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Research Studies is a monthly compilation of research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers and recently published in journals or newsletters.
Results
1 to 25 of 28 Research Studies Displayed
Bernard D, Fang Z
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults with heart disease: 2010-2015.
Researchers examined the prevalence of high burdens and barriers to care among adults with heart disease treatment. Using MEPS data, they found that public insurance provides protection against high burdens but not against forgoing or delaying care. They recommended that future research investigate whether, and to what extent, barriers to care are associated with worse health outcomes and higher costs in the long term.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Bernard D, Fang Z .
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults with heart disease: 2010-2015.
J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Dec 17;8(24):e008831. doi: 10.1161/jaha.118.008831..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Access to Care
Kirby JB, Zuvekas SH, Borsky AE
Rural residents with mental health needs have fewer care visits than urban counterparts.
This analysis compared the number of adults with mental health needs living in rural areas compared to those in urban areas. A nationally representative sample of adults showed that there were fewer ambulatory mental health visits for rural residents, even with those already on prescription medications for mental health conditions.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Kirby JB, Zuvekas SH, Borsky AE .
Rural residents with mental health needs have fewer care visits than urban counterparts.
Health Aff 2019 Dec;38(12):2057-60. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00369..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Rural Health, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization
Hu T, Decker SL, Chou SY
The impact of health insurance expansion on physician treatment choice: Medicare Part D and physician prescribing.
Researchers tested the effect of the introduction of Medicare Part D on physician prescribing behavior using data on physician visits from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). Subjects were patients aged 60-69. The researchers found a 32% increase in the number of prescription drugs prescribed or continued per visit and a 46% increase in the number of generic drugs prescribed or continued for the elderly after the introduction of Medicare Part D.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Hu T, Decker SL, Chou SY .
The impact of health insurance expansion on physician treatment choice: Medicare Part D and physician prescribing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28168448.
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Health Insurance, Medicare, Medication, Practice Patterns, Elderly
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH
Do racial and ethnic disparities in mental health treatment vary with underlying mental health?
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH .
Do racial and ethnic disparities in mental health treatment vary with underlying mental health?
Med Care Res Rev 2021 Aug;78(4):392-403. doi: 10.1177/1077558720903589..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Disparities, Racial / Ethnic Minorities, Access to Care
Anderson AC, Akre E, Chen J
Exploring national trends of patient- and family-centered care among US children.
This study examined national trends in the receipt of high-quality patient-physician communication and patient empowerment through behavioral health counseling among children in the United States. They used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2010 to 2014. Two measures of patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) were analyzed: 1) a composite measure of high-quality patient-physician communication, and 2) patient empowerment through behavioral health counseling about healthy eating and exercise. There were high rates of receiving high-quality physician-patient communication (92-93%) as opposed to behavioral counseling about healthy eating (53-60%) and exercise (37-42%). There was a higher rate of high-quality physician-patient communication in 2014 than in 2010, but there was not a similar increase in receiving behavioral health counseling. Lower odds of receiving behavioral health counseling were found for parents with low income and low educational attainment as well as lack of insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS022135.
Citation:
Anderson AC, Akre E, Chen J .
Exploring national trends of patient- and family-centered care among US children.
J Child Health Care 2019 Jun;23(2):200-12. doi: 10.1177/1367493518786015..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Patient and Family Engagement, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Family Health and History, Lifestyle Changes
Jacobs PD, Selden TM
Changes in the equity of US health care financing in the period 2005-16.
This study examined changes in how households pay for health care spending in the United States from 2005 to 2016. At the start of the study period, households in the bottom 20% of income paid 26.8% of their income for health care compared to about half that amount for those with income in the top 1 percent. By 2016 the percentages had become about the same across all income levels. This result reflected increases in coverage through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Jacobs PD, Selden TM .
Changes in the equity of US health care financing in the period 2005-16.
Health Aff 2019 Nov;38(11):1791-800. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00625..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Medicare, Policy
Ngo-Metzger Q, Zuvekas S, Shafer P
Ngo-Metzger Q, Zuvekas S, Shafer P, Tracer H, Borsky AE, Bierman AS. Statin use in the U.S. for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease remains suboptimal.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the rates of statin use for secondary prevention of ASCVD events in the United States over the last decade and determine whether disparities in the treatment of ASCVD still persist among women and racial/ethnic minorities.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Ngo-Metzger Q, Zuvekas S, Shafer P .
Ngo-Metzger Q, Zuvekas S, Shafer P, Tracer H, Borsky AE, Bierman AS. Statin use in the U.S. for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease remains suboptimal.
J Am Board Fam Med 2019 Nov-Dec;32(6):807-17. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2019.06.180313..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Healthcare Utilization, Prevention, Heart Disease and Health, Disparities
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Farkhad BF
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services among older adults.
This study examined the use of preventive and restorative dental services among older adults. Traditional Medicare does not have dental benefits, and older adults must either be employed, have post-retirement dental benefits or spousal coverage, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage program that includes dental coverage. The authors used 2007-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and supplemental data on dental care prices to estimate the demand for dental care. Dental service was not sensitive to out-of-pocket prices. Older adults with private dental insurance increased preventive service by 25%, and dental coverage through Medicaid increased basic and major service use by 23% and 36%. Women used dental insurance more than men.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Farkhad BF .
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services among older adults.
Health Econ 2019 Sep;28(9):1151-58. doi: 10.1002/hec.3921..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Elderly, Dental and Oral Health, Medicare, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Vistnes JP, Hill SC
The dynamics Of Medicaid enrollment, employment, and beneficiary health status.
In this article, the authors discuss the dynamics of Medicaid enrollment, employment and beneficiary status. Using national data, the investigators found that 13.9 percent of new, nonelderly adult Medicaid beneficiaries in 2015-16 had experienced a decline in health before enrollment, and a similar percentage had had jobs that ended before they enrolled.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Vistnes JP, Hill SC .
The dynamics Of Medicaid enrollment, employment, and beneficiary health status.
Health Aff 2019 Sep;38(9):1491-95. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00066..
Keywords:
Health Status, Medicaid, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Policy
Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F
Prevalence and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United States.
This infographic depicts MEPS data concerning the prevalence and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including information on costs, medications and other chronic conditions.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F .
Prevalence and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United States.
JAMA 2019 Aug 20;322(7):602. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.10241..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Respiratory Conditions, Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs
Berdahl TA, Kirby JB
Patient-provider communication disparities by limited English proficiency (LEP): trends from the US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2006-2015.
The purpose of this study was to describe trends in patient-provider communication by limited English proficiency (LEP) from 2006 to 2015. The investigators concluded that although patient-provider communication among LEP individuals improved since 2010, linguistic disparities persist and constitute a formidable challenge to achieving healthcare equity, a long-standing US policy goal.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Berdahl TA, Kirby JB .
Patient-provider communication disparities by limited English proficiency (LEP): trends from the US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2006-2015.
J Gen Intern Med 2019 Aug;34(8). doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4757-3..
Keywords:
Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Cultural Competence, Disparities, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Fabiyi CA, Reid LD, Mistry KB
Postpartum health care use after gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
The objective of this study was to examine postpartum health care utilization after a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes (GD) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) using nationally representative data. The investigators found that women with GD/HDP did not differ from women with neither complication on postpartum utilization outcomes. Less educated women with GD/HDP were more likely to miss an office visit within 1 year postpartum than less educated women with neither complication. Certain subgroups of women were more likely to forego timely and appropriate postpartum care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Fabiyi CA, Reid LD, Mistry KB .
Postpartum health care use after gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
J Womens Health 2019 Aug;28(8):1116-23. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2018.7198..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Diabetes, Hypertension, Women
Selden TM, Abdus S, Miller GE
Decomposing changes in the growth of U.S. prescription drug use and expenditures, 1999-2016.
Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was examined to analyze factors associated with changes in prescription drug use and expenditures in the US from 1999 to 2016. There were large increases in prescription drug use during that period, with per capita utilization increasing by nearly half and per capita expenditures more than doubled. Treatment of long-term conditions was a large driver in the increases in medication use.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Selden TM, Abdus S, Miller GE .
Decomposing changes in the growth of U.S. prescription drug use and expenditures, 1999-2016.
Health Serv Res 2019 Aug;54(4):752-63. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13164..
Keywords:
Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medication
Adams JS, Chien AT, Wisk LE
Mental illness among youth with chronic physical conditions.
Using MEPS data, the authors compared the risk of incident mental health conditions (MHCs) in youth with and without chronic physical conditions (CPCs), and explored whether activity limitations might contribute to any association. They found that youth with CPCs have increased risk for MHCs and that limitations on activity may play a role in MHC development. They recommended that youth with CPCs may benefit from services that bolster their ability to participate in developmentally important activities and that may help to detect and treat new onset MHCs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation:
Adams JS, Chien AT, Wisk LE .
Mental illness among youth with chronic physical conditions.
Pediatrics 2019 Jul;141(1):pii: e20181819. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1819..
Keywords:
Children/Adolescents, Chronic Conditions, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health
Monestime JP, Biener AI, Wolford M
Characteristics of office-based providers associated with secure electronic messaging use: achieving meaningful use.
The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of office-based provider used as a usual source of care (USC) associated with secure electronic messaging (SM) use. The investigators concluded that patients were more likely to have visited a USC that exchanged SMs if that practice also used other electronic health records functionalities. The authors indicated that findings suggested that while patients' USC practices were likely to exchange secure messages, there is a disparity in SM use between physician-owned practices, and hospital-owned practices.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Monestime JP, Biener AI, Wolford M .
Characteristics of office-based providers associated with secure electronic messaging use: achieving meaningful use.
Int J Med Inform 2019 Apr 4;129:43-48. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.04.002..
Keywords:
Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Patient-Centered Healthcare, Provider
Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F
Source of increased health care spending in the United States.
This infographic depicts MEPS information for five medical conditions that account for nearly 1/3 of all medical expenditures in 2015. Factors include the difference in spending associated with these conditions; the number of people treated for them; per capita costs; and related ambulatory visits and prescription drug costs as a proportion of health expenditures.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F .
Source of increased health care spending in the United States.
JAMA 2019 Mar 26;321(12):1147. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.0679..
Keywords:
Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH
Do racial and ethnic disparities in health care use vary with health?
Researchers used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2010-2014 to evaluate health care use between black-white and Hispanic-white adults. They found that there was the widest disparity in health care use in adults in excellent health between Hispanics and whites but the opposite was true for blacks and whites. Differences are attributed to health insurance coverage and access to health care overall.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH .
Do racial and ethnic disparities in health care use vary with health?
Health Serv Res 2019 Feb;54(1):64-74. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13087..
Keywords:
Access to Care, Disparities, Healthcare Utilization, Health Insurance, Health Status, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Racial / Ethnic Minorities
Abdus S, Decker SL
Association between Medicaid adult nonemergency dental benefits and dental services use and expenditures.
AHRQ researchers compared nonemergency dental services use in states with and without Medicaid adult nonemergency dental benefits. Dental use increased in states with the Medicaid dental benefit. Out-of-pocket expenses decreased approximately 19 percent in covered states.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Abdus S, Decker SL .
Association between Medicaid adult nonemergency dental benefits and dental services use and expenditures.
J Am Dent Assoc 2019 Jan;150(1):24-33. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2018.08.010..
Keywords:
Dental and Oral Health, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Laiteerapong N, Kirby J, Gao Y
Health care utilization and receipt of preventive care for patients seen at federally funded health centers compared to other sites of primary care.
The investigators compared utilization and preventive care receipt among patients of federal Section 330 health centers (HCs) versus patients of other settings. They found that HC patients had fewer office visits and hospitalizations, were more likely to receive breast cancer screening, had fewer outpatient and emergency room visits, and were more likely to receive dietary advice compared to non-HC patients.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Laiteerapong N, Kirby J, Gao Y .
Health care utilization and receipt of preventive care for patients seen at federally funded health centers compared to other sites of primary care.
Health Serv Res 2014 Oct;49(5):1498-518. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12178.
.
.
Keywords:
Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Prevention, Safety Net
Abdus S, Hudson J, Hill SC
Children's health insurance program premiums adversely affect enrollment, especially among lower-income children.
Using MEPS data, the authors showed that the relationship between premiums and coverage varies considerably by income level and by parental access to employer-sponsored insurance. They found that the increase in uninsurance is largest among children whose parents lack offers of employer coverage.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Abdus S, Hudson J, Hill SC .
Children's health insurance program premiums adversely affect enrollment, especially among lower-income children.
Health Aff 2014 Aug;33(8):1353-60. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0182.
.
.
Keywords:
Children/Adolescents, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Low-Income
Sarpong EM
The impact of obesity on medication use and expenditures among nonelderly adults with asthma.
The author examined the impact of obesity on medication use and expenditures among nonelderly adults with asthma using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. He found that obese classes II/III individuals were more likely to have current asthma, seek treatment for asthma, use more medications, and have higher medication and health care expenditures compared with normal weight individuals. His results suggested that reduction in body weight may help reduce health resource use and expenditures for nonelderly adults with asthma.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Sarpong EM .
The impact of obesity on medication use and expenditures among nonelderly adults with asthma.
J Health Care Poor Underserved 2014 Aug;25(3):1245-61. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2014.0142.
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Keywords:
Asthma, Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medication, Obesity
Manski RJ, Cohen LA, Brown E
Dental service mix among older adults aged 65 and over, United States, 1999 and 2009.
To establish a baseline and provide data for oral health workforce models, this report describes the types of dental procedures received by US adults 65 years and older in 2009 and looks at trends since 1999. It found that between 1999 and 2009, the proportion of preventive services significantly increased, whereas the proportion of restorative and endodontic services significantly decreased.
Citation:
Manski RJ, Cohen LA, Brown E .
Dental service mix among older adults aged 65 and over, United States, 1999 and 2009.
J Public Health Dent 2014 Sum;74(3):219-26. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12049..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Dental and Oral Health, Healthcare Utilization
Ekwueme DU, Yabroff KR, Guy GP, Jr.
Medical costs and productivity losses of cancer survivors--United States, 2008-2011.
In order to estimate annual medical costs and productivity losses among male and female cancer survivors and persons without a cancer history, the CDC, along with other organizations, analyzed data from the 2008-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and found that the economic burden of cancer survivorship is substantial among all survivors. These findings identified a need to develop and evaluate health and employment intervention programs aimed at improving outcomes for cancer survivors and their families.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Ekwueme DU, Yabroff KR, Guy GP, Jr. .
Medical costs and productivity losses of cancer survivors--United States, 2008-2011.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2014 Jun 13;63(23):505-10.
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Keywords:
Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
McGuire TG, Newhouse JP, Normand SL
Assessing incentives for service-level selection in private health insurance exchanges.
The authors used MEPS data to measure plan incentives by constructing predictive ratios and by measuring incentives based on the predictability and predictiveness of various medical diagnoses. They found that, among the chronic diseases studied, plans have the greatest incentive to skimp on care for cancer, mental health, and substance abuse.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
McGuire TG, Newhouse JP, Normand SL .
Assessing incentives for service-level selection in private health insurance exchanges.
J Health Econ 2014 May;35:47-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2014.01.009.
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Keywords:
Chronic Conditions, Health Insurance, Health Status, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Bernard DM, Johansson P, Fang Z
Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure burdens among nonelderly adults with hypertension.
The investigators examined the prevalence of high out-of-pocket burdens and self-perceived financial barriers to care among patients receiving hypertension treatment. They found that the prevalence of high total burdens was significantly greater for persons receiving treatment for hypertension compared with other chronically ill and well patients. Among hypertension patients with high total burdens, 15.7% said they were unable to get care and 13.6% said they delayed care due to financial reasons.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Bernard DM, Johansson P, Fang Z .
Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure burdens among nonelderly adults with hypertension.
Am J Manag Care 2014 May;20(5):406-13.
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Keywords:
Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Hypertension, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
