National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Access to Care (6)
- Alcohol Use (1)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (1)
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (1)
- Children/Adolescents (7)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (1)
- Data (1)
- Dental and Oral Health (2)
- Depression (1)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Disabilities (2)
- Disparities (2)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (3)
- Healthcare Costs (11)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (3)
- Health Insurance (10)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (3)
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- Hospitalization (1)
- Low-Income (1)
- Medicaid (2)
- (-) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (31)
- Medicare (1)
- Medication (2)
- Obesity (1)
- Obesity: Weight Management (1)
- Policy (3)
- Pregnancy (1)
- Prevention (4)
- Primary Care (2)
- Quality of Life (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2)
- Research Methodologies (1)
- Screening (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (6)
- Substance Abuse (1)
- Uninsured (2)
- Women (2)
- Young Adults (1)
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 25 of 31 Research Studies DisplayedKirby JB, Davidoff AJ, Basu J
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB, Basu J
The ACA's zero cost-sharing mandate and trends in out-of-pocket expenditures on well-child and screening mammography visits.
This study used a nationally representative sample of ambulatory care visits to estimate the impact of the zero cost-sharing mandate on out-of-pocket expenditures on well-child and screening mammography visits. It concluded that the Affordable Care Act's zero cost-sharing mandate for preventive care has had a large impact on out-of-pocket expenditures for well-child and mammography visits.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Davidoff AJ, Basu J .
The ACA's zero cost-sharing mandate and trends in out-of-pocket expenditures on well-child and screening mammography visits.
Med Care 2016 Dec;54(12):1056-62. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000610.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Screening, Women, Policy, Prevention
Abdus S, Selden TM, Keenan P
AHRQ Author: Abdus S, Selden TM, Keenan P
The financial burdens of high-deductible plans.
The increased prevalence of high-deductible health plans raises concerns regarding high financial burdens from health care, particularly for low-income adults.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S, Selden TM, Keenan P .
The financial burdens of high-deductible plans.
Health Aff 2016 Dec;35(12):2297-301. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0842.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Social Determinants of Health
Kirby JB, Vistnes JP
AHRQ Author: Kirby JB, Vistnes JP
Access to care improved for people who gained Medicaid or marketplace coverage in 2014.
Newly available longitudinal survey data show that people who lacked health insurance in 2013 and gained coverage through Medicaid or the Marketplaces in 2014 were far more likely to obtain a usual source of care and receive preventive care services than their counterparts who remained uninsured in 2014.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kirby JB, Vistnes JP .
Access to care improved for people who gained Medicaid or marketplace coverage in 2014.
Health Aff 2016 Oct 1;35(10):1830-34. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0716.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Access to Care, Medicaid, Health Insurance
Hanmer J, Hess R, Sullivan S
Benchmarking health-related quality-of-life data from a clinical setting.
This paper's objective was to construct a nationally representative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) benchmark for use with a clinical sample. The results showed that HRQoL benchmarks can be created from current public datasets, and subgroups in national samples may provide more valid benchmarks for clinical populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Hanmer J, Hess R, Sullivan S .
Benchmarking health-related quality-of-life data from a clinical setting.
Am J Manag Care 2016 Oct;22(10):669-75.
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Keywords: Health Status, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Quality of Life
Vistnes JP, Cohen JW
AHRQ Author: Vistnes JP, Cohen JW
Gaining coverage in 2014: new estimates of marketplace and Medicaid transitions.
The researchers used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component to examine coverage transitions for nonelderly US adults. They found that 71.5 percent of Marketplace enrollees in 2014 had some period of uninsurance before enrollment. In Medicaid expansion states, 17.4 percent of adults who were uninsured throughout 2013 gained Medicaid coverage in 2014, compared with only 5.6 percent in those states between 2012 and 2013.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Vistnes JP, Cohen JW .
Gaining coverage in 2014: new estimates of marketplace and Medicaid transitions.
Health Aff 2016 Oct 1;35(10):1825-29. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0500.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Health Insurance, Medicaid, Uninsured, Policy
Olfson M, Blanco C, Marcus SC
Treatment of adult depression in the United States.
The researchers characterized the treatment of adult depression in the United States. They concluded that most US adults who screen positive for depression did not receive treatment for depression, whereas most who were treated did not screen positive. In light of these findings, it is important to strengthen efforts to align depression care with each patient's clinical needs.
AHRQ-funded; HS02112.
Citation: Olfson M, Blanco C, Marcus SC .
Treatment of adult depression in the United States.
JAMA Intern Med 2016 Oct;176(10):1482-91. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5057.
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Keywords: Medication, Depression, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Ray KN, Mehrotra A
Trends in access to primary care for children in the United States, 2002-2013.
Using MEPS data, the authors described how access to primary care has changed over the last decade for children. They found no change in the proportion of children with a usual source of care (USC). Other measures improved, but out-of-pocket costs increased among privately insured children. Results suggested that after-hours accommodation within the USC is worsening, despite the promotion of patient-centered medical home initiatives. All measures of acceptability improved, consistent with a growing focus on family-centeredness of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Ray KN, Mehrotra A .
Trends in access to primary care for children in the United States, 2002-2013.
JAMA Pediatr 2016 Oct;170(10):1023-25. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.0985.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Children/Adolescents, Health Services Research (HSR), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Primary Care
Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in dental insurance, receipt of dental checkups, and delayed and unmet needs for dental care by type and complexity of disability. It found that all disability types except hearing had significantly higher adjusted odds of being without dental insurance, as did people with complex activity limitations. Further, disparities in care were apparent even when controlling for presence of dental insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K .
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
J Public Health Dent 2016 Sep;76(4):330-39. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12160.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disabilities, Health Insurance, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Ali MM, Chen J, Mutter R
AHRQ Author: Novak P
The ACA's dependent coverage expansion and out-of-pocket spending by young adults with behavioral health conditions.
The authors analyzed out-of-pocket spending as a share of total health care expenditures for young adults with behavioral health conditions before and after the implementation of the ACA dependent care provision. They found that the extension of health insurance coverage to young adults with behavioral health disorders has provided them with additional financial protection, which can be important given the low incomes and high debt burden that characterize the age group.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ali MM, Chen J, Mutter R .
The ACA's dependent coverage expansion and out-of-pocket spending by young adults with behavioral health conditions.
Psychiatr Serv 2016 Sep;67(9):977-82. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500346.
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Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Young Adults
Blosnich JR, Hammer J, Yu L
Health care use, health behaviors, and medical conditions among individuals in same-sex and opposite-sex partnerships: a cross-sectional observational analysis of the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS), 2003-2011.
Thsi study's objective was to examine associations between sexual minority status and medical conditions. The researchers used MEPS data to determine measures of health risk, health services utilization, and the presence of 15 medical conditions. They found that individuals in same-sex partnerships had 67% increased odds of past-year emergency department utilization and 51% greater odds of three or more physician visits in the last year compared with opposite-sex partnered individuals.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Blosnich JR, Hammer J, Yu L .
Health care use, health behaviors, and medical conditions among individuals in same-sex and opposite-sex partnerships: a cross-sectional observational analysis of the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS), 2003-2011.
Med Care 2016 Jun;54(6):547-54. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000529.
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Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Disparities, Healthcare Utilization, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Berdahl T, Hudson J, Simpson L
AHRQ Author: Berdahl T, Hudson J
Annual report on children's health care: dental and orthodontic utilization and expenditures for children, 2010-2012.
The researchers examined general dental and orthodontic utilization and expenditures by health insurance status, public health insurance eligibility, and sociodemographic characteristics among children aged 0 to 17 years using data from 2010-2012. Overall, 41.9 percent of US children reported an annual dental office-based visit for general (nonorthodontic) dental care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Berdahl T, Hudson J, Simpson L .
Annual report on children's health care: dental and orthodontic utilization and expenditures for children, 2010-2012.
Acad Pediatr 2016 May-Jun;16(4):314-26. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2016.02.013.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance
Bernard D, Selden T, Yeh S
AHRQ Author: Bernard D, Selden T
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults: the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions.
The researchers examined the financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults, focusing on the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions. Functional limitations and chronic conditions were associated with increased prevalence of burdens and financial barriers in all insurance categories, with the exception that an association between functional limitations and the prevalence of burdens was not observed for public coverage.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Bernard D, Selden T, Yeh S .
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults: the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions.
Disabil Health J 2016 Apr;9(2):256-64. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.09.003.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Chronic Conditions, Access to Care, Health Services Research (HSR)
Chavez LJ, Bradley K, Tefft N
Preference weights for the spectrum of alcohol use in the U.S. population.
One barrier to research has been the lack of preference weights needed to calculate Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). Preference weights can be estimated from measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The objective of this study was to describe preference weights for the full spectrum of alcohol use. It concluded that self-reported alcohol consumption may not be associated with preference weights.
AHRQ-funded; HS022800.
Citation: Chavez LJ, Bradley K, Tefft N .
Preference weights for the spectrum of alcohol use in the U.S. population.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2016 Apr 1;161:206-13. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.02.004.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Alcohol Use, Substance Abuse, Health Status
Horner-Johnson W, Darney BG, Kulkarni-Rajasekhara S
Pregnancy among US women: differences by presence, type, and complexity of disability.
The purpose of this study was to describe the occurrence of pregnancy among women with various types of disability and with differing levels of disability complexity, compared with women without disabilities, in a nationally representative sample. Women with the most complex disabilities (those that impact activities such as self-care and work) were less likely to have been pregnant, but women whose disabilities affected only basic actions did not differ significantly from women with no disabilities.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Darney BG, Kulkarni-Rajasekhara S .
Pregnancy among US women: differences by presence, type, and complexity of disability.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016 Apr;214(4):529.e1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.10.929.
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Keywords: Disabilities, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Pregnancy, Women
Chen J, Liu L, Shih YC
A flexible model for correlated medical costs, with application to Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data.
The researchers proposed a flexible model for correlated medical cost data and applied it to correlated medical costs in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey dataset. They then conducted simulation studies to assess the performance of this method.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Chen J, Liu L, Shih YC .
A flexible model for correlated medical costs, with application to Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data.
Stat Med 2016 Mar 15;35(6):883-94. doi: 10.1002/sim.6743.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Bernard DM, Selden TM
AHRQ Author: Bernard DM, Selden TM
Access to care among nonelderly veterans.
This study compared access to care for nonelderly adult veterans versus comparable non-veterans, overall and within subgroups defined by simulated eligibility for health care from the Veterans Health Administration and by insurance status. Its results showed that uninsured Veterans, the most policy-relevant group, have better access to care than comparable non-veterans.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Bernard DM, Selden TM .
Access to care among nonelderly veterans.
Med Care 2016 Mar;54(3):243-52. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000508.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Access to Care, Social Determinants of Health, Health Status
DeVoe JE, Tillotson CJ, Marino M
Trends in type of health insurance coverage for US children and their parents, 1998-2011.
The objective of this paper is to examine trends in health insurance type among US children and their parents. Using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (1998-2011), the authors found that low- and middle-income US families experienced a decrease in the percentage of child-parent pairs with private health insurance and pairs without insurance. At the same time, they found a rise in discordant coverage patterns - mainly publicly insured children with uninsured parents.
AHRQ-funded; HS018569.
Citation: DeVoe JE, Tillotson CJ, Marino M .
Trends in type of health insurance coverage for US children and their parents, 1998-2011.
Acad Pediatr 2016 Mar;16(2):192-9. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2015.06.009.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Uninsured
Yang HY, Chen HJ, Marsteller JA
AHRQ Author: Liang L
Patient-health care professional gender or race/ethnicity concordance and its association with weight-related advice in the United States.
This study examined association between adult patients' and health care providers' (HCPs) gender or race/ethnicity concordance and patients' reported receiving weight-related advice from HCP's in USA. It found that patient/HCP gender or race/ethnicity concordance was not positively associated with HCPs providing weight-related advice. Patients with female HCPs or with racial/ethnic discordant HCPs (especially black or Asian HCPs) were more likely to receive advice.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Yang HY, Chen HJ, Marsteller JA .
Patient-health care professional gender or race/ethnicity concordance and its association with weight-related advice in the United States.
Patient Educ Couns 2016 Feb;99(2):271-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.08.030.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Obesity, Obesity: Weight Management, Clinician-Patient Communication
McGuire TG, Glazer J, Newhouse JP
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
Integrating risk adjustment and enrollee premiums in health plan payment.
Paying health plans from two different sources such as risk-adjusted payments from a regulator and premiums charged to individual enrollees raises issues in payment design for both Medicare Advantage plans and the new State-run exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act. The primary purpose of this study is to demonstrate the versatility of least squares methods for risk adjustment in individual insurance markets with enrollee premiums.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: McGuire TG, Glazer J, Newhouse JP .
Integrating risk adjustment and enrollee premiums in health plan payment.
J Health Econ. 2013 Dec;32(6):1263-77. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2013.05.002..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicare
Sarpong EM, Miller GE
AHRQ Author: Sarpong EM, Miller GE
Racial and ethnic differences in childhood asthma treatment in the United States.
The authors examined racial-ethnic differences in asthma controller medication use among insured U.S. children. They found that non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children were less likely to use controllers than non-Hispanic white children. They concluded that the large observed differences in controller use highlight the continuing challenges of ensuring that all U.S. children have access to quality asthma care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Sarpong EM, Miller GE .
Racial and ethnic differences in childhood asthma treatment in the United States.
Health Serv Res 2013 Dec;48(6 Pt 1):2014-36. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12077.
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Keywords: Asthma, Children/Adolescents, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medication, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Cohen SB, Rohde F, Yu W
AHRQ Author: Cohen SB, Rohde F, Yu W
Building wave response rates in a longitudinal survey:Essential for nonsampling error reduction or last in–first out?
This study examined the implications of a reduction in targeted first-round response rates in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a national health care survey designed to produce estimates of health care utilization, expenditures, and insurance coverage. Study findings revealed nonuniform results when evaluating the capacity of alternative design strategies to achieve precision targets while simultaneously satisfying data collection budget constraints for a variety of medical care expenditure estimates.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Cohen SB, Rohde F, Yu W .
Building wave response rates in a longitudinal survey:Essential for nonsampling error reduction or last in–first out?
Field Methods 2013 Nov;25(4):361-87. doi: 10.1177/1525822x13507863..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Research Methodologies
Abdus S, Selden TM
AHRQ Author: Abdus S, Selden TM
Preventive services for adults: how have differences across subgroups changed over the past decade?
This study uses MEPS data to track changes over time in the distribution of preventive services use across groups defined by poverty status, race/ethnicity, insurance coverage, Census region, and urbanicity. The analysis found that differences across subgroups tended to persist over time, with some of the largest gaps between adults with and without coverage. Regional differences persisted or widened over the study period.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S, Selden TM .
Preventive services for adults: how have differences across subgroups changed over the past decade?
Med Care 2013 Nov;51(11):999-1007. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3182a97bc0.
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Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Health Insurance, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Prevention, Social Determinants of Health
Levit KR, Friedman B, Wong HS
AHRQ Author: Friedman B, Wong HS
Estimating inpatient hospital prices from state administrative data and hospital financial reports.
The researchers developed a tool for estimating hospital-specific inpatient prices for major payers. They found that hospital prices can be reasonably estimated for 10 geographically diverse states. They further found that estimated prices compare well with Medicare, MarketScan private insurance, and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey prices for major payers, given limitations of each dataset.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Levit KR, Friedman B, Wong HS .
Estimating inpatient hospital prices from state administrative data and hospital financial reports.
Health Serv Res 2013 Oct;48(5):1779-97. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12065.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Robin Yabroff K, Short PF, Machlin S
AHRQ Author: Machlin S
Access to preventive health care for cancer survivors.
The researchers evaluated the association between cancer survivorship and access to primary and preventive health care. They concluded that, although access and preventive care use in cancer survivors is generally equivalent or greater compared to that of other individuals, disparities for uninsured and publicly insured cancer survivors aged 18-64 years suggest that improvements in survivor care are needed.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Robin Yabroff K, Short PF, Machlin S .
Access to preventive health care for cancer survivors.
Am J Prev Med 2013 Sep;45(3):304-12. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.04.021.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Cancer, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Prevention, Primary Care
Berdahl TA, Friedman BS, McCormick MC
AHRQ Author: Berdahl TA, Friedman BS
Annual report on health care for children and youth in the United States: trends in racial/ethnic, income, and insurance disparities over time, 2002-2009.
Using MEPS and HCUP data, the authors examined trends in children's health access, utilization, and expenditures over time by race/ethnicity, income, and insurance status/expected payer. They found that disparities by race/ethnicity and income persist in access to and use of care, with Hispanic children experiencing progress in a number of measures, while black children did not.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Berdahl TA, Friedman BS, McCormick MC .
Annual report on health care for children and youth in the United States: trends in racial/ethnic, income, and insurance disparities over time, 2002-2009.
Acad Pediatr 2013 May-Jun;13(3):191-203. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2013.02.003.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Disparities, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Social Determinants of Health