An introduction to the why and how of risk adjustment. Issue 1 (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vogel, W. Bruce; Chen, Guoqing John
• Is Part Of: Biostatistics & epidemiology. Volume 4:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: Risk adjustment -- case mix -- outcomes -- performance -- veterans affairs; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Biometry -- Periodicals; 614.42
• DOI: 10.1080/24709360.2018.1519990
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2470-9360

Abstract

Abstract : Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health services researchers often adjust for the differing risk profiles of selected patient populations for a variety of purposes. This paper explains the major reasons to conduct risk adjustment and provides a high level overview of what risk adjustment actually does and how the results of risk adjustment can be used in different ways for different purposes. The paper also discusses choosing a diagnostic classification system and describes some of the systems commonly used in risk adjustment along with comorbidity/severity indices and individual disease taxonomies. The factors influencing the choice of diagnostic classification systems and other commonly used risk adjustors are also presented along with a discussion of data requirements. Statistical approaches to risk adjustment are also briefly discussed. The paper concludes with some recommendations concerning risk adjustment that should be considering when developing research proposals.