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Research Studies is a monthly compilation of research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers and recently published in journals or newsletters.
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1 to 25 of 30 Research Studies Displayed
Huang J, Graetz I, Millman A
Primary care telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: patient's choice of video versus telephone visit.
The goal of this study was to examine the association between patient characteristics and primary care telemedicine choice among integrated delivery system patients self-scheduling visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings showed that patients of Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, or living in low socioeconomic status or low internet access neighborhoods were less likely to schedule video visits. Also, patients 65 years or older, with prior video visit experience or mobile portal access, or visiting their own personal provider were more likely to schedule video visits. While video adoption was substantial in all patient groups examined, differences in telemedicine choice suggested the persistence of a digital divide.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189.
Citation:
Huang J, Graetz I, Millman A .
Primary care telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: patient's choice of video versus telephone visit.
JAMIA Open 2022 Apr;5(1):ooac002. doi: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooac002..
Keywords:
COVID-19, Primary Care, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Access to Care
Lewis VA, Spivack S, Murray GF
FQHC designation and safety net patient revenue associated with primary care practice capabilities for access and quality.
Researchers assessed capabilities around access to and quality of care among primary care practices serving a high share of Medicaid and uninsured patients compared to practices serving a low share of these patients. Data from the National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems was analyzed. They found that federally qualified health centers were more likely than other types of primary care practices (both safety net practices and other practices) to possess capabilities related to access and quality. However, safety net practices were less likely than non-safety net practices to possess health information technology capabilities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation:
Lewis VA, Spivack S, Murray GF .
FQHC designation and safety net patient revenue associated with primary care practice capabilities for access and quality.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Oct;36(10):2922-28. doi: 10.1007/s11606-021-06746-0..
Keywords:
Safety Net, Vulnerable Populations, Primary Care, Access to Care, Uninsured, Medicaid, Quality of Care
Misra-Hebert AD, Hu B, Pantalone KM
Primary care health care use for patients with type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study sought to examine factors associated with total and virtual primary care use for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used electronic medical records in the Cleveland Clinic Health System comparing prepandemic use from August 2019 to March 2020 (baseline period 0) to two pandemic periods: March to June 2020 (period 1) when in-person visits were converted to virtual; and July to November 2020 when in-person visits resumed (period 2). Demographic characteristics were obtained including age, sex, race, insurance type, median income estimated by zip code and baseline HbA1C. The study included 76,015 patients with T2D who completed a primary care visit in baseline period 0. Cohort median age was 66.2 years, 50.7% women, 21.7% Black, 71.0% White and 7.4 Other. Insurance distribution was 43.2% private, 46.5% Medicare, and 9.5% Medicaid. Median income was estimated at $59,000 and baseline HbA1C was ≤ 7% for 59.6% of patients. There were higher odds of Black patients, those with uncontrolled T2D, and those with Medicare and Medicare using virtual visits during the 2 postpandemic periods suggesting that virtual visits may be a preference for those groups. Older and male patients had lower odds of visit completion.
AHRQ-funded; HS024128.
Citation:
Misra-Hebert AD, Hu B, Pantalone KM .
Primary care health care use for patients with type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diabetes Care 2021 Sep;44(9):e173-e74. doi: 10.2337/dc21-0853..
Keywords:
COVID-19, Diabetes, Primary Care, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Access to Care, Chronic Conditions
Fung V, McCarthy S, Price M
Payment discrepancies and access to primary care physicians for dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries.
This study examined whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) primary care fee bump for dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries impacted primary care physicians (PCP) acceptance of duals. The authors assessed differences in the likelihood that PCPs had dual caseloads of ≥10% or 20% in states with lower versus full dual reimbursement using linear probability models adjusted for physician and area-level traits. The proportion of PCPs with dual caseloads of ≥10% or 20% decreased significantly between 2012 and 2017. The fee bump was not consistently associated with increases in dual caseloads.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725.
Citation:
Fung V, McCarthy S, Price M .
Payment discrepancies and access to primary care physicians for dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries.
Med Care 2021 Jun;59(6):487-94. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001525..
Keywords:
Primary Care, Medicaid, Medicare, Health Insurance, Payment, Access to Care
Cole ES, DiDomenico E, Green S
The who, the what, and the how: a description of strategies and lessons learned to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder in rural America.
This study looked at the problems of treatment access for opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural areas within the United States. Providers must complete 8-24 hours of training to obtain the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) 2000 waiver to have the legal authority to prescribe buprenorphine. The authors executed 5 AHRQ-funded dissemination and implementation grants to study and address barriers to providing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment (MOUD), including psychosocial supports. Obtaining the DATA 2000 waiver was found to be just one component of meaningful treatment using MOUD, and there are other significant barriers that providers face daily. The researchers’ initiatives and common lessons learned across their grants are summarized and recommendations are offered how primary care providers can be better supported to expand access to MOUD across rural America.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation:
Cole ES, DiDomenico E, Green S .
The who, the what, and the how: a description of strategies and lessons learned to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder in rural America.
Subst Abus 2021;42(2):123-29. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2021.1891492..
Keywords:
Opioids, Medication, Primary Care, Rural Health, Substance Abuse, Access to Care
Han B, Chen PG, Yu H
Access to after-hours primary care: a key determinant of children's medical home status.
Researchers sought to identify individual survey items or domains that best predict medical home (MH) status for children and use them to develop brief markers of MH status. Using MEPS data, they found that accessibility, especially the ability to access health care after regular office hours, appeared to be the major predictor of having a MH among children. They recommended that the ongoing efforts to promote the MH model target improving accessibility of health care after regular hours for children overall and especially for Latino children.
AHRQ-funded; HS023336.
Citation:
Han B, Chen PG, Yu H .
Access to after-hours primary care: a key determinant of children's medical home status.
BMC Health Serv Res 2021 Feb 27;21(1):185. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06192-y..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Access to Care, Healthcare Delivery, Disparities, Racial / Ethnic Minorities
Salvador JG, Bhatt SR, Jacobsohn VC
Feasibility and acceptability of an online ECHO intervention to expand access to medications for treatment of opioid use disorder, psychosocial treatments and supports.
This study examined acceptability and feasibility of an online Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model intervention developed to support rural primary care clinics to expand treatment and is part of a larger study tracking the impact of participation in this ECHO on expansion of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural primary care. Using qualitative interviews and post-session questionnaires across 27 rural clinics in New Mexico, findings suggested evidence of feasibility and acceptability of MOUD ECHO to support expansion of this treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS025345.
Citation:
Salvador JG, Bhatt SR, Jacobsohn VC .
Feasibility and acceptability of an online ECHO intervention to expand access to medications for treatment of opioid use disorder, psychosocial treatments and supports.
Subst Abus 2021;42(4):610-17. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2020.1806184..
Keywords:
Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Medication, Access to Care, Rural Health, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Fiori KP, Heller CG, Rehm CD
Unmet social needs and no-show visits in primary care in a US Northeastern urban health system, 2018-2019.
This study used results from a 10-item social needs screener conducted across 19 primary care practices in Bronx County, New York to determine reasons for no-show appointments between April 2018 and July 2019. They examined the association between unmet needs and a 2-year history of missed appointments from 41,637 patients. Overall, the no-show appointment rate was 26.6%. Patients with 1 or more unmet social needs had a significantly higher no-show proportion (31.5%) than those without (26.3%). The strongest association with no-shows was with transportation problems.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation:
Fiori KP, Heller CG, Rehm CD .
Unmet social needs and no-show visits in primary care in a US Northeastern urban health system, 2018-2019.
Am J Public Health 2020 Jul;110(S2):S242-s50. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305717..
Keywords:
Urban Health, Primary Care, Access to Care, Social Determinants of Health
Krist AH, O'Loughlin K, Woolf SH
Enhanced care planning and clinical-community linkages versus usual care to address basic needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions: a clinician-level randomized controlled trial.
This paper describes the beginning of a clinician-level cluster-randomized controlled trial to evaluate how primary care clinicians can participate in community and hospital solutions to connecting patients with needed services and whether doing so is effective in controlling multiple chronic conditions. Electronic health records will be used to identify patients with these conditions, including cardiovascular disease or risks, diabetes, obesity, or depression.
AHRQ-funded; HS026223.
Citation:
Krist AH, O'Loughlin K, Woolf SH .
Enhanced care planning and clinical-community linkages versus usual care to address basic needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions: a clinician-level randomized controlled trial.
Trials 2020 Jun 11;21(1):517. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04463-3..
Keywords:
Chronic Conditions, Primary Care, Health Promotion, Access to Care
Melnikow J, Evans E, Xing G
Primary care access to new patient appointments for California Medicaid enrollees: a simulated patient study.
Investigators evaluated variation in the availability of primary care new patient appointments for Medi-Cal (California Medicaid) enrollees in Northern California and its relationship to emergency department (ED) use after Medicaid expansion. Data from the California Health Interview Survey, Medi-Cal enrollment reports, and California hospital discharge records were used. The investigators found that access to primary care in Northern California was limited for new patient Medi-Cal enrollees and varied across counties, despite standard statewide reimbursement rates. Further, counties with more limited access to primary care new patient appointments had higher ED use by Medi-Cal enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS022236.
Citation:
Melnikow J, Evans E, Xing G .
Primary care access to new patient appointments for California Medicaid enrollees: a simulated patient study.
Ann Fam Med 2020 May;18(3):210-17. doi: 10.1370/afm.2502..
Keywords:
Primary Care, Access to Care, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization
Kirby JB, Yabroff KR
Rural-urban differences in access to primary care: beyond the usual source of care provider.
This study used 2014-2016 MEPS data to analyze differences between rural and urban areas to primary care access beyond the usual source of care provider. While rural residents were more likely to have a usual source of care, they were less likely to have a provider with office hours on nights and weekends.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Kirby JB, Yabroff KR .
Rural-urban differences in access to primary care: beyond the usual source of care provider.
Am J Prev Med 2020 Jan;58(1):89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.08.026..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Access to Care, Primary Care, Rural Health, Urban Health, Health Services Research (HSR)
Cochran G, Cole ES, Warwick J
Rural access to MAT in Pennsylvania (RAMP): a hybrid implementation study protocol for medication assisted treatment adoption among rural primary care providers.
This paper reports the design and protocol of an implementation study seeking to advance availability of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural Pennsylvania counties for patients insured by Medicaid in primary care settings. Results showed an urgent need in the US to expand access to high quality, evidence-based OUD treatment, particularly in rural areas where capacity is limited for service delivery, in order to improve patient health and protect lives. Further, results of this study will provide needed evidence in the field for appropriate methods for implementing MAT among a large number of rural primary care providers.
AHRQ-funded; HS025072.
Citation:
Cochran G, Cole ES, Warwick J .
Rural access to MAT in Pennsylvania (RAMP): a hybrid implementation study protocol for medication assisted treatment adoption among rural primary care providers.
Addict Sci Clin Pract 2019 Aug 1;14(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s13722-019-0154-4..
Keywords:
Opioids, Substance Abuse, Rural Health, Medication, Access to Care, Implementation, Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Medicaid
Cole ES, DiDomenico E, Cochran G
The role of primary care in improving access to medication-assisted treatment for rural Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder.
The authors examined the degree to which rural residents with opioid use disorder (OUD) are engaged with primary care providers (PCPs); they also described the role of rural PCPs in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) delivery, and estimated the association between enrollee distance to MAT prescribers and MAT utilization. They concluded that PCP utilization among rural Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with OUD is high, presenting a potential intervention point to treat OUD, particularly if the enrollee's PCP is located nearer than their MAT prescriber.
AHRQ-funded; HS025072.
Citation:
Cole ES, DiDomenico E, Cochran G .
The role of primary care in improving access to medication-assisted treatment for rural Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder.
J Gen Intern Med 2019 Jun;34(6):936-43. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-04943-6..
Keywords:
Opioids, Substance Abuse, Rural Health, Medication, Access to Care, Implementation, Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Medicaid
Fraze TK, Fisher ES, Tomaino MR
Comparison of populations served in hospital service areas with and without comprehensive primary care plus medical homes.
The purpose of this comparative cross sectional study was to describe practices that joined the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) model and compare hospital service areas with and without CPC+ practices. The authors concluded that according to this study, although a diverse set of practices joined the CPC+ program, practices in areas characterized by patient populations with greater advantage were more likely to join, which may affect access to advanced primary care medical home models such as CPC+, by vulnerable populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation:
Fraze TK, Fisher ES, Tomaino MR .
Comparison of populations served in hospital service areas with and without comprehensive primary care plus medical homes.
JAMA Netw Open 2018 Sep 7;1(5):e182169. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.2169..
Keywords:
Primary Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Primary Care: Models of Care, Healthcare Delivery, Access to Care
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH, Hill SC
Impact of recent Medicaid expansions on office-based primary care and specialty care among the newly eligible.
The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of Medicaid expansions on office-based care among the newly eligible. The investigators concluded that State Medicaid expansions in 2014 were associated with greater likelihoods of visits with a variety of office-based providers. The estimated effects were larger among newly eligible compared with previous estimates on broader populations of low-income adults.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Biener AI, Zuvekas SH, Hill SC .
Impact of recent Medicaid expansions on office-based primary care and specialty care among the newly eligible.
Health Serv Res 2018 Aug;53(4):2426-45. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12793.
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.
Keywords:
Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Primary Care
Higuera L, Carlin CS, Dowd B
Narrow provider networks and willingness to pay for continuity of care and network breadth.
This study examined choices of health plans in a private health insurance exchange where consumers choose among one broad network and four narrow network plans. The willingness to pay for a network that covers consumers' usual source of care was between $84 and $275/month (for primary care) and between $0 and $115/month (for specialists). The investigators also found that, given that a network covers their usual source of care, consumers show aversion only to the narrowest networks.
AHRQ-funded; HS022881.
Citation:
Higuera L, Carlin CS, Dowd B .
Narrow provider networks and willingness to pay for continuity of care and network breadth.
J Health Econ 2018 Jul;60:90-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2018.06.006..
Keywords:
Access to Care, Decision Making, Health Insurance, Primary Care
Cole MB, Wright B, Wilson IB
Medicaid expansion and community health centers: care quality and service use increased for rural patients.
Investigators studied the impact of Medicaid expansion in rural areas. Data from 2011-2015 found that there was an 11.4% decline in uninsured patients and a 13.5% increase in Medicaid patients at community health centers (CHCs). Relative improvements were shown in patients with chronic conditions such as asthma and hypertension; and an increase in visits for mammograms and substance abuse disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS024652.
Citation:
Cole MB, Wright B, Wilson IB .
Medicaid expansion and community health centers: care quality and service use increased for rural patients.
Health Aff 2018 Jun;37(6):900-07. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1542..
Keywords:
Medicaid, Community-Based Practice, Rural Health, Access to Care, Quality of Care, Healthcare Utilization, Primary Care
Monroe AK, Fleishman JA, Voss CC
Assessing antiretroviral use during gaps in HIV primary care using multisite Medicaid claims and clinical data.
Some individuals who appear poorly retained by clinic visit-based retention measures are using antiretroviral therapy (ART) and maintaining viral suppression. Researchers examined whether individuals with a gap in HIV primary care (>/=180 days between HIV outpatient clinic visits) obtained ART during that gap after 180 days. They found that Medicaid-insured individuals commonly receive ART during gaps in HIV primary care, but almost half do not.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201100007C.
Citation:
Monroe AK, Fleishman JA, Voss CC .
Assessing antiretroviral use during gaps in HIV primary care using multisite Medicaid claims and clinical data.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017 Sep 1;76(1):82-89. doi: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001469.
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Keywords:
Access to Care, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Primary Care
Angier H, Hoopes M, Marino M
Uninsured primary care visit disparities under the Affordable Care Act.
The researchers aimed to assess changes in insurance coverage at community health center (CHC) visits after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion by race and ethnicity. After the ACA was implemented, uninsured visit rates decreased for all racial and ethnic groups. Hispanic patients experienced the greatest increases in Medicaid-insured visit rates after ACA implementation in expansion states.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation:
Angier H, Hoopes M, Marino M .
Uninsured primary care visit disparities under the Affordable Care Act.
Ann Fam Med 2017 Sep;15(5):434-42. doi: 10.1370/afm.2125.
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Keywords:
Uninsured, Primary Care, Disparities, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Ray KN, Martsolf GR, Mehrotra A
Trends in visits to specialist physicians involving nurse practitioners and physician assistants, 2001 to 2013.
The purpose of this study is to examine trends in specialist physician visits where nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) provide care, based on the hypothesis that NPs and PAs provide care to patients of specialist physicians in increasing numbers, primarily for routine follow-up visits. Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) information on samples office visits, researchers identified visits to specialist physicians, divided these into surgical and medical specialists and examined unadjusted trends from 2001 - 2013 in the percentage of visits with NP or PA involvement. Visit characteristics associated with higher likelihood of NP or PA involvement were examined.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation:
Ray KN, Martsolf GR, Mehrotra A .
Trends in visits to specialist physicians involving nurse practitioners and physician assistants, 2001 to 2013.
JAMA Intern Med 2017 Aug;177(8):1213-16. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.1630..
Keywords:
Access to Care, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Healthcare Delivery, Primary Care, Provider
Toomey SL, Elliott MN, Schwebel DC
Relationship between adolescent report of patient-centered care and of quality of primary care.
This study investigated whether adolescent self-report of patient-centered care (PCC) varied by patient characteristics and whether receipt of PCC is associated with measures of adolescent primary care quality. It found that adolescent-reported PCC positively correlates with measures of high-quality adolescent primary care. The study provides support for using adolescent-report of PCC as a measure of adolescent primary care quality.
AHRQ-funded; HS020513.
Citation:
Toomey SL, Elliott MN, Schwebel DC .
Relationship between adolescent report of patient-centered care and of quality of primary care.
Acad Pediatr 2016 Nov - Dec;16(8):770-76. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2016.01.006.
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Keywords:
Children/Adolescents, Primary Care, Clinician-Patient Communication, Quality of Care, Access to Care
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
Hung D, Chung S, Martinez M
Effect of organizational culture on patient access, care continuity, and experience of primary care.
The authors examined relationships between organizational culture and patient-centered outcomes in primary care. They found that, compared with a "Group-oriented" culture, a "Rational" culture type was associated with longer appointment wait times, and both "Hierarchical" and "Developmental" culture types were associated with less care continuity, but better patient experiences with care.
AHRQ-funded; HS019815; HS019167.
Citation:
Hung D, Chung S, Martinez M .
Effect of organizational culture on patient access, care continuity, and experience of primary care.
J Ambul Care Manage 2016 Jul-Sep;39(3):242-52. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000116.
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Keywords:
Access to Care, Organizational Change, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient Experience, Primary Care
Nguyen OK, Makam AN, Halm EA
National use of safety-net clinics for primary care among adults with non-Medicaid insurance in the United States.
This study described the prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of safety-net use for primary care among non-Medicaid insured adults (i.e., those with private insurance or Medicare). It concluded that safety net clinics are important primary care delivery sites for non-Medicaid insured minority and low-income populations with a high burden of chronic illness.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation:
Nguyen OK, Makam AN, Halm EA .
National use of safety-net clinics for primary care among adults with non-Medicaid insurance in the United States.
PLoS One 2016 Mar 30;11(3):e0151610. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151610.
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Keywords:
Primary Care, Safety Net, Access to Care, Low-Income, Racial / Ethnic Minorities
Aalsma MC, Gilbert AL, Xiao S
Parent and adolescent views on barriers to adolescent preventive health care utilization.
The objective of the study was to determine adolescent and parent views of barriers to annual adolescent preventive care. Barriers for parents and adolescents include the belief that an appointment is only needed when a child is sick and family cannot afford cost. Barriers for parents include having their child see a specialist.
AHRQ-funded; HS022681.
Citation:
Aalsma MC, Gilbert AL, Xiao S .
Parent and adolescent views on barriers to adolescent preventive health care utilization.
J Pediatr 2016 Feb;169:140-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.10.090.
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Keywords:
Children/Adolescents, Access to Care, Prevention, Primary Care, Healthcare Utilization
