effectiveness analysis of the screening program employing a retrospective cohort identified by chart review. The analysis was performed on a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 births and the results compared with a base model derived from literature review. Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, an urban, tertiary care institution. All infants born between November 1990 and October 1993, approximately 16,500. Cost-effectiveness analysis focused on test results of 420 infants failing the HRR and 381 who subsequently received ABR. Analysis of the Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) protocol showed it to be less cost-effective than other similar programs. The cost per hearing loss was far more at MSH than that found elsewhere. Further, the MSH program was ineffective in detecting infants with congenital hearing loss--identifying only one case between 1990 and 1993. Anal...
To determine the frequency with which stereotaxic core biopsy of the breast obviated diagnostic s... more To determine the frequency with which stereotaxic core biopsy of the breast obviated diagnostic surgical biopsy and to estimate the savings in cost of diagnosis with this procedure. Stereotaxic core biopsy of 182 nonpalpable, mammographically evident lesions was performed, and data from clinical follow-up were obtained. Savings in cost were assessed by using national Medicare reimbursement data and a relative value system based on national physician reviews (Relative Values for Physicians [RVP]). Stereotaxic core biopsy replaced a surgical procedure in 140 of 182 patients. The mean adjusted direct savings in cost per stereotaxic core biopsy were $893 (Medicare) or $1,491 (RVP). Use of stereotaxic core biopsy decreased the cost of diagnosis by 52% (RVP) or 55% (Medicare). Stereotaxic core biopsy obviated surgical biopsy for most nonpalpable lesions sampled, resulting in a greater than 50% reduction in biopsy costs. If these results were generalizable to the national level, annual sav...
A B S T R A C T Purpose Historically, African American women have experienced higher breast cance... more A B S T R A C T Purpose Historically, African American women have experienced higher breast cancer mortality than white women, despite lower incidence. Our objective was to evaluate whether costs of increasing rates of screening or application of intensive treatment will be offset by survival benefits for African American women. Methods We use a stochastic simulation model of the natural history of breast cancer to evaluate the incremental societal costs and benefits of status quo versus targeted biennial screening or treatment improvements among African Americans 40 years of age and older. Main outcome measures were number of mammograms, stage, all-cause mortality, and discounted costs per life year saved (LYS). Results At the current screening rate of 76%, there is little incremental benefit associated with further increasing screening, and the costs are high: $124,053 and $124,217 per LYS for lay health worker and patient reminder interventions, respectively, compared with the status quo. Using reminders would cost $51,537 per LYS if targeted to virtually unscreened women or $78,130 per LYS if targeted to women with a twofold increase in baseline risk. If all patients received the most intensive treatment recommended, costs increase but deaths decrease, for a cost of $52,678 per LYS. Investments of up to $6,000 per breast cancer patient could be used to enhance treatment and still yield cost-effectiveness ratios of less than $75,000 per LYS. Conclusion Except in pockets of unscreened or high-risk women, further investments in interventions to increase screening are unlikely to be an efficient use of resources. Ensuring that African American women receive intensive treatment seems to be the most cost-effective approach to decreasing the disproportionate mortality experienced by this population.
Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is not recommended for all persons infected with tubercle bacilli. Bec... more Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is not recommended for all persons infected with tubercle bacilli. Because of the small but significant risk of isoniazid hepatotoxicity, chemoprophylaxis is reserved for only those at the highest risk of tuberculosis activation. To evaluate this policy, we performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of isoniazid chemoprophylaxis for two populations with positive tuberculin skin tests: recent tuberculin converters, who are at high risk for activation, and older tuberculin reactors, who have a low risk for activation and for whom chemoprophylaxis is not now recommended. The cost-effectiveness ratios found were stable, despite wide variations in model assumptions and probability estimates. For high-risk tuberculin reactors, chemoprophylaxis resulted in net medical care monetary savings, extended life expectancy, and fewer fatal illnesses. For low-risk tuberculin reactors, chemoprophylaxis resulted in positive, but small, health effects. Because the cost to gain these positive effects were also small, the resulting cost-effectiveness ratios were reasonable and in the realm of accepted prevention strategies: $12,625 to gain one year of life and $35,011 to avert one death. These findings suggest that the current policy is too restrictive and that many in the large population of low-risk tuberculin reactors should be considered for isoniazid chemoprophylaxis.
Journal of hypertension. Supplement: official journal of the International Society of Hypertension
The detection and treatment of hypertension can prevent cerebrovascular disease and, to some exte... more The detection and treatment of hypertension can prevent cerebrovascular disease and, to some extent, coronary heart disease. For mild hypertension this process is not efficient because many patients must be treated with antihypertensive medication to benefit only a few. The costs of identification, diagnosis and drug treatment of mild hypertension are significant. These costs have increased recently, in part due to changing patterns of drug selection favoring newer agents. Primary and secondary screening for hypertension has relied on casual blood pressure measurement which has high sensitivity, but low specificity, i.e. many false-positives can be expected. Incorporation of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring into secondary screening has potential for greater specificity by excluding from treatment 20-40% of those initially identified as having mild hypertension. Computer analysis of simulated populations selected for treatment by either casual blood pressure or by use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with echocardiography (for borderline cases) demonstrates no difference in calculated life expectancy for the two groups. However, the former strategy selected 23% of the subjects for treatment, while the latter selected 6%. These results imply that appropriate use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in secondary screening of mild hypertension may have a significant impact on cost-effectiveness.
Both AIDS and cervical neoplasia (CN) can result from sexual transmission of HIV infection and ma... more Both AIDS and cervical neoplasia (CN) can result from sexual transmission of HIV infection and may affect similar groups of women. Available data on the association between AIDS and CN have practical implications for gynecological care. We review these data to provide an estimate of the magnitude of the association between CN and HIV infection. Twenty-one studies were reviewed, including reports and abstracts published from January 1986 to July 1990. Of these, five included a comparison group and had sufficient data for inclusion in the analysis. All five controlled studies reported a significant association between HIV infection and CN. One included women with both intraepithelial and invasive lesions; the other four considered women with intraepithelial lesions only. The summary odds ratio indicated that the odds of HIV-infected women having CN are 4.9 (95% confidence interval, 3.0-8.2) times that of HIV-negative women. Research is needed to clarify etiological relationships and the role of human papillomavirus in the causal pathway of the observed association. Meanwhile, available data are sufficient to encourage regular Papanicolaou&#39;s smear screening of HIV-infected women, and HIV testing and counseling of women with CN considered at risk for HIV infection.
Because there is no tuberculin screening schedule currently recommended for adults, we used a Mar... more Because there is no tuberculin screening schedule currently recommended for adults, we used a Markov process in a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine an optimal strategy. We simulated the prognosis of a cohort of black 20-year-olds to evaluate the effects of various screening schedules with intradermal tuberculin and administration of isoniazid prophylaxis to those with positive results. The schedule with the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio is a single screening at 50 years of age, which costs $41,672 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. The cost-effectiveness ratio is nearly the same for all schedules involving a single screening between 30 and 70 years of age. Repeated screening strategies are less cost effective. Sensitivity analysis shows that the range of acceptable screening strategies changes significantly under alternate assumptions about the mortality from isoniazid hepatitis. However, screening at 50 years of age remains nearly optimal under the alternatives considered. Altering the values of other parameters generally produced only small changes. Tuberculin screening at 50 years of age should be added to primary care preventive practices because the strategy is as cost effective as standard health interventions and is robust to alternative assumptions. If further research confirms the base case assumptions about isoniazid toxicity, consideration should be given to increasing screening to every 10 years, which would produce a larger health benefit, albeit at substantially higher cost.
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine
The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical aspects of laparoscopic management of adn... more The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical aspects of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated, but the safe and effective use of laparoscopy for this indication requires training, technical skills and experience on the part of the laparoscopist. If used appropriately, many patients will benefit from minimally-invasive surgery. We compared clinical factors of patients having laparoscopy to those having laparotomy in a case-control study of 30 patients with adnexal masses. Oophorectomy or ovarian cystectomy was performed by laparoscopy for 20 women and by laparotomy for 10 women. Comparing the 2 groups, the most significant difference was the decrease in length of hospital stay in the laparoscopy group. There were no significant differences in operative time or intraoperative complications. Estimated blood loss was lower in the laparoscopy group, and no intraoperative complications occurred. No patient required conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy. All patients had benign disease despite the inclusion of patients with risk factors for ovarian carcinoma. This study clearly demonstrates the clinical benefits of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses treated with oophorectomy or ovarian cystectomy.
To evaluate the potential benefits, harms, and economic consequences of digital rectal examinatio... more To evaluate the potential benefits, harms, and economic consequences of digital rectal examination and measurement of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for the early detection of prostate cancer. Relevant studies were identified from a MEDLINE search (1966 to 1995), reviews, bibliographies of retrieved articles, author files, and abstracts. Probabilities for individual clinical outcomes were derived from various sources, including the largest screening study of community volunteers to data, analyses of Medicare claims, and recently published meta-analyses of the outcomes of alternative treatment strategies. Cost estimates were based on the 1992 Medicare fee schedule. A cost-effectiveness model for one-time digital rectal examination and PSA measurement was constructed to examine the possible outcomes. If a favorable set of assumptions is used, one-time digital rectal examination and PSA measurement may increase average life expectancy by approximately 2 weeks at a reasonable marginal cost for men who are between 50 and 69 years of age. Considerable iatrogenic illness would occur. If less favorable assumptions are used, the estimated net benefit would decrease and cost-effectiveness ratios would dramatically increase. Even if favorable assumptions are used, the model suggests that screening adds only a few days to the average life expectancy of men who are older than 69 years of age. If the assumptions are less favorable, older men are harmed. The model suggests that screening may be reasonable in younger men if optimistic assumptions consistent with existing observational data are made. The lack of direct evidence showing a net benefit of screening for prostate cancer seems to mandate more clinician-patient discussion for this procedure than for many other routine tests.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Hospitals are a major provider of resources for individuals with HIV-related conditions. With the... more Hospitals are a major provider of resources for individuals with HIV-related conditions. With the changing nature of HIV, tracking the dependence on and impact of related care delivered in these institutions is critical to monitoring overall resource need. This report documents HIV inpatient care in U.S. hospitals during 1991 by surveying 1,931 acute care institutions (19% of all acute care institutions). In addition, this report documents changes in HIV care in 124 teaching hospitals between 1988 and 1991. Of the 1,081 hospitals completing the 1991 survey (56%), 773 reported treating at least one HIV inpatient and a total of 58,211 inpatients. Northeastern and public hospitals provided significantly more care. Public-related payer sources financed almost 90% of care in public institutions and &gt; 60% in private institutions. Hospitals reported an average loss of $ 92,025 and an estimated total cost-based loss of $ 71.1 million among all responding institutions. The number of HIV inpatients increased 68% between 1988 and 1991. During these years, substantial increases in revenue and modest reductions in per patient use led to a decrease in total inpatient losses of $ 540,748 to $ 260,331 per hospital. Results show that HIV-associated inpatient care is extensive and increasing and that support for care has become a predominantly public sector responsibility. Teaching hospitals&#39; increase in care suggests that they have become &quot;magnets&quot; for patients with HIV-related disease. However, treatment economies and reimbursement rate improvements have worked to lower losses. Any HIV financing policies should work to balance support for non-hospital care with the continuing need for inpatient treatment.
A number of intervention strategies to improve the rate of early stage breast cancer detection ha... more A number of intervention strategies to improve the rate of early stage breast cancer detection have been proposed and evaluated.
Background. New York City (NYC), one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the wo... more Background. New York City (NYC), one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the world, provides an opportunity to examine effective strategies to reduce health disparities among older s. Currently, 47% of older s living in NYC belong to racial/ethnic minority groups. With increasing diversity nationwide, reliable information by race/ethnicity is needed to predict and prioritize health and social services most needed by older s. Yet there is a paucity of data that differentiates health status of community-based seniors by race/ethnicity. In particular, it is striking that until now, no data were available regarding the health status of senior citizens who attend senior centers, a vital structural component of today's urban aging policy, serving the needs of older s in over 300 locations in NYC's neighborhoods. Methods. The research design is cross-sectional. A stratified sample of ten senior centers was selected, representing racial/ethnic diversity across NYC,...
Although there is general evidence that individuals living in poverty are significantly less like... more Although there is general evidence that individuals living in poverty are significantly less likely to receive preventive health care, research specifically targeted to older populations is limited. This study assesses the relationship between poverty and preventive care use among older adults in New York City. We analyze data from the 2008 Health Indicators Project, a sample of 1,870 participants of New York City senior centers. We focus on two outcomes which are uncovered or only partially covered by Medicare: self-reported dental and eye examinations. The outcome variables are binary coded. Poverty level is dummy coded, based on a three-level (<100% [ref.], 100% -199%, ≥200%) categorical variable that we construct by comparing size-adjusted household income to Census Bureau thresholds for poverty. We fit logistic regression models to identify the association of poverty level on receiving dental and eye care, controlling for various demographic factors and health conditions. Re...
Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoid... more Tobacco taxes are one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use. Tax avoidance, however, lessens the public health benefits of higher-priced cigarettes. Few studies examine responses to cigarette tax policies, particularly among high-risk minority populations. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of tax avoidance and changes in smoking behaviors among Chinese American smokers in New York City after a large tax increase. We conducted a cross-sectional study with data for 614 male smokers from in-person and telephone interviews using a comprehensive household-based survey of 2,537 adults aged 18-74 years. Interviews were conducted in multiple Chinese dialects. A total of 54.7% of respondents reported engaging in at least one low- or no-tax strategy after the New York City and New York State tax increases. The more common strategies for tax avoidance were purchasing cigarettes from a private supplier/importer and purchasing duty free/overseas. Higher...
International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, Jan 20, 1996
To evaluate an infant hearing screening program utilizing the high risk register (HRR) and audito... more To evaluate an infant hearing screening program utilizing the high risk register (HRR) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). A cost-effectiveness analysis of the screening program employing a retrospective cohort identified by chart review. The analysis was performed on a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 births and the results compared with a base model derived from literature review. Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, an urban, tertiary care institution. All infants born between November 1990 and October 1993, approximately 16,500. Cost-effectiveness analysis focused on test results of 420 infants failing the HRR and 381 who subsequently received ABR. Analysis of the Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) protocol showed it to be less cost-effective than other similar programs. The cost per hearing loss was far more at MSH than that found elsewhere. Further, the MSH program was ineffective in detecting infants with congenital hearing loss--identifying only one case between 1990 and 1993. Anal...
To determine the frequency with which stereotaxic core biopsy of the breast obviated diagnostic s... more To determine the frequency with which stereotaxic core biopsy of the breast obviated diagnostic surgical biopsy and to estimate the savings in cost of diagnosis with this procedure. Stereotaxic core biopsy of 182 nonpalpable, mammographically evident lesions was performed, and data from clinical follow-up were obtained. Savings in cost were assessed by using national Medicare reimbursement data and a relative value system based on national physician reviews (Relative Values for Physicians [RVP]). Stereotaxic core biopsy replaced a surgical procedure in 140 of 182 patients. The mean adjusted direct savings in cost per stereotaxic core biopsy were $893 (Medicare) or $1,491 (RVP). Use of stereotaxic core biopsy decreased the cost of diagnosis by 52% (RVP) or 55% (Medicare). Stereotaxic core biopsy obviated surgical biopsy for most nonpalpable lesions sampled, resulting in a greater than 50% reduction in biopsy costs. If these results were generalizable to the national level, annual sav...
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Papers by Marianne Fahs