Search all AHRQ sites
SHARE:
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: 
AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
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 15 of 15 Research Studies Displayed
Jacobs PD, Abdus S
Changes in preventive service use by race and ethnicity after Medicare eligibility in the United States.
Researchers examined whether widespread eligibility for Medicare at age 65 narrows disparate preventive service use by race and ethnicity. Using MEPS data and examining six preventive services, they found that, for non-Hispanic Black adults, preventive service use increased after age 65. Further, for all four preventive health measures that were lower for Hispanic adults compared with non-Hispanic White adults prior to age 65, service use was indistinguishable between these groups after reaching the Medicare eligibility age. They concluded that Medicare eligibility appeared to reduce most racial and ethnic disparities in preventive service use.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Jacobs PD, Abdus S .
Changes in preventive service use by race and ethnicity after Medicare eligibility in the United States.
Prev Med 2022 Apr;157:106996. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.106996..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Racial / Ethnic Minorities, Medicare, Prevention, Access to Care, Disparities, Health Insurance
Encinosa W, Bernard D, Selden TM
Opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescribing before and after the CDC's 2016 opioid guideline.
This study examined opioid and non-opioid prescribing before and after the issuing of CDC’s 2016 opioid guideline. The authors developed a theory of physician prescribing behavior under the CDC’s two-pronged incentive structure. They used MEPS survey data to empirically corroborate the theory that the regulations and guidelines have the intended effects of reducing opioid prescriptions for acute and chronic pain, as well as the predicted unintended effects-income effects cause regulations on acute pain treatment to increase chronic pain opioid prescriptions and the chronic pain treatment guidelines spillover to reduce opioids for acute pain. They also found that the guidelines work as intended in terms of the reduced usage, with chronic pain patients shifting to non-opioids and tapering off opioid doses.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Encinosa W, Bernard D, Selden TM .
Opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescribing before and after the CDC's 2016 opioid guideline.
Int J Health Econ Manag 2022 Mar;22(1):1-52. doi: 10.1007/s10754-021-09307-4..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Practice Patterns, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions
Decker SL, Abdus S, Lipton BJ
Eligibility for and enrollment in Medicaid among nonelderly adults after implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
The authors used simulation modeling to examine Medicaid eligibility and participation during 2014 to 2017. They found that more than one in five adults were Medicaid-eligible in expansion states, while about one in 30 adults were Medicaid-eligible in non-expansion states. Further, while eligibility rates differed substantially by expansion status, participation rates among Medicaid-eligible adults were similar in both sets of states, indicating that differences in eligibility, rather than in participation rates, explained differences in enrollment between expansion and non-expansion states during the study period.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Decker SL, Abdus S, Lipton BJ .
Eligibility for and enrollment in Medicaid among nonelderly adults after implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Med Care Res Rev 2022 Feb;79(1):125-32. doi: 10.1177/1077558721996851..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicaid, Health Insurance
Kumar V, Encinosa W
Explaining the obesity paradox in healthcare utilization among people with type 2 diabetes.
The authors sought to examine changes in the relationship between BMI and number of visits in diabetic vs nondiabetic populations, controlling for confounding risk factors. Using MEPS data, they found that the obesity paradox does not exist at the utilization level and is due to the presence of statistical biases such as confounding and reverse causation.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Kumar V, Encinosa W .
Explaining the obesity paradox in healthcare utilization among people with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetol Int 2022 Jan;13(1):232-43. doi: 10.1007/s13340-021-00530-5..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Obesity, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Utilization
McClellan C, Moriya A, Simon K
Users of retail medications for opioid use disorders faced high out-of-pocket prescription spending in 2011-2017.
This paper provides national estimates of financial costs faced by the population receiving retail medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD). Using MEPS data, findings showed that patients with retail MOUD prescriptions spent 3.4 times more out-of-pocket for prescriptions on average than the rest of the U.S. population, with 18.8% of this population paying entirely out-of-pocket for their MOUD prescriptions. Insurance coverage was associated with reduced annual out-of-pocket MOUD expenditures. Future policies that expand insurance and address out-of-pocket spending on MOUD could increase access to medications among individuals with opioid use disorders.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
McClellan C, Moriya A, Simon K .
Users of retail medications for opioid use disorders faced high out-of-pocket prescription spending in 2011-2017.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2022 Jan;132:108645. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108645..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Medication
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.
.
.
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.
.
.
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.
.
.
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.
.
.
Keywords:
Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Hypertension, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Hill SC, Abdus S, Hudson JL
Adults in the income range for the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion are healthier than pre-ACA enrollees.
The investigators used MEPS data to compare nondisabled adults enrolled in Medicaid prior to the ACA with two other groups: adults who were eligible for Medicaid but not enrolled in it, and adults who were in the income range for the ACA's Medicaid expansion and thus newly eligible for coverage. They found that both the newly eligible and those eligible before the ACA but not enrolled were healthier on several measures than pre-ACA enrollees. They concluded that by expanding Medicaid eligibility, states could provide coverage to millions of healthier adults as well as to millions who have chronic conditions and who need care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Hill SC, Abdus S, Hudson JL .
Adults in the income range for the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion are healthier than pre-ACA enrollees.
Health Aff 2014 Apr;33(4):691-9. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0743.
.
.
Keywords:
Health Insurance, Policy, Health Status, Low-Income, Medicaid, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Cook BL, Zuvekas SH, Carson N
Assessing racial/ethnic disparities in treatment across episodes of mental health care.
The authors investigated disparities in mental health care episodes, aligning their analyses with decisions to start or drop treatment, and choices made during treatment. Using MEPS data, they found that, compared with whites, blacks and Latinos had less initiation and adequacy of care. Black and Latino episodes were shorter and had fewer psychotropic drug fills; black episodes had a greater proportion of specialist visits and Latino episodes had a greater proportion of primary care physician visits. Blacks were more likely to have an episode with acute psychiatric care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Cook BL, Zuvekas SH, Carson N .
Assessing racial/ethnic disparities in treatment across episodes of mental health care.
Health Serv Res 2014 Feb;49(1):206-29. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12095.
.
.
Keywords:
Disparities, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Practice Patterns, Racial / Ethnic Minorities
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Manski R
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services.
The authors sought to examine the extent to which limited dental coverage and high out-of-pocket costs reduce dental service use by the nonelderly privately insured and uninsured. They concluded that dental coverage is an important determinant of preventive dental service use, but other nonprice factors related to consumer preferences, especially education, are equal if not stronger determinants.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Manski R .
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services.
Health Econ 2014 Jan;23(1):14-32. doi: 10.1002/hec.2899.
.
.
Keywords:
Chronic Conditions, Dental and Oral Health, Health Insurance, Health Services Research (HSR), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
