National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Access to Care (8)
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- Brain Injury (1)
- Cancer (1)
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (2)
- Children/Adolescents (4)
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- Decision Making (1)
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- Quality of Care (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
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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 30 Research Studies DisplayedHudson JL, Moriya AS
AHRQ Author: Hudson JL
The role of marketplace policy on welcome mat effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
This study examined the role of marketplace policy on “welcome mat” effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Data from the American Community Survey from 2013-2018 was used to estimate the relationship between Marketplace policy and increases in Medicaid/CHIP coverage among pre-ACA eligible children after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The sample included non-disabled citizen children ages 0-18 at 139-250% federal poverty level who were Medicaid/CHIP-eligible before and after implementation of the ACA. Marketplace policies and enrollment were compared in expansion states versus non-expansion states. Public coverage did increase more in states that empowered their Marketplace to enroll publicly-eligible applicants directly into Medicaid/CHIP. This was driven by enrollment policy, not by choice of state-based versus federal-based Marketplaces. Welcome mats were largest in expansion states and increases ranged from 9 to 13 percentage points in enrollment.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hudson JL, Moriya AS .
The role of marketplace policy on welcome mat effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Inquiry 2020 Jan-Dec;57:46958020952920. doi: 10.1177/0046958020952920..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, Health Insurance, Policy, Uninsured, Access to Care
Cha P, Brindis CD
Early Affordable Care Act Medicaid: coverage effects for low- and moderate-income young adults.
This study examined the effects of early Medicaid expansions on low- and moderate-income young adults. They used the American Community Survey 2008-2013 to study three early expansion states: California, Connecticut and Minnesota. Results shows that Medicaid expansion reduced uninsurance in all three states and increased public insurance in California and Minnesota. Young men benefitted more than young women, who historically tend to be uninsured.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation: Cha P, Brindis CD .
Early Affordable Care Act Medicaid: coverage effects for low- and moderate-income young adults.
J Adolesc Health 2020 Sep;67(3):425-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.029..
Keywords: Young Adults, Policy, Medicaid, Uninsured, Access to Care
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
Porter A, Brown CC, Tilford JM
Association of insurance status with treatment and outcomes in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
This study’s objective was to determine if a health insurance disparity exists among pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury using data from the National Trauma Data Bank. The Bank contains data from more than 800 trauma centers in the United States. Isolated traumatic brain injury was defined as patients with a head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 3+. Procedure codes were used to identify four primary treatment approaches combined into 2 classifications: craniotomy or craniectomy and external or intracranial ventricular draining. Condition at admission was defined including hypotension, Glasgow Coma Scale, mechanism and intent of injury, and Injury Severity Scale. Among the cohort of 12,449 patients, 91% had insurance and 9% were uninsured. Children without insurance had worse condition at admission with higher rates of hypotension and higher Injury Severity Score when compared with publicly and privately insured patients. Having insurance was associated with a 32% increase in the odds of cranial procedures, and 54% increase in the odds of monitor placement. Insurance coverage was associated 25% lower odds of inpatient mortality. Further study is needed to determine what factors lead to worse condition at admission.
Citation: Porter A, Brown CC, Tilford JM .
Association of insurance status with treatment and outcomes in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
Crit Care Med 2020 Jul;48(7):e584-e91. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000004398..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Brain Injury, Trauma, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Uninsured, Outcomes
Darney BG, Biel FM, Rodriguez MI
Payment for contraceptive services in safety net clinics: roles of Affordable Care Act, Title X, and state programs.
This study examined trends in uninsured contraceptive visits before and after Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a large network of safety-net clinics. Their sample included 237 safety net clinics in 11 states with a common electronic health record. The authors identified 162,666 contraceptive visits in 219 clinics and found a significant decline in uninsured visits. There was a slightly greater decline in expansion states than in non-expansion states.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981; HS025155.
Citation: Darney BG, Biel FM, Rodriguez MI .
Payment for contraceptive services in safety net clinics: roles of Affordable Care Act, Title X, and state programs.
Med Care 2020 May;58(5):453-60. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001309..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Policy, Uninsured, Women
Tilhou AS, Huguet N, DeVoe J
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion positively impacted community health centers and their patients.
In this paper, the investigators summarized their results to-date as experts in investigating the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on Community Health Centers (CHCs) and the patients they serve. They found the ACA Medicaid expansion increased access to care and preventive services, primarily in Medicaid expansion states. Rates of physical and mental health conditions rose substantially from pre- to post-ACA in expansion states, suggesting underdiagnosis pre-ACA.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation: Tilhou AS, Huguet N, DeVoe J .
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion positively impacted community health centers and their patients.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Apr;35(4):1292-95. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05571-w..
Keywords: Policy, Medicaid, Access to Care, Uninsured, Health Insurance
Ellis RJ, Schlick CJR, Feinglass J
Failure to administer recommended chemotherapy: acceptable variation or cancer care quality blind spot?
This study examined hospital variation in cancer patients who did not receive recommended chemotherapy. Patients with breast, colon, and lung cancers who did not receive chemotherapy from 2000 to 2015 were identified from the National Cancer Database. A total of 183,148 patients at 1281 hospitals were included. For breast cancer, 3.5% of patients failed to receive recommended chemotherapy, and 6.6% with colon, and 10.7% with lung cancer. Sociodemographic factors showed that patients were less likely to receive chemotherapy if they were uninsured or on Medicaid, as were non-Hispanic black patients with both breast and colon cancer. There was also significant hospital variation with failure to administer as high as 21.8% for breast, 40.2% for colon, and 40.0% for lung cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078; HS026385.
Citation: Ellis RJ, Schlick CJR, Feinglass J .
Failure to administer recommended chemotherapy: acceptable variation or cancer care quality blind spot?
BMJ Qual Saf 2020 Feb;29(2):103-12. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009742..
Keywords: Treatments, Cancer, Healthcare Delivery, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Social Determinants of Health, Vulnerable Populations, Uninsured, Hospitals, Quality of Care
DeLia D, Yedidia MJ
The policy and practice legacy of the New Jersey Medicaid ACO Demonstration Project.
This paper examined the New Jersey Medicaid Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Demonstration and what was learned from the Demonstration. The Demonstration did not lead to a sustainable accountable care financing model as hoped for. Instead, the ACOs evolved into community health coalitions focused on a wide range of activities in partnership with state government, private health systems, community leaders, and MCOs. Policy parameters are currently being developed by the state to reposition the ACOs as regional partners to implement state-directed population health initiatives.
AHRQ-funded; HS023493.
Citation: DeLia D, Yedidia MJ .
The policy and practice legacy of the New Jersey Medicaid ACO Demonstration Project.
J Ambul Care Manage 2020 Jan/Mar;43(1):2-10. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000308..
Keywords: Medicaid, Policy, Health Insurance, Uninsured
Furtado KS, Kaphingst KA, Perkins H
Health insurance information-seeking behaviors among the uninsured.
In order to better understand how to reach the uninsured and support their health insurance decision making, this study examined where the uninsured collect information about health insurance and the extent to which they trust those sources and media. Its findings suggest that strategies that pair health care professionals, lay health advisors, or community liaisons with the ubiquity of the Internet may be a strong approach for delivering quality health insurance information to the uninsured.
AHRQ-funded; HS020309.
Citation: Furtado KS, Kaphingst KA, Perkins H .
Health insurance information-seeking behaviors among the uninsured.
J Health Commun 2016;21(2):148-58. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2015.1039678.
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Keywords: Uninsured, Health Insurance, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Web-Based
Harrison KL, Taylor HA
Healthcare resource allocation decisions affecting uninsured services.
The authors described resource allocation and policy decisions related to providing health services for the uninsured. They recommend that how healthcare decisions are actually made can be matched with literature that describes how healthcare resource decisions ought to be made, in order to provide a normative grounding for future decisions.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Harrison KL, Taylor HA .
Healthcare resource allocation decisions affecting uninsured services.
J Health Organ Manag 2016 Nov 21;30(8):1162-82. doi: 10.1108/jhom-01-2016-0003.
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Keywords: Decision Making, Health Services Research (HSR), Policy, Uninsured
Politi MC, Kaphingst KA, Liu JE
A randomized trial examining three strategies for supporting health insurance decisions among the uninsured.
This study examined the effectiveness of strategies to support health insurance decisions among the uninsured. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 conditions: 1) a plain language table; 2) a visual condition where participants chose what information to view and in what order; and 3) a narrative condition. It found that participants across conditions made value-consistent choices, selecting plans that aligned with their preferences for key insurance features.
AHRQ-funded; HS020309.
Citation: Politi MC, Kaphingst KA, Liu JE .
A randomized trial examining three strategies for supporting health insurance decisions among the uninsured.
Med Decis Making. 2016 Oct;36(7):911-22. doi: 10.1177/0272989X15578635.
Keywords: Health Insurance, Uninsured
Vistnes JP, Cohen JW
AHRQ Author: Vistnes JP, Cohen JW
Gaining coverage in 2014: new estimates of marketplace and Medicaid transitions.
The researchers used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component to examine coverage transitions for nonelderly US adults. They found that 71.5 percent of Marketplace enrollees in 2014 had some period of uninsurance before enrollment. In Medicaid expansion states, 17.4 percent of adults who were uninsured throughout 2013 gained Medicaid coverage in 2014, compared with only 5.6 percent in those states between 2012 and 2013.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Vistnes JP, Cohen JW .
Gaining coverage in 2014: new estimates of marketplace and Medicaid transitions.
Health Aff 2016 Oct 1;35(10):1825-29. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0500.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Health Insurance, Medicaid, Uninsured, Policy
Sommers BD, Gourevitch R, Maylone B
Insurance churning rates for low-income adults under health reform: lower than expected but still harmful for many.
The researchers explored the frequency and implications of changes in insurance coverage over time (i.e., "churning,")through surveying low-income adults in Kentucky, which used a traditional expansion of Medicaid; Arkansas, which chose a "private option" expansion that enrolled beneficiaries in private Marketplace plans; and Texas, which opted not to expand. They found that churning was associated with disruptions in physician care and medication adherence, and increased emergency department use.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Sommers BD, Gourevitch R, Maylone B .
Insurance churning rates for low-income adults under health reform: lower than expected but still harmful for many.
Health Aff 2016 Oct;35(10):1816-24. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0455.
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Keywords: Medicaid, Uninsured, Policy, Health Insurance
Sommers BD, Chua KP, Kenney GM
California's early coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act: a county-level analysis.
The researchers assessed the coverage effects of California's 2011 Low-Income Health Program (LIHP), enacted as an "early expansion" under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and to demonstrate the feasibility of using Census data to measure county-level coverage changes. They concluded that California's 2011 expansion produced significant increases in public coverage for low-income individuals, particularly Latinos.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Sommers BD, Chua KP, Kenney GM .
California's early coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act: a county-level analysis.
Health Serv Res 2016 Jun;51(3):825-45. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12397.
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Keywords: Medicaid, Uninsured, Policy, Health Insurance, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Raghavan R, Allaire BT, Brown DS
Medicaid disenrollment patterns among children coming into contact with child welfare agencies.
The authors examined retention of Medicaid coverage over time for children in the child welfare system. Using Medicaid claims files from 36 states, they found that half retained Medicaid coverage across 4 years of follow up, with most disenrollments happening in year 4. They recommend finding ways to promote entry of child welfare-involved children into health insurance coverage in order to assure services.
AHRQ-funded; HS020269.
Citation: Raghavan R, Allaire BT, Brown DS .
Medicaid disenrollment patterns among children coming into contact with child welfare agencies.
Matern Child Health J 2016 Jun;20(6):1280-7. doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-1929-9.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Family Health and History, Medicaid, Uninsured, Vulnerable Populations
DeVoe JE, Tillotson CJ, Marino M
Trends in type of health insurance coverage for US children and their parents, 1998-2011.
The objective of this paper is to examine trends in health insurance type among US children and their parents. Using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (1998-2011), the authors found that low- and middle-income US families experienced a decrease in the percentage of child-parent pairs with private health insurance and pairs without insurance. At the same time, they found a rise in discordant coverage patterns - mainly publicly insured children with uninsured parents.
AHRQ-funded; HS018569.
Citation: DeVoe JE, Tillotson CJ, Marino M .
Trends in type of health insurance coverage for US children and their parents, 1998-2011.
Acad Pediatr 2016 Mar;16(2):192-9. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2015.06.009.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Uninsured
Hoopes MJ, Angier H, Gold R
Utilization of community health centers in Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states, 2013-2014.
Using electronic health record data, the researchers examined longitudinal changes in community health center (CHC) visit rates from 2013 through 2014 in Medicaid expansion versus nonexpansion states. Rates increased in expansion state CHCs for new patient, preventive, and limited-service visits (14 percent, 41percent, and 23 percent, respectively), whereas these rates remained unchanged in nonexpansion states.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation: Hoopes MJ, Angier H, Gold R .
Utilization of community health centers in Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states, 2013-2014.
J Ambul Care Manage 2016 Jan 13;39(4):290-8. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000123.
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Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Uninsured
Hellinger FJ
AHRQ Author: Hellinger FJ
In four ACA expansion states, the percentage of uninsured hospitalizations for people with HIV declined, 2012-14.
This study examines the influence of the Affordable Care Act's optional state Medicaid expansion on insurance coverage and health outcomes for hospitalized patients with HIV. It found that the percentage of hospitalizations of uninsured people with HIV in the four expansion states fell from 13.7 percent to 5.5 percent in the study period, while the percentage in the two nonexpanding states increased from 14.5 percent to 15.7 percent.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hellinger FJ .
In four ACA expansion states, the percentage of uninsured hospitalizations for people with HIV declined, 2012-14.
Health Aff 2015 Dec;34(12):2061-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0718..
Keywords: Policy, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Medicaid, Uninsured
Golberstein E, Gonzales G, Sommers BD
California's early ACA expansion increased coverage and reduced out-of-pocket spending for the state's low-income population.
The researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine the impact of California’s Low Income Health Program. Their study demonstrates that the county-by-county rollout of expanded public insurance coverage in California significantly increased coverage, by 7 percentage points, and significantly reduced the likelihood of any family out-of-pocket medical spending in the previous year, by 10 percentage points, among low-income adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Golberstein E, Gonzales G, Sommers BD .
California's early ACA expansion increased coverage and reduced out-of-pocket spending for the state's low-income population.
Health Aff 2015 Oct;34(10):1688-94. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0290..
Keywords: Low-Income, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Uninsured
Portela M, Sommers BD
On the outskirts of national health reform: a comparative assessment of health insurance and access to care in Puerto Rico and the United States.
This article presents an overview of Puerto Rico’s health care system and a comparative analysis of coverage and access to care in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States. It found that uninsured rates were significantly lower in Puerto Rico;. Medicaid was far more common in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican residents were more likely than those in the mainland United States to have a usual source of care and to have had a checkup within the past year.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Portela M, Sommers BD .
On the outskirts of national health reform: a comparative assessment of health insurance and access to care in Puerto Rico and the United States.
Milbank Q 2015 Sep;93(3):584-608. doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.12138..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy, Medicaid, Uninsured
DeVoe JE, Tillotson CJ, Angier H
Predictors of children's health insurance coverage discontinuity in 1998 versus 2009: parental coverage continuity plays a major role.
This study examines the strength of association between known and potential predictors of children’s health insurance continuity in both 1998 and 2009. It found that, compared to children with at least one parent continuously covered, children whose parents did not have continuous coverage had a significantly higher relative risk of a coverage gap.
AHRQ-funded; HS018569.
Citation: DeVoe JE, Tillotson CJ, Angier H .
Predictors of children's health insurance coverage discontinuity in 1998 versus 2009: parental coverage continuity plays a major role.
Matern Child Health J 2015 Apr;19(4):889-96. doi: 10.1007/s10995-014-1590-0.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Uninsured, Health Insurance
Hill SC
AHRQ Author: Hill SC
Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would produce consumer savings and less financial burden than exchange coverage.
This study simulated potential differences in out-of-pocket spending for uninsured adults gaining eligibility for Marketplace coverage (silver plan) because their states have not used the provisions of the Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid. Compared with having a Marketplace silver plan, being able to take advantage to expanded Medicaid would reduce average out-of-pocket spending by more than 50 percent for these adults and their families.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hill SC .
Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would produce consumer savings and less financial burden than exchange coverage.
Health Aff. 2015 Feb;34(2):340-9. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1058..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Policy, Low-Income, Medicaid, Uninsured
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
Vargas Bustamante A, Chen J
The great recession and health spending among uninsured U.S. immigrants: implications for the Affordable Care Act implementation.
This study of the association between the timing of the Great Recession (GR) and health spending among uninsured U.S. immigrants found that the probability of any spending diminished for recent immigrants compared to citizens during the GR. For those with any spending, recent immigrants reported 27 percent higher spending during the GR.
AHRQ-funded; HS022634
Citation: Vargas Bustamante A, Chen J .
The great recession and health spending among uninsured U.S. immigrants: implications for the Affordable Care Act implementation.
Health Serv Res. 2014 Dec;49(6):1900-24. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12193..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Uninsured, Disparities
Epstein AM, Sommers BD, Kuznetsov Y
Low-income residents in three states view Medicaid as equal to or better than private coverage, support expansion.
The authors explored what low-income Americans think about Medicaid. They found that nearly 80 percent of their telephone survey sample favored Medicaid expansion, and approximately two-thirds of uninsured respondents said that they planned to apply for either Medicaid or subsidized private coverage in 2014. Most viewed having Medicaid as better than being uninsured and at least as good as private insurance in overall quality and affordability.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Epstein AM, Sommers BD, Kuznetsov Y .
Low-income residents in three states view Medicaid as equal to or better than private coverage, support expansion.
Health Aff 2014 Nov;33(11):2041-7. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0747.
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Keywords: Health Insurance, Policy, Low-Income, Medicaid, Uninsured