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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.
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1 to 25 of 415 Research Studies DisplayedMeille G, Post B
The effects of the Medicaid expansion on hospital utilization, employment, and capital.
This AHRQ-authored paper describes the effect of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on hospital utilization, employment, and capital. The authors conducted a difference-in-differences analysis that compared changes to hospital demand and supply in Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states. They used 2010-2016 data from the American Hospital Association and the Healthcare Cost Report Information System to quantify changes to hospital utilization and characterize how hospitals adjusted labor and capital inputs. Medicaid expansion was associated with increases in emergency department visits and other outpatient hospital visits. They found strong evidence that hospitals met increases in demand by hiring nursing staff and weaker evidence that they increased hiring of technicians and investments in equipment. They found no evidence that hospitals adjusted hiring of physicians, support staff, or investments in other capital inputs.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meille G, Post B .
The effects of the Medicaid expansion on hospital utilization, employment, and capital.
Med Care Res Rev 2023 Apr;80(2):165-74. doi: 10.1177/10775587221133165.
Keywords: Medicaid, Hospitals, Healthcare Utilization, Health Insurance, Policy, Access to Care, Uninsured
Ali MM, McClellan C, Mutter R
Recreational marijuana laws and the misuse of prescription opioids: evidence from National Survey on Drug Use and Health microdata.
Using micro data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, researchers examined the relationship between recreational marijuana laws (RMLs) and the misuse of prescription opioids. They found that RML adoption reduced the likelihood of misusing prescription opioids; however, this initial effect appeared to dissipate 2 or 3 years after RML adoption, when the relationship to the likelihood of misusing prescription opioids became positive.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ali MM, McClellan C, Mutter R .
Recreational marijuana laws and the misuse of prescription opioids: evidence from National Survey on Drug Use and Health microdata.
Health Econ 2023 Feb; 32(2):277-301. doi: 10.1002/hec.4620..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Policy
Schillinger D, Bullock A, Powell C
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: leveraging federal policies and programs for population-level diabetes prevention and control: recommendations from the National Clinical Care Commission.
The purpose of this article was to explore and consider the National Clinical Care Commission’s (NCCC) population-wide recommendations focusing on food systems; consumption of water over beverages sweetened with sugar; labeling of food and beverages; marketing and advertising; workplace, ambient, and built environments; and research to address the myriad of complex factors contributing to Type 1 and 2 diabetes. The authors’ recommendations are directed toward federal policies, agencies, departments and programs, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and others.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Schillinger D, Bullock A, Powell C .
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: leveraging federal policies and programs for population-level diabetes prevention and control: recommendations from the National Clinical Care Commission.
Diabetes Care 2023 Feb; 46(2):e24-e38. doi: 10.2337/dc22-0619..
Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Policy, Prevention
Greenlee MC, Bolen S, Chong W
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: leveraging federal policies and programs to improve diabetes treatment and reduce complications.
This paper is the fourth in a series of five articles describing the recommendations of the National Clinician Care Commission (NCCC) on diabetes care. This paper focused on the recommendations of the Treatment and Complications subcommittee of the National Clinical Care Commission. The Commission made recommendations at all levels: patient, practice, health system, and health policy. They also identified several areas that need additional research, such as studying the barriers to uptake of diabetes self-management education and support, exploring methods to implement team-based care, and evaluating the importance of digital connectivity as a social determinant of health.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Greenlee MC, Bolen S, Chong W .
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: leveraging federal policies and programs to improve diabetes treatment and reduce complications.
Diabetes Care 2023 Feb; 46(2):e51-e59. doi: 10.2337/dc22-0621..
Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Policy, Prevention, Quality of Life
Herman WH, Schillinger D, Bolen S
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: recommendations to better leverage federal policies and programs to prevent and control diabetes.
This AHRQ-authored article is an overview paper of the recommendations of the National Clinical Care Commission (NCCC) Report to Congress to better leverage federal policies and programs to prevent and control diabetes. The NCCC surveyed federal agencies and conducted follow-up meetings with representatives from 10 health-related and 11 non-health-related federal agencies. They held 12 public meetings, solicited comments, met with numerous interested parties and key informants, and performed comprehensive literature reviews. The final report was transmitted to Congress in January 2022 and contained 39 specific recommendations, including 3 foundational recommendations that addressed the necessity of an all-of-government approach to diabetes, health equity, and access to health care. Recommendations were made at the general population level and the individual level to strengthen federal policies and programs to increase awareness of prediabetes and remove barriers to proven effective treatments for diabetes and its complications.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Herman WH, Schillinger D, Bolen S .
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: recommendations to better leverage federal policies and programs to prevent and control diabetes.
Diabetes Care 2023 Feb; 46(2):255-61. doi: 10.2337/dc22-1587..
Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Policy, Prevention
Conlin PR, Boltri JM, Bullock A
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: summary and next steps.
This article summarized recommendations of the National Clinical Care Commission (NCCC) to prevent and control diabetes and its complications more effectively. The NCCC has determined that diabetes should not be considered solely as a medical problem but must also as a societal problem. Its recommendations cover policies and programs of both non-health-related and health-related federal agencies, including three recommendations that: non-health-related and health-related federal agencies coordinate their activities to better address diabetes; all federal agencies and departments ensure health equity as a guiding principle for their policies and programs that impact diabetes; all Americans have access to comprehensive and affordable health care. The NCCC also recommends that a coordinating Office of National Diabetes Policy be established.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Conlin PR, Boltri JM, Bullock A .
The National Clinical Care Commission report to Congress: summary and next steps.
Diabetes Care 2023 Feb; 46(2):e60-e63. doi: 10.2337/dc22-0622..
Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Policy, Prevention
Liao JM, Wang E, Isidro U
The association between bundled payment participation and changes in medical episode outcomes among high-risk patients.
This research evaluated whether the association between participation in bundled payments for medical conditions and episode outcomes differed for clinically high-risk versus other patients in regard to length of stay (LOS) at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Participants included 471,421 Medicare patients hospitalized at bundled payment and propensity-matched non-participating hospitals. Primary outcomes were SNF LOS and 90-day unplanned readmissions. SNF length of stay was differentially lower among frail patients, patients with advanced age (>85 years), and those with prior institutional post-acute care provider utilization compared to non-frail, younger, and patients without prior utilization, respectively. Bundled payment participation was also associated with differentially greater SNF LOS among disabled patients. It was not associated with differential changes in readmissions in any high-risk group but was associated with changes in quality, utilization, and spending measures for some groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS027595.
Citation: Liao JM, Wang E, Isidro U .
The association between bundled payment participation and changes in medical episode outcomes among high-risk patients.
Healthcare 2022 Dec 12; 10(12). doi: 10.3390/healthcare10122510..
Keywords: Payment, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Risk, Policy
Creedon TB, Zuvekas SH, Hill SC
Effects of Medicaid expansion on insurance coverage and health services use among adults with disabilities newly eligible for Medicaid.
The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on insurance coverage and health services use for adults with disabilities newly eligible for Medicaid. The researchers utilized the 2008-2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) PUBSIM model to identify adults between the ages of 26-64 years with disabilities who were newly Medicaid-eligible in expansion states or would have been eligible in non-expansion states if those states had opted in to ACA Medicaid expansion. The study found that among adults with disabilities who were newly eligible for Medicaid, Medicaid expansion was associated with significant increases in full-year Medicaid coverage, receipt of primary care, receipt of flu shots and a significant decrease in out-of-pocket spending. There were greater improvements for adults with disabilities compared to those without disabilities in full-year Medicaid coverage and receipt of flu shots. The researchers concluded that Medicaid expansion was associated with improvements in full-year insurance coverage, receipt of primary and preventive care, and out-of-pocket spending for adults with disabilities who were newly eligible for Medicaid, and there were greater improvements for adults with disabilities than for adults without disabilities.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Creedon TB, Zuvekas SH, Hill SC .
Effects of Medicaid expansion on insurance coverage and health services use among adults with disabilities newly eligible for Medicaid.
Health Serv Res 2022 Dec;57(suppl 2):183-94. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14034..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicaid, Health Insurance, Disabilities, Policy, Access to Care
Temkin-Greener H, Mao Y, McGarry B
Patient safety culture in assisted living: staff perceptions and association with state regulations.
The purpose this study was to evaluate views on patient safety culture (PSC) among assisted living (AL) administrators and direct care workers (DCWs), and their relationships with state regulations. The researchers utilized the PSC instrument developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality to conduct a survey of administrators and DCWs working in assisted living communities serving Medicare beneficiary residents. Secondary data on ALs and residents were obtained from the Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary Files. Other data sources included: the Area Health Resource Files, a previous national AL directory, the US census, and a prior study citing AL regulations. 714 administrators and DCWs in 257 The study found that administrators' and DCWs' perspectives on PSC differed significantly across almost all domains. The researchers concluded that PSC is a relevant metric for evaluating organizational performance.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Temkin-Greener H, Mao Y, McGarry B .
Patient safety culture in assisted living: staff perceptions and association with state regulations.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2022 Dec;23(12):1997-2022.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.09.007..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Policy
Mackie TI, Schaefer AJ, Palatucci JS
The role of formal policy to promote informed consent of psychotropic medications for youth in child welfare custody: a national examination.
The purpose of this sequential multi-method study was to propose a classification for the procedural elements of informed consent policies based upon existing child welfare policies and then explored whether formal state policies across the United States authorized these elements. The researchers conducted interviews with 58 key informants primarily from state child welfare agencies to identify a classification of procedural elements for informed consent of psychotropic medications. A legislative review of the 50 states and D.C. was then conducted to characterize whether formal policies endorsed each procedural element. Key informants reported five procedural elements in policy, and 23 states endorsed relevant legislation. Only two states specified all five procedural elements, and the content of any procedural elements varied considerably across policies.
AHRQ-funded; HS02198501; HS026001
Citation: Mackie TI, Schaefer AJ, Palatucci JS .
The role of formal policy to promote informed consent of psychotropic medications for youth in child welfare custody: a national examination.
Adm Policy Ment Health 2022 Nov;49(6):986-1003. doi: 10.1007/s10488-022-01212-3..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Vulnerable Populations, Medication, Behavioral Health, Policy
Li J, Wu B, Flory J
Impact of the Affordable Care Act's Physician Payments Sunshine Act on branded statin prescribing.
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the Affordable Care Act's Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PPSA) and its mandate of disclosing pharmaceutical and medical industry payments to physicians for prescribing branded statins. The study found that the PPSA contributed to a 7% decrease in monthly new prescriptions of brand-name statins over the study period. There was no significant change in generic prescribing. The reduction was concentrated among physicians with the highest tercile of drug spending prior to the enactment of the PPSA, with a decrease of 15% in new branded statin prescriptions. The researchers concluded that the PPSA mandate reduced the prescribing of branded statin prescriptions in the time period following its announcement, especially in physicians who were taking part in excessive prescribing of the branded statins.
AHRQ-funded; HS027001.
Citation: Li J, Wu B, Flory J .
Impact of the Affordable Care Act's Physician Payments Sunshine Act on branded statin prescribing.
Health Serv Res 2022 Oct;57(5):1145-53. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14024..
Keywords: Payment, Policy, Medicare, Health Insurance
Donohue JM, Cole ES, James CV
The US Medicaid program: coverage, financing, reforms, and implications for health equity.
This article is a literature review of the Medicaid program focusing on Medicaid eligibility, enrollment, and spending and examined areas of Medicaid policy, including managed care, payment, and delivery system reforms; Medicaid expansion; racial and ethnic health disparities; and the potential to achieve health equity. The authors included peer-reviewed articles and reports published between January 2003 and February 2022. Medicaid covered approximately 80.6 million people per month in 2022, representing 16.3% of US health spending. Managed care plans run by states enrolled 69.5% of Medicaid beneficiaries in 2019 and adopted 139 delivery system reforms from 2003 to 2019. Over half (56.4%) of Medicaid beneficiaries were from racial and ethnic minority groups in 2019, and disparities in access, quality, and outcomes are common among these groups within Medicaid. The authors felt that additional Medicaid reforms are needed to reduce health disparities by race and ethnicity and to achieve equity in access, quality, and outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Donohue JM, Cole ES, James CV .
The US Medicaid program: coverage, financing, reforms, and implications for health equity.
JAMA 2022 Sep 20;328(11):1085-99. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.14791..
Keywords: Medicaid, Healthcare Costs, Policy, Health Insurance
Lipton BJ, Decker SL, Stitt B
Association between Medicaid dental payment policies and children's dental visits, oral health, and school absences.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between the ratio of Medicaid payment rates to dentist charges and children's preventive dental visits, oral health, and school absences. The researchers conducted a difference-in-differences analysis of 15,738 Medicaid-enrolled children and a control group of 16 867 privately insured children aged 6 to 17 years who participated in the 2016-2019 National Survey of Children's Health. The study found that 87% and 48% of Medicaid-enrolled children had at least 1 and at least 2 past-year dental visits, respectively, and 29% had parent-reported excellent oral health. Increasing the fee ratio by was associated with increases in at least 1 and 2 visits and in excellent oral health. Increases in at least 2 visits were larger for Hispanic children than for White children. By weighted baseline estimates, 28% and 15% of Medicaid-enrolled children had at least 4 and at least 7 past-year school absences, respectively. The researchers concluded that Medicaid policies with higher payments were associated with modest increases in children's preventive dental visits and excellent oral health.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lipton BJ, Decker SL, Stitt B .
Association between Medicaid dental payment policies and children's dental visits, oral health, and school absences.
JAMA Health Forum 2022 Sep 2;3(9):e223041. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.3041..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Payment, Policy
Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion with postpartum contraception use and pregnancy. The researchers found that Medicaid expansion was associated with a 7.0 percentage point increase in postpartum use of the contraceptive implant and intrauterine device LARC, a 3.1 percentage point decrease in short-acting contraception, and a 3.9 percentage point decrease in non-prescription contraceptive use overall. Increases in LARC use were concentrated among non-Hispanic, White, and Black respondents. Medicaid expansion was associated with a decrease in early postpartum pregnancy only among non-Hispanic Black respondents. The researchers concluded that the ACA Medicaid expansion improved postpartum contraceptive access and led to shifts from methods with a lower upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance towards methods with the higher upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance. These changes suggest that Medicaid expansions increased access to the full range of contraceptive methods.
AHRQ-funded; HS027464; HS000011
Citation: Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW .
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
Contraception 2022 Sep;113:42-48. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.02.012..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Women, Medicaid, Access to Care, Policy
Encinosa W, Lane K, Cornelio N
How state surprise billing protections increased ED visits, 2007-2018: potential implications for the No Surprises Act.
This article discusses the 2022 No Surprises Act whose goal was to prevent patients from receiving unexpected emergency department (ED) out-of-network physician bills and restrict out-of-network co-payments to in-network co-payment levels. Similar state bans were examined to determine whether the large reduction in out-of-pocket payments under bans will have an unintended consequence of an increase in ED visits and spending. The authors examined 16 million nonelderly, fully funded, privately insured health maintenance organization (HMO) enrollees between 2007 and 2018 from 15 states with balance billing bans for HMO ED visits and 16 states without bans as the control group. They found that the bans reduced spending per visit by 14% but spurred a demand response with an increase of 3 percentage points in ED visits which wiped away the cost savings. The authors predict that the federal ban will result in $5.1 billion in savings but 3.5 million more ED visits at $4.2 billion in extra spending per year, largely negating expected savings.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; HS027698.
Citation: Encinosa W, Lane K, Cornelio N .
How state surprise billing protections increased ED visits, 2007-2018: potential implications for the No Surprises Act.
Am J Manag Care 2022 Sep;28(9):e333-e38. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2022.89226..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Emergency Department, Policy, Healthcare Utilization
Rogstad TL, Gupta S, Connolly J
Social risk adjustment In the hospital readmissions reduction program: a systematic review and implications for policy.
Investigators reviewed fourteen studies of social risk adjustment in Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). They concluded that their findings support the use of social risk adjustment to improve provider payment equity and highlight opportunities to enhance social risk adjustment in value-based payment programs.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Rogstad TL, Gupta S, Connolly J .
Social risk adjustment In the hospital readmissions reduction program: a systematic review and implications for policy.
Health Aff 2022 Sep;41(9):1307-15. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00614..
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Hospital Readmissions, Risk, Policy
Leifheit KM, Schwartz GL, Pollack CE
Building health equity through housing policies: critical reflections and future directions for research.
This opinion paper provides a series of recommendations to help build health equity through housing policies. The authors recommend more justice- and action-oriented research to help address current levels of housing insecurity that are the result of clear and inequitable policy choices, leading to the entrenchment of health inequities-particularly, across race and class.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Leifheit KM, Schwartz GL, Pollack CE .
Building health equity through housing policies: critical reflections and future directions for research.
J Epidemiol Community Health 2022 Aug;76(8):759-63. doi: 10.1136/jech-2021-216439.
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Vulnerable Populations, Policy
Guo W, Li Y, Temkin-Greener H
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in assisted living communities: neighborhood deprivation and state social distancing policies matter.
Investigators examined the association between COVID-19 cases in assisted living communities (ALCs) and the proportion of Medicare-Medicaid (dual) eligible minority residents, neighborhood area deprivation, and state COVID-19 policy stringency. They found that ALCs with higher proportions of dual-eligible minority residents were more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks within their communities. Further, ALCs located in more socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods, and in states with less stringent state social distancing policies, tended to have more COVID-19 cases.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Guo W, Li Y, Temkin-Greener H .
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in assisted living communities: neighborhood deprivation and state social distancing policies matter.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2022 Aug;43(8):1004-09. doi: 10.1017/ice.2022.46..
Keywords: COVID-19, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Policy, Public Health
Koball H, Kirby J, Hartig S
The relationship between states' immigrant-related policies and access to health care among children of immigrants.
The purpose of this AHRQ-authored paper was to explore immigrants’ children’s access to preventive healthcare, and the impact of sanctuary policies (state policies that limit federal immigration enforcement involvement) and the provision of driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants on that access. Primary outcomes included whether the child had a well child check-up, unmet medical needs, or a regular source for care. The 2008-2016 Medical Panel Expenditure Survey (MPES) merged with policy data at the state level were analyzed, with the researchers reporting that sanctuary policies and having a state driver’s license were both associated with having a regular source for care and less unmet medical needs among the children of immigrants. The researchers emphasized the importance of access to preventive care and concluded that sanctuary policies are related to increased access to preventive health care among the children of immigrants.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Koball H, Kirby J, Hartig S .
The relationship between states' immigrant-related policies and access to health care among children of immigrants.
J Immigr Minor Health 2022 Aug;24(4):834-41. doi: 10.1007/s10903-021-01282-9..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Policy, Access to Care
Newton H, Beetham T, Busch SH
Association of access to crisis intervention teams with county sociodemographic characteristics and state Medicaid policies and Its implications for a new mental health crisis lifeline.
This study’s objective was to assess county-level access to crisis intervention teams (CIS) for acute mental health issues in 2015 and 2020 and its association with area characteristics and state policies in 2020. This cross-sectional study included 10,430 facilities from the 2015 National Directory of Mental Health Treatment Facilities and 10,591 facilities from the 2020 National Directory of Mental Health Treatment Facilities, from 3142 US counties. Area measures included suicide, drug-related overdose mortality, rurality, and demographic characteristics. State-level policies included enactment of 5 Medicaid policies prior to 2020 and 2 recent policies intended to assist implementation of the 988 telephone lifeline. Most US residents (88%) lived in a county that had at least 1 facility offering CIT, although half of all US counties had no CIT facility. Counties without vs those with CIT access were less likely to be in states that expanded Medicare and in states that allow Medicaid to pay for short-term stays in psychiatric hospitals. Residents of counties without CIT access were more likely to be older (>55 years) and uninsured and were more likely to be rural.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Newton H, Beetham T, Busch SH .
Association of access to crisis intervention teams with county sociodemographic characteristics and state Medicaid policies and Its implications for a new mental health crisis lifeline.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jul;5(7):e2224803. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.24803..
Keywords: Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Policy
Fung V, Yang Z, Cook BL
Changes in insurance coverage continuity after Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid eligibility for young adults with low income in Massachusetts.
The purpose of this cohort study was to describe changes in insurance coverage continuity for Medicaid enrollees who turned age 19 years before and after eligibility policy changes from the 2014 Medicaid expansion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Between November 1, 2020, and May 12, 2022 the researchers analyzed data from the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database (2012 to 2016) to compare coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries turning age 19 years before and after Medicaid expansion. A total of 41,247 young adults turning age 18 to 19 years in the baseline year were included in the study. The researchers found that enrollees who turned age 19 after vs before the Medicaid eligibility expansion were less likely to have 3 or more uninsured months at18 to 19 years of age and 19 to 20 years of age and more likely to have continuous insurance coverage for 12 or more months. Differences in the likelihood of having 3 or more uninsured months decreased at 20 to 21 years of age, when both groups had access to Medicaid. The study concluded that among Medicaid enrollees entering adulthood, the expansion of Medicaid to lower-income adults through the 2014 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was associated with a decreased possibility of becoming uninsured.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation: Fung V, Yang Z, Cook BL .
Changes in insurance coverage continuity after Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid eligibility for young adults with low income in Massachusetts.
JAMA Health Forum 2022 Jul;3(7):e221996. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.1996..
Keywords: Young Adults, Health Insurance, Policy, Medicaid, Access to Care, Low-Income
Blanco C, Kato EU, Aklin WM
Research to move policy - using evidence to advance health equity for substance use disorders.
This paper discusses ways that evidence-based research can advance health equity for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Racial and ethnic disparities in treatment access and outcomes have widened, despite substantial efforts to address the epidemic of overdose-related deaths in the US. Overdose rates are rising faster in Black, Latinx, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations than in White populations. Possible opportunities to address these disparities include addressing social determinants of health, implementing prevention measures, and supporting data science. The steps to ensure that research reduces disparities are to: 1) include members of underrepresented groups in the development of preventive interventions and treatments, 2) adequately recruit members of historically represented groups and ensure that studies are large enough to measure differences in outcomes according to race and ethnic group, 3) establish equitable partnerships with people who currently have or have had SUDS and their families and engage these groups in evidence production, 4) diversify the scientific workforce, and 4) have investigators measure the effects of policies and interventions on equity.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Blanco C, Kato EU, Aklin WM .
Research to move policy - using evidence to advance health equity for substance use disorders.
N Engl J Med 2022 Jun 16;386(24):2253-55. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2202740..
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Policy, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Social Determinants of Health
Haque W, Ahmadzada M, Janumpally S
Adherence to a federal hospital price transparency rule and associated financial and marketplace factors.
This research letter describes a study that evaluated adherence to the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule 6 to 9 months after the final rule effective date (January 1, 2021). The rule’s aim is to increase health price transparency and facilitation patient price shopping online. Hospitals were required to post 5 price types: gross charges, discounted prices, payer-specific negotiated prices, minimum and maximum prices in a machine-readable file, and a separate accessible display or price estimator for at least 300 shoppable items. The authors used the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) to measure inpatient hospital market concentration. The data was collected for 185 of 929 core-based statistical areas from 2019. HHI is divided into the following categories: unconcentrated, moderately concentrated, or highly or very concentrated. Results showed that out of 5239 total hospitals, 729 (13.9%) had an adherent machine-readable file but no shoppable display, 1542 (29.4%) had an adherent shoppable display but no machine-readable file, and 300 (5.7%) had both. The most adherent hospitals tended to be acute care hospitals with lesser revenue per patient-day, within unconcentrated health care markets, and in urban areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS026980.
Citation: Haque W, Ahmadzada M, Janumpally S .
Adherence to a federal hospital price transparency rule and associated financial and marketplace factors.
JAMA 2022 Jun 7;327(21):2143-45. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.5363..
Keywords: Policy, Hospitals, Healthcare Costs
Escarce JJ, Wozniak GD, Tsipas S
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, social disadvantage, and the practice location choices of new general internists.
This study’s objective was to examine the level of social disadvantage of the areas of Medicaid expansion states from the ACA that gained new physicians and the areas of nonexpansion states that lost them. The authors used American Community Survey data to classify commuting zones as high, medium, or low social disadvantage. The AMA Physician Masterfile data from 2009-2019 was used to compare where 32,102 new general internists located during the 6 years following the expansion to where they located during the 5 years preceding the expansion. They estimated that between 2014 and 2019 nonexpansion states lost 371 new general internists to expansion states. However, 62.5% of the physicians lost by nonexpansion states were lost from high disadvantage areas although those areas only account for 17.9% of the population of nonexpansion states. This potentially compromises access for all residents irrespective of insurance coverage.
AHRQ-funded; HS025750.
Citation: Escarce JJ, Wozniak GD, Tsipas S .
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, social disadvantage, and the practice location choices of new general internists.
Med Care 2022 May;60(5):342-50. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001703..
Keywords: Medicaid, Policy, Provider: Physician, Health Insurance
Tzeng HM, Raji MA, Chou LN
Impact of state nurse practitioner regulations on potentially inappropriate medication prescribing between physicians and nurse practitioners: a national study in the United States.
The American Geriatrics Society regularly updates the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication (PIM) to improve prescribing safety. This study assessed the impact of nurse practitioner (NP) practices on PIM prescribing across states in the United States and compared the change in PIM prescribing rates between 2016 and 2018. The investigators found that the PIM prescription rate was lower in states with full NP practice and lower among NPs than among physicians; these rates for both physicians and NPs decreased from 2016 to 2018.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Tzeng HM, Raji MA, Chou LN .
Impact of state nurse practitioner regulations on potentially inappropriate medication prescribing between physicians and nurse practitioners: a national study in the United States.
J Nurs Care Qual 2022 Jan-Mar;37(1):6-13. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000595..
Keywords: Medication, Medication: Safety, Provider: Nurse, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Policy
