National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Access to Care (5)
- Adverse Events (2)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (5)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (1)
- Arthritis (1)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (4)
- Cancer (11)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (2)
- Cancer: Ovarian Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (2)
- Caregiving (1)
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) (1)
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (1)
- Children/Adolescents (7)
- Chronic Conditions (3)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (1)
- Colonoscopy (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (2)
- Critical Care (1)
- Data (2)
- Dental and Oral Health (2)
- Depression (1)
- Diabetes (6)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Disparities (6)
- Elderly (5)
- Emergency Department (6)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (2)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Eye Disease and Health (2)
- Family Health and History (1)
- Genetics (2)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (1)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (3)
- (-) Healthcare Costs (96)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (3)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (2)
- Health Insurance (19)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (5)
- Health Status (1)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Hepatitis (1)
- Home Healthcare (1)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Hospitalization (5)
- Hospital Readmissions (2)
- Hospitals (5)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (3)
- Imaging (1)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Influenza (2)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
- Inpatient Care (3)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (1)
- Labor and Delivery (1)
- Long-Term Care (1)
- Low-Income (3)
- Medicaid (4)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (11)
- Medicare (13)
- Medication (16)
- Mortality (3)
- Neurological Disorders (1)
- Nursing Homes (3)
- Obesity (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Orthopedics (1)
- Osteoporosis (1)
- Outcomes (2)
- Pain (1)
- Palliative Care (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (3)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (5)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (3)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Payment (5)
- Policy (10)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Pregnancy (1)
- Prevention (4)
- Primary Care (2)
- Provider: Health Personnel (1)
- Provider Performance (1)
- Public Health (1)
- Public Reporting (1)
- Quality Improvement (3)
- Quality of Care (3)
- Quality of Life (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (4)
- Rural Health (1)
- Screening (4)
- Shared Decision Making (3)
- Skin Conditions (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (2)
- Substance Abuse (1)
- Surgery (5)
- Telehealth (1)
- Treatments (4)
- Uninsured (2)
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (1)
- Vaccination (4)
- Women (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
76 to 96 of 96 Research Studies DisplayedLee BY, Bartsch SM, Brown ST
Quantifying the economic value and quality of life impact of earlier influenza vaccination.
This study quantifies the potential benefits and cost-savings of vaccinating against influenza earlier than current practice. It found that, depending on the timing of the influenza season peak, influenza transmissibility, and preexisting immunity, vaccinating those who typically receive the vaccine later by the end of September could avert up to $3.7 million in direct costs, and $10.7 million in productivity losses.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Lee BY, Bartsch SM, Brown ST .
Quantifying the economic value and quality of life impact of earlier influenza vaccination.
Med Care 2015 Mar;53(3):218-29. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000302..
Keywords: Vaccination, Influenza, Healthcare Costs
Robinson JC, Brown T, Whaley C
Reference-based benefit design changes consumers' choices and employers' payments for ambulatory surgery.
The researchers analyzed the impact of reference-based benefit (RBB) designs on cataract surgery patients choice of less-expensive ambulatory surgery centers over more expensive hospital outpatient departments. Examining two groups of patients, one in plans incorporating RBB and the other in non-RBB plans, they found that the shift to RBB led to an 8.6 percent increase in ambulatory surgery centers as well as a 19.7 percent decrease in payments per procedure.
AHRQ-funded; HS022098
Citation: Robinson JC, Brown T, Whaley C .
Reference-based benefit design changes consumers' choices and employers' payments for ambulatory surgery.
Health Aff. 2015 Mar;34(3):415-22. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1198..
Keywords: Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Eye Disease and Health, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance
Siddiqui M, Roberts ET, Pollack CE
The effect of emergency department copayments for Medicaid beneficiaries following the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
This study evaluated the effect of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act allowing States to enforce emergency department (ED) copayments for nonurgent visits and on ED utilization among Medicaid beneficiaries. It found that granting States permission to collect copayments for nonurgent visits did not significantly change ED or outpatient medical provider use among Medicaid beneficiaries.
AHRQ-funded; HS019488
Citation: Siddiqui M, Roberts ET, Pollack CE .
The effect of emergency department copayments for Medicaid beneficiaries following the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Mar;175(3):393-8. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7582..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Medicaid, Healthcare Costs
Zhang Y, Baik SH, Newhouse JP
Use of intelligent assignment to Medicare Part D plans for people with schizophrenia could produce substantial savings.
The investigators simulated Medicare Part D savings from replacing random assignment with an "intelligent assignment" algorithm that would assign beneficiaries to the least expensive plan in 2010 based on their drug usage in the previous year. They found that intelligent assignment could have saved about $150 million for Medicare and beneficiaries with schizophrenia combined in 2010.
AHRQ-funded; HS018657.
Citation: Zhang Y, Baik SH, Newhouse JP .
Use of intelligent assignment to Medicare Part D plans for people with schizophrenia could produce substantial savings.
Health Aff 2015 Mar;34(3):455-60. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1227.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Medication, Behavioral Health
Dalton VK, Liang A, Hutton DW
Beyond usual care: the economic consequences of expanding treatment options in early pregnancy loss.
The objective of this study was to estimate the economic consequences of expanding options for early pregnancy loss treatment beyond expectant management and operating room surgical evacuation (usual care). It found that the cost per case was $241.29 lower for women undergoing treatment in the expanded care model as compared with the usual care model.
AHRQ-funded; HS015491.
Citation: Dalton VK, Liang A, Hutton DW .
Beyond usual care: the economic consequences of expanding treatment options in early pregnancy loss.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015 Feb;212(2):177.e1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.08.031..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Pregnancy, Treatments, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Galarraga JE, Mutter R, Pines JM
AHRQ Author: Mutter R
Costs associated with ambulatory care sensitive conditions across hospital-based settings.
The objective of this study was to identify the cost differences in payments and charges for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSC) visits in three different hospital-based settings: outpatient visits, ED visits, and inpatient admissions. After adjusting for patient demographics and comorbid conditions, charges for an inpatient ACSC visit were four times higher ($11,414 vs. $2,563) when compared to an ED visit.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Galarraga JE, Mutter R, Pines JM .
Costs associated with ambulatory care sensitive conditions across hospital-based settings.
Acad Emerg Med. 2015 Feb;22(2):172-81. doi: 10.1111/acem.12579..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Inpatient Care
Manski RJ, Moeller JF, Chen H
AHRQ Author: Manski RJ
Dental use and expenditures for older uninsured Americans: the simulated impact of expanded coverage.
The purpose of this paper is to empirically determine if insurance alone would close the current gaps in dental use and expenditures between insured and uninsured older Americans. Comparing simulated dental use and expenditures rates of newly insured persons against the corresponding rates for those previously insured, the authors found that it would close previous gaps in use and expense.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Manski RJ, Moeller JF, Chen H .
Dental use and expenditures for older uninsured Americans: the simulated impact of expanded coverage.
Health Serv Res. 2015 Feb;50(1):117-35. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12205..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Dental and Oral Health, Health Insurance, Elderly, Healthcare Costs
Spittel ML, Riley WT, Kaplan RM
AHRQ Author: Kaplan RM
Educational attainment and life expectancy: a perspective from the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.
This article is the introduction to a special issue of papers on the subject of educational attainment and life expectancy. The significance of this collection of research papers is that the findings offer new insights into the complex processes underlying the widely known, but poorly understood, association between higher educational attainment and better health status together with greater life expectancy.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Spittel ML, Riley WT, Kaplan RM .
Educational attainment and life expectancy: a perspective from the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.
Soc Sci Med. 2015 Feb;127:203-5. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.017..
Keywords: Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Health Status, Social Determinants of Health
Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Burke JF
Headaches and neuroimaging—reply.
The authors of this letter, replying to two letters commenting on their earlier article on headaches and neuroimaging, find that they all share the view that neuroimaging is overused in headache presentations. They also discuss the potential downsides of interventions to reduce use, the impact of medical malpractice on overuse of tests, and the lack of consensus in defining low-value tests.
AHRQ-funded; HS017690
Citation: Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Burke JF .
Headaches and neuroimaging—reply.
JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Feb;175(2):313-4. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7014..
Keywords: Neurological Disorders, Healthcare Costs, Chronic Conditions, Guidelines
Hill SC
AHRQ Author: Hill SC
Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would produce consumer savings and less financial burden than exchange coverage.
This study simulated potential differences in out-of-pocket spending for uninsured adults gaining eligibility for Marketplace coverage (silver plan) because their states have not used the provisions of the Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid. Compared with having a Marketplace silver plan, being able to take advantage to expanded Medicaid would reduce average out-of-pocket spending by more than 50 percent for these adults and their families.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hill SC .
Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would produce consumer savings and less financial burden than exchange coverage.
Health Aff. 2015 Feb;34(2):340-9. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1058..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Policy, Low-Income, Medicaid, Uninsured
Turrentine FE, Denlinger CE, Simpson VB
Morbidity, mortality, cost, and survival estimates of gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks.
The aims of this study were to examine the incidence of anastomotic leaks, a potentially deadly postoperative occurrence following gastrointestinal surgery, to identify risk factors predictive of leaks, and to explore the impact of anastomotic leaks on hospital cost and patient survival. The study demonstrates that anastomotic leaks remain a major source of increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital resource use for gastrointestinal surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS011913.
Citation: Turrentine FE, Denlinger CE, Simpson VB .
Morbidity, mortality, cost, and survival estimates of gastrointestinal anastomotic leaks.
J Am Coll Surg 2015 Feb;220(2):195-206. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2014.11.002..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Surgery, Mortality, Healthcare Costs, Adverse Events
Guy GP, Machlin SR, Ekwueme DU
AHRQ Author: Machlin SR
Prevalence and costs of skin cancer treatment in the U.S., 2002-2006 and 2007-2011.
This study examines trends in the treated prevalence and treatment costs of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers. It found that the average annual number of adults treated for any skin cancer (NMSC or melanoma) increased from 3.4 to 4.9 million between 2002-2006 and 2007-2011. In the same period, the average annual total cost for skin cancer increased by 126.2 percent, from $3.6 billion to $8.1 billion.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Guy GP, Machlin SR, Ekwueme DU .
Prevalence and costs of skin cancer treatment in the U.S., 2002-2006 and 2007-2011.
Am J Prev Med 2015 Feb;48(2):183-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.08.036..
Keywords: Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Bartsch SM, Gorham K, Lee BY
The cost of an Ebola case.
The researchers developed a mathematical model to estimate the cost of an Ebola virus disease (EVD) case from the provider and societal perspectives in the three most affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Their model estimates the total societal cost of an EVD case with full recovery ranges from $480 to $912, while that of an EVD case not surviving ranges from $5,929 to $18,929, varying by age and country.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Bartsch SM, Gorham K, Lee BY .
The cost of an Ebola case.
Pathog Glob Health 2015 Feb;109(1):4-9. doi: 10.1179/2047773214y.0000000169..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Mortality, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
van Hasselt M, McCall N, Keyes V
Total cost of care lower among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries receiving care from patient-centered medical homes.
The authors compared health care utilization and payments between NCQA-recognized patient-centered medical home (PCMH) practices and practices without such recognition. They found that, relative to the comparison group, total Medicare payments, acute care payments, and the number of emergency room visits declined after practices received NCQA PCMH recognition. The decline was larger for practices with sicker than average patients, primary care practices, and solo practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: van Hasselt M, McCall N, Keyes V .
Total cost of care lower among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries receiving care from patient-centered medical homes.
Health Serv Res 2015 Feb;50(1):253-72. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12217.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Pershing S, Pal Chee C, Asch SM
Treating age-related macular degeneration: comparing the use of two drugs among Medicare and Veterans Affairs populations.
The researchers examined the diffusion of new biologics ranibizumab and bevacizumab, both for the treatment of macular degeneration but differing in price, in fee-for-service Medicare and Veterans Affairs (VA) systems during 2005-11, in part to assess the impact that differing financial incentives had on prescribing. Their analysis indicated that there are opportunities in both the VA and Medicare to adopt more value-conscious treatment patterns and that multiple mechanisms exist to influence utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS018434.
Citation: Pershing S, Pal Chee C, Asch SM .
Treating age-related macular degeneration: comparing the use of two drugs among Medicare and Veterans Affairs populations.
Health Aff 2015 Feb;34(2):229-38. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1032.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Eye Disease and Health, Medicare, Medication
Kim DD, Hutton DW, Raouf AA
Cost-effectiveness model for hepatitis C screening and treatment: Implications for Egypt and other countries with high prevalence.
The researchers examined the cost-effectiveness of screening and treatment for HCV infection for asymptomatic, average-risk adults using a Markov decision analytic model. They found that, in Egypt, implementing a screening program using triple-therapy treatment (sofosbuvir with pegylated interferon and ribavirin) was dominant compared with no screening because it would have lower total costs and improve health outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Kim DD, Hutton DW, Raouf AA .
Cost-effectiveness model for hepatitis C screening and treatment: Implications for Egypt and other countries with high prevalence.
Glob Public Health 2015;10(3):296-317. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2014.984742..
Keywords: Hepatitis, Screening, Healthcare Costs, Medication
Jackson H, Mandell K, Johnson K
Cost-effectiveness of injectable extended-release naltrexone compared with methadone maintenance and buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.
The authors estimated the cost-effectiveness of injectable extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) compared with methadone maintenance and buprenorphine maintenance treatment for adult males enrolled in treatment for opioid dependence in the United States from the perspective of state-level addiction treatment payers. They found that XR-NTX is a cost-effective medication for treating opioid dependence if state addiction treatment payers are willing to pay at least $72 per opioid-free day.
AHRQ-funded; HS000083.
Citation: Jackson H, Mandell K, Johnson K .
Cost-effectiveness of injectable extended-release naltrexone compared with methadone maintenance and buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.
Subst Abus 2015;36(2):226-31. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1010031.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medication, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Treatments
Scott JW, Sommers BD, Tsai TC
Dependent coverage provision led to uneven insurance gains and unchanged mortality rates in young adult trauma patients.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows young adults to remain covered under their parents’ plans until age 26. This study conducted a difference-in-differences analysis of coverage rates among trauma patients ages 19-25 (compared to patients ages 26 to 34) and examined trauma-relevant outcomes. It found a 3.4 percent decrease in uninsurance status among younger trauma patients following the ACA policy change.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055
Citation: Scott JW, Sommers BD, Tsai TC .
Dependent coverage provision led to uneven insurance gains and unchanged mortality rates in young adult trauma patients.
Health Aff. 2015 Jan;34(1):125-33. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0880..
Keywords: Access to Care, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Outcomes
Prosser LA, Lamarand K, Gebremariam A
Measuring family HRQoL spillover effects using direct health utility assessment.
The researchers evaluated the loss in health-related quality of life of having a family member with a chronic illness by condition and relationship type. They found that the effects of illness extend beyond the individual patient to include effects on caregivers of patients, parents of ill children, spouses, and other close family and household members. They recommended that cost-effectiveness analyses consider the inclusion of health-related quality of life spillover effects in addition to caregiving time costs incurred by family members of ill individuals.
AHRQ-funded; HS014010.
Citation: Prosser LA, Lamarand K, Gebremariam A .
Measuring family HRQoL spillover effects using direct health utility assessment.
Med Decis Making 2015 Jan;35(1):81-93. doi: 10.1177/0272989x14541328.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Chronic Conditions, Family Health and History, Healthcare Costs, Quality of Life
Chung S, Lesser LI, Lauderdale DS
Medicare annual preventive care visits: use increased among fee-for-service patients, but many do not participate.
The researchers find that, following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act which expanded Medicare coverage to fully cover annual preventive care visits, the annual use of preventive visits among Medicare fee-for-service patients rose from 1.7 percent to 27.5 percent. However, the increased rates are still 10-20 percentage points lower than those with private or Medicare HMO coverage.
AHRQ-funded; HS019815
Citation: Chung S, Lesser LI, Lauderdale DS .
Medicare annual preventive care visits: use increased among fee-for-service patients, but many do not participate.
Health Aff. 2015 Jan;34(1):11-20. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0483..
Keywords: Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Prevention, Health Insurance
Dor A, Encinosa WE, Carey K
AHRQ Author: Encinosa WE
Medicare's Hospital Compare quality reports appear to have slowed price increases for two major procedures.
The researchers investigated whether public reporting of hospital quality, as done through Medicare’s public reporting initiative, Hospital Compare, has an impact on the pricing of hospital services for the privately insured. In their examination of 2 common and expensive procedures, coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous coronary intervention, they found that Hospital Compare exerted a downward pressure on prices in States lacking quality report cards of their own.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; HS023610
Citation: Dor A, Encinosa WE, Carey K .
Medicare's Hospital Compare quality reports appear to have slowed price increases for two major procedures.
Health Aff. 2015 Jan;34(1):71-7. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0263..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Quality of Care, Heart Disease and Health, Public Reporting, Surgery