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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Access to Care (2)
- (-) Behavioral Health (7)
- Depression (1)
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- Low-Income (1)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (3)
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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 7 of 7 Research Studies DisplayedEddelbuettel JCP, Barry CL, Kennedy-Hendricks A
High-deductible health plans and nonfatal opioid overdose.
This study examined whether an employer offering a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) had an impact on nonfatal opioid overdose among commercially insured individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States. The authors used deidentified insurance claims data from 2007 to 2017 with 97,788 person-years. They estimated the change in the probability of a nonfatal opioid overdose among enrollees with OUD whose employers began offering an HDHP insurance option during the study period compared with the change among those whose employer never offered an HDHP. Across both groups, 2% of the sample experienced a nonfatal opioid overdose during the study period. They found no association of HDHP with an observed increase in the probability of nonfatal opioid overdose among commercially insured person-years with OUD.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Eddelbuettel JCP, Barry CL, Kennedy-Hendricks A .
High-deductible health plans and nonfatal opioid overdose.
Med Care 2023 Sep; 61(9):601-04. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001886..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health
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
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
Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
This study examined the impact of Medicare’s mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services, which was phased in from 2010 to 2014. The authors assessed whether the reduction in mental health cost sharing was associated with changes in specialty and primary care outpatient mental health visits and psychotropic medication fills. They compared people with Medicare and private insurance before and after implementation. Medicare beneficiaries’ use of psychotropic medication increased after implementation but there was not a detectable change in visits.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH .
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
Health Aff 2020 May;39(5):819-27. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01008..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicare, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Policy, Health Insurance, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Grafova IB, Monheit AC, Kumar R
How do changes in income, employment and health insurance affect family mental health spending?
This study used eight two-year panels from the MEPS data for 2004 to 2012 to examine the effect of economic shocks on mental health spending by families with children. Researchers wanted to determine whether the greatest impact on mental health spending comes from income, employment, or health insurance shocks. They used two-part expenditure models to estimate that employment losses are positively related to an increase in total family mental health expenditures. But no link was found between economic shocks and mental health spending on fathers.
AHRQ-funded; HS024053.
Citation: Grafova IB, Monheit AC, Kumar R .
How do changes in income, employment and health insurance affect family mental health spending?
Rev Econ Househ 2020 Mar;18(1:239-63. doi: 10.1007/s11150-018-9436-y.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Behavioral Health, Social Determinants of Health, Health Insurance
Friedman S, Xu H, Harwood JM
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act evaluation study: impact on specialty behavioral healthcare utilization and spending among enrollees with substance use disorders.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was associated with increased behavioral health expenditures and utilization among a population with substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses. The investigators found that MHPAEA was associated with modest increases in total, plan, and patient out-of-pocket spending and outpatient and inpatient utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS024866.
Citation: Friedman S, Xu H, Harwood JM .
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act evaluation study: impact on specialty behavioral healthcare utilization and spending among enrollees with substance use disorders.
J Subst Abuse Treat 2017 Sep;80:67-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2017.06.006..
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Health Insurance, Policy, Health Services Research (HSR), Substance Abuse
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