National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedGraves JA, Nshuti L, Everson J
Breadth and exclusivity of hospital and physician networks in US insurance markets.
The goal of this study was to quantify network breadth and overlap among primary care physician (PCP), cardiology, and general acute care hospital networks for employer-based (large group and small group), individually purchased (marketplace), Medicare Advantage (MA), and Medicaid managed care (MMC) plans. The main outcomes measured were percentage of in-network physicians and/or hospitals within a 60-minute drive from a hypothetical patient in a given zip code (breadth), and the number of physicians and/or hospitals within each network that overlapped with other insurers' networks, expressed as a percentage of the total possible number of shared connections (exclusivity). Networks were categorized by network breadth size and analyzed by insurance type, state, and insurance, physician, and/or hospital market concentration level, as measured by the Hirschman-Herfindahl index. Markets with concentrated primary care and insurance markets had the broadest and least exclusive primary care networks among large-group commercial plans. Markets with the least concentration had the narrowest and most exclusive networks. Rising levels of insurer and market concentration were associated with broader and less exclusive healthcare networks. The authors suggest that this means that patients could switch to a lower-cost, narrow network plan without losing-in-network coverage to their PCP.
AHRQ-funded; HS025976; HS026395.
Citation: Graves JA, Nshuti L, Everson J .
Breadth and exclusivity of hospital and physician networks in US insurance markets.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2029419. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.29419..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Learning Health Systems, Health Systems, Primary Care, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery
Zhou RA, Beaulieu ND, Cutler D
Primary care quality and cost for privately insured patients in and out of US health systems: evidence from four states.
The purpose of this study was to characterize physician health system membership in four states between 2012 and 2016 and to compare primary care quality and cost between in-system providers and non-system providers for the commercially insured population. Investigators concluded that a growing share of physicians were part of a health system from 2012 to 2016.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Zhou RA, Beaulieu ND, Cutler D .
Primary care quality and cost for privately insured patients in and out of US health systems: evidence from four states.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(Suppl 3):1098-106. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13590.
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Keywords: Primary Care, Quality of Care, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs
Soylu TG, Goldberg DG, Cuellar AE
Medicare access and CHIP reauthorization act in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
Despite major efforts to transition to a new physician payment system under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), little is known about how well practices are prepared. This study aimed to understand how small and medium-sized primary care practices in the Heart of Virginia Healthcare (https://www.vahealthinnovation.org/hvh/) perceived their quality incentives under MACRA.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Soylu TG, Goldberg DG, Cuellar AE .
Medicare access and CHIP reauthorization act in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 Nov-Dec;33(6):942-52. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200142..
Keywords: Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, Primary Care, Health Insurance
Melnikow J, Evans E, Xing G
Primary care access to new patient appointments for California Medicaid enrollees: a simulated patient study.
Investigators evaluated variation in the availability of primary care new patient appointments for Medi-Cal (California Medicaid) enrollees in Northern California and its relationship to emergency department (ED) use after Medicaid expansion. Data from the California Health Interview Survey, Medi-Cal enrollment reports, and California hospital discharge records were used. The investigators found that access to primary care in Northern California was limited for new patient Medi-Cal enrollees and varied across counties, despite standard statewide reimbursement rates. Further, counties with more limited access to primary care new patient appointments had higher ED use by Medi-Cal enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS022236.
Citation: Melnikow J, Evans E, Xing G .
Primary care access to new patient appointments for California Medicaid enrollees: a simulated patient study.
Ann Fam Med 2020 May;18(3):210-17. doi: 10.1370/afm.2502..
Keywords: Primary Care, Access to Care, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization
Lin SC, Yan PL, Moloci NM
Out-of-network primary care is associated with higher per beneficiary spending in Medicare ACOs.
Despite expectations that Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) would curb health care spending, their effect has been modest. One possible explanation is that ACOs' inability to prohibit out-of-network care limits their control over spending. To examine this possibility, the investigators evaluated the association between out-of-network care and per beneficiary spending using national Medicare data for 2012-15.
AHRQ-funded; HS024728; HS024525; HS025165; HS025875.
Citation: Lin SC, Yan PL, Moloci NM .
Out-of-network primary care is associated with higher per beneficiary spending in Medicare ACOs.
Health Aff 2020 Feb;39(2):310-18. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00181..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Primary Care, Medicare, Health Insurance