Intermittent Catheter Reimbursement in the United States: The Experience of Nine Stakeholders Through the Lens of Actor-Network Theory

Authors

Manon M. Schladen, MedStar Health Research InstituteFollow
Amanda K. Rounds, MedStar Health Research InstituteFollow
Terrence McManus, MedStar Health Research InstituteFollow
Alexandra Bennewith, United Spinal AssociationFollow
Henry Claypool, MedStar Health Research InstituteFollow
Suzanne L. Groah, MedStar National Rehabilitation HospitalFollow

Abstract

A narrow interpretation of “medical necessity” can result in poorer health as well as a more restricted life for people with disabilities. We examined the impact of US policy on reimbursement of intermittent catheters (ICs) on the lives of people with neurogenic bladder (NB) who require catheters to urinate. We conducted in-depth, longitudinal interviews with nine stakeholders. Actor-Network Theory was used to describe interactions among human agents, IC products, and policies in the reimbursement arena. Restrictions on the type and quantities of ICs reimbursed emerged as the most potent inhibitor to health and wellbeing among consumers with NB. IC suppliers, due to the large number of other stakeholders with whom they interact in the reimbursement process, emerged as strong enablers of preferred IC use among people with NB. Lack of an impartial central clearinghouse on IC products and coverage impeded consumers’ ability to make informed decisions.

Keywords

actor-network theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, disability-competent care, intermittent urinary catheter, neurogenic bladder, reimbursement, spina bifida, spinal cord injury

Author Bio(s)

Manon Maitland Schladen, PhD is a senior research associate at MedStar Health Research Institute and assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at the Georgetown University Medical Center. Please direct correspondence to mmschladen@gmail.com.

Amanda K. Rounds, PhD, is a clinical research coordinator at MedStar Health Research Institute. Please direct correspondence to amanda.k.rounds@medstar.net.

Terrence McManus, ANP, serves as a consumer expert for MedStar Health Research Institute. He is an individual living with spinal cord injury. Please direct correspondence to terryinkosovo@yahoo.com.

Alexandra Bennewith is vice president of government relations at United Spinal Association. Please direct correspondence to ABennewith@unitedspinal.org.

Henry Claypool is policy director for the Community Living Policy Center at the University of California, San Francisco. He is an individual living with spinal cord injury. Please direct correspondence to hdc1819@gmail.com.

Suzanne L. Groah, MD, is director of the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research program at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, and professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Georgetown University Medical Center. Please direct correspondence to suzanne.l.groah@medstar.net.

Acknowledgements

Authors express their appreciation to Elizabeth F. Davis, consumer expert (spinal bifida) at MedStar Health Research Institute, for her help in the design of the interview guide, conduct of semi-structured interviews, open coding, and editing of the manuscript.

Publication Date

2-7-2021

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4660

Recommended APA Citation

Schladen, M. M., Rounds, A. K., McManus, T., Bennewith, A., Claypool, H., & Groah, S. L. (2021). Intermittent Catheter Reimbursement in the United States: The Experience of Nine Stakeholders Through the Lens of Actor-Network Theory. The Qualitative Report, 26(2), 443-464. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4660

ORCID ID

0000-0001-8783-6721