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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 15 of 15 Research Studies DisplayedAdrion ER, Kocher KE, Nallamothu BK
Rising use of observation care among the commercially insured may lead to total and out-of-pocket cost savings.
Using multipayer commercial claims for the period 2009-13, the investigators evaluated utilization and spending among patients admitted for six conditions that are commonly managed with either observation care or short-stay hospitalizations. In their study period, the use of observation care increased relative to that of short-stay hospitalizations. In addition, total and out-of-pocket spending were substantially lower for observation care, though both grew rapidly--and at rates much higher than spending in the inpatient setting--over the study period.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Adrion ER, Kocher KE, Nallamothu BK .
Rising use of observation care among the commercially insured may lead to total and out-of-pocket cost savings.
Health Aff 2017 Dec;36(12):2102-09. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0774..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Utilization, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Medicare
Adam SS, Flahiff CM, Kamble S
Depression, quality of life, and medical resource utilization in sickle cell disease.
Researchers performed an analytic epidemiologic prospective study to determine the prevalence of depression in adult patients with sickle cell disease and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and medical resource utilization. They found that depression was associated with worse physical and mental HRQoL scores and during the 6 months following diagnosis, mean total health care costs were significantly higher in depressed patients than in nondepressed patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS017645.
Citation: Adam SS, Flahiff CM, Kamble S .
Depression, quality of life, and medical resource utilization in sickle cell disease.
Blood Adv 2017 Oct 12;1(23):1983-92. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017006940.
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Keywords: Depression, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Quality of Life, Sickle Cell Disease
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
Flieger SP
Impact of a patient-centered medical home pilot on utilization, quality, and costs and variation in medical homeness.
This study evaluated the impact of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) pilot on utilization, costs, and quality and assessed variation in PCMH components. There were no statistically significant findings for utilization, cost, or quality in the expected direction. Medical Home Index (MHI) scores suggest variation in type and level of implemented features.
AHRQ-funded; HS021385.
Citation: Flieger SP .
Impact of a patient-centered medical home pilot on utilization, quality, and costs and variation in medical homeness.
J Ambul Care Manage 2017 Jul/Sep;40(3):228-37. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000162.
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Keywords: Patient-Centered Healthcare, Quality of Care, Primary Care, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization
Schlitz NK, Warner DF, Sun J
Identifying specific combinations of multimorbidity that contribute to health care resource utilization: an analytic approach.
The objective was to identify specific combinations of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes associated with direct medical costs and inpatient utilization. The multimorbid population is heterogeneous and there is considerable variation in how specific combinations of morbidity influence resource use. Functional limitations were more important than many chronic diseases in explaining resource use.
AHRQ-funded; HS023113.
Citation: Schlitz NK, Warner DF, Sun J .
Identifying specific combinations of multimorbidity that contribute to health care resource utilization: an analytic approach.
Med Care 2017 Mar;55(3):276-84. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000660.
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Keywords: Elderly, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Utilization, Hospitalization, 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)
Nocon RS, Lee SM, Sharma R
AHRQ Author: Ngo-Metzger Q
Health care use and spending for medicaid enrollees in federally qualified health centers versus other primary care settings.
This study compared health care use and spending of Medicaid enrollees seen at federally qualified health centers versus non-health center settings in a context of significant growth. It found that health center patients had lower use and spending than did non-health center patients across all services, with 22 percent fewer visits and 33 percent lower spending on specialty.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Nocon RS, Lee SM, Sharma R .
Health care use and spending for medicaid enrollees in federally qualified health centers versus other primary care settings.
Am J Public Health 2016 Nov;106(11):1981-89. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303341.
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Keywords: Medicaid, Healthcare Costs, Primary Care, Healthcare Utilization
Skinner HG, Coffey R, Jones J
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC, Moy E
The effects of multiple chronic conditions on hospitalization costs and utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in the United States: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.
A purpose of this study was to evaluate how multiple chronic conditions relate to inpatient hospitalization costs. It found that compared with costs for patients with 0 or 1 chronic condition, hospitalization costs per stay for overall ambulatory care sensitive conditions were 19 percent higher for those with 2 or 3 , 32 percent higher for those with 4 or 5, and 31 percent higher for those with 6+ conditions.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201300002C.
Citation: Skinner HG, Coffey R, Jones J .
The effects of multiple chronic conditions on hospitalization costs and utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in the United States: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.
BMC Health Serv Res 2016 Mar 1;16:77. doi: 10.1186/s12913-016-1304-y.
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Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Chronic Conditions, Hospitalization, Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Costs
Schlitz NK, Kaiboriboon K, Koroukian SM
Long-term reduction of health care costs and utilization after epilepsy surgery.
This study assessed long-term direct medical costs, health care utilization, and mortality following resective surgery in persons with uncontrolled epilepsy. It found that the mean direct medical cost difference between the surgical group and control group was $6,806 after risk-set matching. The incidence rate ratio of inpatient, emergency room, and outpatient utilization was lower among the surgical group in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses.
AHRQ-funded; HS000059.
Citation: Schlitz NK, Kaiboriboon K, Koroukian SM .
Long-term reduction of health care costs and utilization after epilepsy surgery.
Epilepsia 2016 Feb;57(2):316-24. doi: 10.1111/epi.13280.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Mortality, Neurological Disorders, Outcomes, Surgery
Dinan MA, Li Y, Zhang Y
Resource use in the last year of life among patients who died with versus of prostate cancer.
The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data of men with prostate cancer. Patients who died of prostate cancer rather than from other causes had more hospice and outpatient use, less inpatient and ICU use, and lower overall costs. Efforts to shift care toward outpatient settings might provide more efficient and judicious care for patients during the end of life.
AHRQ-funded; HS022189.
Citation: Dinan MA, Li Y, Zhang Y .
Resource use in the last year of life among patients who died with versus of prostate cancer.
Clin Genitourin Cancer 2016 Feb;14(1):28-37.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2015.07.006.
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Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Men's Health, Mortality, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Banerjee M
The evaluation of distal symmetric polyneuropathy: utilisation and expenditures by community neurologists.
The aim of the study was to determine utilization and expenditures in the evaluation of a new diagnosis of distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) by community neurologists using a population-based design and a strict case definition. It concluded that electrodiagnostic tests and MRIs are frequently ordered in the diagnostic evaluation of DSP and account for more than 80% of the expenditures.
AHRQ-funded; HS017690.
Citation: Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Banerjee M .
The evaluation of distal symmetric polyneuropathy: utilisation and expenditures by community neurologists.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016 Jan;87(1):113-4. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-307575.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging
Crisp GD, Roberts AW, Esserman DA
The University of North Carolina's Health Care Pharmacy Assistance Program.
This study examined a program providing financial assistance to uninsured residents of North Carolina who need prescription medications. It found that from 2009 to 2011, the program served 7,180 patients in 81 counties. These patients received a mean of 23 prescriptions at an average cost of $754 per recipient per year.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032
Citation: Crisp GD, Roberts AW, Esserman DA .
The University of North Carolina's Health Care Pharmacy Assistance Program.
N C Med J. 2014 Sep-Oct;75(5):303-9..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Uninsured, Medication, Healthcare Utilization
Martin BI, Franklin GM, Deyo RA
How do coverage policies influence practice patterns, safety, and cost of initial lumbar fusion surgery? A population-based comparison of workers' compensation systems.
In response to increasing use of lumbar fusion for improving back pain, despite unclear efficacy, particularly among injured workers, this study compared the use of complex fusion techniques, adverse outcomes within 3 months, and costs for California and Washington State with workers’ compensation policies that differed in their coverage restrictions. The researchers found that California’s broader coverage policy was associated with more aggressive practice, higher rates of reoperation, readmission and other complications.
AHRQ-funded; HS018405
Citation: Martin BI, Franklin GM, Deyo RA .
How do coverage policies influence practice patterns, safety, and cost of initial lumbar fusion surgery? A population-based comparison of workers' compensation systems.
Spine J. 2014 Jul;14(7):1237-46. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2013.08..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Surgery, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization
Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Pace RJ
Headaches and neuroimaging: high utilization and costs despite guidelines.
Little is known about recent headache neuroimaging utilization, associated expenditures, and temporal trends. Looking at 51.1 million outpatient headache visits over 4 years, this study found that neuroimaging is ordered during 12% of these visits, costs $1 billion annually, and is increasing over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS017690
Citation: Callaghan BC, Kerber KA, Pace RJ .
Headaches and neuroimaging: high utilization and costs despite guidelines.
JAMA Intern Med. 2014 May;174(5):819-21. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.173..
Keywords: Neurological Disorders, Healthcare Utilization, Guidelines, Healthcare Costs, Chronic Conditions
Schwartz AL, Sommers BD
Moving for Medicaid? Recent eligibility expansions did not induce migration from other states.
This study used 26 measures of low value services to examine service use and associated spending detected by these measures in Medicaid. In the six categories of care measured, services detected by a limited number of measures of low-value care constituted modest proportions of overall spending (2.7 percent) but affected 42 percent of beneficiaries.
AHRQ-funded; HS00055; HS021291
Citation: Schwartz AL, Sommers BD .
Moving for Medicaid? Recent eligibility expansions did not induce migration from other states.
Health Aff. 2014 Jan;33(1):88-94. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0910..
Keywords: Medicaid, Healthcare Costs, Low-Income, Healthcare Utilization