National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Access to Care (1)
- (-) Ambulatory Care and Surgery (6)
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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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedOlfson M, Zuvekas SH, McClellan C
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH, McClellan C
Racial-ethnic disparities in outpatient mental health care in the United States.
Using data from the 2018-19 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, researchers compared national rates and patterns of use for outpatient mental health care among Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White individuals. Analyses focused on individuals using psychotropic medications, psychotherapy, or both, and receipt of minimally adequate mental health care. The results showed that the rate of outpatient mental health service use was more than twice as high for White individuals, and that Black and Hispanic patients were significantly less likely to receive psychotropic medications; Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to receive psychotherapy. No significant differences were found in patients who received minimally adequate treatment for depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or disruptive behavior disorders. The authors concluded that achieving racial-ethnic equity will require dedicated efforts to promote greater mental health service access for Black and Hispanic persons in need.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Olfson M, Zuvekas SH, McClellan C .
Racial-ethnic disparities in outpatient mental health care in the United States.
Psychiatr Serv 2023 Jul; 74(7):674-83. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.20220365..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Behavioral Health, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Levine DM, Chalasani R, Linder JA
Association of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with ambulatory quality, patient experience, utilization, and cost, 2014-2016.
The national impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to be debated. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between the ACA and ambulatory quality, patient experience, utilization, and cost by comparing outcomes before (2011-2013) and after (2014-2016) ACA implementation. The study focused on United States adults between 18 and 64 years of age with income less than and greater than or equal to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL), who had responded to the annual Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Researchers conducted analysis of data from a sample of 123,171 individuals between January 2021 and March 2022. The study found that after the implementation of ACA, adults with income levels less than 400% of the FPL received increased high value care such as diagnostic and preventive testing when compared with adults with income 400% or higher of the FPL, and there were no differences in the other quality measures. Individuals with income less than 400% of the FPL had greater improvements in access, experience, and communication measures compared with those who had income greater than or equal to 400% of the FPL. Receipt of primary care services increased for individuals with lower income compared to individuals with higher income and for those with lower income compared to those with higher income, total out-of-pocket expenditures decreased. There were no other differences in utilization or cost between those groups. The researchers concluded that in this study, the ACA was not associated with changes in utilization, quality, or cost, but was related to decreased out-of-pocket expenditures and improved patient access, communication, and experience.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500020I; HS026506; HS028127.
Citation: Levine DM, Chalasani R, Linder JA .
Association of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with ambulatory quality, patient experience, utilization, and cost, 2014-2016.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jun 1;5(6):e2218167. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18167..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Biener AI, Selden TM
AHRQ Author: Biener AI, Selden TM
Public and private payments for physician office visits.
Using data for 2014-15 from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to estimate standardized payments for nonelderly adults' physician office visits by type of insurance, researchers found that adults with public insurance, especially Medicaid, had substantially lower provider payments, out-of-pocket spending, and third-party payments than their peers with employer-sponsored or Marketplace insurance.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Biener AI, Selden TM .
Public and private payments for physician office visits.
Health Aff 2017 Dec;36(12):2160-64. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0749.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Payment, Health Insurance, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Ray KN, Chari AV, Engberg J
Opportunity costs of ambulatory medical care in the United States.
The authors aimed to quantify the opportunity costs for adults seeking medical care for themselves or others. Using the 2003-2010 American Time Use Survey, they found that total opportunity costs per year for all physician visits in the United States were $52 billion in 2010. They concluded that, for every dollar spent in visit reimbursement, an additional 15 cents were spent in opportunity costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Ray KN, Chari AV, Engberg J .
Opportunity costs of ambulatory medical care in the United States.
Am J Manag Care 2015 Aug;21(8):567-74.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Olfson M, Druss BG, Marcus SC
Trends in mental health care among children and adolescents.
This study examined national trends in the use of outpatient mental health services by children and adolescents, focusing on the severity of mental health impairment. It found that outpatient mental health treatment and psychotropic-medication use in children and adolescents increased in the United States between 1996–1998 and 2010–2012. Youths with less severe or no impairment accounting for most of the absolute increase in service use.
AHRQ-funded; HS021112.
Citation: Olfson M, Druss BG, Marcus SC .
Trends in mental health care among children and adolescents.
N Engl J Med 2015 May 21;372(21):2029-38. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa1413512..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Galarraga JE, Mutter R, Pines JM
AHRQ Author: Mutter R
Costs associated with ambulatory care sensitive conditions across hospital-based settings.
The objective of this study was to identify the cost differences in payments and charges for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSC) visits in three different hospital-based settings: outpatient visits, ED visits, and inpatient admissions. After adjusting for patient demographics and comorbid conditions, charges for an inpatient ACSC visit were four times higher ($11,414 vs. $2,563) when compared to an ED visit.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Galarraga JE, Mutter R, Pines JM .
Costs associated with ambulatory care sensitive conditions across hospital-based settings.
Acad Emerg Med. 2015 Feb;22(2):172-81. doi: 10.1111/acem.12579..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Inpatient Care