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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 DisplayedMeiselbach MK, Bai G, Anderson GF
Charges of COVID-19 diagnostic testing and antibody testing across facility types and states.
The authors discuss the practice of high charges for COVID-19 testing by some healthcare providers, with the charges for COVID-19 testing having important implications for uninsured patients, out-of-network services, and other payers without negotiating power. The purpose of this study was to examine the charges for the most commonly performed COVID-19 diagnostic test and antibody test across facility types and states. The study found that for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, the mean, median, and standard deviations of charges were $144.06, $100.00, and $162.18. The most common facility type was independent laboratories (performing 49.7% of all tests), with an average charge of $140.41, followed by hospital outpatient settings (performing 34.5% of all tests), with an average charge of $168.87. For antibody testing, the mean, median, and standard deviations of charges were $63.93, $55.00, and $48.92. Independent laboratories performed 97.2% of all tests, with an average charge of $62.30. In sum, 8.0% of diagnostic testing services and 14.0% of antibody testing claims were charged one standard deviation above the mean ($306.24 for diagnostic testing and $112.85 for antibody testing). The state average testing charges ranged between $64.98 (UT) and $505.65 (DC) for diagnostic testing, and $45.85 (NY) and $195.41 (NM) for antibody testing. AR, LA, MO, and NM had high average charges for both tests. GA, KS, MA, MD, NC, NV, and OK had low charges for both tests. No statistically significant association was found between testing charges and state-level testing rates, infection rates, or mortality rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Meiselbach MK, Bai G, Anderson GF .
Charges of COVID-19 diagnostic testing and antibody testing across facility types and states.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Dec; 38(16):3640-43. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06198-y..
Keywords: COVID-19, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Costs
Rodriguez PJ, Roberts DA, Meisner J
Cost-effectiveness of dual maternal HIV and syphilis testing strategies in high and low HIV prevalence countries: a modelling study.
Dual HIV and syphilis testing might help to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and syphilis through increased case detection and treatment. In this study, the investigators aimed to model and assess the cost-effectiveness of dual testing during antenatal care in four countries with varying HIV and syphilis prevalence. The authors concluded that incorporating dual rapid diagnostic tests in antenatal care could be cost-saving across countries with varying HIV prevalence.
AHRQ-funded; HS013853.
Citation: Rodriguez PJ, Roberts DA, Meisner J .
Cost-effectiveness of dual maternal HIV and syphilis testing strategies in high and low HIV prevalence countries: a modelling study.
Lancet Glob Health 2021 Jan;9(1):e61-e71. doi: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30395-8..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Pregnancy, Women, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Costs
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
Shaker M, Verma K, Greenhawt M
The health and economic outcomes of early egg introduction strategies.
This study compared the costs and benefits of early egg introduction (EEI) using simulation and Markov modeling over a 20-year horizon with data from the United States, Europe, and Canada. Per child it was more expensive to provide early screening for all children with early-onset eczema than to have a “wait and see” approach. While there would be more egg allergy diagnosis with early screening, the increased costs were too great compared to the no-screening approach.
Citation: Shaker M, Verma K, Greenhawt M .
The health and economic outcomes of early egg introduction strategies.
Allergy 2018 Nov;73(11):2214-23. doi: 10.1111/all.13565..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Screening, Healthcare Costs, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medication
Shaker M, Stukus D, Chan ES
"To screen or not to screen": comparing the health and economic benefits of early peanut introduction strategies in five countries.
This study compared the costs and benefits of early peanut introduction (EPI) using data from five countries: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom. Per child it was more expensive to provide early screening for all children with early-onset eczema and/or egg allergy than to have a “wait and see” approach. While there would be more peanut allergy diagnosis with early screening, the increased costs were too great compared to the no-screening approach.
AHRQ-funded; HS024599.
Citation: Shaker M, Stukus D, Chan ES .
"To screen or not to screen": comparing the health and economic benefits of early peanut introduction strategies in five countries.
Allergy 2018 Aug;73(8):1707-14. doi: 10.1111/all.13446..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Healthcare Costs, Medication, Medication
Balentine CJ, Vanness DJ, Schneider DF
Cost-effectiveness of lobectomy versus genetic testing (Afirma(R)) for indeterminate thyroid nodules: considering the costs of surveillance.
This study evaluated whether diagnostic thyroidectomy for indeterminate thyroid nodules would be more cost-effective than genetic testing after including the costs of long-term surveillance. Its base case estimate suggests that diagnostic lobectomy dominates genetic testing as a strategy for ruling out malignancy of indeterminate thyroid nodules.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Balentine CJ, Vanness DJ, Schneider DF .
Cost-effectiveness of lobectomy versus genetic testing (Afirma(R)) for indeterminate thyroid nodules: considering the costs of surveillance.
Surgery 2018 Jan;163(1):88-96. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2017.10.004.
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Keywords: Cancer, Shared Decision Making, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Genetics, Healthcare Costs, Screening, Surgery
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
Gallego CJ, Shirts BH, Bennette CS
Next-generation sequencing panels for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and polyposis syndromes: a cost-effectiveness analysis.
The researchers evaluated the cost effectiveness of next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and polyposis (CRCP) syndromes in patients referred to cancer genetics clinics. They concluded that the use of an NGS panel that includes genes associated with highly penetrant CRCP syndromes in addition to Lynch syndrome genes as a first-line test is likely to provide meaningful clinical benefits in a cost-effective manner.
AHRQ-funded; HS021686.
Citation: Gallego CJ, Shirts BH, Bennette CS .
Next-generation sequencing panels for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and polyposis syndromes: a cost-effectiveness analysis.
J Clin Oncol 2015 Jun 20;33(18):2084-91. doi: 10.1200/jco.2014.59.3665..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Shared Decision Making, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Genetics, Healthcare Costs, Screening