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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- (-) Access to Care (15)
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- Elderly (1)
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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 15 of 15 Research Studies DisplayedRoberts ET, Mellor JM, McInerny MP
Effects of a Medicaid dental coverage "cliff" on dental care access among low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare beneficiaries with income levels slightly exceeding the thresholds of eligibility for Medicaid have few affordable options for dental coverage. This gap results in a dental coverage “cliff” above these thresholds. The purpose of this study was to assess how a sudden drop-off in dental coverage from Medicaid impacts access to dental care in low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The researchers studied low-income community resident Medicare recipients whose incomes were within approximately 75 percentage points of state-specific Medicaid income eligibility thresholds. The study found that Medicare beneficiaries whose income was higher than Medicaid eligibility thresholds were 5.0 percentage points more likely to report challenges accessing dental care because of cost concerns or a lack of insurance than beneficiaries below the thresholds.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727; HS025422.
Citation: Roberts ET, Mellor JM, McInerny MP .
Effects of a Medicaid dental coverage "cliff" on dental care access among low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Health Serv Res 2023 Jun; 58(3):589-98. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13981..
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Medicare, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Lipton BJ, Finlayson TL
AHRQ Author: Decker SL
The association between Medicaid adult dental coverage and children's oral health.
This study examined the association of Medicaid adult dental coverage and children’s oral health as Medicaid-eligible children are more likely to experience tooth decay than children in higher-income families. Data from the 1996-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 2003, 2007, and 2011-12 waves of the National Survey of Children’s Health was used. Adult dental coverage was associated with a 5-percentage-point reduction in the prevalence of untreated caries among children after Medicaid-enrolled adults had access to dental coverage for at least one year. Children under twelve years of age were the most affected.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lipton BJ, Finlayson TL .
The association between Medicaid adult dental coverage and children's oral health.
Health Aff 2021 Nov;40(11):1731-39. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01135..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Researchers examined whether low-income children's use of preventive dental services is linked to variation in state Medicaid policies that affect parents' access to dental care in Medicaid. Using MEPS data along with Area Health Resources File and Medicaid adult dental coverage policies, they found no change in children's receipt of preventive dental care associated with Medicaid expansions in states that covered vs did not cover preventive dental services for adults. They concluded that factors other than parental access to dental benefits through Medicaid may be more salient determinants of preventive dental care use among low-income children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM .
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Health Serv Res 2020 Oct;55(5):642-50. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13324..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Access to Care, Policy
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Farkhad BF
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services among older adults.
This study examined the use of preventive and restorative dental services among older adults. Traditional Medicare does not have dental benefits, and older adults must either be employed, have post-retirement dental benefits or spousal coverage, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage program that includes dental coverage. The authors used 2007-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and supplemental data on dental care prices to estimate the demand for dental care. Dental service was not sensitive to out-of-pocket prices. Older adults with private dental insurance increased preventive service by 25%, and dental coverage through Medicaid increased basic and major service use by 23% and 36%. Women used dental insurance more than men.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Farkhad BF .
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services among older adults.
Health Econ 2019 Sep;28(9):1151-58. doi: 10.1002/hec.3921..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Elderly, Dental and Oral Health, Medicare, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Rozier RG
Access to preventive services after the integration of oral health care into early childhood education and medical care.
The authors compared children enrolled in North Carolina Early Head Start (EHS) programs with similar children enrolled in Medicaid but not EHS on the use of POHS. They analyzed 4 dependent variables (oral assessment by medical health care provider, oral assessment by oral health care provider, fluoride application by medical health care provider, fluoride application by oral health care provider) by using multivariate logistic regression that controlled for covariates.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Rozier RG .
Access to preventive services after the integration of oral health care into early childhood education and medical care.
J Am Dent Assoc 2018 Dec;149(12):1024-31.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2018.07.019..
Keywords: Access to Care, Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Health Services Research (HSR), Medicaid, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Prevention
Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Jr., Weinberger M
Impact of early head start in North Carolina on dental care use among children younger than 3 years.
The researchers examined the effects of North Carolina Early Head Start (EHS), an early education program for low-income children younger than 3 years and their families, on dental care use among children. They concluded that EHS participation increases dental care use among disadvantaged young children.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Burgette JM, Preisser JS, Jr., Weinberger M .
Impact of early head start in North Carolina on dental care use among children younger than 3 years.
Am J Public Health 2017 Apr;107(4):614-20. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303621.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Access to Care, Health Promotion, Low-Income
Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in dental insurance, receipt of dental checkups, and delayed and unmet needs for dental care by type and complexity of disability. It found that all disability types except hearing had significantly higher adjusted odds of being without dental insurance, as did people with complex activity limitations. Further, disparities in care were apparent even when controlling for presence of dental insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K .
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
J Public Health Dent 2016 Sep;76(4):330-39. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12160.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disabilities, Health Insurance, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Figueiredo R, Dempster L, Quinonez C
Emergency department use for dental problems among homeless individuals: a population-based cohort study.
The researchers evaluated emergency department (ED) visits for dental problems among Toronto's homeless population (Ontario, Canada). They found that over 80% of the ED visits by homeless people were for odontogenic infections, and 46% of homeless people had more than one such visit. They concluded that access to dental care is inadequate and that ED settings are ineffective for treatment of dental problems.
AHRQ-funded; HS014129.
Citation: Figueiredo R, Dempster L, Quinonez C .
Emergency department use for dental problems among homeless individuals: a population-based cohort study.
J Health Care Poor Underserved 2016;27(2):860-8. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2016.0081.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Emergency Department, Vulnerable Populations
Weintraub JA, Burgette JM, Chadwick DG
Educating North Carolina's oral health workforce in an evolving environment.
In 2014, North Carolina had 4,681 actively practicing dentists and ranked 47th among US states in dentist-to-population ratio. The need for dentists is increasing as the population grows, and underserved areas persist. This commentary discusses the impact of the state's 2 dental schools and external factors on dental workforce trends.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Weintraub JA, Burgette JM, Chadwick DG .
Educating North Carolina's oral health workforce in an evolving environment.
N C Med J 2016 Mar-Apr;77(2):107-11. doi: 10.18043/ncm.77.2.107..
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Education, Access to Care, Rural Health, Vulnerable Populations
Decker SL, Lipton BJ
AHRQ Author: Decker SL
Do Medicaid benefit expansions have teeth? The effect of Medicaid adult dental coverage on the use of dental services and oral health.
This article examines the effect of Medicaid adult dental coverage on use of dental care and dental health outcomes using state-level variation in dental coverage during 2000-2012. Its findings imply that dental coverage is associated with an increase in the likelihood of a recent dental visit, with the size of the effect increasing with Medicaid payment rates to dentists, and a reduction in the likelihood of untreated dental caries.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Decker SL, Lipton BJ .
Do Medicaid benefit expansions have teeth? The effect of Medicaid adult dental coverage on the use of dental services and oral health.
J Health Econ 2015 Dec;44:212-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.08.009.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Health Insurance, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Outcomes
Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
The authors explored individual-, psychosocial-, and community-level predictors of oral health status in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin Oral Health Screening project. Their results suggested that costs were a primary predictor of access to care and poor oral health status, underscoring the role that primary care, in conjunction with dental health care providers, could play in promoting oral health care, particularly in reducing barriers and promoting preventive health behaviors.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Malecki K, Wisk LE, Walsh M .
Oral health equity and unmet dental care needs in a population-based sample: findings from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
Am J Public Health 2015 Jul;105 Suppl 3:S466-74. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302338.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Health Services Research (HSR)
Dumas SA, Polk D
Pediatric dental clinic location and utilization in a high-resource setting.
This study examined dental utilization by Medicaid-insured children living in a high-resource area and characterized distance and travel-related variables to accessing care. It concluded that closer proximity may contribute to the higher utilization of services observed compared with national rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS019486.
Citation: Dumas SA, Polk D .
Pediatric dental clinic location and utilization in a high-resource setting.
J Public Health Dent 2015 Summer;75(3):183-90. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12086.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Healthcare Utilization, Dental and Oral Health, Access to Care, Medicaid
Kranz AM, Rozier RG, Preisser JS
Examining continuity of care for Medicaid-enrolled children receiving oral health services in medical offices.
To understand continuity of oral health services for Medicaid-enrolled children utilizing the North Carolina (NC) Into the Mouths of Babes (IMB) preventive oral health program, the researchers examined the time to a dentist visit after a child’s third birthday. They found that children with only IMB visits compared to only dentist visits before age 3 had lower rates of dentist visits after their third birthday.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Kranz AM, Rozier RG, Preisser JS .
Examining continuity of care for Medicaid-enrolled children receiving oral health services in medical offices.
Matern Child Health J 2015 Jan;19(1):196-203. doi: 10.1007/s10995-014-1510-3..
Keywords: Access to Care, Children/Adolescents, Community-Based Practice, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid
Beil H, Rozier RG, Preisser JS
Effects of early dental office visits on dental caries experience.
This study determined the association between timing of a first dentist office visit before age 5 and dental disease in kindergarten. It found that children with early dental visits (before age 2) had higher rates of tooth decay than those who had later visits (between ages 3 and 5).
AHRQ-funded; HS018076.
Citation: Beil H, Rozier RG, Preisser JS .
Effects of early dental office visits on dental caries experience.
Am J Public Health. 2014 Oct;104(10):1979-85. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301325..
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Children/Adolescents, Access to Care, Medicaid, Prevention
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