National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Cancer (1)
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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 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedHua CL, Thomas KS, Bunker JN
Dementia diagnosis in the hospital and outcomes among patients with advanced dementia documented in the Minimum Data Set.
This retrospective cohort study examined the association between a dementia diagnosis listed on a hospital claim and patient outcomes among individuals with a Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment. The cohort was comprised of hospitalized patients aged 66 years and older with advanced dementia noted on an MDS assessment completed within 120 days prior to their first hospitalization in 2017. Among 120,989 patients with advanced dementia and a nursing home stay, 90.6% had a dementia diagnosis on their hospital claims. Documentation of a dementia diagnosis was associated with lower use of intensive care unit or coronary care unit, use of invasive mechanical ventilation, and 30-day mortality. These patients also had a shorter hospital length of stay.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Hua CL, Thomas KS, Bunker JN .
Dementia diagnosis in the hospital and outcomes among patients with advanced dementia documented in the Minimum Data Set.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2022 Mar;70(3):846-53. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17564..
Keywords: Dementia, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medicare, Hospitals, Neurological Disorders
Hua CL, Thomas KS, Bunker J
Changes in the agreement between the Minimum Data Set and hospital Medicare claims measures of dementia.
The objective of this study was to examine the agreement between a clinical Minimum Data Set measure of dementia and a diagnosis of dementia documented on a hospital claim across three points in time. A second objective was to examine the extent to which the agreement varied by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Findings showed that hospital claims for patients aged 66–75 were less likely to be accurate than those for other age groups and suggests that physicians do not always look for signs of dementia in younger adults. Additionally, Asian patients were less likely to have a diagnosis of dementia documented during hospitalization, which could be related to language barriers between patients and clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Hua CL, Thomas KS, Bunker J .
Changes in the agreement between the Minimum Data Set and hospital Medicare claims measures of dementia.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Sep;69(9):2672-75. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17201..
Keywords: Elderly, Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medicare
Ganguli I, Lupo C, Mainor AJ
Assessment of prevalence and cost of care cascades after routine testing during the Medicare annual wellness visit.
This observational cohort study looked at the prevalence and cost of care cascades after routine tests considered low value in fee-for-service Medicare patients from January 2013 through March 2015 who had gone for an annual wellness visit (AWV). Among the 75,275 AWV recipients identified, 18.6% received at least 1 low-value test including an ECG, urinalysis, or thyrotropin tests. Patients who were younger, White, and lived in urban, high-income areas were most likely to receive those tests. The cost-cascade was considered notable but of modest cost.
AHRQ-funded; HS023812.
Citation: Ganguli I, Lupo C, Mainor AJ .
Assessment of prevalence and cost of care cascades after routine testing during the Medicare annual wellness visit.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2029891. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.29891..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Hong AS, Levin D, Parker L
Trends in diagnostic imaging utilization among Medicare and commercially insured adults from 2003 through 2016.
This study examined trends in use of noninvasive diagnostic imaging (NDI) among commercially insured individuals compared to Medicare enrollees from 2003 through 2016. There was more of an increase among Medicare enrollees than commercially insured patients, but both showed upward trends until the early 2010’s where trends began to be flat or decline. The notable exception was for CT imaging among commercially insured patients aged 45-64 years and Medicare enrollees after 2012.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Hong AS, Levin D, Parker L .
Trends in diagnostic imaging utilization among Medicare and commercially insured adults from 2003 through 2016.
Radiology 2020 Feb;294(2):342-50. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2019191116..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medicare, Imaging, Healthcare Utilization, Health Insurance
Albrecht JS, Wickwire EM, Vadlamani A
Trends in insomnia diagnosis and treatment among Medicare beneficiaries, 2006-2013.
In this study, the investigators examined trends in insomnia diagnosis and treatment among Medicare beneficiaries over an eight-year period. In this large national analysis of Medicare beneficiaries, prevalence of physician-assigned insomnia diagnoses was low but increased over time. Prevalence of insomnia medication use was up to four-times higher than insomnia diagnoses and remained steady over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS024560.
Citation: Albrecht JS, Wickwire EM, Vadlamani A .
Trends in insomnia diagnosis and treatment among Medicare beneficiaries, 2006-2013.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019 Mar;27(3):301-09. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2018.10.017..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Elderly, Medicare, Sleep Problems
Berenson R, Singh H
Payment innovations to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce diagnostic error.
Researchers examined ways that payment innovations could be used to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce diagnostic error among Medicare patients. They recommended three different approaches: 1) coding changes in the Medicare Physician Fee schedule; new Alternative Payment Models (APMs) that could improve accuracy in challenging cases and even provide second or third opinions; and 3) have a method that accurate diagnoses would trigger APM payments and establish payment amounts.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087; HS017820.
Citation: Berenson R, Singh H .
Payment innovations to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce diagnostic error.
Health Aff 2018 Nov;37(11):1828-35. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0714..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Payment, Medical Errors, Medicare, Patient Safety, Quality of Care
Mian HS, Wildes TM, Fiala MA
Development of a Medicare health outcomes survey deficit-accumulation frailty index and its application to older patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics 2018; 2):1-13. doi: 10.1200/cci.18.00043.
This study’s objective was to develop a frailty index for older patients and apply it to a subset of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The study used the Rockwood Accumulation of Deficits approach for the Medicare Health Outcomes Study (MHOS). Data from over 2 million patients without cancer older than 66 years of age from SEER-MHOS linked databases were compared to the cohort with multiple myeloma. It was found that among patients without cancer, each 10% increase in the frailty index was associated with a 40% increased risk of death. For the multiple myeloma cohort, each 10% increase in the frailty index was associated with a 16% increased risk for death. Median time for overall survival was only 26.8 months for patients considered frail, compared with 43.7 months for those who were not. This frailty index could be used a predictor of overall survival in older multiple myeloma patients.
This study’s objective was to develop a frailty index for older patients and apply it to a subset of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The study used the Rockwood Accumulation of Deficits approach for the Medicare Health Outcomes Study (MHOS). Data from over 2 million patients without cancer older than 66 years of age from SEER-MHOS linked databases were compared to the cohort with multiple myeloma. It was found that among patients without cancer, each 10% increase in the frailty index was associated with a 40% increased risk of death. For the multiple myeloma cohort, each 10% increase in the frailty index was associated with a 16% increased risk for death. Median time for overall survival was only 26.8 months for patients considered frail, compared with 43.7 months for those who were not. This frailty index could be used a predictor of overall survival in older multiple myeloma patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Mian HS, Wildes TM, Fiala MA .
Development of a Medicare health outcomes survey deficit-accumulation frailty index and its application to older patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2018;2. doi: 10.1200/cci.18.00043..
Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Elderly, Health Status, Medicare
Callaghan BC, Burke JF, Skolarus LE
Medicare's reimbursement reduction for nerve conduction studies: effect on use and payments.
The purpose of this research letter was to investigate the effect of the sharp reduction in Medicare reimbursement for electromyography (EMG) while the reimbursement for nerve conduction studies (NCS) remained unchanged. They found that the use of EMG by neurologists and physiatrists changed little, whereas a decrease in its use among other health care providers was observed. They concluded that the pattern of change in use of EMG and NCS suggests findings similar to those in past studies of Medicare reimbursement with regard to reducing inappropriate, but not appropriate, testing and treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS022258.
Citation: Callaghan BC, Burke JF, Skolarus LE .
Medicare's reimbursement reduction for nerve conduction studies: effect on use and payments.
JAMA Intern Med 2016 May;176(5):697-9. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.0162.
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Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Costs, Payment, Medicare