National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Access to Care (8)
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- Clinician-Patient Communication (2)
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- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
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- Healthcare Costs (14)
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- Low-Income (4)
- Medicaid (5)
- (-) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (44)
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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 44 Research Studies DisplayedZuvekas SH, Kashihara D
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial disruptions in the field operations of all 3 major components of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). In this study, the investigators described how the MEPS program successfully responded to these challenges by reengineering field operations, including survey modes, to complete data collection and maintain data release schedules.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zuvekas SH, Kashihara D .
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Am J Public Health 2021 Dec;111(12):2157-66. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306534..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), COVID-19, Healthcare Costs, Data
Abdus S
AHRQ Author: Abdus S
Trends in differences across subgroups of adults in preventive services utilization.
This study examines whether preventive services utilization changed over time, across subgroups of adults defined by race/ethnicity, insurance coverage, poverty status, Census region, and urbanicity. Using MEPS data and examining general checkups, blood cholesterol screening, mammograms, and colorectal cancer screening, findings showed modest increases in utilization between 2008/2009 and 2015/2016 for blood cholesterol and colorectal cancer screenings. Large gaps in utilization across income groups and between those with and without coverage persisted. Disparities across racial/ethnic groups in general checkups persisted over time as well.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S .
Trends in differences across subgroups of adults in preventive services utilization.
Med Care 2021 Dec;59(12):1059-66. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001634..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Utilization, Prevention
Abdus S
AHRQ Author: Abdus S
Financial burdens of out-of-pocket prescription drug expenditures under high-deductible health plans.
This study examines financial burdens of out-of-pocket prescription drug expenditures across different levels of deductibles, focusing on low-income adults with multiple, prevalent chronic conditions. The results of this study suggest that for low-income adults with multiple chronic conditions who are enrolled in employer-sponsored high-deductible plans, out-of-pocket prescription drug costs may still result in significant financial hardships. The key takeaway point of this paper for general internists is that for patients with chronic conditions, out-of-pocket costs of prescription drugs could be excessively burdensome if they are enrolled in high-deductible plans.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S .
Financial burdens of out-of-pocket prescription drug expenditures under high-deductible health plans.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Sep;36(9):2903-05. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06226-x..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Medication
Zuvekas SH, Grosse SD, Lavelle TA
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
Healthcare costs of pediatric autism spectrum disorder in the United States, 2003-2015.
Published healthcare cost estimates for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vary widely. One possible contributor is different methods of case ascertainment. In this study, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) case status was determined using two sources of parent reports among 45,944 children ages 3-17 years in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) linked to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Sample Child Core questionnaire. In this paper, the investigators describe their process and conclusions.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zuvekas SH, Grosse SD, Lavelle TA .
Healthcare costs of pediatric autism spectrum disorder in the United States, 2003-2015.
J Autism Dev Disord 2021 Aug;51(8):2950-58. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04704-z..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Autism, Healthcare Costs, Behavioral Health
Borsky AE, Zuvekas SH, Kent EE
AHRQ Author: Borsky AE, Zuvekas SH
Understanding the characteristics of US cancer survivors with informal caregivers.
This AHRQ-authored paper’s purpose is to provide a national representative description of the sociodemographic characteristics of cancer survivors who have or had an informal caregiver. Cross-sectional data from the MEPS Experiences With Cancer Survivorship Supplement survey in 2011, 2016, and 2017 was used. The study population consisted of 720 US adult survivors of cancer other than nonmelanoma skin cancer who were treated for cancer less than 3 years before the survey and were living in the community. A total of 55.2% of cancer survivors reported having an informal caregiving during or after their cancer treatment. Males were more likely to have a spouse as their caregiver and females were more likely to have a child. Cancer survivors who were female, were married, were of a non-White race/ethnicity, or were in poor health were more likely to have an informal caregiver.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Borsky AE, Zuvekas SH, Kent EE .
Understanding the characteristics of US cancer survivors with informal caregivers.
Cancer 2021 Aug 1;127(15):2752-61. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33535..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Cancer, Caregiving
Berdahl TA, Moriya AS
AHRQ Author: Berdahl TA, Moriya AS
Insurance coverage for non-standard workers: experiences of temporary workers, freelancers, and part-time workers in the USA, 2010-2017.
This AHRQ-authored paper estimates insurance disparities across non-standard employment categories and determines how coverage disparities shifted following health reform in 2014. Data on working-age adults was analyzed from the 2010-2012 and 2015-2017 MEPS. Uninsurance decreased after health reform for all groups of nonstandard workers with a 10-14% point decline. Uninsurance remained high for all freelance workers at 30.8%, full-time temporary workers (25.1%) and part-time workers (17.9%) compared to full-time workers (11.9%). Lower uninsurance in a Medicaid expansion state was found for all categories of workers.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Berdahl TA, Moriya AS .
Insurance coverage for non-standard workers: experiences of temporary workers, freelancers, and part-time workers in the USA, 2010-2017.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Jul;36(7):1997-2003. doi: 10.1007/s11606-021-06700-0..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Health Insurance, Policy, Uninsured, Medicaid, Low-Income
Bernard DM, Encinosa W, Cohen J
AHRQ Author: Bernard DM Encinosa W Cohen J Fang Z
Patient factors that affect opioid use among adults with and without chronic pain.
Investigators sought to determine patient characteristics associated with opioid use among adults with and without chronic pain treatment. Using MEPS data, they found that health-related attitudes affect both adults with and without chronic pain treatment similarly. Adults with self-reliant health attitudes were less likely to start and more likely to discontinue opioid use. Exercise was associated with higher probability of choosing no analgesic treatments over using opioids and also with higher probability of discontinuing opioid use in the year following opioid initiation for those electing to use them.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Bernard DM, Encinosa W, Cohen J .
Patient factors that affect opioid use among adults with and without chronic pain.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2021 Jun;17(6):1059-65. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.07.036..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions
Kirby JB, Bernard D, Liang L
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB, Bernard D, Liang L
The prevalence of food insecurity is highest among Americans for whom diet is most critical to health.
This study investigated how widespread food insecurity is among people with diabetes among different insurance types and whether food assistance is adequately addressing the problem. The authors used new data on food insecurity from the AHRQ MEPS in 2016 and 2017. The sample was limited to adults ages 18-64 years. Results found the prevalence of food insecurity was much higher among adults with diabetes compared to those without diabetes (16% vs. 9%). People with diabetes who were taking insulin or who had eye or kidney complications had even rates of food insecurity at 19% and 22%, respectively. Food insecurity prevalence was much higher among Medicaid enrollees compared with those with other types of insurance. Nearly one-third of Medicaid enrollees with diabetes were food insecure, compared with 7% with private insurance. Medicaid enrollees with insulin-dependent diabetes had the highest food insecurity (44%), which is over 6 times higher than their counterparts with private insurance. They also found that a sizable fraction of people with diabetes who were food insecure were not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Over 80% of people with private insurance did not receive SNAP benefits, likely reflecting SNAP eligibility. However, even among Medicaid enrollees, 29% of people with diabetes were not receiving SNAP, and 68% of the uninsured were not receiving SNAP benefits. Even among SNAP recipients, over 40% of Medicaid enrollees with diabetes remained food insecure.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Bernard D, Liang L .
The prevalence of food insecurity is highest among Americans for whom diet is most critical to health.
Diabetes Care 2021 Jun;44(6):e131-3132. doi: 10.2337/dc20-3116..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Social Determinants of Health
Hill SC, Zuvekas SH
AHRQ Author: Hill SC, Zuvekas SH
Patient-centered medical homes and pediatric preventive counseling.
The authors sought to measure pediatric preventive counseling at patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) compared with practices that reported undertaking some or no quality-related activities. Using MEPS data, they found that PCMHs were associated with substantially greater receipt of pediatric preventive counseling. They recommended that evaluations of PCMHs account for the quality-related activities of comparison practices.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hill SC, Zuvekas SH .
Patient-centered medical homes and pediatric preventive counseling.
Acad Pediatr 2021 Apr 1;21(3):488-96. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.07.001..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Prevention
Kirby JB, Berdahl TA, Stone RA
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB, Berdahl TA
Perceptions of patient-provider communication across the six largest Asian subgroups in the USA.
Investigators sought to estimate racial/ethnic differences in perceptions of provider communication among the six largest Asian subgroups. Using MEPS data, they found that negative views of provider communication are not pervasive among all Asians but, rather, primarily reflect the perceptions of Chinese and, possibly, Vietnamese patients. They recommended that researchers, policymakers, health plan executives, and others who produce or use data on patients' experiences with health care avoid categorizing all Asians into a single group.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Berdahl TA, Stone RA .
Perceptions of patient-provider communication across the six largest Asian subgroups in the USA.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Apr;36(4):888-93. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06391-z..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Patient Experience, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cultural Competence
Peltz A, Kan K, Garg A
Racial and ethnic differences in managed care enrollment among US children.
The authors used national survey data to compare rates of HMO enrollment, by race and ethnicity, for children with commercial and public coverage. They found that, when adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, Hispanic children with public coverage, non-Hispanic Black children with commercial coverage, and Hispanic children with commercial coverage were more likely to be enrolled in HMOs than non-Hispanic White children. They recommended future study to examine the degree to which the observed national imbalance in HMO enrollment results from state-specific policies, family preferences, or coverage affordability.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Peltz A, Kan K, Garg A .
Racial and ethnic differences in managed care enrollment among US children.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Apr;4(4):e214162. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.4162..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Health Insurance, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Moriya AS, Xu L
AHRQ Author: Moriya AS
The complex relationships among race/ethnicity, social determinants, and opioid utilization.
The objective of this study was to examine individual- and community-level factors associated with racial/ethnic differences in individuals' opioid prescription use. The investigators found that the average annual rate of any outpatient opioid prescription use was higher for non-Hispanic whites than for non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics. The smaller difference between non-Hispanic blacks and whites was not explained by the differences in the risk factors, while almost all the difference between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites could be explained by the differences in the means of the risk factors.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Moriya AS, Xu L .
The complex relationships among race/ethnicity, social determinants, and opioid utilization.
Health Serv Res 2021 Apr;56(2):310-22. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13619..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health, Opioids, Medication, Disparities
Han B, Chen PG, Yu H
Access to after-hours primary care: a key determinant of children's medical home status.
Researchers sought to identify individual survey items or domains that best predict medical home (MH) status for children and use them to develop brief markers of MH status. Using MEPS data, they found that accessibility, especially the ability to access health care after regular office hours, appeared to be the major predictor of having a MH among children. They recommended that the ongoing efforts to promote the MH model target improving accessibility of health care after regular hours for children overall and especially for Latino children.
AHRQ-funded; HS023336.
Citation: Han B, Chen PG, Yu H .
Access to after-hours primary care: a key determinant of children's medical home status.
BMC Health Serv Res 2021 Feb 27;21(1):185. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06192-y..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Access to Care, Healthcare Delivery, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Hill SC, Abdus S
AHRQ Author: Hill SC Abdus S
The effects of Medicaid on access to care and adherence to recommended preventive services.
Using MEPS data, the authors sought to quantify the impact of Medicaid enrollment on access to care and adherence to recommended preventive services. They found that Medicaid enrollment decreased the probability of having unmet needs for medical care and of experiencing delays getting prescription drugs. Medicaid enrollment increased the probability of having a usual source of care, of having a routine checkup, and of having a flu shot in past year.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hill SC, Abdus S .
The effects of Medicaid on access to care and adherence to recommended preventive services.
Health Serv Res 2021 Feb;56(1):84-94. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13603..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicaid, Access to Care, Prevention, Patient Adherence/Compliance
Jacobs PD
AHRQ Author: Jacobs PD
The impact of Medicare on access to and affordability of health care.
Jacobs used MEPS data and the National Health Interview Survey to test for changes in access to care and affordability around age sixty-five and found that Medicare eligibility is associated with a reduction in reports of being unable to get necessary care as well as a reduction in not being able to get needed care because of the cost. The author concluded that incremental Medicare expansions could have positive access and affordability benefits for enrollees compared with the insurance options available to them before they turn sixty-five.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Jacobs PD .
The impact of Medicare on access to and affordability of health care.
Health Aff 2021 Feb;40(2):266-73. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00940..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Access to Care, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance
Selden TM, Berdahl TA
AHRQ Author: Selden TM, Berdahl TA
Risk of severe COVID-19 among workers and their household members.
Using prepandemic MEPS data, the investigators examined the prevalence of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They then estimated how many adults at increased risk of severe COVID-19 held essential jobs and could not work at home (WAH) or who lived in households with such workers.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Selden TM, Berdahl TA .
Risk of severe COVID-19 among workers and their household members.
JAMA Intern Med 2021 Jan;181(1):120-22. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.6249..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), COVID-19, Risk, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
Kirby JB, Davidoff AJ, Basu J
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB, Basu J
The ACA's zero cost-sharing mandate and trends in out-of-pocket expenditures on well-child and screening mammography visits.
This study used a nationally representative sample of ambulatory care visits to estimate the impact of the zero cost-sharing mandate on out-of-pocket expenditures on well-child and screening mammography visits. It concluded that the Affordable Care Act's zero cost-sharing mandate for preventive care has had a large impact on out-of-pocket expenditures for well-child and mammography visits.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Davidoff AJ, Basu J .
The ACA's zero cost-sharing mandate and trends in out-of-pocket expenditures on well-child and screening mammography visits.
Med Care 2016 Dec;54(12):1056-62. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000610.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Screening, Women, Policy, Prevention
Abdus S, Selden TM, Keenan P
AHRQ Author: Abdus S, Selden TM, Keenan P
The financial burdens of high-deductible plans.
The increased prevalence of high-deductible health plans raises concerns regarding high financial burdens from health care, particularly for low-income adults.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S, Selden TM, Keenan P .
The financial burdens of high-deductible plans.
Health Aff 2016 Dec;35(12):2297-301. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0842.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Social Determinants of Health
Kirby JB, Vistnes JP
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB, Vistnes JP
Access to care improved for people who gained Medicaid or marketplace coverage in 2014.
Newly available longitudinal survey data show that people who lacked health insurance in 2013 and gained coverage through Medicaid or the Marketplaces in 2014 were far more likely to obtain a usual source of care and receive preventive care services than their counterparts who remained uninsured in 2014.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Vistnes JP .
Access to care improved for people who gained Medicaid or marketplace coverage in 2014.
Health Aff 2016 Oct 1;35(10):1830-34. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0716.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Access to Care, Medicaid, Health Insurance
Hanmer J, Hess R, Sullivan S
Benchmarking health-related quality-of-life data from a clinical setting.
This paper's objective was to construct a nationally representative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) benchmark for use with a clinical sample. The results showed that HRQoL benchmarks can be created from current public datasets, and subgroups in national samples may provide more valid benchmarks for clinical populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Hanmer J, Hess R, Sullivan S .
Benchmarking health-related quality-of-life data from a clinical setting.
Am J Manag Care 2016 Oct;22(10):669-75.
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Keywords: Health Status, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Quality of Life
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
Olfson M, Blanco C, Marcus SC
Treatment of adult depression in the United States.
The researchers characterized the treatment of adult depression in the United States. They concluded that most US adults who screen positive for depression did not receive treatment for depression, whereas most who were treated did not screen positive. In light of these findings, it is important to strengthen efforts to align depression care with each patient's clinical needs.
AHRQ-funded; HS02112.
Citation: Olfson M, Blanco C, Marcus SC .
Treatment of adult depression in the United States.
JAMA Intern Med 2016 Oct;176(10):1482-91. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5057.
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Keywords: Medication, Depression, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Ray KN, Mehrotra A
Trends in access to primary care for children in the United States, 2002-2013.
Using MEPS data, the authors described how access to primary care has changed over the last decade for children. They found no change in the proportion of children with a usual source of care (USC). Other measures improved, but out-of-pocket costs increased among privately insured children. Results suggested that after-hours accommodation within the USC is worsening, despite the promotion of patient-centered medical home initiatives. All measures of acceptability improved, consistent with a growing focus on family-centeredness of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Ray KN, Mehrotra A .
Trends in access to primary care for children in the United States, 2002-2013.
JAMA Pediatr 2016 Oct;170(10):1023-25. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.0985.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Children/Adolescents, Health Services Research (HSR), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Primary Care
Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in dental insurance, receipt of dental checkups, and delayed and unmet needs for dental care by type and complexity of disability. It found that all disability types except hearing had significantly higher adjusted odds of being without dental insurance, as did people with complex activity limitations. Further, disparities in care were apparent even when controlling for presence of dental insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K .
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
J Public Health Dent 2016 Sep;76(4):330-39. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12160.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disabilities, Health Insurance, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Ali MM, Chen J, Mutter R
AHRQ Author: Novak P
The ACA's dependent coverage expansion and out-of-pocket spending by young adults with behavioral health conditions.
The authors analyzed out-of-pocket spending as a share of total health care expenditures for young adults with behavioral health conditions before and after the implementation of the ACA dependent care provision. They found that the extension of health insurance coverage to young adults with behavioral health disorders has provided them with additional financial protection, which can be important given the low incomes and high debt burden that characterize the age group.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ali MM, Chen J, Mutter R .
The ACA's dependent coverage expansion and out-of-pocket spending by young adults with behavioral health conditions.
Psychiatr Serv 2016 Sep;67(9):977-82. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500346.
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Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Young Adults