National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Access to Care (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 14 of 14 Research Studies DisplayedChow JY, Nijhawan AE, Mathews WC
Hospitalization rates among persons with HIV who gained Medicaid or private insurance after the Affordable Care Act in 2014.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether gaining inpatient healthcare coverage had an effect on hospitalization rates among persons with HIV following implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014. Hospitalization data from 2015 were obtained on adults receiving longitudinal care at HIV clinics; all patients were previously uninsured and supported by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) in 2013. Findings showed that acquiring inpatient coverage was not associated with a change in hospitalization rates.
AHRQ-funded; 290201100007C.
Citation: Chow JY, Nijhawan AE, Mathews WC .
Hospitalization rates among persons with HIV who gained Medicaid or private insurance after the Affordable Care Act in 2014.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021 Jun 1;87(2):776-80. doi: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002645..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hospitalization, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Kahn JM, Davis BS, Yabes JG
Association between state-mandated protocolized sepsis care and in-hospital mortality among adults with sepsis.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between New York State sepsis regulations and the outcomes of patients hospitalized with sepsis. Results showed that, in New York State, mandated protocolized sepsis care was associated with a greater decrease in sepsis mortality compared with sepsis mortality in control states (Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey) that did not implement sepsis regulations. The authors add that, because baseline mortality rates differ between New York and the comparison states, it is uncertain whether these findings will be generalizable to other states.
AHRQ-funded; HS025146.
Citation: Kahn JM, Davis BS, Yabes JG .
Association between state-mandated protocolized sepsis care and in-hospital mortality among adults with sepsis.
JAMA 2019 Jul 16;322(3):240-50. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.9021..
Keywords: Guidelines, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Mortality, Outcomes, Policy, Sepsis
Blecker S, Herrin J, Li L
Trends in hospital readmission of Medicare-covered patients with heart failure.
This study sought to compare trends in Medicare risk-adjusted, 30-day readmissions following principal heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and other hospitalizations with HF. The investigators found that patients with HF are often hospitalized for other causes, and these hospitalizations have high readmission rates. Policy changes led to decreases in readmission rates for both principal and secondary HF hospitalizations. Readmission rates in both groups remained high, suggesting that initiatives targeting all hospitalized patients with HF continue to be warranted.
AHRQ-funded; HS022882; HS023683.
Citation: Blecker S, Herrin J, Li L .
Trends in hospital readmission of Medicare-covered patients with heart failure.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2019 Mar 12;73(9):1004-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.12.040..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitalization, Medicare, Policy
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
Pickens G, Karaca Z, Cutler E
AHRQ Author: Karaca Z, Wong HS
Changes in hospital inpatient utilization following health care reform.
The purpose of this retrospective study was to estimate the effects of 2014 Medicaid expansions on inpatient outcomes using population and unemployment data from HCUP’s State Inpatient Databases. Outcomes included total admissions, referral-sensitive surgical and preventable admissions, length of stay, cost, and severity of patient illness. The authors conclude that Medicaid expansions did not change all-payer admission volumes, but expansions were associated with increased Medicaid and decreased uninsured volumes. The results of the study suggest that previously uninsured persons with a greater need for inpatient services were the most likely to gain coverage.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Pickens G, Karaca Z, Cutler E .
Changes in hospital inpatient utilization following health care reform.
Health Serv Res 2018 Jun 30;53(4):2446-69. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12734..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Inpatient Care, Medicaid, Policy
Henke RM, Karaca Z, Gibson TB
AHRQ Author: Karaca Z, Wong HS
Medicare Advantage penetration and hospital costs before and after the Affordable Care Act.
This study investigated the relationship between Medicare Advantage (MA) program growth and inpatient hospital costs and utilization before and after the ACA. Its results suggest that MA enrollment growth is associated with diminished spillover reductions in hospital admission costs after the ACA. Researchers did not observe a strong relationship between MA enrollment and inpatient days per enrollee
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201300002C.
Citation: Henke RM, Karaca Z, Gibson TB .
Medicare Advantage penetration and hospital costs before and after the Affordable Care Act.
Med Care 2018 Apr;56(4):321-28. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000885.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Policy, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Medicare
Agimi Y, Albert SM, Youk AO
AHRQ Author: Steiner CA
Dementia and motor vehicle crash hospitalizations: role of physician reporting laws.
This study sought to determine the effect of physician reporting laws and state licensing requirements on crash hospitalizations among drivers with dementia. It concluded that physician reporting laws, mandated or legally protected, were not associated with a lower likelihood of dementia among crash hospitalized drivers. Vision testing at in-person renewal and in-person renewal requirements were significantly related with a lower prevalence of dementia in hospitalized older drivers.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Agimi Y, Albert SM, Youk AO .
Dementia and motor vehicle crash hospitalizations: role of physician reporting laws.
Neurology 2018 Feb 27;90(9):e808-e13. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000005022.
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Keywords: Dementia, Elderly, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Policy
Venkatesh AK, Mei H, Kocher KE
Identification of emergency department visits in Medicare administrative claims: approaches and implications.
The researchers sought to construct an operational definition for ED visitation using a comprehensive Medicare data set and to compare this definition to existing operational definitions used by researchers and policymakers. They concluded that current operational definitions of ED visitation using administrative claims produce different estimates of ED visitation based on the underlying assumptions applied to billing data and data set availability.
AHRQ-funded; HS024160.
Citation: Venkatesh AK, Mei H, Kocher KE .
Identification of emergency department visits in Medicare administrative claims: approaches and implications.
Acad Emerg Med 2017 Apr;24(4):422-31. doi: 10.1111/acem.13140.
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Keywords: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Medicare, Policy, Elderly, Hospitalization
Erickson KF, Winkelmayer WC, Chertow GM
Hemodialysis hospitalizations and readmissions: the effects of payment reform.
The researchers used a retrospective cohort interrupted time-series study design to examine whether the 2004 nephrologist reimbursement reform led to reduced hospitalizations and rehospitalizations. They found no significant change in all-cause hospitalization or rehospitalization and slight reductions in fluid overload hospitalization and rehospitalization following reimbursement reform.
AHRQ-funded; HS019178.
Citation: Erickson KF, Winkelmayer WC, Chertow GM .
Hemodialysis hospitalizations and readmissions: the effects of payment reform.
Am J Kidney Dis 2017 Feb;69(2):237-46. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2016.08.033.
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Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Hospitalization, Kidney Disease and Health, Payment, Policy
Kim HS, Monte AA
Colorado cannabis legalization and its effect on emergency care.
The authors noted that increased marijuana use after legalization has been accompanied by increases in emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to marijuana intoxication. They recommended that providers in states with impending legalization measures should become familiar with the symptoms and management of acute marijuana intoxication, as well as understand the effects on chronic diseases frequently observed in the emergency department. Further, they suggested that residency program directors should make an effort to integrate this topic into their residency curricula.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Kim HS, Monte AA .
Colorado cannabis legalization and its effect on emergency care.
Ann Emerg Med 2016 Jul;68(1):71-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.01.004.
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Keywords: Emergency Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Hospitalization, Policy, Substance Abuse
Hellinger FJ
AHRQ Author: Hellinger FJ
In four ACA expansion states, the percentage of uninsured hospitalizations for people with HIV declined, 2012-14.
This study examines the influence of the Affordable Care Act's optional state Medicaid expansion on insurance coverage and health outcomes for hospitalized patients with HIV. It found that the percentage of hospitalizations of uninsured people with HIV in the four expansion states fell from 13.7 percent to 5.5 percent in the study period, while the percentage in the two nonexpanding states increased from 14.5 percent to 15.7 percent.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hellinger FJ .
In four ACA expansion states, the percentage of uninsured hospitalizations for people with HIV declined, 2012-14.
Health Aff 2015 Dec;34(12):2061-8. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0718..
Keywords: Policy, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Medicaid, Uninsured
Ellimoottil C, Miller S, Davis M
Insurance expansion and the utilization of inpatient surgery: evidence for a "Woodwork" effect?
The researchers examined rates of elective surgery in previously insured individuals before and after Massachusetts health care reform. They observed no increase in the overall rate of selected discretionary inpatient surgeries in Massachusetts versus control states for the entire population , as well as among the white and low-income subgroups.
AHRQ-funded; HS018346.
Citation: Ellimoottil C, Miller S, Davis M .
Insurance expansion and the utilization of inpatient surgery: evidence for a "Woodwork" effect?
Surg Innov 2015 Dec;22(6):588-92. doi: 10.1177/1553350615573579.
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Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Surgery, Health Insurance, Policy, Hospitalization
Keohane LM, Grebla RC, Mor V
Medicare Advantage members' expected out-of-pocket spending for inpatient and skilled nursing facility services.
In 2011, new federal regulations restricted inpatient and skilled nursing facility cost sharing and mandated limits on out-of-pocket spending in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The authors found that some MA beneficiaries may still have difficulty affording acute and postacute care despite greater regulation of cost sharing.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Keohane LM, Grebla RC, Mor V .
Medicare Advantage members' expected out-of-pocket spending for inpatient and skilled nursing facility services.
Health Aff 2015 Jun;34(6):1019-27. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1146.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Hospitalization, Policy, Medicare, Nursing Homes
Spector WD, Limcangco R, Williams C
AHRQ Author: Spector WD
Potentially avoidable hospitalizations for elderly long-stay residents in nursing homes.
The authors sought to determine the relationship between clinical risk factors, facility characteristics and State policy variables, and both avoidable and unavoidable hospitalizations. Using data from the Nursing Home Stay file, 2006-2008, they found that three fifths of hospitalizations were potentially avoidable and most were for infections, injuries, and congestive heart failure. Clinical risk factors included renal disease, diabetes, and a high number of medications. Staffing, quality, and reimbursement affected avoidable, but not unavoidable, hospitalizations.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Spector WD, Limcangco R, Williams C .
Potentially avoidable hospitalizations for elderly long-stay residents in nursing homes.
Med Care 2013 Aug;51(8):673-81. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3182984bff.
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Keywords: Elderly, Hospitalization, Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Policy