National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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
151 to 175 of 417 Research Studies DisplayedRoberts ET, Mehrotra A
Assessment of disparities in digital access among Medicare beneficiaries and implications for telemedicine.
In this study, the investigators examined disparities in digital access (ie, access at home to technology that enables video telemedicine visits) among Medicare beneficiaries by socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The investigators concluded that the proportion of beneficiaries who lacked digital access was higher among those with low socioeconomic status, those 85 years or older, and in communities of color.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Roberts ET, Mehrotra A .
Assessment of disparities in digital access among Medicare beneficiaries and implications for telemedicine.
JAMA Intern Med 2020 Oct;180(10):1386-89. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2666..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Disparities, Access to Care, Social Determinants of Health, Low-Income, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
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
Leeds IL, Jones C, DiBrito SR
Delay in emergency hernia surgery is associated with worse outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to determine if the variation in timing of urgent surgery impacts surgical outcomes. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was searched for emergent surgeries in 2011-2016 for abdominal hernia resulting in obstruction or gangrene by primary post-op diagnosis. Findings showed that delayed surgery was associated with increased rates of major complications, longer operative times, longer postoperative lengths of stay, increased re-operations, increased readmissions, and increased 30-day mortality. Next-day surgery and surgery delayed more than one day were associated with increased odds of a major complication.
AHRQ-funded; HS024547.
Citation: Leeds IL, Jones C, DiBrito SR .
Delay in emergency hernia surgery is associated with worse outcomes.
Surg Endosc 2020 Oct;34(10):4562-73. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-07245-4..
Keywords: Surgery, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Critical Care, Access to Care, Digestive Disease and Health, Outcomes
Lee H, Caldwell JT, Maene C
Racial/ethnic inequities in access to high-quality dialysis treatment in Chicago: does neighborhood racial/ethnic composition matter?
Investigators examined whether neighborhood racial composition contributes to racial/ethnic inequities in access to high-quality dialysis care in Chicago. Data from the United States Renal Data System was merged with the ESRD Quality Incentive Program file and the American Community Survey (2005-2009) for facility and neighborhood characteristics. The investigators concluded that expanding opportunities for Blacks and Hispanics to gain access to racially integrated and minority neighborhoods may help alleviate racial/ethnic inequities in access to quality care among kidney disease patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS00078.
Citation: Lee H, Caldwell JT, Maene C .
Racial/ethnic inequities in access to high-quality dialysis treatment in Chicago: does neighborhood racial/ethnic composition matter?
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2020 Oct;7(5):854-64. doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00708-8..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Access to Care, Urban Health, Dialysis, Disparities, Quality of Care, Kidney Disease and Health
Li J, Qi M, Werner RM
Assessment of receipt of the first home health care visit after hospital discharge among older adults.
Investigators examined how often patients referred to home health care at hospital discharge receive it and whether there is evidence of disparities. Their study used Medicare data regarding the postacute home health care setting; participants were Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries discharged from the hospital with a referral to home health care. They found that only 54% of patients discharged received home health care services within 14 days of discharge. Of the remaining 46% discharged, 37.7% never received any home health care, while 8.3% were institutionalized or died within 14 days without a preceding home health care visit. Patients who were Black or Hispanic received home health at lower rates than did patients who were White. They concluded that disparities in the use of home health care remain an issue in the US.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266; HS026836.
Citation: Li J, Qi M, Werner RM .
Assessment of receipt of the first home health care visit after hospital discharge among older adults.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Sep;3(9):e2015470. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.15470..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospital Discharge, Home Healthcare, Disparities, Access to Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Cha P, Brindis CD
Early Affordable Care Act Medicaid: coverage effects for low- and moderate-income young adults.
This study examined the effects of early Medicaid expansions on low- and moderate-income young adults. They used the American Community Survey 2008-2013 to study three early expansion states: California, Connecticut and Minnesota. Results shows that Medicaid expansion reduced uninsurance in all three states and increased public insurance in California and Minnesota. Young men benefitted more than young women, who historically tend to be uninsured.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation: Cha P, Brindis CD .
Early Affordable Care Act Medicaid: coverage effects for low- and moderate-income young adults.
J Adolesc Health 2020 Sep;67(3):425-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.029..
Keywords: Young Adults, Policy, Medicaid, Uninsured, Access to Care
Herb JN, Dunham LN, Mody G
Lung cancer surgical regionalization disproportionately worsens travel distance for rural patients.
Researchers hypothesized that lung cancer patients have been traveling further for surgery over time as regionalization has occurred, and this increased travel has primarily impacted rural patients. Using data from a North Carolina all-payer state discharge database, they found that the number of hospitals performing lung cancer resections decreased from 49 to 31 over the study period, and the proportion of patients receiving care at high-volume centers increased. Rural patient travel distance increased over time by 8.5 miles, with no change in urban patient travel distance. They concluded that, in North Carolina, lung cancer surgical regionalization occurred over the study period and was accompanied by increases in travel distance for rural patients only. They recommended further work to determine the effects of greater travel distance on patterns of cancer care for rural patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Herb JN, Dunham LN, Mody G .
Lung cancer surgical regionalization disproportionately worsens travel distance for rural patients.
J Rural Health 2020 Sep;36(4):496-505. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12440..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Rural Health, Surgery, Access to Care
Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM .
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
J Ment Health Policy Econ 2020 Sep 1;23(3):151-82..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Policy, Uninsured
Green TC, Donovan E, Klug B
Revisiting pharmacy-based naloxone with pharmacists and naloxone consumers in 2 states: 2017 perspectives and evolving approaches.
The authors sought to examine similarities and differences in experiences obtaining naloxone at the pharmacy over a 1-year period in 2 states, and to explore reactions from people with opioid use disorder, patients taking opioids for chronic pain, caregivers of opioid users, and pharmacists to communication tools and patient outreach materials designed to improve naloxone uptake. Through focus groups in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, they found that experiences dispensing naloxone are quickly evolving, and a greater diversity of patients are obtaining pharmacy naloxone. They concluded that persistent stigma-related concerns underscore the need for tools to help pharmacists offer naloxone, facilitate patient requests, and provide reassurance when getting naloxone.
AHRQ-funded; HS024021.
Citation: Green TC, Donovan E, Klug B .
Revisiting pharmacy-based naloxone with pharmacists and naloxone consumers in 2 states: 2017 perspectives and evolving approaches.
J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2020 Sep-Oct;60(5):740-49. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2020.03.005..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, Social Stigma, Access to Care
Patterson ES, Papautsky EL, Krok-Schoen JL
Scheduling delayed treatment and surgeries post-pandemic: a stakeholder analysis.
The purpose of this study was to assess diverse stakeholder perspectives regarding how to trade off risks and benefits to patients, healthcare providers, and the local community. The study found that there exists a high number of different categories of stakeholders affected by the post-pandemic decisions to reschedule delayed treatments and surgeries. The primary stakeholders for a delayed surgery are the surgeon with knowledge of the clinical benefits of undertaking an operation and the patient's willingness to tolerate uncertainty and the increased risk of infection. For decisions about capacity in the operating rooms and inpatient setting after the surgery, the primary factors are reducing staff infections, preventing patients from contracting COVID-19 during operations and during post-surgical recovery at the hospital, conserving critical resources such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and addressing the quality of life needs of hospital staff, such as childcare and preventing infecting members of their household. The timing and selection of elective surgery cases has an effect on the ability of hospitals to manage finances, which impacts decisions about staff employment when resources such as rooms are not being utilized.
AHRQ-funded; HS024379.
Citation: Patterson ES, Papautsky EL, Krok-Schoen JL .
Scheduling delayed treatment and surgeries post-pandemic: a stakeholder analysis.
Proc Int Symp Hum Factors Ergon Healthc 2020 Sep;9(1):10-14. doi: 10.1177/2327857920091066..
Keywords: COVID-19, Surgery, Public Health, Access to Care
Mogul DB, Perito ER, Wood N
Impact of acuity circles on outcomes for pediatric liver transplant candidates.
In December 2018, UNOS approved an allocation scheme based on recipients' geographic distance from a deceased donor ("acuity circles"). Previous analyses suggested acuity circles (AC) would reduce waitlist mortality overall, but their impact on pediatric subgroups was not considered. In this study, the investigators applied Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from 2011-2016 towards the Liver Simulated Allocation Model (LSAM) to compare outcomes by age and illness severity for the UNOS-approved AC and the existing Donor Service Area (DSA)/Region-based allocation schemes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023876.
Citation: Mogul DB, Perito ER, Wood N .
Impact of acuity circles on outcomes for pediatric liver transplant candidates.
Transplantation 2020 Aug;104(8):1627-32. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003079..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Transplantation, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Registries, Surgery, Access to Care
Porter A, Brown CC, Tilford JM
Association of insurance status with treatment and outcomes in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
This study’s objective was to determine if a health insurance disparity exists among pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury using data from the National Trauma Data Bank. The Bank contains data from more than 800 trauma centers in the United States. Isolated traumatic brain injury was defined as patients with a head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 3+. Procedure codes were used to identify four primary treatment approaches combined into 2 classifications: craniotomy or craniectomy and external or intracranial ventricular draining. Condition at admission was defined including hypotension, Glasgow Coma Scale, mechanism and intent of injury, and Injury Severity Scale. Among the cohort of 12,449 patients, 91% had insurance and 9% were uninsured. Children without insurance had worse condition at admission with higher rates of hypotension and higher Injury Severity Score when compared with publicly and privately insured patients. Having insurance was associated with a 32% increase in the odds of cranial procedures, and 54% increase in the odds of monitor placement. Insurance coverage was associated 25% lower odds of inpatient mortality. Further study is needed to determine what factors lead to worse condition at admission.
Citation: Porter A, Brown CC, Tilford JM .
Association of insurance status with treatment and outcomes in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
Crit Care Med 2020 Jul;48(7):e584-e91. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000004398..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Brain Injury, Trauma, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Uninsured, Outcomes
Govindarajan P, Shiboski S, Grimes B
Effect of acute stroke care regionalization on intravenous alteplase use in two urban counties.
Investigators sought to determine whether increasing access to primary stroke centers (regionalization) led to an increase in intravenous alteplase use in acute ischemic stroke patients. Studying two urban counties in the western region of US that regionalized acute stroke care, they found that in Santa Clara County, intravenous alteplase was administered to 1.7% of patients in the pre-regionalization period and 2.1% in the post-regionalization period, while in San Mateo County, the numbers were 1.3% and 3.2%, respectively. In the post-regionalization phase, San Mateo County had greater change in paramedic stroke detection, higher number of transports to primary stroke centers, and more frequent use of intravenous alteplase at stroke centers. They concluded that greater post-regionalization improvements in San Mateo County contributed to significantly improved county-level thrombolysis use than Santa Clara County.
AHRQ-funded; HS026207; HS017965.
Citation: Govindarajan P, Shiboski S, Grimes B .
Effect of acute stroke care regionalization on intravenous alteplase use in two urban counties.
Prehosp Emerg Care 2020 Jul-Aug;24(4):505-14. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2019.1679303..
Keywords: Stroke, Cardiovascular Conditions, Urban Health, Access to Care, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Critical Care
Fiori KP, Heller CG, Rehm CD
Unmet social needs and no-show visits in primary care in a US Northeastern urban health system, 2018-2019.
This study used results from a 10-item social needs screener conducted across 19 primary care practices in Bronx County, New York to determine reasons for no-show appointments between April 2018 and July 2019. They examined the association between unmet needs and a 2-year history of missed appointments from 41,637 patients. Overall, the no-show appointment rate was 26.6%. Patients with 1 or more unmet social needs had a significantly higher no-show proportion (31.5%) than those without (26.3%). The strongest association with no-shows was with transportation problems.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Fiori KP, Heller CG, Rehm CD .
Unmet social needs and no-show visits in primary care in a US Northeastern urban health system, 2018-2019.
Am J Public Health 2020 Jul;110(S2):S242-s50. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305717..
Keywords: Urban Health, Primary Care, Access to Care, Social Determinants of Health
Krist AH, O'Loughlin K, Woolf SH
Enhanced care planning and clinical-community linkages versus usual care to address basic needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions: a clinician-level randomized controlled trial.
This paper describes the beginning of a clinician-level cluster-randomized controlled trial to evaluate how primary care clinicians can participate in community and hospital solutions to connecting patients with needed services and whether doing so is effective in controlling multiple chronic conditions. Electronic health records will be used to identify patients with these conditions, including cardiovascular disease or risks, diabetes, obesity, or depression.
AHRQ-funded; HS026223.
Citation: Krist AH, O'Loughlin K, Woolf SH .
Enhanced care planning and clinical-community linkages versus usual care to address basic needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions: a clinician-level randomized controlled trial.
Trials 2020 Jun 11;21(1):517. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04463-3..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Primary Care, Health Promotion, Access to Care
Longacre CF, Neprash HT, Shippee ND
Evaluating travel distance to radiation facilities among rural and urban breast cancer patients in the Medicare population.
This study characterizes the actual distance older breast cancer patients traveled to radiation treatment and the minimum distance necessary to reach radiation care, and examines whether any patient demographic or clinical factors are associated with greater travel distance. Findings showed that patients living in rural areas traveled on average nearly 3 times as far as those from urban areas, and their nearest facility was more than 4 times farther away. Older age, being single or widowed, and lower household income were significantly associated with shorter actual travel distance, while increasing rurality was significantly associated with greater actual and minimum travel distance to radiation treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS026660.
Citation: Longacre CF, Neprash HT, Shippee ND .
Evaluating travel distance to radiation facilities among rural and urban breast cancer patients in the Medicare population.
J Rural Health 2020 Jun;36(3):334-46. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12413..
Keywords: Rural Health, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Elderly, Women, Access to Care, Disparities
Maclean JC, Halpern MT, Hill SC
AHRQ Author: Hill SC
The effect of Medicaid expansion on prescriptions for breast cancer hormonal therapy medications.
The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on prescriptions for effective breast cancer hormonal therapies (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors) among Medicaid enrollees. Data from the Medicaid State Drug Utilization Database was used. Findings showed that Medicaid expansion may have had a meaningful impact on the ability of lower-income women to access effective hormonal therapies used to treat breast cancer.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Maclean JC, Halpern MT, Hill SC .
The effect of Medicaid expansion on prescriptions for breast cancer hormonal therapy medications.
Health Serv Res 2020 Jun;55(3):399-410. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13289..
Keywords: Medicaid, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Medication, Policy, Women, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care, Health Insurance
Mroz TM, Patterson DG, Frogner BK
The impact of Medicare's rural add-on payments on supply of home health agencies serving rural counties.
This analysis looked at the impact of Medicare’s rural add-on payments on supply of home health agencies serving rural counties. The authors used data from Home Health Compare. The results suggest that while supply changes are similar in rural counties adjacent to urban areas and urban counties regardless of add-on payments, only higher add-payments of 5 to 10 percent to rural counties keep them on pace with those in urban counties.
AHRQ-funded; HS024777.
Citation: Mroz TM, Patterson DG, Frogner BK .
The impact of Medicare's rural add-on payments on supply of home health agencies serving rural counties.
Health Aff 2020 Jun;39(6):949-57. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00952..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Home Healthcare, Rural Health, Payment, Access to Care
Bailey SR, Marino M, Ezekiel-Herrera D
Tobacco cessation in Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion states versus non-expansion states.
This study examined whether states that expanded Medicaid eligibility under the ACA had increased smoking quit rates, tobacco cessation medication orders, and greater health care utilization compared to patients in non-expansion states. The researchers used electronic health record (EHR) data from 219 community health centers (CHCs) in 10 states that expanded Medicaid as of January 2014. They identified patients aged 19-64 with tobacco use status in their records within six months prior to ACA Medicaid expansion and 1 or more visits. They found that patients in expansion states had increased adjusted odds of quitting, having a medication ordered and having follow-up visits compared to patients in non-expansion states.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation: Bailey SR, Marino M, Ezekiel-Herrera D .
Tobacco cessation in Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion states versus non-expansion states.
Nicotine Tob Res 2020 Jun;22(6):1016-22. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntz087..
Keywords: Tobacco Use: Smoking Cessation, Tobacco Use, Substance Abuse, Medication, Medicaid, Policy, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care, Health Insurance
Kayle M, Valle J, Paulukonis S
Impact of Medicaid expansion on access and healthcare among individuals with sickle cell disease.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether Medicaid expansion in California, increased Medicaid enrollment, increased hydroxyurea prescriptions filled, and decreased acute healthcare utilization in sickle cell disease (SCD). Findings showed that Medicaid expansion did not appear to have improved enrollment or acute healthcare utilization among individuals with SCD in California. Recommendations included future studies exploring whether individuals with SCD transitioned to other insurance plans or became uninsured post-expansion, the underlying reasons for low hydroxyurea utilization, and the lack of effect on hospital admissions despite a modest effect on emergency department visits.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011; HS025297.
Citation: Kayle M, Valle J, Paulukonis S .
Impact of Medicaid expansion on access and healthcare among individuals with sickle cell disease.
Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020 May;67(5):e28152. doi: 10.1002/pbc.28152..
Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Medicaid, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Medication, Hospitalization, Health Insurance
Melnikow J, Evans E, Xing G
Primary care access to new patient appointments for California Medicaid enrollees: a simulated patient study.
Investigators evaluated variation in the availability of primary care new patient appointments for Medi-Cal (California Medicaid) enrollees in Northern California and its relationship to emergency department (ED) use after Medicaid expansion. Data from the California Health Interview Survey, Medi-Cal enrollment reports, and California hospital discharge records were used. The investigators found that access to primary care in Northern California was limited for new patient Medi-Cal enrollees and varied across counties, despite standard statewide reimbursement rates. Further, counties with more limited access to primary care new patient appointments had higher ED use by Medi-Cal enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS022236.
Citation: Melnikow J, Evans E, Xing G .
Primary care access to new patient appointments for California Medicaid enrollees: a simulated patient study.
Ann Fam Med 2020 May;18(3):210-17. doi: 10.1370/afm.2502..
Keywords: Primary Care, Access to Care, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Emergency Department, 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
Lindly OJ, Crossman MK, Shui AM
Healthcare access and adverse family impact among U.S. children ages 0-5 years by prematurity status.
This study examined healthcare access and adverse family impact among U.S. children aged 0-5 years by prematurity status. A sample of 19,842 U.S. children from the 2016 and 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health was used to identify 242 very low birthweight (VBLW) and 2205 low birthweight and/or preterm (LBW/PTB) children. Adverse family impacts measured were ≥ $1000 in annual out-of-pocket medical costs, having a parent cut back or stop work, parental aggravation, and maternal or paternal health not excellent. Only VBLW children had a significantly higher risk of a parent cut back or stop work, but all premature birth children fared worse than other children in terms of the other adverse family impacts.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Lindly OJ, Crossman MK, Shui AM .
Healthcare access and adverse family impact among U.S. children ages 0-5 years by prematurity status.
BMC Pediatr 2020 Apr 17;20(1):168. doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02058-0..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Access to Care, Family Health and History
Desai AD, Zhou C, Haaland W
Social disadvantage, access to care, and disparities in physical functioning among children hospitalized with respiratory illness.
This study examined associations between social disadvantage, access to care, and disparities in physical functioning among children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness. The study cohort included children ages 8-16 years and/or caregivers of children 2 weeks to 16 years admitted to five tertiary care children’s hospitals for three common respiratory illnesses from July 2014 through June 2016. Surveys were completed within 2 to 8 weeks after discharge. The survey assessed social disadvantage, difficulty/delays accessing care, and baseline and follow-up health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and physical functioning using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). A total of 1,325 patients and/or their caregivers completed both PedsQL surveys. Adjusted mean baseline PedsQL scores were significantly lower for patients with social disadvantage (minority race/ethnicity, limited English proficiency, low education, and low income), than for patients with none. There were also disadvantage markers or difficulty/delays accessing care which were associated with lower physical functioning. However, these differences were reduced after hospital discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS024299.
Citation: Desai AD, Zhou C, Haaland W .
Social disadvantage, access to care, and disparities in physical functioning among children hospitalized with respiratory illness.
J Hosp Med 2020 Apr;15(4):211-18. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3359..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Respiratory Conditions, Hospitalization, Access to Care, Disparities, Vulnerable Populations, Quality of Life
Tilhou AS, Huguet N, DeVoe J
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion positively impacted community health centers and their patients.
In this paper, the investigators summarized their results to-date as experts in investigating the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on Community Health Centers (CHCs) and the patients they serve. They found the ACA Medicaid expansion increased access to care and preventive services, primarily in Medicaid expansion states. Rates of physical and mental health conditions rose substantially from pre- to post-ACA in expansion states, suggesting underdiagnosis pre-ACA.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation: Tilhou AS, Huguet N, DeVoe J .
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion positively impacted community health centers and their patients.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Apr;35(4):1292-95. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05571-w..
Keywords: Policy, Medicaid, Access to Care, Uninsured, Health Insurance