National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- (-) Access to Care (10)
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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 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedMaclean JC, McClellan C, Pesko MF
AHRQ Author: McClellan C
Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services and behavioral health outcomes.
This AHRQ-authored research studied the effects of changing Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services on behavioral health outcomes-defined here as mental illness and substance use disorders. The authors applied two-way fixed-effects regressions to survey data specifically designed to measure behavioral health outcomes over the period 2010-2016. They found that higher primary care reimbursement rates reduce mental illness and substance use disorders among non-elderly adult Medicaid enrollees, although they interpreted findings for substance use disorders with some caution as they may be vulnerable to differential pre-trends. Overall, their findings suggest positive spillovers from a policy designed to target primary care services to behavioral health outcomes.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Maclean JC, McClellan C, Pesko MF .
Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services and behavioral health outcomes.
Health Econ 2023 Jan 6;32(4):873-909. doi: 10.1002/hec.4646.
Keywords: Medicaid, Payment, Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Outcomes, Access to Care, Substance Abuse, Health Insurance
Meiselbach MK, Drake C, Saloner B
Medicaid managed care: access to primary care providers who prescribe buprenorphine.
This study examined variation in access to in-network buprenorphine-prescribing primary care providers that can treat opioid use disorder among Medicaid managed care enrollees. Approximately 32.2% of Medicaid enrollees had fewer than one in-network network buprenorphine-prescribing primary care providers per 100,000 county residents. There was on average a greater number of in-network buprenorphine-prescribing primary care providers in states with higher compared with lower overdose death rates, but most enrollees lived in areas with a shortage of these providers. The authors found that a 25 percent higher network participation rate by prescribers compared with nonprescribers could improve the probability that enrollees see a prescriber by approximately 25 percent.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Meiselbach MK, Drake C, Saloner B .
Medicaid managed care: access to primary care providers who prescribe buprenorphine.
Health Aff 2022 Jun;41(6):901-10. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01719..
Keywords: Medicaid, Primary Care, Access to Care, Medication, Care Management, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health
Lewis VA, Spivack S, Murray GF
FQHC designation and safety net patient revenue associated with primary care practice capabilities for access and quality.
Researchers assessed capabilities around access to and quality of care among primary care practices serving a high share of Medicaid and uninsured patients compared to practices serving a low share of these patients. Data from the National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems was analyzed. They found that federally qualified health centers were more likely than other types of primary care practices (both safety net practices and other practices) to possess capabilities related to access and quality. However, safety net practices were less likely than non-safety net practices to possess health information technology capabilities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: Lewis VA, Spivack S, Murray GF .
FQHC designation and safety net patient revenue associated with primary care practice capabilities for access and quality.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Oct;36(10):2922-28. doi: 10.1007/s11606-021-06746-0..
Keywords: Vulnerable Populations, Primary Care, Access to Care, Uninsured, Medicaid, Quality of Care
Fung V, McCarthy S, Price M
Payment discrepancies and access to primary care physicians for dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries.
This study examined whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) primary care fee bump for dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries impacted primary care physicians (PCP) acceptance of duals. The authors assessed differences in the likelihood that PCPs had dual caseloads of ≥10% or 20% in states with lower versus full dual reimbursement using linear probability models adjusted for physician and area-level traits. The proportion of PCPs with dual caseloads of ≥10% or 20% decreased significantly between 2012 and 2017. The fee bump was not consistently associated with increases in dual caseloads.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation: Fung V, McCarthy S, Price M .
Payment discrepancies and access to primary care physicians for dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries.
Med Care 2021 Jun;59(6):487-94. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001525..
Keywords: Primary Care, Medicaid, Medicare, Health Insurance, Payment, Access to Care
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
Cochran G, Cole ES, Warwick J
Rural access to MAT in Pennsylvania (RAMP): a hybrid implementation study protocol for medication assisted treatment adoption among rural primary care providers.
This paper reports the design and protocol of an implementation study seeking to advance availability of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural Pennsylvania counties for patients insured by Medicaid in primary care settings. Results showed an urgent need in the US to expand access to high quality, evidence-based OUD treatment, particularly in rural areas where capacity is limited for service delivery, in order to improve patient health and protect lives. Further, results of this study will provide needed evidence in the field for appropriate methods for implementing MAT among a large number of rural primary care providers.
AHRQ-funded; HS025072.
Citation: Cochran G, Cole ES, Warwick J .
Rural access to MAT in Pennsylvania (RAMP): a hybrid implementation study protocol for medication assisted treatment adoption among rural primary care providers.
Addict Sci Clin Pract 2019 Aug 1;14(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s13722-019-0154-4..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Rural Health, Medication, Access to Care, Implementation, Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Medicaid
Cole ES, DiDomenico E, Cochran G
The role of primary care in improving access to medication-assisted treatment for rural Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder.
The authors examined the degree to which rural residents with opioid use disorder (OUD) are engaged with primary care providers (PCPs); they also described the role of rural PCPs in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) delivery, and estimated the association between enrollee distance to MAT prescribers and MAT utilization. They concluded that PCP utilization among rural Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with OUD is high, presenting a potential intervention point to treat OUD, particularly if the enrollee's PCP is located nearer than their MAT prescriber.
AHRQ-funded; HS025072.
Citation: Cole ES, DiDomenico E, Cochran G .
The role of primary care in improving access to medication-assisted treatment for rural Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder.
J Gen Intern Med 2019 Jun;34(6):936-43. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-04943-6..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Rural Health, Medication, Access to Care, Implementation, Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Medicaid
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH, Hill SC
AHRQ Author: Biener AI, Zuvekas SH, Hill SC
Impact of recent Medicaid expansions on office-based primary care and specialty care among the newly eligible.
The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of Medicaid expansions on office-based care among the newly eligible. The investigators concluded that State Medicaid expansions in 2014 were associated with greater likelihoods of visits with a variety of office-based providers. The estimated effects were larger among newly eligible compared with previous estimates on broader populations of low-income adults.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Biener AI, Zuvekas SH, Hill SC .
Impact of recent Medicaid expansions on office-based primary care and specialty care among the newly eligible.
Health Serv Res 2018 Aug;53(4):2426-45. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12793.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Primary Care
Cole MB, Wright B, Wilson IB
Medicaid expansion and community health centers: care quality and service use increased for rural patients.
Investigators studied the impact of Medicaid expansion in rural areas. Data from 2011-2015 found that there was an 11.4% decline in uninsured patients and a 13.5% increase in Medicaid patients at community health centers (CHCs). Relative improvements were shown in patients with chronic conditions such as asthma and hypertension; and an increase in visits for mammograms and substance abuse disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS024652.
Citation: Cole MB, Wright B, Wilson IB .
Medicaid expansion and community health centers: care quality and service use increased for rural patients.
Health Aff 2018 Jun;37(6):900-07. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1542..
Keywords: Medicaid, Community-Based Practice, Rural Health, Access to Care, Quality of Care, Healthcare Utilization, Primary Care
Angier H, Hoopes M, Gold R
An early look at rates of uninsured safety net clinic visits after the Affordable Care Act.
The researchers tested the hypothesis that rates of uninsured safety net clinic visits would significantly decrease in states that implemented Medicaid expansion, compared with states that did not. They found that, overall, clinics in the expansion states had a 40% decrease in the rate of uninsured visits in the postexpansion period and a 36% increase in the rate of Medicaid-covered visits, while clinics in the nonexpansion states had a significant 16% decline in the rate of uninsured visits but no change in the rate of Medicaid-covered visits. They concluded that their findings suggest that Affordable Care Act-related Medicaid expansions have successfully decreased the number of uninsured safety net patients in the United States.
AHRQ-funded; HS021522.
Citation: Angier H, Hoopes M, Gold R .
An early look at rates of uninsured safety net clinic visits after the Affordable Care Act.
Ann Fam Med 2015 Jan-Feb;13(1):10-6. doi: 10.1370/afm.1741.
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Keywords: Uninsured, Community-Based Practice, Primary Care, Medicaid, Access to Care