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A comparison of health care use for physician-referred and self-referred episodes of outpatient physical therapy.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pendergast, J; Kliethermes, SA; Freburger, JK; Duffy, PA
Published in: Health Serv Res
April 2012

OBJECTIVE: To compare patient profiles and health care use for physician-referred and self-referred episodes of outpatient physical therapy (PT). DATA SOURCE: Five years (2003-2007) of private health insurance claims data, from a Midwest insurer, on beneficiaries aged 18-64. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analyses of health care use of physician-referred (N = 45,210) and self-referred (N = 17,497) ambulatory PT episodes of care was conducted, adjusting for age, gender, diagnosis, case mix, and year. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION: Physical therapy episodes began with the physical therapist initial evaluation and ended on the last date of service before 60 days of no further visits. Episodes were classified as physician-referred if the patient had a physician claim from a reasonable referral source in the 30 days before the start of PT. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The self-referred group was slightly younger, but the two groups were very similar in regard to diagnosis and case mix. Self-referred episodes had fewer PT visits (86 percent of physician-referred) and lower allowable amounts ($0.87 for every $1.00), after covariate adjustment, but did not differ in related health care utilization after PT. CONCLUSIONS: Health care use during PT episodes was lower for those who self-referred, after adjusting for key variables, but did not differ after the PT episode.

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Published In

Health Serv Res

DOI

EISSN

1475-6773

Publication Date

April 2012

Volume

47

Issue

2

Start / End Page

633 / 654

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Care
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Propensity Score
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Pendergast, J., Kliethermes, S. A., Freburger, J. K., & Duffy, P. A. (2012). A comparison of health care use for physician-referred and self-referred episodes of outpatient physical therapy. Health Serv Res, 47(2), 633–654. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01324.x
Pendergast, Jane, Stephanie A. Kliethermes, Janet K. Freburger, and Pamela A. Duffy. “A comparison of health care use for physician-referred and self-referred episodes of outpatient physical therapy.Health Serv Res 47, no. 2 (April 2012): 633–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01324.x.
Pendergast J, Kliethermes SA, Freburger JK, Duffy PA. A comparison of health care use for physician-referred and self-referred episodes of outpatient physical therapy. Health Serv Res. 2012 Apr;47(2):633–54.
Pendergast, Jane, et al. “A comparison of health care use for physician-referred and self-referred episodes of outpatient physical therapy.Health Serv Res, vol. 47, no. 2, Apr. 2012, pp. 633–54. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01324.x.
Pendergast J, Kliethermes SA, Freburger JK, Duffy PA. A comparison of health care use for physician-referred and self-referred episodes of outpatient physical therapy. Health Serv Res. 2012 Apr;47(2):633–654.
Journal cover image

Published In

Health Serv Res

DOI

EISSN

1475-6773

Publication Date

April 2012

Volume

47

Issue

2

Start / End Page

633 / 654

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Care
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Propensity Score
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans