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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 12 of 12 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
Eliason Gordon, Gordon SH
The association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services: evidence from Colorado.
This study assessed the association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services. The authors used data from the 2018-2019 Colorado Health eMoms survey, which sampled mothers from the 2018 birth certificate files at 3-6 months and 12-14 months postpartum. Respondents were classified at each time point as stably insured or unstable insured based on postpartum insurance status. Of respondents with public coverage at childbirth, 33.2% experienced postpartum insurance changes compared with 9.5% with private coverage. Respondents were more likely to experience unstable postpartum insurance if they were younger, had incomes of less than $50,000, and were of Hispanic ethnicity. Respondents who experienced postpartum insurance instability had lower odds of reporting that they discussed mental health at a postpartum check-up and received postpartum mental health services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Eliason Gordon, Gordon SH .
The association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services: evidence from Colorado.
Womens Health Issues 2022 Nov-Dec;32(6):550-56. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.06.010..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Access to Care, Women, Behavioral Health, Health Insurance
Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
The authors examined changes in carve-out financial requirements following the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). They found that the MHPAEA was associated with increased generosity in most observed financial requirements, but increased use of deductibles may have reduced generosity for some patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024866.
Citation: Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F .
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(6):924-31. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13542..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Benson NM, Myong C, Newhouse JP
Psychiatrist participation in private health insurance markets: paucity in the land of plenty.
Using 2013 Massachusetts licensing data and the All-Payer Claims Database, researchers performed a cross-sectional analysis of licensed psychiatrists in Massachusetts to examine the extent of participation in private insurance. They found that, among Massachusetts psychiatrists, participation in the private insurance market appeared to be limited. Older psychiatrists were more likely to participate, and patients' access to psychiatrists who accept insurance could worsen as these psychiatrists retire.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation: Benson NM, Myong C, Newhouse JP .
Psychiatrist participation in private health insurance markets: paucity in the land of plenty.
Psychiatr Serv 2020 Dec;71(12):1232-38. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000022..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Provider: Physician, Provider
Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM .
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
J Ment Health Policy Econ 2020 Sep 1;23(3):151-82..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Policy, Uninsured
Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
This study examined the impact of Medicare’s mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services, which was phased in from 2010 to 2014. The authors assessed whether the reduction in mental health cost sharing was associated with changes in specialty and primary care outpatient mental health visits and psychotropic medication fills. They compared people with Medicare and private insurance before and after implementation. Medicare beneficiaries’ use of psychotropic medication increased after implementation but there was not a detectable change in visits.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH .
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
Health Aff 2020 May;39(5):819-27. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01008..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicare, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Policy, Health Insurance, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Peterson E, Busch S
Achieving mental health and substance use disorder treatment parity: a quarter century of policy making and research.
This article reviews the history and measures benefits from the 2008 passing of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). It led to significant improvements in mental health care coverage. Directions for future research are also discussed.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Peterson E, Busch S .
Achieving mental health and substance use disorder treatment parity: a quarter century of policy making and research.
Annu Rev Public Health 2018 Apr 1;39:421-35. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-013603..
Keywords: Access to Care, Behavioral Health, Disparities, Health Insurance, Policy, Substance Abuse
Fry CE, Sommers BD
Effect of Medicaid expansion on health insurance coverage and access to care among adults with depression.
This quasi-experimental study sought to determine the relationship between Medicaid expansion and various health and financial outcomes among low-income adults with depression. The investigators found that Medicaid expansion was associated with a significant reduction in the proportion of adults with depression who lacked health insurance. Medicaid expansion was also associated with significant reductions in delaying care and medications because of cost.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Fry CE, Sommers BD .
Effect of Medicaid expansion on health insurance coverage and access to care among adults with depression.
Psychiatr Serv 2018 Nov;69(11):1146-52. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800181..
Keywords: Access to Care, Depression, Health Insurance, Medicaid, Behavioral Health
Andrews CM, Grogan CM, Smith BT
Medicaid benefits for addiction treatment expanded after implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
This study looked at the effects the Affordable Care Act (ACA) had on Medicaid benefits for addiction treatment. The ACA established a minimum standard of benefits and required state Medicaid programs to make changes to their treatment benefits. Researchers surveyed all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2014 and 2017 when the ACA requirements came into effect. There was a substantial increase in benefits with a decrease in annual service limits of over 50 percent. There was a large reduction in preauthorization requirements for medications to treat opioid use disorder as well as other reductions in preauthorizations.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Andrews CM, Grogan CM, Smith BT .
Medicaid benefits for addiction treatment expanded after implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Health Aff 2018 Aug;37(8):1216-22. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0272..
Keywords: Access to Care, Behavioral Health, Health Insurance, Medicaid, Policy, Substance Abuse
Thalmayer AG, Friedman SA, Azocar F
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) evaluation study: impact on quantitative treatment limits.
This study assessed Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act’s (MHPAEA) effect on the prevalence of behavioral health quantitative treatment limits (QTLs). It concluded that, before MHPAEA, QTLs were common. Postimplementation, virtually all plans dropped such limits, suggesting that MHPAEA was effective at eliminating QTLs.
AHRQ-funded; HS024866.
Citation: Thalmayer AG, Friedman SA, Azocar F .
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) evaluation study: impact on quantitative treatment limits.
Psychiatr Serv 2017 May;68(5):435-42. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600110.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Health Insurance, Policy, Behavioral Health
Creedon TB, Cook BL
Access to mental health care increased but not for substance use, while disparities remain.
The researchers assessed whether early implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion and state health insurance exchanges increased access to mental health and substance use treatment among those in need and whether these changes differed by racial/ethnic group. They found that mental health treatment rates increased significantly but found no evidence of a reduction in the wide racial/ethnic disparities in mental health treatment that preceded ACA expansion from 2005 to 2013.
AHRQ-funded; HS021486.
Citation: Creedon TB, Cook BL .
Access to mental health care increased but not for substance use, while disparities remain.
Health Aff 2016 Jun;35(6):1017-21. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0098.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Health Insurance, Policy, Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse
Saloner B, Le Cook B
An ACA provision increased treatment for young adults with possible mental illnesses relative to comparison group.
The researchers examined the impact of the ACA dependent coverage provision on people ages 18-25 with possible mental health or substance use disorders. They found that after implementation of the ACA provision, among people ages 18-25 with possible mental health disorders, mental health treatment increased by 5.3 percentage points relative to a comparison group of similar people ages 26-35. For those using mental health treatment, uninsured visits declined by 12.4 percentage points, and visits paid by private insurance increased by 12.9 percentage points.
AHRQ-funded; HS021486.
Citation: Saloner B, Le Cook B .
An ACA provision increased treatment for young adults with possible mental illnesses relative to comparison group.
Health Aff 2014 Aug;33(8):1425-34. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0214.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Health Insurance, Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, Young Adults