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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 18 of 18 Research Studies DisplayedSimpson RL, Lee JA, Li Y
Medicare meets the cloud: the development of a secure platform for the storage and analysis of claims data.
This case report outlines the development and implementation of Amazon Web Services (AWS) at Emory University to securely store and analyze research data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Several interdisciplinary teams collaborated and ensured compliance with CMS policy. Results showed successful transition to a cloud-based environment with enhanced security measures and regular review processes. User training addressed cloud computing challenges. Lessons learned from challenges benefited CMS and interdisciplinary teams university-wide.
AHRQ-funded; HS026232.
Citation: Simpson RL, Lee JA, Li Y .
Medicare meets the cloud: the development of a secure platform for the storage and analysis of claims data.
JAMIA Open 2024 Apr; 7(1):ooae007. doi: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae007.
Keywords: Medicare, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Anderson KE, Wu RJ, Darden M
Medicare Advantage is associated with lower utilization of total joint arthroplasty.
To discover whether Medicare Advantage enrollees have a lower utilization of elective surgical procedures such as inpatient hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA), which have usually been covered by traditional Medicare without restrictions, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study comparing traditional Medicare claims and Medicare Advantage encounter records for enrollees aged 65-85. Their results showed a lower incidence of TJA in Medicare Advantage enrollees. The interval from initial diagnosis to contact with an orthopedic surgeon and to the surgical procedure were shorter among traditional enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Anderson KE, Wu RJ, Darden M .
Medicare Advantage is associated with lower utilization of total joint arthroplasty.
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2024 Feb 7; 106(3):198-205. doi: 10.2106/jbjs.23.00507..
Keywords: Medicare, Orthopedics, Surgery
Post B, Hollenbeck BK, Norton EC
Hospital-physician integration and clinical volume in traditional Medicare.
The purpose of this study was to test the effect of hospital-physician integration on primary care physicians' (PCP) clinical volume in traditional Medicare. The researchers identified 70,000 PCPs, some of whom remained non-integrated and some who became hospital-integrated during this study period. An event study design was utilized to identify the effect of integration on key measures of physicians' clinical volume, including the number of claims, work-relative value units (RVUs), professional revenue generated, number of patients treated, and facility fee revenue generated. The study found that per-physician clinical volume declined by statistically and economically significant margins. Relative to the comparison group who remained non-integrated, work RVUs fell by 7%; the number of patients treated fell by 4%; and claims volume among PCPs who became hospital-integrated fell by over 15%.
AHRQ-funded; HS027044; HS025707.
Citation: Post B, Hollenbeck BK, Norton EC .
Hospital-physician integration and clinical volume in traditional Medicare.
Health Serv Res 2024 Feb; 59(1):e14172. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14172..
Keywords: Medicare, Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Provider: Physician
Hoffman GJ, Alexander Nb, Ha J
Medicare's hospital readmission reduction program reduced fall-related health care use: an unexpected benefit?
This study’s objective was to assess whether the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was associated with a reduction in severe fall-related injuries (FRIs). The authors looked at secondary data from Medicare to assess changes in 30- and 90-day FRI readmissions before and after HRRP's announcement (April 2010) and implementation (October 2012) for conditions targeted by the HRRP (acute myocardial infarction [AMI], congestive heart failure [CHF], and pneumonia) versus "non-targeted" (gastrointestinal) conditions. They tested for modification by hospitals with "high-risk" before HRRP and accounted for potential upcoding. They also explored changes in 30-day FRI readmissions involving emergency department (ED) or outpatient care, care processes (length of stay, discharge destination, and primary care visit), and patient selection (age and comorbidities). They identified 1.5 million (522,596 pre-HRRP, 514,844 announcement, and 474,029 implementation period) index discharges. After its announcement, HRRP was associated with 12%-20% reductions in 30- and 90-day FRI readmissions for patients with CHF (-0.42 percentage points [ppt]) and AMI (-0.35). Two years after implementation, HRRP was associated with reductions in 90-day FRI readmission for AMI (-1.27 ppt) and CHF (-0.98 ppt) patients. After HRRP's announcement, decreases were observed in home health (AMI: -2.43 ppt; CHF: -8.83 ppt; pneumonia: -1.97 ppt) and skilled nursing facility referrals (AMI: -5.95 ppt; CHF: -3.19 ppt; pneumonia: -10.27 ppt).
AHRQ-funded; HS025838.
Citation: Hoffman GJ, Alexander Nb, Ha J .
Medicare's hospital readmission reduction program reduced fall-related health care use: an unexpected benefit?
Health Serv Res 2024 Feb; 59(1):e14246. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14246..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Falls
Kalata S, Schaefer SL, Nuliyahu U
Low-volume elective surgery and outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries treated at hospital networks.
This cross-sectional study’s objective was to quantify low-volume surgery and associated outcomes within hospital networks. This study used Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data to examine fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years who underwent 1 of 10 elective surgical procedures (abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy, mitral valve repair, hip or knee replacement, bariatric surgery, or resection for lung, esophageal, pancreatic, or rectal cancers) in a network hospital from 2016 to 2018. Hospital volume for each procedure (calculated with the use of National Inpatient Sample data) was compared with yearly hospital volume standards for that procedure recommended by The Leapfrog Group. The authors analyzed primary outcomes which were postoperative complications, 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality, stratified by the volume status of the hospital and network type. Secondary outcome was the availability of a different high-volume hospital within the same network or outside the network and its proximity to the patient (based on hospital referral region and zip code). In all, data were analyzed for 950,079 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries (average age 74.4 years; 621,138 females and 427,931 males) who underwent 1,049,069 procedures at 2469 hospitals within 382 networks. Of these networks, almost 100% [380 (99.5%)] had at least 1 low-volume hospital performing the elective procedure of interest. In 79.8% of procedures that were performed at low-volume hospitals, there was a hospital that met volume standards within the same network and hospital referral region located a median (IQR) distance of 29 (12-60) miles from the patient's home. In adjusted analyses, postoperative outcomes were inferior at low-volume hospitals compared with hospitals meeting volume standards, with a 30-day mortality of 8.1% at low-volume hospitals vs 5.5% at hospitals that met volume standards.
AHRQ-funded; HS028606.
Citation: Kalata S, Schaefer SL, Nuliyahu U .
Low-volume elective surgery and outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries treated at hospital networks.
JAMA Surg 2024 Feb; 159(2):203-10. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.6542.
Keywords: Surgery, Medicare, Hospitals, Outcomes
Danielson EC, Li W, Suleiman L
Social risk and patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement: implications for Medicare policy.
The objective of this study was to determine if county- or patient-level social risk factors are associated with patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement when added to the comprehensive joint replacement risk-adjustment model. Patient and outcomes data from the Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement cohort were merged with the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. The findings indicated that patient-reported race, education, and income were associated with patient-reported pain or functional scores; pain improvement was negatively associated with Black race and positively associated with higher annual incomes. The authors concluded that these findings suggested that patient-level social factors warrant further investigation to promote health equity in patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement.
Citation: Danielson EC, Li W, Suleiman L .
Social risk and patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement: implications for Medicare policy.
Health Serv Res 2024 Feb; 59(1):e14215. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14215.
Keywords: Surgery, Orthopedics, Medicare, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Social Determinants of Health
Bao Y, Ryan AM, Shao H
Generic initiation and antidepressant therapy adherence under Medicare Part D.
This study assessed the effects of initiating antidepressant treatment with a generic versus a branded prescription (generic initiation) on adherence to antidepressant therapy for the treatment of depression. It found that starting patients with generics had benefits for antidepressant adherence by lowering out-of-pocket costs for all patients and by mitigating the effect of the Part D coverage gap faced by patients not receiving low-income subsidies.
AHRQ-funded; HS018546.
Citation: Bao Y, Ryan AM, Shao H .
Generic initiation and antidepressant therapy adherence under Medicare Part D.
Am J Manag Care 2013 Dec;19(12):989-98..
Keywords: Medication, Depression, Medicare, Patient Adherence/Compliance
Stuart B, Davidoff A, Erten M
AHRQ Author: Davidoff A
How Medicare Part D benefit phases affect adherence with evidence-based medications following acute myocardial infarction.
The authors assessed the impact of Medicare Part D benefit phases on adherence with evidence-based medications after hospitalization for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). They found that as the Part D doughnut hole is gradually filled in by 2020, Medicare Part D enrollees with critical diseases such as AMI who rely heavily on brand name drugs are likely to exhibit modest increases in adherence, while those reliant on generic drugs are less likely to be affected.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Stuart B, Davidoff A, Erten M .
How Medicare Part D benefit phases affect adherence with evidence-based medications following acute myocardial infarction.
Health Serv Res 2013 Dec;48(6 Pt 1):1960-77. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12073.
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Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Medicare, Medication, Heart Disease and Health, Patient Adherence/Compliance
McGuire TG, Glazer J, Newhouse JP
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
Integrating risk adjustment and enrollee premiums in health plan payment.
Paying health plans from two different sources such as risk-adjusted payments from a regulator and premiums charged to individual enrollees raises issues in payment design for both Medicare Advantage plans and the new State-run exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act. The primary purpose of this study is to demonstrate the versatility of least squares methods for risk adjustment in individual insurance markets with enrollee premiums.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: McGuire TG, Glazer J, Newhouse JP .
Integrating risk adjustment and enrollee premiums in health plan payment.
J Health Econ. 2013 Dec;32(6):1263-77. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2013.05.002..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicare
Zeidan AM, Gore SD, McNally DL
AHRQ Author: Davidoff AJ
Lenalidomide performance in the real world: patterns of use and effectiveness in a Medicare population with myelodysplastic syndromes.
The authors examined the use of lenalidomide in the Medicare population. They found that reductions in transfusion rates were overall consistent with data from clinical trials, and response rates were higher when ≥ 3 lenalidomide cycles were received.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zeidan AM, Gore SD, McNally DL .
Lenalidomide performance in the real world: patterns of use and effectiveness in a Medicare population with myelodysplastic syndromes.
Cancer 2013 Nov 1;119(21):3870-8. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28298.
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Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Elderly, Medicare, Medication
Nicholas LH, Dimick JB
Bariatric surgery in minority patients before and after implementation of a centers of excellence program.
This study compared rates of bariatric surgery for minority Medicare vs. non-Medicare patients before and after the 2006 implementation of a national coverage decision (NCD) restricting Medicare patients to centers of excellence for bariatric surgery. It found that the proportion of nonwhite Medicare patients receiving this procedure dropped from 27.5 percent before the NCD to 25.9 percent afterwards.
AHRQ-funded; HS017765
Citation: Nicholas LH, Dimick JB .
Bariatric surgery in minority patients before and after implementation of a centers of excellence program.
JAMA. 2013 Oct 2;310(13):1399-400. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.277915..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicare, Healthcare Utilization, Obesity
Huckfeldt PJ, Sood NB, Romley JA
Medicare payment reform and provider entry and exit in the post-acute care market.
The researchers examined the impact of Medicare payment reform on the entry and exit of post-acute providers (home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities). They found that payment reforms reducing average and marginal payments reduced entries and increased exits from the market, with entries more likely to be affected.
AHRQ-funded; HS018541
Citation: Huckfeldt PJ, Sood NB, Romley JA .
Medicare payment reform and provider entry and exit in the post-acute care market.
Health Serv Res. 2013 Oct;48(5):1557-80. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12059..
Keywords: Medicare, Critical Care, Healthcare Costs, Home Healthcare, Long-Term Care
Sheppard KD, Brown CJ, Hearld KR
Symptom burden predicts nursing home admissions among older adults.
Using a sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries in Alabama who were contacted by telephone every 6 months during an eight and a half-year study, researchers found that symptom burden is an independent risk factor for NH admission. The study suggests that symptom assessment and management may reduce NH utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852
Citation: Sheppard KD, Brown CJ, Hearld KR .
Symptom burden predicts nursing home admissions among older adults.
J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013 Oct;46(4):591-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.10...
Keywords: Medicare, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Nursing Homes, Healthcare Costs
O'Donnell BE, Schneider KM, Brooks JM
Standardizing Medicare payment information to support examining geographic variation in costs.
This paper describes a method for standardizing claim payments, and demonstrates the difference in actual versus standardized payments by geographic region. It found that without standardization of payments, certain areas of the country are mischaracterized as either high or low healthcare resource-consuming areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS019574; HS019440.
Citation: O'Donnell BE, Schneider KM, Brooks JM .
Standardizing Medicare payment information to support examining geographic variation in costs.
Medicare Medicaid Res Rev 2013 Sep 10;3(3). doi: 10.5600/mmrr.003.03.a06..
Keywords: Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Hospitalization, Hospitals
Suskind AM, Clemens JQ, Dunn RL
Effectiveness of mesh compared with nonmesh sling surgery in Medicare beneficiaries.
This study assessed the effectiveness of mesh compared to nonmesh slings in the surgical treatment of female incontinence. It found that overall rates of complications were similar for patients undergoing either mesh or nonmesh sling procedures. However, patients undergoing the nonmesh procedure were more likely to require a subsequent intervention for bladder outlet obstruction.
AHRQ-funded; HS018726.
Citation: Suskind AM, Clemens JQ, Dunn RL .
Effectiveness of mesh compared with nonmesh sling surgery in Medicare beneficiaries.
Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Sep;122(3):546-52. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31829e8543..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Elderly, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Surgery, Women, Outcomes, Medicare, Evidence-Based Practice
Beaubrun AC, Kanda E, Bond TC
Form CMS-2728 data versus erythropoietin claims data: implications for quality of care studies.
The purpose of this study was to compare predialysis erythropoietin-simulating agents (ESA) care reported on Form CMS-2728 with Medicare claims for ESA treatment submitted for patients 67 years and older at initiation of dialysis with Medicare as the primary payer. It found that the agreement between Form CMS-2728 and claims data is poor and discordant results are observed when comparing the use of these data sources to predict health outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Beaubrun AC, Kanda E, Bond TC .
Form CMS-2728 data versus erythropoietin claims data: implications for quality of care studies.
Ren Fail 2013;35(3):320-6. doi: 10.3109/0886022x.2012.747967..
Keywords: Medicare, Data, Elderly, Quality of Care, Kidney Disease and Health
Henke RM, Maeda JL, Marder WD
AHRQ Author: Friedman BS, Wong HS
Medicare and commercial inpatient resource use: impact of hospital competition.
The authors examined the influence of hospital competition on small-area inpatient resource use by payer. Using HCUP data, they found that policies or incentives that promote or encourage competition in less competitive markets may reduce variation in resource use for both Medicare and private payers.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290200600009C.
Citation: Henke RM, Maeda JL, Marder WD .
Medicare and commercial inpatient resource use: impact of hospital competition.
Am J Manag Care 2013 Jun;19(6):e238-48.
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Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitals, Medicare
Davidoff AJ, Weiss SR, Baer MR
AHRQ Author: Davidoff AJ
Patterns of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent use among Medicare beneficiaries with myelodysplastic syndromes and consistency with clinical guidelines.
The researchers used SEER registries data to assess population-based patterns of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) use relative to treatment guidelines. They found widespread use of ESA in Medicare beneficiaries with myelodysplastic syndromes.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Davidoff AJ, Weiss SR, Baer MR .
Patterns of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent use among Medicare beneficiaries with myelodysplastic syndromes and consistency with clinical guidelines.
Leuk Res 2013 Jun;37(6):675-80. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2013.02.021.
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Keywords: Guidelines, Healthcare Utilization, Medicare, Practice Patterns, Registries