National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Behavioral Health (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
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- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- (-) Elderly (17)
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- Quality of Care (2)
- Surgery (2)
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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 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedMcGarry BE, Mao Y, Nelson D
Hospital proximity and emergency department use among assisted living residents.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to explore the association between the distance of assisted living (AL) communities to the nearest hospital and AL residents' rates of emergency department (ED) utilization. The researchers hypothesized that when access to an ED is a shorter distance, AL-to-ED transfers are more common, especially for non-emergency conditions. The study found that among 540,944 resident-years from 16,514 AL communities, the median distance to the closest hospital was 2.5 miles. After statistical adjustment, a doubling of distance to the closest hospital was related with 43.5 fewer ED treat-and-release visits per 1000 resident years and no significant difference in the rate of ED visits resulting in an inpatient admission. Among ED treat-and-release visits, a doubling of distance was related with a 3.0% decrease in visits classified as nonemergent, and a 1.6% decrease in visits classified as emergent, not primary care treatable.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: McGarry BE, Mao Y, Nelson D .
Hospital proximity and emergency department use among assisted living residents.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023 Sep; 24(9):1349-55.e.5. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.05.002..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Hospitals
Arbaje AI, Woodman S, Keita Fakeye MB
Senior services in US hospitals and readmission risk or mortality among Medicare beneficiaries since the Affordable Care Act.
This study examined whether there was an association between readmission risk or mortality among Medicare beneficiaries and passage of the Affordable Care Act. The study updated the Senior Care Services Scale (SCSS) which describes hospital provision of older adult services before the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of older adults ≥65 years (n = 1,416,669), admitted to 2570 US acute-care hospitals from 2014 to 2015. Outcomes were hospital readmission, or death, within 30 and 90 days of discharge. The updated SCSS included three service groups: Inpatient Specialty Care, Post-Acute Community Care, and Home Care and Hospice. Older adults admitted to high Inpatient-Specialty-Care-scoring hospitals had lower risk of death within 30 days, and 90 days. There was no significant association between the other two groups and study outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022916.
Citation: Arbaje AI, Woodman S, Keita Fakeye MB .
Senior services in US hospitals and readmission risk or mortality among Medicare beneficiaries since the Affordable Care Act.
J Appl Gerontol 2023 Jul; 42(7):1424-32. doi: 10.1177/07334648231161925..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospitals, Hospital Readmissions, Medicare
Jacobs PD, Basu J
AHRQ Author: Jacobs PD, Basu J
Medicare Advantage and postdischarge quality: evidence from hospital readmissions.
This study compared relative readmission rates for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare (TM). HCUP State Inpatient Databases data for 4 states was used from 2009 and 2014. The outcome compared was the probability of a hospital readmission within 30 days of an index admission. There were significantly lower all-cause readmission rates among MA enrollees relative to those in TM in both 2009 and 2014, but MA enrollment was not associated with an increased reduction in readmission rates relative to TM during that time period.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Jacobs PD, Basu J .
Medicare Advantage and postdischarge quality: evidence from hospital readmissions.
Am J Manag Care 2020 Dec;26(12):524-29. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2020.88540..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Elderly, Medicare, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Quality of Care, Provider Performance
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
This study compared the effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) use versus skilled nursing facility (SNF) transfer after hospitalization. Medicare claims linked to electronic health record (EHR) data from six Texas hospitals between 2009 and 2010 were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients transferred to either an LTACH or SNF and followed for one year. Out of 3505 patients, 18% were transferred to an LTACH and overall were younger, less likely to be female, and white, but sicker than transfers to an SNF. Patients transferred to an LTACH were less likely to survive (59 vs. 65%) or recover (62.5 vs 66%). Adjusting for demographic and clinical confounders found in Medicare claims and EHR data, transfer location was not significantly associated with differences in mortality but was associated with greater Medicare spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME .
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Nov 11;20(1):1032. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05847-6..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Medicare, Transitions of Care, Nursing Homes, Hospitals
Ibrahim AM, Nuliyalu U, Lawton EJ
Evaluation of US hospital episode spending for acute inpatient conditions after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
This study evaluated the association between enactment of Affordable Care Act (ACA) reforms and 30-day price standardized hospital episode spending for Medicare patients. Reforms to reduce spending were targeted to acute care hospitals and often focused on specific diagnoses such as acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia. The policy evaluation included index discharges between January 2008 and August 31, 2015 from a random 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Three different estimation approaches were used to evaluate the association between reforms and episode spending: difference-in-difference (DID) analysis among acute care hospitals; a DID analysis comparing acute care hospitals and critical care hospitals; and a generalized synthetic control analysis, comparing acute care and critical access hospitals. A total of 7,634,242 index discharges were included. All 3 approaches found that ACA-associated spending reforms were associated with a significant reduction in episode spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728.
Citation: Ibrahim AM, Nuliyalu U, Lawton EJ .
Evaluation of US hospital episode spending for acute inpatient conditions after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2023926. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.23926..
Keywords: Elderly, Policy, Hospitals, Medicare, Healthcare Costs
Germack HD, Bizhanova Z, Roberts ET
Substantial hospital level variation in all-cause readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries with serious mental illness.
This study’s purpose was to examine the variation across hospitals in readmissions for patients with serious mental illness (SMI) and differences in the characteristics of hospitals with the highest and lowest readmission rates. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of pooled inpatient claims from 2013-2016. The 5% sample of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries included patients with SMI. The authors identified 2066 hospitals with at least 30 index admissions for Medicare beneficiaries with SMI. Factors most strongly associated with increased risk of readmission included substance use disorder and end stage renal disease. Hospital readmission rates ranged from 7.05% to 15.24%. Hospitals with the lowest adjusted readmission rates were more likely to be teaching hospitals and located in the South or Midwest.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Germack HD, Bizhanova Z, Roberts ET .
Substantial hospital level variation in all-cause readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries with serious mental illness.
Healthc 2020 Sep;8(3):100453. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2020.100453..
Keywords: Elderly, Behavioral Health, Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Hospitals, Hospitalization
Mueller S, Zheng J, Orav EJ
Inter-hospital transfer and patient outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.
Inter-hospital transfer (IHT, the transfer of patients between hospitals) occurs regularly and exposes patients to risks of discontinuity of care, though outcomes of transferred patients remains largely understudied. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the association between IHT and healthcare utilisation and clinical outcomes. The investigators concluded that IHT was associated with higher costs, longer LOS and lower odds of discharge home, but was differentially associated with odds of early death and 30 -day mortality depending on patients' disease category.
AHRQ-funded; HS023331.
Citation: Mueller S, Zheng J, Orav EJ .
Inter-hospital transfer and patient outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Nov;28(11):e1. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2018-008087..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Patient Safety, Elderly, Outcomes, Chronic Conditions, Mortality, Medicare
Bain AM, Werner RM, Yuan Y
Do hospitals participating in accountable care organizations discharge patients to higher quality nursing homes?
This study examined whether hospitals participating in Medicare's Shared Saving Program increased use of highly rated skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) or decreased the use of low-rated SNFs after initiation of accountable care organization (ACO) contracts, compared with non-ACO hospitals. The findings indicate that, after joining an ACO, the percentage of hospital discharges going to a high-quality SNF increased slightly; the probability of discharge from ACO-participating hospitals to low-quality SNFs did not change significantly in comparison with non-ACO hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266.
Citation: Bain AM, Werner RM, Yuan Y .
Do hospitals participating in accountable care organizations discharge patients to higher quality nursing homes?
J Hosp Med 2019 May;14(5):288-89. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3147..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Quality of Care
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Kirby B
Effect of site-neutral payment policy on long-term acute care hospital use.
The purpose of this study was to assess the projected effect of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services new site-neutral payment policy, which aims to decrease unnecessary long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) admissions by reducing reimbursements for less-ill individuals by 2020. The investigators concluded that the site-neutral payment policy may limit LTACH access in existing LTAC-scarce markets, with potential adverse implications for recovery of hospitalized older adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Kirby B .
Effect of site-neutral payment policy on long-term acute care hospital use.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2018 Nov;66(11):2104-11. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15539..
Keywords: Policy, Hospitalization, Payment, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Elderly, Hospitals
Desai NR, Ott LS, George EJ
Variation in and hospital characteristics associated with the value of care for Medicare beneficiaries with acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia.
The objectives of this study were to investigate the association between hospital-level 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates (RSMRs) and 30-day risk-standardized payments (RSPs) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), and pneumonia (PNA); to characterize patterns of value in care; and to identify hospital characteristics associated with high-value care (defined by having lower than median RSMRs and RSPs).
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: Desai NR, Ott LS, George EJ .
Variation in and hospital characteristics associated with the value of care for Medicare beneficiaries with acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia.
JAMA Netw Open 2018 Oct 5;1(6):e183519. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3519..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Elderly, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Heart Disease and Health, Inpatient Care, Medicare, Mortality, Pneumonia
Middleton A, Kuo YF, Graham JE
Readmission patterns over 90-day episodes of care among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged to post-acute care.
This retrospective cohort study’s objective was to examine readmission patterns over 90-day episodes of care in patients discharged from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Data was used from a national cohort of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged from SNF care from July 2013 to July 2014. The cohort studied were adults 65 years and older who were hospitalized for stroke, joint replacement, or hip fracture, and had survived 90 days post-discharge. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke were more likely than those with ischemic stroke to be rehospitalized over the first 30 days after discharge. For patients receiving nonelective joint replacements, readmissions increased from the 30 to 90-day period post-acute discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Middleton A, Kuo YF, Graham JE .
Readmission patterns over 90-day episodes of care among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged to post-acute care.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018 Oct;19(10):896-901. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.03.006..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Hospital Discharge, Medicare, Hospitals, Elderly
Blecker S, Herrin J, Kwon JY
Effect of hospital readmission reduction on patients at low, medium, and high risk of readmission in the Medicare population.
This study examined the effect of hospital readmission reduction on patients at low, medium, and high risk of readmission in Medicare beneficiaries. The researchers theorized that the hospitals could be filled with more high-risk patients. National data from January 2009 to June 2015 was used to examine 5 specialty cohorts. The readmission rate was 16.2% for unplanned readmission within 30 days. There was a higher risk of readmission for surgery/gynecology and neurology cohorts but no significant increase in predicted risk for hospitalizations in medicine, cardiovascular, or cardiorespiratory cohorts.
AHRQ-funded; HS023683; HS022882.
Citation: Blecker S, Herrin J, Kwon JY .
Effect of hospital readmission reduction on patients at low, medium, and high risk of readmission in the Medicare population.
J Hosp Med 2018 Aug;13(8):537-43. doi: 10.12788/jhm.2936..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Hospitals, Elderly, Hospitalization
Nathan H, Thumma JR, Norton EC
Strategies for reducing population surgical costs in Medicare: local referrals to low-cost hospitals.
An analysis was done of hospital cost variations for elective inpatient surgery in a small geographic area. Medicare payment data was used to calculate 30-day surgical episode costs for elderly patients undergoing 1 of 7 elective surgeries during 2010-2012. The highest and lowest cost hospitals were identified in their metropolitan statistical area. It was found that high-cost hospitals had higher complication and readmission rates than their lower-cost peers. Medicare expenditures at the high-cost hospitals were $4424 to $10,417 higher than the lowest-cost hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS024763.
Citation: Nathan H, Thumma JR, Norton EC .
Strategies for reducing population surgical costs in Medicare: local referrals to low-cost hospitals.
Ann Surg 2018 May;267(5):878-85. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002340..
Keywords: Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Hospitals, Medicare, Surgery
Middleton A, Downer B, Haas A
Functional status is associated with 30-day potentially preventable readmissions following skilled nursing facility discharge among Medicare beneficiaries.
This retrospective cohort study’s objective was to determine the association between patients’ functional status at discharge from skilled nursing facility (SNF) care and 30-day potentially preventable readmissions. Data was used from a national cohort of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged from SNF care from July 2013 to July 2014. The average age was 81.4 years, 67% were women, and 86.3% non-Hispanic white. Functional data used from the Minimum Data Set was self-care, mobility, and cognition domains. The overall rate of 30-day potentially preventable readmissions was 5.7%. The 5 most common conditions for readmissions were congestive heart failure, septicemia, urinary tract infection, bacterial pneumonia, and renal failure. Mobility was the most dependent category followed by self-care and cognition.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Middleton A, Downer B, Haas A .
Functional status is associated with 30-day potentially preventable readmissions following skilled nursing facility discharge among Medicare beneficiaries.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018 Apr;19(4):348-54.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.12.003..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Medicare, Elderly
Arbaje AI, Yu Q, Wang J J
Senior services in US hospitals and readmission risk in the Medicare population.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether hospitals' Senior Care Services Scale (SCSS) scores were associated with risk of readmission among Medicare beneficiaries. The study concluded that senior services at the hospital-level represented a modifiable risk factor with important impact. Employing organization-level characteristics in readmission risk prediction tools should be expanded.
AHRQ-funded; HS022916
Citation: Arbaje AI, Yu Q, Wang J J .
Senior services in US hospitals and readmission risk in the Medicare population.
Int J Qual Health Care 2017 Oct 1;29(6):845-52. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzx112..
Keywords: Elderly, Health Services Research (HSR), Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Medicare
Admon AJ, Wunsch H, Iwashyna TJ
Hospital contributions to variability in the use of ICUs among elderly Medicare recipients.
Hospitals vary widely in ICU admission rates across numerous medical diagnoses. In This retrospective cohort study examined the extent to which variability in ICU use is specific to individual diagnoses or is a function of the hospital, regardless of disease. The authors concluded that hospitals account for a significant proportion of variation independent of measured patient and hospital characteristics, suggesting the need for further work to evaluate the causes of variation at the hospital level and potential consequences of variation across hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS020672.
Citation: Admon AJ, Wunsch H, Iwashyna TJ .
Hospital contributions to variability in the use of ICUs among elderly Medicare recipients.
Crit Care Med 2017 Jan;45(1):75-84. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000002025..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Medicare
Chen LM, Norton EC, Banerjee M
Spending on care after surgery driven by choice of care settings instead of intensity of services.
The rising popularity of episode-based payment models for surgery underscores the need to better understand the drivers of variability in spending on postacute care. Examining postacute care spending for fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries the researchers found that it varied widely between hospitals in the lowest versus highest spending quintiles but the variation diminished considerably after adjustment for postacute care setting (home health care, outpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, or inpatient rehabilitation facility).
AHRQ-funded; HS020671.
Citation: Chen LM, Norton EC, Banerjee M .
Spending on care after surgery driven by choice of care settings instead of intensity of services.
Health Aff 2017 Jan;36(1):83-90. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0668.
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Keywords: Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Hospitals, Medicare, Surgery