National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- Access to Care (15)
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- Brain Injury (1)
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- Dental and Oral Health (1)
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- Elderly (3)
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- Imaging (1)
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- Low-Income (3)
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- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Sickle Cell Disease (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
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- Surgery (5)
- Tobacco Use (1)
- Tobacco Use: Smoking Cessation (1)
- Trauma (1)
- Uninsured (5)
- Vulnerable Populations (1)
- Women (5)
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 46 Research Studies DisplayedGraves JA, Nshuti L, Everson J
Breadth and exclusivity of hospital and physician networks in US insurance markets.
The goal of this study was to quantify network breadth and overlap among primary care physician (PCP), cardiology, and general acute care hospital networks for employer-based (large group and small group), individually purchased (marketplace), Medicare Advantage (MA), and Medicaid managed care (MMC) plans. The main outcomes measured were percentage of in-network physicians and/or hospitals within a 60-minute drive from a hypothetical patient in a given zip code (breadth), and the number of physicians and/or hospitals within each network that overlapped with other insurers' networks, expressed as a percentage of the total possible number of shared connections (exclusivity). Networks were categorized by network breadth size and analyzed by insurance type, state, and insurance, physician, and/or hospital market concentration level, as measured by the Hirschman-Herfindahl index. Markets with concentrated primary care and insurance markets had the broadest and least exclusive primary care networks among large-group commercial plans. Markets with the least concentration had the narrowest and most exclusive networks. Rising levels of insurer and market concentration were associated with broader and less exclusive healthcare networks. The authors suggest that this means that patients could switch to a lower-cost, narrow network plan without losing-in-network coverage to their PCP.
AHRQ-funded; HS025976; HS026395.
Citation: Graves JA, Nshuti L, Everson J .
Breadth and exclusivity of hospital and physician networks in US insurance markets.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2029419. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.29419..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Learning Health Systems, Health Systems, Primary Care, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery
Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
The authors examined changes in carve-out financial requirements following the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). They found that the MHPAEA was associated with increased generosity in most observed financial requirements, but increased use of deductibles may have reduced generosity for some patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024866.
Citation: Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F .
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(6):924-31. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13542..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Everson J, Adler-Milstein J, Ryan AM
Hospitals strengthened relationships with close partners after joining accountable care organizations.
This study tested the hypothesis that hospitals participating in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) try to influence where their patients receive care in order to achieve quality and cost containment goals. The authors studied hospitals participating in ACO from 2010 to 2014. ACO hospitals shared patients 4.4% more than non-ACO hospitals. This occurred disproportionately at hospitals that already shared a high proportion of their patients prior to participation and among hospitals in ACOs characterized as physician-hospital collaborations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728.
Citation: Everson J, Adler-Milstein J, Ryan AM .
Hospitals strengthened relationships with close partners after joining accountable care organizations.
Med Care Res Rev 2020 Dec;77(6):549-58. doi: 10.1177/1077558718818336..
Keywords: Hospitals, Medicare, Policy, Health Insurance
Henke RM, Karaca Z, Gibson TB
Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations and childbirth outcomes.
This study examined the impact of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to childbirth outcomes. States that use Medicaid ACOs were compared with states that had not adopted ACO. Using HCUP data, the relationship between Medicaid ACO adoption and neonatal and maternal outcomes, and cost per birth was examined. Medicaid ACO implementation was associated with a moderate reduction in hospital costs per birth and decreased cesarean section rates with results varying by state. There was no association with other birth outcomes, including infant inpatient mortality, low birthweight, neonatal intensive care unit utilization and severe maternal morbidity.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201300002C.
Citation: Henke RM, Karaca Z, Gibson TB .
Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations and childbirth outcomes.
Med Care Res Rev 2020 Dec;77(6):559-73. doi: 10.1177/1077558718823132..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Medicaid, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Women, Outcomes
Zhou RA, Beaulieu ND, Cutler D
Primary care quality and cost for privately insured patients in and out of US health systems: evidence from four states.
The purpose of this study was to characterize physician health system membership in four states between 2012 and 2016 and to compare primary care quality and cost between in-system providers and non-system providers for the commercially insured population. Investigators concluded that a growing share of physicians were part of a health system from 2012 to 2016.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Zhou RA, Beaulieu ND, Cutler D .
Primary care quality and cost for privately insured patients in and out of US health systems: evidence from four states.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(Suppl 3):1098-106. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13590.
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Keywords: Primary Care, Quality of Care, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs
Larson AE, Hoopes M, Angier H
Private/marketplace insurance in community health centers 5 years post-affordable care act in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states.
This study compared differences in private/marketplace insurance in community health centers (CHCs) 5 years post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states. Electronic health record data from 702,663 patients in clinics across 20 states was used to explore trends in private/market insurance post-expansion and whether CHC patients retain private/marketplace insurance. The authors found that patients in non-expansion state CHCs relied more heavily on private/marketplace insurance than patients in expansive states and had increased visits from 2014 through 2018. There was a more pronounced seasonal variation in private/marketplace-insured visits too. A greater percentage of those who in non-expansion states did not retain private/marketplace insurance become uninsured, while those in expansion states gained other types of health insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation: Larson AE, Hoopes M, Angier H .
Private/marketplace insurance in community health centers 5 years post-affordable care act in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states.
Prev Med 2020 Dec;141:106271. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106271..
Keywords: Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Benson NM, Myong C, Newhouse JP
Psychiatrist participation in private health insurance markets: paucity in the land of plenty.
Using 2013 Massachusetts licensing data and the All-Payer Claims Database, researchers performed a cross-sectional analysis of licensed psychiatrists in Massachusetts to examine the extent of participation in private insurance. They found that, among Massachusetts psychiatrists, participation in the private insurance market appeared to be limited. Older psychiatrists were more likely to participate, and patients' access to psychiatrists who accept insurance could worsen as these psychiatrists retire.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation: Benson NM, Myong C, Newhouse JP .
Psychiatrist participation in private health insurance markets: paucity in the land of plenty.
Psychiatr Serv 2020 Dec;71(12):1232-38. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000022..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Provider: Physician, Provider
Hudson JL, Moriya AS
AHRQ Author: Hudson JL
The role of marketplace policy on welcome mat effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
This study examined the role of marketplace policy on “welcome mat” effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Data from the American Community Survey from 2013-2018 was used to estimate the relationship between Marketplace policy and increases in Medicaid/CHIP coverage among pre-ACA eligible children after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The sample included non-disabled citizen children ages 0-18 at 139-250% federal poverty level who were Medicaid/CHIP-eligible before and after implementation of the ACA. Marketplace policies and enrollment were compared in expansion states versus non-expansion states. Public coverage did increase more in states that empowered their Marketplace to enroll publicly-eligible applicants directly into Medicaid/CHIP. This was driven by enrollment policy, not by choice of state-based versus federal-based Marketplaces. Welcome mats were largest in expansion states and increases ranged from 9 to 13 percentage points in enrollment.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hudson JL, Moriya AS .
The role of marketplace policy on welcome mat effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Inquiry 2020 Jan-Dec;57:46958020952920. doi: 10.1177/0046958020952920..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, Health Insurance, Policy, Uninsured, Access to Care
Geissler K, Ranchoff BL, Cooper MI
Association of insurance status with provision of recommended services during comprehensive postpartum visits.
Investigators examined rates of recommended services during the comprehensive postpartum visits and differences by insurance type. Data was taken from annual National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. Their findings suggested that receipt of recommended services during comprehensive postpartum visits was less than 50% for most services and was similar across insurance types. These findings underscored the importance of efforts to reconceptualize postpartum care to ensure that women have access to a range of supports to manage their health during this sensitive period.
AHRQ-funded; HS025515.
Citation: Geissler K, Ranchoff BL, Cooper MI .
Association of insurance status with provision of recommended services during comprehensive postpartum visits.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2025095. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25095..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization
Dalton VK, Moniz MH, Bailey MJ
Trends in birth rates after elimination of cost sharing for contraception by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Researchers evaluated changes in birth rates by income level among commercially insured women before (2008-2013) and after (2014-2018) the elimination of cost sharing for contraception under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The analytic sample included over 4.5 million women enrolled in 47,721 health plans. In this cross-sectional study, the researchers found that the elimination of cost sharing for contraception under the ACA was associated with improvements in contraceptive method prescription fills and a decrease in births among commercially insured women. Women with low income had more precipitous decreases than women with higher income, suggesting that enhanced access to contraception may address well-documented income-related disparities in unintended birth rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465; HS023784.
Citation: Dalton VK, Moniz MH, Bailey MJ .
Trends in birth rates after elimination of cost sharing for contraception by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2024398. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.24398..
Keywords: Policy, Health Insurance, Women, Healthcare Costs, Pregnancy, Sexual Health
Odlum M, Moise N, Kronish IM
Trends in poor health indicators among Black and Hispanic middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 1999-2018.
This study used records extracted from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to determine which health indicators have improved or became worse among Black and Hispanic middle-aged (45 and older) adults compared to Whites from 1999 to 2018. This data is required by the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000. A sample included of 4,856,326 participants, of them 60.9% women, mean age 60.4. During the last 20 years, Black adults showed an overall decrease showing improvement in uninsured status and physical inactivity while showing an overall increase in hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and stroke, and also the same increases and decreases in the Black-White gap. Hispanic adults showed improvement in physical inactivity and perceived poor health, while they showed overall deterioration in hypertension and diabetes. The Hispanic-White gap improved in coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, asthma, arthritis, depression and physical inactivity while it increased for diabetes, hypertension, and uninsured status.
AHRQ-funded; HS025198.
Citation: Odlum M, Moise N, Kronish IM .
Trends in poor health indicators among Black and Hispanic middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 1999-2018.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2025134. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25134..
Keywords: Elderly, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Health Status, Health Insurance, Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Chronic Conditions
Wisk LE, Peltz A, Galbraith AA
Changes in health care-related financial burden for US families with children associated with the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to improve access and affordability of health insurance. Although most ACA policies targeted childless adults, the extent to which these policies also impacted families with children remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in health care-related financial burden for US families with children before and after the ACA was implemented based on income eligibility for ACA policies.
AHRQ-funded; HS024700.
Citation: Wisk LE, Peltz A, Galbraith AA .
Changes in health care-related financial burden for US families with children associated with the Affordable Care Act.
JAMA Pediatr 2020 Nov;174(11):1032-40. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.3973..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Policy, Access to Care
Roberts ET, McGarry BE, Glynn A
Cognition and take-up of the Medicare Savings Programs.
In this study, the investigators examined the association between cognition and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) enrollment among elderly Medicare beneficiaries who qualified for these programs. They also examined enrollment in the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), a separate program that provides premium and cost-sharing assistance in Medicare Part D that Medicare beneficiaries automatically received if they are enrolled in an MSP.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Roberts ET, McGarry BE, Glynn A .
Cognition and take-up of the Medicare Savings Programs.
JAMA Intern Med 2020 Nov;180(11):1529-31. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2783..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Low-Income, Dementia, Neurological Disorders
Soylu TG, Goldberg DG, Cuellar AE
Medicare access and CHIP reauthorization act in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
Despite major efforts to transition to a new physician payment system under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), little is known about how well practices are prepared. This study aimed to understand how small and medium-sized primary care practices in the Heart of Virginia Healthcare (https://www.vahealthinnovation.org/hvh/) perceived their quality incentives under MACRA.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Soylu TG, Goldberg DG, Cuellar AE .
Medicare access and CHIP reauthorization act in small to medium-sized primary care practices.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 Nov-Dec;33(6):942-52. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200142..
Keywords: Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, Primary Care, Health Insurance
Hill SC, Miller GE, Ding Y
AHRQ Author: Hill SC, Miller GE, Ding Y
Net spending on retail specialty drugs grew rapidly, especially for private insurance and Medicare Part D.
This study examined net spending trends on retail specialty drugs from 2010 to 2017. Spending has been difficult to measure due to proprietary rebate payments by manufacturers by insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and state Medicaid agencies. The authors incorporated those rebates into their research. They found that specialty drugs accounted for 37.7% of retail and mail-order prescription spending net of rebates in 2016-17. The spending net of rebates tripled for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and more than doubled for people with private insurance from 2010 to 2017. Medicaid net spending of rebates had a slower increase.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hill SC, Miller GE, Ding Y .
Net spending on retail specialty drugs grew rapidly, especially for private insurance and Medicare Part D.
Health Aff 2020 Nov;39(11):1970-76. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01830..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Medication, Medicare, Health Insurance
Fung V, Price M, Nierenberg AA
Assessment of behavioral health services use among low-income Medicare beneficiaries after reductions in coinsurance fees.
This study looked at outcomes from reducing behavioral health care Medicare coinsurance from 50% to 20% from 2009 to 2013. The sample of patients looked at included some diagnosed with SMI (serious mental illness) including schizophrenia, bipolar, or major depressive disorder). Data analysis was performed on 793,275 beneficiaries with SMI in 2008 and compared them with costs in 2013. The mean adjusted out-of-pocket costs for outpatient behavioral care decreased from $132 annually to $64, but the number of visits only increased slightly. No association was found between cost-sharing reductions and changes in behavioral health care visits.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation: Fung V, Price M, Nierenberg AA .
Assessment of behavioral health services use among low-income Medicare beneficiaries after reductions in coinsurance fees.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Oct;3(10):e2019854. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19854..
Keywords: Medicare, Health Insurance, Depression, Behavioral Health, Low-Income, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization
Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Researchers examined whether low-income children's use of preventive dental services is linked to variation in state Medicaid policies that affect parents' access to dental care in Medicaid. Using MEPS data along with Area Health Resources File and Medicaid adult dental coverage policies, they found no change in children's receipt of preventive dental care associated with Medicaid expansions in states that covered vs did not cover preventive dental services for adults. They concluded that factors other than parental access to dental benefits through Medicaid may be more salient determinants of preventive dental care use among low-income children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM .
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Health Serv Res 2020 Oct;55(5):642-50. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13324..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Access to Care, Policy
Nicholas LH, Wu S
Do Medicare Advantage rebates reduce enrollees' out-of-pocket spending?
Researchers used survey data on Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries' actual out-of-pocket spending linked to MA payment information to test whether higher plan payments and rebates lowered enrollee out-of-pocket spending. They found that beneficiaries recovered only $0.65 of every $1.00 in payments exceeding fee-for-service spending through lower out-of-pocket spending but more than fully recovered the value of the rebates supporting supplemental benefits.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Nicholas LH, Wu S .
Do Medicare Advantage rebates reduce enrollees' out-of-pocket spending?
Med Care Res Rev 2020 Oct;77(5):474-82. doi: 10.1177/1077558718807847..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Health Insurance
Roberts ET, Nimgaonkar A, Aarons J
New evidence of state variation in Medicaid payment policies for dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollees.
The authors developed the first longitudinal database of state Medicaid policies for paying the cost sharing in Medicare Part B for services provided to dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollees (duals), and an index summarizing the impact of these policies on payments for physician office services. Information from 2004-2018 was consolidated from online Medicaid policy documents, state laws, and policy data reported to them by state Medicaid programs. The database showed that in 2018 42 states had policies to limit Medicaid payments of Medicare cost sharing when Medicaid’s fee schedule was lower than Medicare’s. This was an increase from 36 such states in 2004. In most states, combined Medicare and Medicare payments for evaluation and management services provided to duals averaged 78% of the Medicare allowed amount for these services.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Roberts ET, Nimgaonkar A, Aarons J .
New evidence of state variation in Medicaid payment policies for dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollees.
Health Serv Res 2020 Oct;55(5):701-09. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13545..
Keywords: Medicaid, Medicare, Payment, Policy, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance
Encinosa WE
AHRQ Author: Encinosa WE
Is it time for ACOs to start tackling the high costs of surgery?
This article discusses an article appearing in the same issue revisiting the impact of Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) accountable care organizations (ACOs) on surgery expenditures. The author suggests that, in order to engage even more surgeons, it is likely that MSSP ACOs will have to work with surgeons in the various Medicare bundled payment programs for surgery. He concludes that the next stage is to examine how these different programs can work together to produce even more savings in surgical care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Encinosa WE .
Is it time for ACOs to start tackling the high costs of surgery?
Am J Accountable Care 2020 Sep 15;8(3):26-27..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare Costs, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Payment
Apathy NC, Everson J
High rates of partial participation in the first year of the merit-based incentive payment system.
This article discusses concerns over the implementation of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for clinicians, which was authorized with the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Data was analyzed from 2017, the first implementation year of MIPS. The authors found that although 90% of participating clinicians reported performance equal to or better than the lower performance threshold of 3 out of 100, almost half of clinicians did not participate in at least one of the three program categories. Even with the low participation rate, 74% of clinicians who only partially participated in the program received positive payment adjustments. The findings underline concerns that the design may have been too flexible to effectively incentivize clinicians to make incremental progress across all targeted aspects of the program (quality, advancing care information, and improvement activities).
AHRQ-funded; K12 HS026395.
Citation: Apathy NC, Everson J .
High rates of partial participation in the first year of the merit-based incentive payment system.
Health Aff 2020 Sep;39(9):1513-21. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01648..
Keywords: Payment, Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Health Insurance
Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM .
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
J Ment Health Policy Econ 2020 Sep 1;23(3):151-82..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Policy, Uninsured
Modi PK, Moloci N, Herrel LA
Medicare accountable care organizations reduce spending on surgery.
This study examined the impact that Medicare accountable care organization (ACO) alignment has on spending for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Researchers identified adults 65 years of age and older enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare from among a 20% random sample of beneficiaries and distinguished between those aligned and unaligned with a Medicare ACO, then measured payments for surgical services made on the enrollees’ behalf. Findings showed that ACO alignment was associated with savings on surgical care. These savings resulted from increased outpatient surgery and reduced use of inpatient surgery as well as reduced spending per inpatient surgical episode. Greater focus on surgical care to improve the ability of ACOs to control healthcare spending was recommended.
AHRQ-funded; HS024728; HS024525; HS026908.
Citation: Modi PK, Moloci N, Herrel LA .
Medicare accountable care organizations reduce spending on surgery.
Am J Accountable Care 2020 Sep;8(3):12-19..
Keywords: Medicare, Surgery, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Elderly
Bucholz EM,, Schuster MA, Toomey SL
Trends in 30-day readmission for Medicaid and privately insured pediatric patients: 2010-2017.
This study examined trends in 30-day readmission rates for Medicaid and privately insured pediatric patients from 2010 to 2017. The HCUP Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to compare hospital-level risk-adjusted readmission rates. Higher readmission rates were found for Medicaid beneficiaires compared to privately insured pediatric patients during the time period.
AHRQ-funded; HS020513; HS025299.
Citation: Bucholz EM,, Schuster MA, Toomey SL .
Trends in 30-day readmission for Medicaid and privately insured pediatric patients: 2010-2017.
Pediatrics 2020 Aug;146(2). doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-0270..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Hospital Readmissions, Health Insurance, Medicaid, Hospitals
Porter A, Brown CC, Tilford JM
Association of insurance status with treatment and outcomes in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
This study’s objective was to determine if a health insurance disparity exists among pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury using data from the National Trauma Data Bank. The Bank contains data from more than 800 trauma centers in the United States. Isolated traumatic brain injury was defined as patients with a head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 3+. Procedure codes were used to identify four primary treatment approaches combined into 2 classifications: craniotomy or craniectomy and external or intracranial ventricular draining. Condition at admission was defined including hypotension, Glasgow Coma Scale, mechanism and intent of injury, and Injury Severity Scale. Among the cohort of 12,449 patients, 91% had insurance and 9% were uninsured. Children without insurance had worse condition at admission with higher rates of hypotension and higher Injury Severity Score when compared with publicly and privately insured patients. Having insurance was associated with a 32% increase in the odds of cranial procedures, and 54% increase in the odds of monitor placement. Insurance coverage was associated 25% lower odds of inpatient mortality. Further study is needed to determine what factors lead to worse condition at admission.
Citation: Porter A, Brown CC, Tilford JM .
Association of insurance status with treatment and outcomes in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
Crit Care Med 2020 Jul;48(7):e584-e91. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000004398..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Brain Injury, Trauma, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Uninsured, Outcomes