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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedMaeda JL, Mosher Henke R, Marder WD
AHRQ Author: Karaca Z, Friedman BS, Wong HS
Variation in hospital inpatient prices across small geographic areas.
The authors examined whether market competition may influence the difference in the inpatient price per discharge between public and private payers across small geographic areas. They found greater geographic variation in the inpatient price per discharge among private than public payers for most hospital services, while hospitals in more concentrated markets were associated with a higher price per discharge among knee arthroplasty discharges for both payers. They concluded that hospitals charged significantly higher prices to private than public payers.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290200600009C.
Citation: Maeda JL, Mosher Henke R, Marder WD .
Variation in hospital inpatient prices across small geographic areas.
Am J Manag Care 2014 Nov;20(11):907-16.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Orthopedics, Surgery
Parmar AD, Coutin MD, Vargas GM
Cost-effectiveness of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus observation in older patients presenting with mild biliary disease.
The objective was to determine the threshold for probability of recurrent symptoms at which elective cholecystectomy became the most effective and cost-effective options for older patients with mild biliary disease. This procedure was more effective than observation when the probability of continued symptoms exceeded 45.3 percent; when the probability exceeded 82.7 percent, the procedure became more cost-effective as well.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134
Citation: Parmar AD, Coutin MD, Vargas GM .
Cost-effectiveness of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus observation in older patients presenting with mild biliary disease.
J Gastrointest Surg. 2014 Sep;18(9):1616-22. doi: 10.1007/s11605-014-2570-9..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Healthcare Costs, Elderly, Surgery
Hockenberry JM, Helmchen LA
The nature of surgeon human capital depreciation.
The authors estimated how temporal breaks affect surgeons' performance of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). They found that a surgeon's additional day away from the operating room raised patients' inpatient mortality by up to 0.067 percentage points but reduced total hospitalization costs by up to 0.59 percentage points, and among emergent patients treated by high-volume providers, an additional day away raised mortality risk by 0.398 percentage points but reduced cost by up to 1.4 percentage points. They concluded that their results are consistent with the hypothesis that as temporal distance increases, surgeons are less likely to recognize and address life-threatening complications.
AHRQ-funded; HS019743.
Citation: Hockenberry JM, Helmchen LA .
The nature of surgeon human capital depreciation.
J Health Econ 2014 Sep;37:70-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2014.06.001.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Mortality, Provider Performance, Surgery
Martin BI, Franklin GM, Deyo RA
How do coverage policies influence practice patterns, safety, and cost of initial lumbar fusion surgery? A population-based comparison of workers' compensation systems.
In response to increasing use of lumbar fusion for improving back pain, despite unclear efficacy, particularly among injured workers, this study compared the use of complex fusion techniques, adverse outcomes within 3 months, and costs for California and Washington State with workers’ compensation policies that differed in their coverage restrictions. The researchers found that California’s broader coverage policy was associated with more aggressive practice, higher rates of reoperation, readmission and other complications.
AHRQ-funded; HS018405
Citation: Martin BI, Franklin GM, Deyo RA .
How do coverage policies influence practice patterns, safety, and cost of initial lumbar fusion surgery? A population-based comparison of workers' compensation systems.
Spine J. 2014 Jul;14(7):1237-46. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2013.08..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Surgery, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization
Schweizer ML, Cullen JJ, Perencevich EN
Costs associated with surgical site infections in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
This study evaluated surgical site infections(SSIs) in 1,756 Veterans Administration patients to determine the excess costs associated with total, deep, and superficial SSIs. It found that the highest risk-adjusted costs occurred with deep SSIs and SSIs associated with neurosurgery patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS021992
Citation: Schweizer ML, Cullen JJ, Perencevich EN .
Costs associated with surgical site infections in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
JAMA Surg. 2014 Jun;149(6):575-581. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2013.4663..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Healthcare Costs