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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 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedBeck AF, Henize AW, Klein MD
A data-driven approach to optimizing medical-legal partnership performance and joint advocacy.
This paper discusses ways that medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) have facilitated advocacy at both patient (client) and population levels. MLPs address health-harming legal needs experienced by low-income families. In particular, the article discusses the work of the MLP Cincinnati Child Health-Law Partnership (Child HeLP), a joint initiative that bridges the primary care clinics at Cincinnati Children’s with the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati (LASGC). The authors found that Child HeLP referral was associated with a 38% reduction in hospitalizations. They discuss their use of quality improvement (QI) methods and statistical process (SPC) charts to optimize their partnership and facilitate identification of patterns amenable to population-level action and policy change. They also discuss how additional clinical-community partnerships have followed the Child HeLP model. There have been 10,190 referrals to legal partners for 7,801 children since Child HeLP’s inception in 2008. The most common reasons for referral are housing instability/adverse housing quality (~40%), public benefit denials or delays (~25%), and unmet educational needs (~20%). Referrals have resulted in an estimated $1,360,000 in recovered benefits and improvements in housing conditions, educational achievement, and other benefits.
AHRQ-funded; HS027996.
Citation: Beck AF, Henize AW, Klein MD .
A data-driven approach to optimizing medical-legal partnership performance and joint advocacy.
J Law Med Ethics 2023 Winter; 51(4):880-88. doi: 10.1017/jme.2023.158..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Policy
Mao Y, Li Y, McGarry B
Home time and state regulations among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living communities.
The objectives of this study were to assess variation in home time among assisted living (AL) residents in the year following admission and to examine associations with state regulations for direct care workers (DCW) training and staffing and for licensed nurse staffing. The study sample included new Medicare beneficiary residents in over 12,000 AL facilities. Findings showed that home time varied substantially among AL residents depending on resident characteristics and state-level regulatory specificity; residents eligible for Medicare and Medicaid had shorter home time than the Medicare-only residents. The authors concluded that their findings could guide AL operators and state legislators toward improvements in this important quality of life metric.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Mao Y, Li Y, McGarry B .
Home time and state regulations among Medicare beneficiaries in assisted living communities.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2024 Mar; 72(3):742-52. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18709..
Keywords: Medicare, Policy, Long-Term Care, Quality of Life
Hughes PM, Easterly CW, Thomas K
North Carolina Medicaid system perspectives on substance use disorder treatment policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study’s objective was to describe perspectives from stakeholders involved in North Carolina’s Medicaid system on substance use disorder (SUD) treatment policy changes during the COVID pandemic. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with state agency representatives, Medicaid managed care organizations and providers, as well as three focus groups of Medicaid beneficiaries with SUD. Responses indicated that policy changes such as telehealth and take-home methadone were overall considered beneficial; staffing shortages, however, remained a substantial barrier. The researchers concluded that the policy changes should be continued, but additional steps are needed to ensure payment parity for telehealth services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Hughes PM, Easterly CW, Thomas K .
North Carolina Medicaid system perspectives on substance use disorder treatment policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Addict Med 2024 Mar-Apr; 18(2):e1-e7. doi: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001272..
Keywords: COVID-19, Medicaid, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Policy
Jindal M, Barnert E, Chomilo N
AHRQ Author: Mistry KB
Policy solutions to eliminate racial and ethnic child health disparities in the USA.
This partly AHRQ-authored paper is part of a series on Racism and Child Health in the USA, which builds on Paper 1's summary of existing disparities in health-care delivery and highlights policies within multiple sectors that can be modified and supported to improve health equity, and, in so doing, improves the health of racially and ethnically minoritized children. The authors discuss current and historical policy approaches across housing, employment, health insurance, immigration, and criminal which have the potential to affect child health equity. They commented that these policies must be considered with a focus on structural racism to understand which have the potential to eliminate or at least attenuate disparities. If these policy efforts do not directly address structural racism, they will not achieve equity and instead worsen gaps and existing disparities in access and quality-thereby continuing to perpetuate a two-tier system dictated by racism.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Jindal M, Barnert E, Chomilo N .
Policy solutions to eliminate racial and ethnic child health disparities in the USA.
Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2024 Feb; 8(2):159-74. doi: 10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00262-6..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Policy