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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 23 of 23 Research Studies DisplayedMao Y, Li Y, McGarry B
Are online reviews of assisted living communities associated with patient-centered outcomes?
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between assisted living (AL) online quality review ratings and AL residents' home time. The researchers identified Medicare beneficiaries who entered AL communities in 2018, with the main outcome of resident home time in the year after AL admission. Additional outcomes were the percentage of time spent in emergency room, inpatient hospital, nursing home, and inpatient hospice. The study sample included 59,831 residents in 12,143 ALs. AL online Google reviews for 2013-2017 were linked to 2018-2019 Medicare data. AL average rating score and rating status were generated using Google reviews. The study found that from 2013 to 2017, ALs received an average rating of 4.1 on Google, with a standard deviation of 1.1. Each one-unit increase in the AL's average online rating was associated with an increase in residents' risk-adjusted home time by 0.33 percentage points. Residents in high-rated ALs had a 0.64 pp increase in home time compared with residents in ALs without ratings. Thet study concluded that higher online rating scores were positively associated with residents' home time, and a lack of ratings was related with decreased home time.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Mao Y, Li Y, McGarry B .
Are online reviews of assisted living communities associated with patient-centered outcomes?
J Am Geriatr Soc 2023 May; 71(5):1505-14. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18192..
Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Nursing Homes, Provider Performance, Medicare, Medicaid
Temkin-Greener H, Mao Y, McGarry B
Health care use and outcomes in assisted living communities: race, ethnicity, and dual eligibility.
The purpose of this study was to examine the type and quality of care received in residential long-term care setting by racial/ ethnic minorities or residents eligible for dual Medicare and Medicaid. With 2018 Medicare data, the researchers identified 255,564 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries over the age of 55 who were living in 24,108 assisted living facilities across the United States and evaluated the relationship between race/ethnicity and dual status with emergency room use, inpatient hospital admission, 30-day readmission, and placement in a nursing home. The study found variations within and across assisted living facilities for racial/ethnic minority and dual residents, suggesting that outcome disparities are the most significant by dual eligibility status instead of only race/ ethnicity. The researchers concluded that these results can be used to inform and guide future research, as well as healthcare providers and policy makers.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Temkin-Greener H, Mao Y, McGarry B .
Health care use and outcomes in assisted living communities: race, ethnicity, and dual eligibility.
Med Care Res Rev 2022 Aug;79(4):500-10. doi: 10.1177/10775587211050189..
Keywords: Elderly, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Long-Term Care, Medicare
Wang J, Mao Y, McGarry B
Post-acute care transitions and outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living communities.
This study examined the post-acute care transitions among assisted living (AL) residents and their association with outcomes in the first 30 and 60 days after hospital discharge. Findings showed that the most common post-acute care referral was to skilled nursing facilities (SNF), followed by home without home health care (HHC), home with HHC, and others. Compared to discharge home without HHC, discharge to SNF was associated with a lower likelihood of ED visits and hospital readmissions, and higher likelihood of long-stay nursing home placement and mortality. Discharge home with HHC was associated with a higher likelihood of hospital readmissions and a lower likelihood of long-stay nursing home placement than discharge home without HHC. The results were similar within the first 30 days and 60 days after hospital discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Wang J, Mao Y, McGarry B .
Post-acute care transitions and outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living communities.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2022 May;70(5):1429-41. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17669..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care
Mack DS, Baek J, Tjia J
Geographic variation of statin use among US nursing home residents with life-limiting illness.
The authors described regional variation in statin use among residents with life-limiting illness. Statin usage was determined by examination of Medicare Part D claims. Findings suggested extensive geographic variation in US statin prescribing across hospital referral regions, especially for those aged 76 years or older. This variation may reflect clinical uncertainty given the largely absent guidelines for statin use in nursing home residents.
AHRQ-funded; HS026840.
Citation: Mack DS, Baek J, Tjia J .
Geographic variation of statin use among US nursing home residents with life-limiting illness.
Med Care 2021 May;59(5):425-36. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001505..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Practice Patterns
Hua CL, Cornell PY, Zimmerman S
Trends in serious mental illness in US assisted living compared to nursing homes and the community: 2007-2017.
This study examined trends in the prevalence of serious mental illness (SMI) in assisted living (AL) communities in the United States over time and in relationship to characteristics such as dual eligibility and health conditions. Using Medicare data, findings showed that the prevalence of SMI in AL increased by 54% from 2007 to 2017. Residents with SMI were more likely to be dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid than residents without SMI. Approximately 10% of AL communities had over half of the sample's AL residents with SMI.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Hua CL, Cornell PY, Zimmerman S .
Trends in serious mental illness in US assisted living compared to nursing homes and the community: 2007-2017.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2021 May;29(5):434-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2020.09.011..
Keywords: Elderly, Behavioral Health, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Medicare
Reistetter TA, Eschbach K K, Prochaska J
Understanding variation in postacute care: developing rehabilitation service areas through geographic mapping.
This study’s goal was to demonstrate a method for developing rehabilitation service areas for post-acute care. A secondary analysis of 2013-2014 Medicare records for older patients in Texas (n = 469,172) was conducted. The analysis included admission records for inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and long-term care hospitals. The authors used Ward’s algorithm to cluster patient ZIP code tabulation areas based on which facilities patients were admitted to for rehabilitation. They set the number of rehabilitation clusters to 22 to allow for comparison to the 22 hospital referral regions. Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and variance in the number of rehabilitation beds across areas were the methods used to evaluate rehabilitation service areas. The service areas had a higher ICC and variance in beds than the hospital referral regions.
AHRQ-funded; HS024711.
Citation: Reistetter TA, Eschbach K K, Prochaska J .
Understanding variation in postacute care: developing rehabilitation service areas through geographic mapping.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2021 May;100(5):465-72. doi: 10.1097/phm.0000000000001577..
Keywords: Elderly, Rehabilitation, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Home Healthcare, Access to Care
Konetzka RT, Jung DH, Gorges RJ
Outcomes of Medicaid home- and community-based long-term services relative to nursing home care among dual eligibles.
This study measured the outcomes of dual-eligible recipients of Medicaid home- and community-based long-term services (HCBS) compared to nursing home residents. The authors used the 2005 and 2012 Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) database, a national compilation of Medicaid claims which merges Medicare claims to identify hospital admissions. A cohort of 1,312,498 older adults dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare and using long-term care was tracked. HCBS users were found to have 10 percent points higher annual rates of hospitalization than their nursing home counterparts when selection bias is addressed. The differences persisted across races, dementia status, and intensity of HCBS spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Konetzka RT, Jung DH, Gorges RJ .
Outcomes of Medicaid home- and community-based long-term services relative to nursing home care among dual eligibles.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(6):973-82. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13573..
Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Medicaid, Medicare, Outcomes
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
This study compared the effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) use versus skilled nursing facility (SNF) transfer after hospitalization. Medicare claims linked to electronic health record (EHR) data from six Texas hospitals between 2009 and 2010 were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients transferred to either an LTACH or SNF and followed for one year. Out of 3505 patients, 18% were transferred to an LTACH and overall were younger, less likely to be female, and white, but sicker than transfers to an SNF. Patients transferred to an LTACH were less likely to survive (59 vs. 65%) or recover (62.5 vs 66%). Adjusting for demographic and clinical confounders found in Medicare claims and EHR data, transfer location was not significantly associated with differences in mortality but was associated with greater Medicare spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME .
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Nov 11;20(1):1032. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05847-6..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Medicare, Transitions of Care, Nursing Homes, Hospitals
Werner RM, Konetzka RT, Qi M
The impact of Medicare copayments for skilled nursing facilities on length of stay, outcomes, and costs.
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Medicare's skilled nursing facility (SNF) copayment policy, with a large increase in the daily copayment rate on the 20th day of a benefit period, on length of stay, patient outcomes, and costs. The investigators concluded that Medicare's SNF copayment policy was associated with shorter lengths of stay and worse patient outcomes, suggesting the copayment policy had unintended and negative effects on patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266.
Citation: Werner RM, Konetzka RT, Qi M .
The impact of Medicare copayments for skilled nursing facilities on length of stay, outcomes, and costs.
Health Serv Res 2019 Dec;54(6):1184-92. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13227..
Keywords: Medicare, Nursing Homes, Payment, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Costs, Elderly, Hospitalization, Hospital Discharge
Sharma H, Konetzka RT, Smieliauskas F
The relationship between reported staffing and expenditures in nursing homes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024967.
Citation: Sharma H, Konetzka RT, Smieliauskas F .
The relationship between reported staffing and expenditures in nursing homes.
Med Care Res Rev 2019 Dec 1;76(6):758-83. doi: 10.1177/1077558717739214..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Provider Performance, Medicare
Gorges RJ, Sanghavi P, Konetzka RT
A national examination of long-term care setting, outcomes, and disparities among elderly dual eligibles.
The authors investigated the outcomes of expanding Medicaid funding for long-term care home and community-based services (HCBS). Using national Medicaid claims data on older adults enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, they found that overall hospitalization rates were similar for HCBS and nursing facility users. They concluded that home and community-based services need to be carefully targeted to avoid adverse outcomes and that the racial/ethnic disparities in access to high-quality institutional long-term care are also present in HCBS.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Gorges RJ, Sanghavi P, Konetzka RT .
A national examination of long-term care setting, outcomes, and disparities among elderly dual eligibles.
Health Aff 2019 Jul;38(7):1110-18. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05409..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicaid, Medicare, Long-Term Care, Home Healthcare, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Fabius CD, Thomas KS
Examining black-white disparities among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living settings in 2014.
The purpose of this study examined racial differences among a national cohort of assisted living (AL) residents and how the racial variation among AL Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries compared to differences among community-dwelling and nursing home cohorts. Using the Medicare Master Summary Beneficiary File, researchers found that black patients were disproportionately represented in AL, younger, more likely to be Medicaid eligible, had higher levels of acuity, and more often lived in ALs with fewer whites and more patients with dual eligibility. Further, new black residents entered AL with higher rates of acute care hospitalizations and skilled nursing facility utilization. Further research is recommended.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Fabius CD, Thomas KS .
Examining black-white disparities among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living settings in 2014.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Jun;20(6):703-09. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.09.032..
Keywords: Disparities, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Olivieri-Mui B, McGuire J, Cahill S
People living with HIV in U.S. nursing homes in the fourth decade of the epidemic.
This study described the sociodemographic characteristics as well as the antiretroviral therapy treatment and physical and mental health among Medicare-eligible persons living with HIV (PLWH) in nursing homes (NHs). Of the newer admissions, results showed that they were older, had higher prevalence of viral hepatitis and anemia, but had less pneumonia and dementia. NH nurses can better anticipate health care needs of PLWH using these health profiles, understanding that there have been changes in the health of PLWH at admission over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS025662.
Citation: Olivieri-Mui B, McGuire J, Cahill S .
People living with HIV in U.S. nursing homes in the fourth decade of the epidemic.
J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 2019 Jan-Feb;30(1):20-34. doi: 10.1097/jnc.0000000000000033..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Infectious Diseases, Medicare
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Kirby B
Effect of site-neutral payment policy on long-term acute care hospital use.
The purpose of this study was to assess the projected effect of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services new site-neutral payment policy, which aims to decrease unnecessary long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) admissions by reducing reimbursements for less-ill individuals by 2020. The investigators concluded that the site-neutral payment policy may limit LTACH access in existing LTAC-scarce markets, with potential adverse implications for recovery of hospitalized older adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Kirby B .
Effect of site-neutral payment policy on long-term acute care hospital use.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2018 Nov;66(11):2104-11. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15539..
Keywords: Policy, Hospitalization, Payment, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Elderly, Hospitals
Goodwin JS, Li S, Middleton A
Differences between skilled nursing facilities in risk of subsequent long-term care placement.
The objective of this study was to determine how the risk of subsequent long-term care (LTC) placement varied between skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and the SNF characteristics associated with this risk. The investigators concluded that risk of subsequent LTC placement, an important and negatively viewed outcome for older adults, varied substantially between SNFs. Individuals in higher-quality SNFs were at lower risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Goodwin JS, Li S, Middleton A .
Differences between skilled nursing facilities in risk of subsequent long-term care placement.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2018 Oct;66(10):1880-86. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15377..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Medicare
Li S, Middleton A, Ottenbacher KJ
Trajectories over the first year of long-term care nursing home residence.
This retrospective cohort study examined changes in situation for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries newly admitted to long-term nursing homes from July 2012 to December 2013 for the first year after admission. Data was used from the Minimum Data Set and Medicare Provider and Analysis Reviews claims data. Median length of stay in long-term care was 127 days, and for any institution 158 days. At 12 months post admission, 35% had died, 36.9% remained in long-term care, 23.4% were in the community, and 4.7% were in acute care hospitals or other institutions.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Li S, Middleton A, Ottenbacher KJ .
Trajectories over the first year of long-term care nursing home residence.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018 Apr;19(4):333-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.09.021.
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Keywords: Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Elderly, Medicare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Middleton A, Li S, Kuo YF
New institutionalization in long-term care after hospital discharge to skilled nursing facility.
Approximately half of individuals newly admitted to long-term care (LTC) nursing homes (NHs) experienced a prior hospitalization followed by discharge to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). The objective of this study was to examine characteristics associated with new institutionalizations of older adults on this care trajectory. Associations between risk factors and new LTC institutionalizations varied according to race and ethnicity, age, and level of cognitive function.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Middleton A, Li S, Kuo YF .
New institutionalization in long-term care after hospital discharge to skilled nursing facility.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2018 Jan;66(1):56-63. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15131..
Keywords: Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Hospital Discharge, Elderly, Hospitalization, Medicare
O'Brien SR, Zhang N
Association between therapy intensity and discharge outcomes in aged Medicare skilled nursing facilities admissions.
This study sought to determine the association between therapy intensity and discharge outcomes for aged Medicare skilled nursing facilities fee-for-service beneficiaries and to determine the association between therapy intensity and time to community discharge. It found that high intensity therapy was associated with more community discharges in comparison to the remaining intensity groups for medium-high, medium-low, and low intensity groups, respectively. More hospitalizations and deaths were found as therapy intensity decreased.
AHRQ-funded; HS000044.
Citation: O'Brien SR, Zhang N .
Association between therapy intensity and discharge outcomes in aged Medicare skilled nursing facilities admissions.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2018 Jan;99(1):107-15. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2017.07.012.
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Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Rehabilitation
Lepore M, Leland NE
Nursing homes that increased the proportion of Medicare days saw gains in quality outcomes for long-stay residents.
The authors examined nationwide facility-level nursing home data for the period 2007-2010. They found that increasing the proportion of Medicare-covered patient days in a nursing home was significantly associated with improvements in the quality of daily pain, pressure ulcers, and performing activities of daily living.
AHRQ-funded; HS022907.
Citation: Lepore M, Leland NE .
Nursing homes that increased the proportion of Medicare days saw gains in quality outcomes for long-stay residents.
Health Aff 2015 Dec;34(12):2121-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0303.
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Keywords: Long-Term Care, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Improvement
Rahman M, Keohane L, Trivedi AN
High-cost patients had substantial rates of leaving Medicare Advantage and joining traditional Medicare.
The investigators examined the rates at which participants who used three high-cost services switched between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare. They found that the switching rate from 2010 to 2011 away from Medicare Advantage and to traditional Medicare exceeded the switching rate in the opposite direction for participants who used long-term nursing home care, short-term nursing home care, and home health care. These results were magnified among people who were enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Rahman M, Keohane L, Trivedi AN .
High-cost patients had substantial rates of leaving Medicare Advantage and joining traditional Medicare.
Health Aff 2015 Oct;34(10):1675-81. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0272.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Home Healthcare, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Nursing Homes
Holden TR, Smith MA, Bartels CM
Hospice enrollment, local hospice utilization patterns, and rehospitalization in Medicare patients.
The study objective was to examine the association between hospice enrollment, local hospice utilization patterns and 30-day rehospitalization in Medicare patients. It found that area-level hospice utilization is inversely proportional to rehospitalization rates. This relationship is not fully explained by direct hospice enrollment, and may reflect a spillover effect of the benefits of hospice extending to nonenrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS000083.
Citation: Holden TR, Smith MA, Bartels CM .
Hospice enrollment, local hospice utilization patterns, and rehospitalization in Medicare patients.
J Palliat Med 2015 Jul;18(7):601-12. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2014.0395..
Keywords: Long-Term Care, Palliative Care, Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Healthcare Utilization
Huckfeldt PJ, Sood NB, Romley JA
Medicare payment reform and provider entry and exit in the post-acute care market.
The researchers examined the impact of Medicare payment reform on the entry and exit of post-acute providers (home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities). They found that payment reforms reducing average and marginal payments reduced entries and increased exits from the market, with entries more likely to be affected.
AHRQ-funded; HS018541
Citation: Huckfeldt PJ, Sood NB, Romley JA .
Medicare payment reform and provider entry and exit in the post-acute care market.
Health Serv Res. 2013 Oct;48(5):1557-80. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12059..
Keywords: Medicare, Critical Care, Healthcare Costs, Home Healthcare, Long-Term Care
Sheppard KD, Brown CJ, Hearld KR
Symptom burden predicts nursing home admissions among older adults.
Using a sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries in Alabama who were contacted by telephone every 6 months during an eight and a half-year study, researchers found that symptom burden is an independent risk factor for NH admission. The study suggests that symptom assessment and management may reduce NH utilization.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852
Citation: Sheppard KD, Brown CJ, Hearld KR .
Symptom burden predicts nursing home admissions among older adults.
J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013 Oct;46(4):591-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.10...
Keywords: Medicare, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Nursing Homes, Healthcare Costs
