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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.
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1 to 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedMoniz MH, Stout MJ, Kolenic GE
Association of childbirth with medical debt.
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between childbirth and having medical debt in collections and explored variations by neighborhood socioeconomic status. The study found that among a statewide cohort (n=26,717) of commercially insured pregnant and postpartum adults, having medical debt in collections was more likely among postpartum individuals compared with pregnant individuals and those in lowest-income neighborhoods compared with all others. Postpartum adults in the lowest-income neighborhoods also had the greatest predicted probabilities of having medical debt in collections, followed by pregnant adults in the lowest-income neighborhoods, followed by all other postpartum and pregnant adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Moniz MH, Stout MJ, Kolenic GE .
Association of childbirth with medical debt.
Obstet Gynecol 2024 Jan; 143(1):11-13. doi: 10.1097/aog.0000000000005381..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Women, Healthcare Costs
MacDougall H, Hanson S, Interrante JD
Rural-urban differences in health care unaffordability during the postpartum period.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore health care unaffordability for rural and urban residents and by postpartum status. The study found that postpartum people reported statistically significantly higher rates of inability to pay medical bills when compared with non-postpartum people. Rural residents also reported higher rates of inability to pay their medical bills and having problems paying medical bills as compared with urban residents. In adjusted models, the predicted probability of being unable to pay medical bills among postpartum respondents was 12.8%, which was higher than among non-postpartum respondents. Similarly, postpartum respondents had higher predicted probabilities of reporting problems paying medical bills (18.4%) than compared with non-postpartum respondents. IN adjusted models, residency in a rural area was not significantly related with the health care unaffordability outcome measures.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: MacDougall H, Hanson S, Interrante JD .
Rural-urban differences in health care unaffordability during the postpartum period.
Med Care 2023 Sep; 61(9):595-600. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001888..
Keywords: Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Maternal Care, Healthcare Costs, Women, Access to Care
Chua KP, Fendrick AM, Conti RM
Prevalence and magnitude of potential surprise bills for childbirth.
This research letter describes a cross-sectional study that examined surprise bills that are received for childbirths and newborn hospitalizations, and whether new legislation to protect families from surprise bills would have a benefit. The authors analyzed 2019 data from Optum’s deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart and identified families with an in-network delivery in 2019 that could be linked to 1 or more in-network newborn hospitalization that was covered by the same family plan. The analysis included 95,384 families, and of those 17,949 (18.8%) had 1 or more potential surprise bill for the delivery, newborn hospitalization(s), or both. The median total liability for potential surprise bills was $744 for 6417 families, with total liability exceeding $2000. Among 32,203, and 63,181 deliveries with and without 1 or more cesarean delivery, 6594 (20.5%) and 5597 (8.9%) had 1 or more potential surprise bill, with a median liability of $1825 respectively. For 5970 and 90,991 newborn hospitalizations with or without 1 or more neonatal intensive care claim, 15.5% and 8.9% had 1 or more potential surprise bill, with a median liability of $1282 and $262 respectively. While this study was limited by lack of information whether these families actually received surprise bills, the findings suggest that federal protections against surprise bills could benefit many families.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465.
Citation: Chua KP, Fendrick AM, Conti RM .
Prevalence and magnitude of potential surprise bills for childbirth.
JAMA Health Forum 2021 Jul; 2(7):e211460. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.1460..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Maternal Care, Newborns/Infants, Hospitalization
Moniz MH, Fendrick AM, Kolenic GE
Out-of-pocket spending for maternity care among women with employer-based insurance, 2008-15.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employer-based insurance plans to cover maternity services, but plans are allowed to impose cost sharing such as copayments and deductibles for these services. This study aimed to evaluate trends in cost sharing for maternity care among working women in employer-based plans, before and after the ACA. The investigators found that between 2008 and 2015, average out-of-pocket spending for maternity care rose among women with employer-based insurance. This increase was largely driven by increased spending among women with deductibles.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465; HS023784.
Citation: Moniz MH, Fendrick AM, Kolenic GE .
Out-of-pocket spending for maternity care among women with employer-based insurance, 2008-15.
Health Aff 2020 Jan;39(1):18-23. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00296..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Women, Maternal Care, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Policy
Mehra R, Cunningham SD, Lewis JB
Recommendations for the pilot expansion of Medicaid coverage for doulas in New York state.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Mehra R, Cunningham SD, Lewis JB .
Recommendations for the pilot expansion of Medicaid coverage for doulas in New York state.
Am J Public Health 2019 Feb;109(2):217-19. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2018.304797..
Keywords: Medicaid, Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Prevention, Women, Disparities