National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies Date
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- Access to Care (6)
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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 22 of 22 Research Studies DisplayedMellor JM, McInerney M, Garrow RC
The impact of Medicaid expansion on spending and utilization by older low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
This study examined indirect spillover effects of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansions to working-age adults on health care coverage, spending, and utilization by older low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The authors used data from the 2010-2018 Health and Retirement Study survey linked to annual Medicare beneficiary summary files. They estimated individual-level difference-in-differences models of total spending for inpatient, institutional outpatient, physician/professional provider services; inpatient stays, outpatient visits, physician visits; and Medicaid and Part A and B Medicare coverage. They also compared changes in outcomes before and after Medicaid expansion in expansion versus nonexpansion states. The sample included low-income respondents aged 69 and older with linked Medicare data, enrolled in full-year traditional Medicare, and living in the community. ACA Medicaid expansion was associated with a 9.8 percentage point increase in Medicaid coverage, a 4.4 percentage point increase in having any institutional outpatient spending, and a positive but statistically insignificant 2.4 percentage point change in Part B enrollment.
AHRQ-funded; HS025422.
Citation: Mellor JM, McInerney M, Garrow RC .
The impact of Medicaid expansion on spending and utilization by older low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Health Serv Res 2023 Oct; 58(5):1024-34. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14155..
Keywords: Medicaid, Medicare, Low-Income, Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance
Jazowski SA, Samuel-Ryals CA, Wood WA
Association between low-income subsidies and inequities in orally administered antimyeloma therapy use.
This study’s goal was to determine the association between low-income subsidies and inequities in orally administered antimyeloma therapy use. This retrospective cohort study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data to identify beneficiaries diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 2007 and 2015. The authors examined therapy initiation in the 30, 60, and 90 days following diagnosis and adherence to and discontinuation of treatment in the 180 days following initiation. They found that receipt of full subsidies was not associated with earlier initiation of or improved adherence to orally administered antimyeloma therapy. Full-subsidy enrollees were 22% more likely to experience earlier treatment discontinuation than nonsubsidy enrollees. Black full-subsidy and nonsubsidy enrollees were 14% less likely than their White counterparts to ever initiate treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Jazowski SA, Samuel-Ryals CA, Wood WA .
Association between low-income subsidies and inequities in orally administered antimyeloma therapy use.
Am J Manag Care 2023 May; 29(5):246-54. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2023.89357..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Medication, Low-Income
Glynn A, Hernandez I, Roberts ET
Consequences of forgoing prescription drug subsidies among low-income Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes.
This study’s objective was to estimate the take-up of the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and examine differences in out-of-pocket costs and prescription drug use between LIS enrollees and LIS-eligible non-enrollees. Data from the Health and Retirement Study linked to Medicare administrative data from 2008 to 2016 was used. The authors first estimated LIS take-up stratified by income (≤100% of the Federal Poverty Level [FPL] and >100% to ≤150% of FPL). Second, to assess the consequences of forgoing the LIS among near-poor beneficiaries (incomes >100% to ≤150% of FPL), they conducted propensity score-weighted regression analyses to compare out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug use, and cost-related medication non-adherence among LIS enrollees and LIS-eligible non-enrollees. Among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, 68.1% of those considered near-poor (incomes >100% to ≤150% of FPL) received the LIS, compared to 90.3% of those with incomes ≤100% of FPL. Among near-poor beneficiaries, LIS-eligible non-enrollees incurred higher annual out-of-pocket drug spending ($518], filled 7.3 fewer prescriptions for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia drugs, and were 8.9 percentage points more likely to report skipping drugs due to cost. all compared to LIS enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Glynn A, Hernandez I, Roberts ET .
Consequences of forgoing prescription drug subsidies among low-income Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes.
Health Serv Res 2022 Oct;57(5):1136-44. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13990..
Keywords: Medication, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Low-Income, Medicare, Healthcare Costs
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?
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
Roberts ET, Glynn A, Cornelio N
Medicaid coverage 'cliff' increases expenses and decreases care for near-poor Medicare beneficiaries.
Cost sharing in traditional Medicare can consume a substantial portion of the income of beneficiaries who do not have supplemental insurance, resulting in a supplemental coverage cliff. The authors estimated that Medicaid beneficiaries affected by this cliff incurred an additional $2,288 in out-of-pocket spending over the course of two years, used 55 percent fewer outpatient evaluation and management services per year, and filled fewer prescriptions. They recommended expanding eligibility for Medicaid supplemental coverage and increasing take-up of Part D subsidies to lessen cost-related barriers to health care among near-poor Medicare beneficiaries.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Roberts ET, Glynn A, Cornelio N .
Medicaid coverage 'cliff' increases expenses and decreases care for near-poor Medicare beneficiaries.
Health Aff 2021 Apr;40(4):552-61. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02272..
Keywords: Medicaid, Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Low-Income, Health Insurance
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
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
Abdus S, Keenan PS
AHRQ Author: Abdus S, Keenan PS
Financial burden of employer-sponsored high-deductible health plans for low-income adults with chronic health conditions.
In this research letter, the authors used 2011-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component data on adults 19 to 64 years of age enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance plans throughout the year to examine the burden of high deductible health plans on low income adults with chronic health conditions.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S, Keenan PS .
Financial burden of employer-sponsored high-deductible health plans for low-income adults with chronic health conditions.
JAMA Intern Med 2018 Dec;178(12):1706-08. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4706..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Sen AP, Chen LM, Wong Samson L
Performance in the Medicare Shared Savings Program by accountable care organizations disproportionately serving dual and disabled populations.
The purpose of this study was to examine performance by accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the top quintile of their proportion of beneficiaries who were dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid (high-dual), and the top quintile of disabled beneficiaries (high-disabled). Measures used were quality scores, savings per beneficiary, whether or not the ACO shared savings and the amount of shared savings. The researchers found that high-dual and high-disabled ACOs had similar or higher spending than other ACOs at baseline, but achieved greater savings and were equally or more likely to earn shared savings; alternative payment models can have positive financial outcomes for providers serving vulnerable populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS024698.
Citation: Sen AP, Chen LM, Wong Samson L .
Performance in the Medicare Shared Savings Program by accountable care organizations disproportionately serving dual and disabled populations.
Med Care 2018 Sep;56(9):805-11. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000968..
Keywords: Disabilities, Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Provider Performance, Payment, Low-Income, Vulnerable Populations
Kaplan RM, Milstein A
AHRQ Author: Kaplan RM
Financial strain and cancer outcomes.
This editorial discusses an article by Lathan et al. in the same issue that documents the strong associations between socioeconomic status and longevity. The editorial argues that many of the variables in that article are measured with error and, as a result, the multivariable analysis resulted in only partial adjustment. Two variables of particular importance, education and ethnicity, are discussed.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kaplan RM, Milstein A .
Financial strain and cancer outcomes.
J Clin Oncol 2016 May 20;34(15):1711-2. doi: 10.1200/jco.2016.66.8079.
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Keywords: Cancer, Health Status, Healthcare Costs, Low-Income, Outcomes, Social Determinants of Health, Stress
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
Quan J, Lee AK, Handley MA
Automated telephone self-management support for diabetes in a low-income health plan: a health care utilization and cost analysis.
The objective was to determine whether automated telephone self-management support for low-income, linguistically diverse health plan members with diabetes affects health care utilization or cost. It found no significant differences in emergency department visits and hospitalizations or in costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS020684; HS017261; HS022561.
Citation: Quan J, Lee AK, Handley MA .
Automated telephone self-management support for diabetes in a low-income health plan: a health care utilization and cost analysis.
Popul Health Manag 2015 Dec;18(6):412-20. doi: 10.1089/pop.2014.0154.
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Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Patient Self-Management, Low-Income, Healthcare Costs
Golberstein E, Gonzales G, Sommers BD
California's early ACA expansion increased coverage and reduced out-of-pocket spending for the state's low-income population.
The researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine the impact of California’s Low Income Health Program. Their study demonstrates that the county-by-county rollout of expanded public insurance coverage in California significantly increased coverage, by 7 percentage points, and significantly reduced the likelihood of any family out-of-pocket medical spending in the previous year, by 10 percentage points, among low-income adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS021291.
Citation: Golberstein E, Gonzales G, Sommers BD .
California's early ACA expansion increased coverage and reduced out-of-pocket spending for the state's low-income population.
Health Aff 2015 Oct;34(10):1688-94. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0290..
Keywords: Low-Income, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Uninsured
Hill SC
AHRQ Author: Hill SC
Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would produce consumer savings and less financial burden than exchange coverage.
This study simulated potential differences in out-of-pocket spending for uninsured adults gaining eligibility for Marketplace coverage (silver plan) because their states have not used the provisions of the Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid. Compared with having a Marketplace silver plan, being able to take advantage to expanded Medicaid would reduce average out-of-pocket spending by more than 50 percent for these adults and their families.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hill SC .
Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would produce consumer savings and less financial burden than exchange coverage.
Health Aff. 2015 Feb;34(2):340-9. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1058..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Policy, Low-Income, Medicaid, Uninsured
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
Abdus S, Hudson J, Hill SC
AHRQ Author: Abdus S, Hudson J, Hill SC, Selden TM
Children's health insurance program premiums adversely affect enrollment, especially among lower-income children.
Using MEPS data, the authors showed that the relationship between premiums and coverage varies considerably by income level and by parental access to employer-sponsored insurance. They found that the increase in uninsurance is largest among children whose parents lack offers of employer coverage.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S, Hudson J, Hill SC .
Children's health insurance program premiums adversely affect enrollment, especially among lower-income children.
Health Aff 2014 Aug;33(8):1353-60. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0182.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Low-Income
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
Zhang Y, Zhou C, Baik SH
A simple change to the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy program could save $5 billion.
The authors used an intelligent reassignment algorithm and 2008-09 Medicare Part D drug use and spending data to match enrollees to available Part D plans according to their medication needs. They found that such a reassignment approach, compared to the current approach, could have saved the federal government over $5 billion in 2009.
AHRQ-funded; HS018657.
Citation: Zhang Y, Zhou C, Baik SH .
A simple change to the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy program could save $5 billion.
Health Aff 2014 Jun;33(6):940-5. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.1083.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Low-Income, Medicare, Medication
McGarry BE, Strawderman RL, Li Y
Lower Hispanic participation in Medicare Part D may reflect program barriers.
This study found that Hispanics were 35 percent less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have Medicare Part D coverage. This difference may be driven by ethnic disparities among those eligible for the low-income Part D subsidy but not automatically enrolled in it.
AHRQ-funded; HS00044
Citation: McGarry BE, Strawderman RL, Li Y .
Lower Hispanic participation in Medicare Part D may reflect program barriers.
Health Aff. 2014 May;33(5):856-62. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0671..
Keywords: Medicare, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Low-Income, Healthcare Costs
Schwartz AL, Sommers BD
Moving for Medicaid? Recent eligibility expansions did not induce migration from other states.
This study used 26 measures of low value services to examine service use and associated spending detected by these measures in Medicaid. In the six categories of care measured, services detected by a limited number of measures of low-value care constituted modest proportions of overall spending (2.7 percent) but affected 42 percent of beneficiaries.
AHRQ-funded; HS00055; HS021291
Citation: Schwartz AL, Sommers BD .
Moving for Medicaid? Recent eligibility expansions did not induce migration from other states.
Health Aff. 2014 Jan;33(1):88-94. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0910..
Keywords: Medicaid, Healthcare Costs, Low-Income, Healthcare Utilization
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