TY - JOUR
T1 - Adding Functional Ability Measures to a Mortality Algorithm to Support Palliative Care Eligibility Decisions
AU - Luth, Elizabeth A.
AU - Brickner, Carlin
AU - Rakotoarivelo, Harivony
AU - Gao, Oude
AU - Bowles, Kathryn H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© SLACK Incorporated.
PY - 2025/9
Y1 - 2025/9
N2 - PURPOSE: To codify functional ability measures using administrative claims data to identify individuals for palliative care and examine their associations with mortality. METHOD: A retrospective cohort analysis of July 2022–June 2023 administrative claims data for 6,625 Medicare Advantage plan enrollees identified functional ability measures—activities of daily living (ADL), feeding and respiratory support, physical therapy and occupational therapy (PT/OT), and skilled nursing—as key mortality predictors. Logistic regression tested associations between functional ability and mortality. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-six (4.6%) individuals died during the study period. PT/OT services were associated with lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval [0.65, 0.85]). ADL support, skilled nursing, and pain management were associated with higher odds of mortality. CONCLUSION: Attention to whether a seriously ill individual is receiving PT/OT, ADL support, or skilled nursing may help make timely referrals to palliative care.
AB - PURPOSE: To codify functional ability measures using administrative claims data to identify individuals for palliative care and examine their associations with mortality. METHOD: A retrospective cohort analysis of July 2022–June 2023 administrative claims data for 6,625 Medicare Advantage plan enrollees identified functional ability measures—activities of daily living (ADL), feeding and respiratory support, physical therapy and occupational therapy (PT/OT), and skilled nursing—as key mortality predictors. Logistic regression tested associations between functional ability and mortality. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-six (4.6%) individuals died during the study period. PT/OT services were associated with lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval [0.65, 0.85]). ADL support, skilled nursing, and pain management were associated with higher odds of mortality. CONCLUSION: Attention to whether a seriously ill individual is receiving PT/OT, ADL support, or skilled nursing may help make timely referrals to palliative care.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016810655
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016810655#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.3928/19404921-20250522-01
DO - 10.3928/19404921-20250522-01
M3 - Article
C2 - 40488518
AN - SCOPUS:105016810655
SN - 1940-4921
VL - 18
SP - 225
EP - 234
JO - Research in Gerontological Nursing
JF - Research in Gerontological Nursing
IS - 5
ER -