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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.
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1 to 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedKim N, Jacobson M
Comparison of catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenditure among older adults in the United States and South Korea: what affects the apparent difference?
In the United States seniors aged 65 and older have Medicare and almost-universal coverage, and in South Korea all residents have national health insurance. The purpose of this study was to compare catastrophic out-of-pocket medical spending (defined as out-of-pocket medical spending over the past two years that exceeded 50% of household income) among adults 65 and older in the United States with the same senior-aged population in South Korea. The study found that the proportion of participants with catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenditures was 5.8% in the US and 3.0% in South Korea. The researchers concluded that exposure to that level of expenditures was significantly higher in the US than South Korea, with the difference attributed to unobservable system level factors rather than observable sociodemographic characteristics.
AHRQ-funded; HS026488.
Citation: Kim N, Jacobson M .
Comparison of catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenditure among older adults in the United States and South Korea: what affects the apparent difference?
BMC Health Serv Res 2022 Sep 26;22(1):1202. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08575-1..
Keywords: Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Access to Care, Low-Income
Roberts ET, Desai SM
Does Medicaid coverage of Medicare cost sharing affect physician care for dual-eligible Medicare beneficiaries?
The objective of this paper was to assess changes in physicians' provision of care to duals (low-income individuals with Medicare and Medicaid) in response to a policy that required Medicaid to fully pay Medicare's cost sharing for office visits with these patients. This policy-a provision of the Affordable Care Act-effectively increased payments for office visits with duals by 0%-20%, depending on the state, in 2013 and 2014.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727; HS026980.
Citation: Roberts ET, Desai SM .
Does Medicaid coverage of Medicare cost sharing affect physician care for dual-eligible Medicare beneficiaries?
Health Serv Res 2021 Jun;56(3):528-39. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13650..
Keywords: Medicare, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Healthcare Costs, Low-Income
Sommers BD, Blendon RJ, Orav EJ
Both the 'private option' and traditional Medicaid expansions improved access to care for low-income adults.
This study found that other than coverage type and trouble paying medical bills (which decreased more in Kentucky than in Arkansas), there were no significant differences between Kentucky's traditional Medicaid expansion and Arkansas's private option, which suggests that both approaches improved access among low-income adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Sommers BD, Blendon RJ, Orav EJ .
Both the 'private option' and traditional Medicaid expansions improved access to care for low-income adults.
Health Aff 2016 Jan;35(1):96-105. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0917.
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Keywords: Medicaid, Low-Income, Healthcare Costs, Access to Care, Policy
Angier H, Gregg J, Gold R
Understanding how low-income families prioritize elements of health care access for their children via the optimal care model.
The researchers explored low-income parents’ perspectives on accessing health care. Interviews with 29 Oregon parents revealed that affordability and limited availability were seen as barriers to care; while a continuous relationship with a health care provider helped them overcome these barriers. Parents also described the difficult decisions they made between affordability and acceptability in order to get the best care they could for their children.
AHRQ-funded; HS018569.
Citation: Angier H, Gregg J, Gold R .
Understanding how low-income families prioritize elements of health care access for their children via the optimal care model.
BMC Health Serv Res 2014 Nov 19;14:585. doi: 10.1186/s12913-014-0585-2..
Keywords: Access to Care, Children/Adolescents, Low-Income, Social Determinants of Health, Healthcare Costs
Fung V, Graetz I, Galbraith A
Financial barriers to care among low-income children with asthma: health care reform implications.
This study examined the associations between cost-sharing, income, and care seeking and financial stress among children with asthma. It found that cost-related barriers to care among children with asthma were concentrated among low-income families with higher cost-sharing levels.
AHRQ-funded; HS019669
Citation: Fung V, Graetz I, Galbraith A .
Financial barriers to care among low-income children with asthma: health care reform implications.
JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Jul;168(7):649-56. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.79..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Asthma, Low-Income, Access to Care, Healthcare Costs
Abasaeed R, Kranz AM, Rozier RG
The impact of the Great Recession on untreated dental caries among kindergarten students in North Carolina.
This study to determine the impact of the Great Recession on untreated dental caries in kindergarten-aged children in North Carolina found there were a higher proportion of children with more than one untreated decayed primary tooth as well as fewer children receiving dental treatment after 2006. The study covering 7 school years from 2003 to 2010 and 1,215 schools used increased participation in the National School Lunch Program as an indicator of the Great Recession.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032
Citation: Abasaeed R, Kranz AM, Rozier RG .
The impact of the Great Recession on untreated dental caries among kindergarten students in North Carolina.
J Am Dent Assoc. 2013 Sep;144(9):1038-46..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Healthcare Costs, Access to Care, Low-Income