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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 25 of 25 Research Studies DisplayedHodgkin D, Moscarelli M, Rupp A
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
Mental health economics: bridging research, practice and policy.
The authors discuss the past and current work of the World Psychiatric Association Section on Mental Health Economics. They conclude with stating that The Section strives for excellence in mental health economics research and education to promote the mission and fulfill the goals of the World Psychiatric Association.
Citation: Hodgkin D, Moscarelli M, Rupp A .
Mental health economics: bridging research, practice and policy.
World Psychiatry 2020 Jun;19(2):258-59. doi: 10.1002/wps.20753..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR), Policy
Boudreaux M, Gangopadhyaya A, Long SK
AHRQ Author: Karaca Z
Using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for state health policy research.
Investigators describe the opportunities and challenges of using HCUP data to conduct state health policy research and to provide empirical examples of what can go wrong when using the national HCUP data inappropriately. Analyzing cesarean delivery rates, discharges per capita, and discharges by the payer, they found that state-level estimates are volatile and often provide misleading policy conclusions. They conclude that the Nationwide Inpatient Sample should not be used for state-level research and specified that AHRQ provides resources to assist analysts with state-specific studies using State Inpatient Database files.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Boudreaux M, Gangopadhyaya A, Long SK .
Using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for state health policy research.
Med Care 2019 Nov;57(11):855-60. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001196..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Policy, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Costs, Data, Research Methodologies
Markovitz AA, Hollingsworth JM, Ayanian JZ
Performance in the Medicare Shared Savings Program after accounting for nonrandom exit: an instrumental variable analysis.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) on spending and quality while accounting for clinicians' nonrandom exit. MSSP ACO participants were compared with control beneficiaries using adjusted longitudinal models that accounted for secular trends, market factors, and beneficiary characteristics. Results showed that, after adjustment for clinicians' nonrandom exit, the MSSP was not associated with improvements in spending or quality. Selection effects, including exit of high-cost clinicians, may drive estimates of savings in the MSSP.
AHRQ-funded; HS025615; HS024728; HS024525.
Citation: Markovitz AA, Hollingsworth JM, Ayanian JZ .
Performance in the Medicare Shared Savings Program after accounting for nonrandom exit: an instrumental variable analysis.
Ann Intern Med 2019 Jul 2;171(1):27-36. doi: 10.7326/m18-2539..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR), Medicare, Quality of Care
Aouad M, Brown TT, Whaley CM
Reference pricing: the case of screening colonoscopies.
In this study, the investigators studied the introduction of reference pricing to the California Public Employees' Retirement System. The investigators found a 10 percentage point increase in the share of patients using an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), leading to a $2300 to $1700 reduction in prices paid for patients who switched to ASCs. They indicated that their results suggested the use of ASCs had a causal effect on prices paid and had no negative effect on patient health outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022098.
Citation: Aouad M, Brown TT, Whaley CM .
Reference pricing: the case of screening colonoscopies.
J Health Econ 2019 May;65:246-59. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2019.03.002..
Keywords: Colonoscopy, Shared Decision Making, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Delivery, Screening
Ly DP, Cutler DM
Factors of U.S. hospitals associated with improved profit margins: an observational study.
The objectives of this study are to determine whether hospitals that became more profitable increased revenues or decreased costs more and to examine characteristics associated with improved financial performance over time. The study concluded that differential price increases have led to improved margins for some hospitals over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Ly DP, Cutler DM .
Factors of U.S. hospitals associated with improved profit margins: an observational study.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Jul;33(7):1020-27. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4347-4..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR), Hospitals
Xu X, Lee HC, Lin H
Hospital variation in cost of childbirth and contributing factors: a cross-sectional study.
The purpose of this study was to examine hospital variation in cost of childbirth hospitalizations and identify factors that contribute to the variation. The study concluded that cost of childbirth hospitalizations varied widely among hospitals in California. Institutional characteristics significantly contributed to this variation. Higher-cost hospitals did not have better outcomes, suggesting potential opportunities to enhance value in care.
AHRQ-funded; HS023801.
Citation: Xu X, Lee HC, Lin H .
Hospital variation in cost of childbirth and contributing factors: a cross-sectional study.
BJOG 2018 Jun;125(7):829-39. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.15007..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR), Hospitals, Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy
Springer R, Marino M, O'Malley JP
Oregon Medicaid Expenditures after the 2014 Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion: over-time differences among new, returning, and continuously insured enrollees.
This study assessed health care expenditures among Medicaid enrollees in the 24 months after Oregon's 2014 Medicaid expansions and examine whether expenditure patterns were different among the newly, returning, and continuously insured (CI). After initial increases, newly and returning insured (RI) outpatient expenditures dropped below CI. Expenditures for emergency department and dental services among the RI remained higher than among the newly insured.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation: Springer R, Marino M, O'Malley JP .
Oregon Medicaid Expenditures after the 2014 Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion: over-time differences among new, returning, and continuously insured enrollees.
Med Care 2018 May;56(5):394-402. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000907.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Policy, Health Services Research (HSR), Medicaid
de Montigny S, Adamson BJS, Masse BR
Projected effectiveness and added value of HIV vaccination campaigns in South Africa: a modeling study.
Sci Rep 2018 Apr 17;8(1):6066. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24268-4.
In this paper, the authors estimated the potential epidemiological and economic impact of HIV vaccine campaigns compared to continuous vaccination, assuming that vaccine efficacy was transient and dependent on immune response. The investigators concluded that results suggested a partially effective HIV vaccine would have substantial impact on the HIV epidemic in South Africa and offer good value if priced less than $105 for a five-dose series. They suggested that vaccination campaigns every two years may offer greater value for money than continuous vaccination reaching the same coverage level.
In this paper, the authors estimated the potential epidemiological and economic impact of HIV vaccine campaigns compared to continuous vaccination, assuming that vaccine efficacy was transient and dependent on immune response. The investigators concluded that results suggested a partially effective HIV vaccine would have substantial impact on the HIV epidemic in South Africa and offer good value if priced less than $105 for a five-dose series. They suggested that vaccination campaigns every two years may offer greater value for money than continuous vaccination reaching the same coverage level.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: de Montigny S, Adamson BJS, Masse BR .
Projected effectiveness and added value of HIV vaccination campaigns in South Africa: a modeling study.
Sci Rep 2018 Apr 17;8(1):6066. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24268-4..
Keywords: Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Costs, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Public Health, Vaccination
Alderwick H, Shortell SM, Briggs ADM
Can accountable care organisations really improve the English NHS? Lessons from the United States.
The authors summarize evidence on accountable care organizations in the US - including what they look like, their effect on the quality and cost of healthcare, and how they are redesigning care. Recognizing major differences in context, they offer lessons from the US experience for National Health Service policy makers as they consider the future of similar ventures in England.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241; HS024075.
Citation: Alderwick H, Shortell SM, Briggs ADM .
Can accountable care organisations really improve the English NHS? Lessons from the United States.
BMJ 2018 Mar 2;360:k921. doi: 10.1136/bmj.k921.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Quality of Care, Health Services Research (HSR), Policy
Dunn A, Grosse SD, Zuvekas SH
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
Adjusting health expenditures for inflation: a review of measures for health services research in the United States.
The authors provide guidance on selecting the most appropriate price index for adjusting health expenditures or costs for inflation. They find that the gross domestic product implicit price deflator or the overall Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index is preferable to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to adjust for general inflation, in most cases. The Personal Health Care (PHC) index or the PCE health-by-function index is generally preferred to adjust total medical expenditures for inflation.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Dunn A, Grosse SD, Zuvekas SH .
Adjusting health expenditures for inflation: a review of measures for health services research in the United States.
Health Serv Res 2018 Feb;53(1):175-96. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12612.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Friedman S, Xu H, Harwood JM
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act evaluation study: impact on specialty behavioral healthcare utilization and spending among enrollees with substance use disorders.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was associated with increased behavioral health expenditures and utilization among a population with substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses. The investigators found that MHPAEA was associated with modest increases in total, plan, and patient out-of-pocket spending and outpatient and inpatient utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS024866.
Citation: Friedman S, Xu H, Harwood JM .
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act evaluation study: impact on specialty behavioral healthcare utilization and spending among enrollees with substance use disorders.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2017 Sep;80:67-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2017.06.006..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Health Insurance, Policy, Health Services Research (HSR), Substance Abuse
Sinaiko AD, Landrum MB, Meyers DJ
Synthesis of research on patient-centered medical homes brings systematic differences into relief.
This study evaluated the impact of patient-centered medical home (PCMH) initiatives on utilization, cost, and quality, by conducting a meta-analysis of methodologically standardized findings from evaluations of eleven major PCMH initiatives. There was significant heterogeneity across individual evaluations in many outcomes. Across evaluations, PCMH initiatives were not associated with changes in the majority of outcomes studied, including primary care, emergency department, and inpatient visits and four quality measures.
AHRQ-funded; HS021385.
Citation: Sinaiko AD, Landrum MB, Meyers DJ .
Synthesis of research on patient-centered medical homes brings systematic differences into relief.
Health Aff 2017 Mar;36(3):500-08. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1235.
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Keywords: Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Costs
Yeung K, Basu A, Hansen RN
Impact of a value-based formulary on medication utilization, health services utilization, and expenditures.
The objective of the study was to determine the impact of the value-based formulary (VBF). It found that cost-sharing informed by cost-effectiveness analysis reduced overall medication expenditures without negatively impacting medication utilization, health services utilization, or nonmedication expenditures.
AHRQ-funded; HS023346.
Citation: Yeung K, Basu A, Hansen RN .
Impact of a value-based formulary on medication utilization, health services utilization, and expenditures.
Med Care 2017 Feb;55(2):191-98. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000630.
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Keywords: Medication, Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Haidari LA, Brown ST, Constenla D
The economic value of increasing geospatial access to tetanus toxoid immunization in Mozambique.
The researchers assessed how well tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization locations meet population demand in Mozambique. They found that TT immunization locations are not geographically accessible by a significant proportion of pregnant women, resulting in substantial healthcare and productivity costs that could potentially be averted by adding or reconfiguring TT immunization locations.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Haidari LA, Brown ST, Constenla D .
The economic value of increasing geospatial access to tetanus toxoid immunization in Mozambique.
Vaccine 2016 Jul 29;34(35):4161-65. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.06.065.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR), Pregnancy, Vaccination
Bernard D, Selden T, Yeh S
AHRQ Author: Bernard D, Selden T
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults: the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions.
The researchers examined the financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults, focusing on the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions. Functional limitations and chronic conditions were associated with increased prevalence of burdens and financial barriers in all insurance categories, with the exception that an association between functional limitations and the prevalence of burdens was not observed for public coverage.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Bernard D, Selden T, Yeh S .
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults: the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions.
Disabil Health J 2016 Apr;9(2):256-64. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.09.003.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Chronic Conditions, Access to Care, Health Services Research (HSR)
Sathe NA, Nocon RS, Hughes B
The costs of participating in a diabetes quality improvement collaborative: Variation among five clinics.
The costs over the first four years-from June 2009 through May 2013-of an ongoing diabetes Quality improvement collaborative were characterized by activities and over time. Cost/diabetic patient/year ranged across clinic sites from $6 (largest clinic) to $68 (smallest clinic).
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Sathe NA, Nocon RS, Hughes B .
The costs of participating in a diabetes quality improvement collaborative: Variation among five clinics.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2016 Jan;42(1):18-25..
Keywords: Diabetes, Quality Improvement, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Sathe NA, Nocon RS, Hughes B
The costs of participating in a diabetes quality improvement collaborative: Variation among five clinics.
The costs over the first four years-from June 2009 through May 2013-of an ongoing diabetes Quality improvement collaborative were characterized by activities and over time. Cost/diabetic patient/year ranged across clinic sites from $6 (largest clinic) to $68 (smallest clinic).
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Sathe NA, Nocon RS, Hughes B .
The costs of participating in a diabetes quality improvement collaborative: Variation among five clinics.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2016 Jan;42(1):18-25..
Keywords: Diabetes, Quality Improvement, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Kronick R, Casalino LP, Bindman AB
AHRQ Author: Kronick R
Apple pickers or federal judges: strong versus weak incentives in physician payment.
The authors provide an introduction for five papers commissioned by AHRQ focusing on incentives for physicians that are featured in this special issue of Health Services Research. These papers concentrate on suggesting a conceptual framework for the use of financial incentives in health care, key implications of the evidence to date on pay for performance and public reporting in health care and several related topics.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kronick R, Casalino LP, Bindman AB .
Apple pickers or federal judges: strong versus weak incentives in physician payment.
Health Serv Res 2015 Dec;50 Suppl 2:2049-56. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12424.
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Keywords: Payment, Provider Performance, Policy, Health Services Research (HSR), Quality of Care, Healthcare Costs, Quality Improvement
Kuo DZ, Hall M, Agrawal R
Comparison of health care spending and utilization among children with Medicaid insurance.
This study's objectives were to assess health care and spending among children with Medicaid insurance by their resource use. It found that as resource use increases in children with Medicaid, spending rises unevenly across health services: Spending on primary care rises modestly compared with other health services.
AHRQ-funded; HS023092.
Citation: Kuo DZ, Hall M, Agrawal R .
Comparison of health care spending and utilization among children with Medicaid insurance.
Pediatrics 2015 Dec;136(6):1521-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2015-0871.
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Keywords: Medicaid, Healthcare Utilization, Children/Adolescents, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Neprash HT, Wallace J, Chernew ME
Measuring prices in health care markets using commercial claims data.
The objective of this study was to compare methods of price measurement in health care markets. It concluded that market-level price measures reflecting broad sets of services are likely to rank markets similarly. Price indices relying on individual sentinel services may be more appropriate for examining specialty- or service-specific drivers of prices.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Neprash HT, Wallace J, Chernew ME .
Measuring prices in health care markets using commercial claims data.
Health Serv Res 2015 Dec;50(6):2037-47. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12304..
Keywords: Data, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Health Services Research (HSR)
Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
The authors explored individual-, psychosocial-, and community-level predictors of oral health status in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin Oral Health Screening project. Their results suggested that costs were a primary predictor of access to care and poor oral health status, underscoring the role that primary care, in conjunction with dental health care providers, could play in promoting oral health care, particularly in reducing barriers and promoting preventive health behaviors.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M .
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
Am J Public Health 2015 Jul;105 Suppl 3:S466-74. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302338.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Pallas SW, Khuat TH, Le QD
The changing donor landscape of health sector aid to Vietnam: a qualitative case study.
The study objective was to identify how donors and government agencies in Vietnam responded to donor proliferation in health sector aid between 1995 and 2012. The study concludes that central government and donor agencies in Vietnam responded to donor proliferation in health sector aid by endorsing aid effectiveness policies but implementing these policies inconsistently in practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Pallas SW, Khuat TH, Le QD .
The changing donor landscape of health sector aid to Vietnam: a qualitative case study.
Soc Sci Med 2015 May;132:165-72. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.027..
Keywords: Policy, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Costs
Mutter R, Stocks C
AHRQ Author: Stocks C
Using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) data for emergency medicine research.
This article mentions Kocher et al., elsewhere in this issue, who use the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample to examine the association between the volume of ED encounters that result in admission and inpatient mortality. It further discusses HCUP strengths, weaknesses, and future.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Mutter R, Stocks C .
Using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) data for emergency medicine research.
Ann Emerg Med 2014 Nov;64(5):458-60. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2014.09.014.
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Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Delivery, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
Ederhof M, Chen LM
Critical access hospitals and cost shifting.
In the context of ongoing discussion about critical access hospital (CAH) reimbursement, it is important to better understand how health care providers currently utilize funds from the CAH Programs. This study found that among hospitals converted to CAH designation while part of a hospital system, the relative proportion of costs that reflect shared services provided by the parent organization is significantly higher than would be expected in the post-conversion period.
AHRQ-funded; HS020671.
Citation: Ederhof M, Chen LM .
Critical access hospitals and cost shifting.
JAMA Intern Med 2014 Jan;174(1):143-4. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.11901..
Keywords: Hospitals, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Chen J, Liu L, Zhang D
A flexible model for the mean and variance functions, with application to medical cost data.
The authors considered an extension to generalized linear models by assuming nonlinear associations of covariates in the mean function and allowing the variance to be an unknown but smooth function of the mean. They discussed their application of the model to the annual medical costs of heart failure patients in the clinical data repository at the University of Virginia Hospital System.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Chen J, Liu L, Zhang D .
A flexible model for the mean and variance functions, with application to medical cost data.
Stat Med 2013 Oct 30;32(24):4306-18. doi: 10.1002/sim.5838.
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Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)