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- (-) Access to Care (15)
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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 DisplayedRamadan OI, Kelz RR, Sharpe JE
Impact of Medicaid expansion on outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Researchers sought to assess the association between Medicaid expansion and outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using HCUP State Inpatient Databases data from 14 states. They examined data on 8995 adult patients under age 65 from both non-expansion states and Medicaid expansion states. The results indicated that Medicaid expansion was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair among all patients, particularly among patients who were either on Medicaid or were uninsured. The researchers concluded that these results provided support for improved access to care for patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair through Medicaid expansion.
AHRQ-funded; HS026116.
Citation: Ramadan OI, Kelz RR, Sharpe JE .
Impact of Medicaid expansion on outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
J Vasc Surg 2023 Sep; 78(3):648-56.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.04.029..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Medicaid, Outcomes, Access to Care
Decker S, Dworsky M, Gibson TB
AHRQ Author: Decker S
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act Insurance Expansions on Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits.
The authors leveraged ACA coverage expansions, including Medicaid expansion and Marketplaces, to study the impact of health insurance on opioid-related emergency department (ED) visits. They used ZIP-code–level ED utilization data from HCUP’s State Inpatient Databases (SID) and State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) for 29 states. They found evidence of a dose-response relationship between pre-ACA uninsured and changes in ED visit rates in both expansion and non-expansion states: areas with higher uninsured rates prior to ACA saw larger reductions in opioid-related ED visits after the ACA took effect. The authors concluded that these findings suggest that increased insurance coverage may to help mitigate the opioid crisis.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Decker S, Dworsky M, Gibson TB .
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act Insurance Expansions on Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits.
American Journal of Health Economics 2023 Sum; 9(3):405–34..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Opioids, Policy, Health Insurance, Emergency Department, Access to Care, Medicaid, Healthcare Utilization
Steenland MW, Wherry LR
Medicaid expansion led to reductions in postpartum hospitalizations.
The purpose of this study was to assess whether the Medicaid expansions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affected rates of postpartum hospitalization. The researchers compared states that did and did not expand Medicaid under the ACA as they related to changes in hospitalizations among birthing people with a Medicaid-financed delivery. The study found a 17% reduction in hospitalizations during the first 60 days postpartum associated with the Medicaid expansions, and evidence of a lesser decrease in hospitalizations between 61 days and 6 months postpartum. The researchers concluded that Medicaid coverage expansion under the ACA resulted in improved postpartum health for low-income birthing people.
AHRQ-funded; HS027464.
Citation: Steenland MW, Wherry LR .
Medicaid expansion led to reductions in postpartum hospitalizations.
Health Aff 2023 Jan; 42(1):18-25. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00819..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Medicaid, Hospitalization, Maternal Care, Women, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Moriya AS, Chakravarty S
AHRQ Author: Moriya AS
Racial and ethnic disparities in preventable hospitalizations and ED visits five years after ACA Medicaid expansions,.
This AHRQ-authored paper examined whether the 2014 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansions mitigated existing racial or ethnic disparities in preventable hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits. The authors used inpatient data from twenty-nine states and ED data from twenty-six states for the period 2011 to 2018. They found that Medicaid expansions decreased disparities in preventable hospitalizations and ED visits between non-Hispanic Black and White nonelderly adults by 10 percent or more. There were no significant effects on disparities between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White nonelderly adults. Their findings highlight sustained improvements in community-level care for non-Hispanic Black populations, but also suggest access barriers experienced by Hispanic adults that need to be addressed beyond Medicaid eligibility expansion.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Moriya AS, Chakravarty S .
Racial and ethnic disparities in preventable hospitalizations and ED visits five years after ACA Medicaid expansions,.
Health Aff 2023 Jan; 42(1):26-34. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00460..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Emergency Department, Hospitalization, Disparities, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Greenberg JK, Brown DS, Olsen MA
Association of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act with access to elective spine surgical care.
This study's goal was to evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on the volume and payer mix of elective spine surgery in the United States. The authors evaluated elective spinal surgeries performed in the U.S. from 2011 to 2016 and included 10 states with expanded Medicaid access and 4 states that did not. They identified 218,648 surgical procedures performed in 10 Medicaid expansion states and 118,693 procedures performed in 4 nonexpansion states. Medicaid expansion was associated with a 17% increase in mean hospital spine surgical volume and a 23% increase in Medicaid volume. Privately insured surgical volumes did not change significantly. This increase indicated improved access to care.
AHRQ-funded; HS027075.
Citation: Greenberg JK, Brown DS, Olsen MA .
Association of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act with access to elective spine surgical care.
J Neurosurg Spine 2022 Feb;36(2):336–44. doi: 10.3171/2021.3.Spine2122..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Medicaid, Access to Care, Surgery
Henke RM, Fingar KR, Jiang HJ
AHRQ Author: Jiang HJ, Liang L
Access to obstetric, behavioral health, and surgical inpatient services after hospital mergers in rural areas.
This study examined the influence of rural hospital mergers on changes to inpatient service lines at hospitals and within their catchment areas. The authors used hospital discharge data from 32 HCUP Inpatient Databases from 2007 to 2018. They found that merged hospitals were more likely than independent hospitals to eliminate maternal/neonatal and surgical care. They also found that while the number of mental/substance use disorder-related stays decreased or remained stable at merged hospitals and their catchment areas, it increased for unaffiliated hospitals and their catchment areas. This indicates a potential unmet need in the communities of rural hospitals postmerger.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201800001C.
Citation: Henke RM, Fingar KR, Jiang HJ .
Access to obstetric, behavioral health, and surgical inpatient services after hospital mergers in rural areas.
Health Aff 2021 Oct;40(10):1627-36. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00160..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitals, Access to Care, Rural Health
Allen L, Cummings JR, Hockenberry JM
The impact of urgent care centers on nonemergent emergency department visits.
This study looked at the impact of urgent care centers on nonemergency emergency department (ED) use. Secondary data from a novel urgent care center database, linked to the HCUP State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) from six states was used. Data from ZIP codes with no urgent care centers served as a control group compared to areas with local urgent care centers. Having an open urgent care center in a ZIP code reduced the total number of ED visits by residents by 17.2% largely due to visits for less urgent conditions. The effect was concentrated in areas with hospitals with the longest ED wait times. The total number of uninsured visits to the ED were reduced by 21% and for Medicaid visits by 29.1%.
AHRQ-funded; HS2484501.
Citation: Allen L, Cummings JR, Hockenberry JM .
The impact of urgent care centers on nonemergent emergency department visits.
Health Serv Res 2021 Aug;56(4):721-30. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13631..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Dy CJ, Salter A, Barker A
Increased utilization of total joint arthroplasty after Medicaid expansion.
This study examined prior analyses that greater utilization of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was to be expected after Medicaid expansion in 2014. Using 2012-2015 data from the HCUP Database, 9 expansion states (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and Vermont) were compared to 2 states that did not expand Medicaid (Florida and Missouri). After adjusting for community characteristics, THA and TKA increased 15% in 2014 and 23% in 2015 within expansion states compared to 2013. In non-expansion states, compared to 2013, there were significant decreases of 18% in 2014 and 11% in 2015.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Dy CJ, Salter A, Barker A .
Increased utilization of total joint arthroplasty after Medicaid expansion.
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2021 Mar 17;103(6):524-31. doi: 10.2106/jbjs.20.00303..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Medicaid, Orthopedics, Surgery, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Martin BI, Brodke DS, Wilson FA
The impact of halting elective admissions in anticipation of a demand surge due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
This study’s objective was to estimate excess demand for hospital beds due to COVID-19 and the net financial impact of eliminating elective admissions to meet demand. An economic simulation was conducted combining epidemiological reports, the US Census, American Hospital Association Annual Survey, and the National Inpatient Sample. The base case used relied on a hospital admission rate reported by the CDC of 137.6 per 100,000, with the highest rates in people aged 65 year and older and 50-64 years. Elective admissions accounted for 20% of total hospital admissions, with an average rate of 30% unoccupied beds across hospitals. Hospitals that restricted elective care due to a COVID surge was only financial favorable if capacity was filled by a high proportion of COVID-19 cases among hospitals with low rates of elective admissions. There is a substantial financial risk to hospitals that restrict elective care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024714.
Citation: Martin BI, Brodke DS, Wilson FA .
The impact of halting elective admissions in anticipation of a demand surge due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Med Care 2021 Mar;59(3):213-19. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001496..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), COVID-19, Hospitals, Healthcare Costs, Access to Care, Public Health
Pickens G, Karaca Z, Gibson TB
AHRQ Author: Karaca Z, Wong HS
Changes in hospital service demand, cost, and patient illness severity following health reform.
This study examined the effects of expanded Medicaid coverage and the health insurance exchange on the number of hospital inpatient and emergency department (ED) utilization rates, cost, and patient illness severity. There was a significant drop in uninsured inpatient discharges and ED visits in states where Medicaid was expanded. For all by young females, uninsured inpatient discharge rates fell by 39% or greater. In nonexpansion states, the rates remained unchanged or increased slightly. Changes in all-payer and private insurance rates were not as dramatic, as was inpatient costs per discharge and all-payer inpatient costs.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201300002C.
Citation: Pickens G, Karaca Z, Gibson TB .
Changes in hospital service demand, cost, and patient illness severity following health reform.
Health Serv Res 2019 Aug;54(4):739-51. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13165..
Keywords: Access to Care, Health Insurance, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Hospitals, Medicaid, Policy, Uninsured
Daniel VT, Rushing AP, Ingraham AM
Association between operating room access and mortality for life-threatening general surgery emergencies.
Few diseases truly require emergency surgery today. In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between access to operating room (OR) and outcomes for patients with life-threatening emergency general surgery (LT-EGS) diseases at US hospitals. The investigators concluded that round-the-clock availability of personnel, specifically emergency general surgeons and recovery room nurses, is associated with decreased mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS022694.
Citation: Daniel VT, Rushing AP, Ingraham AM .
Association between operating room access and mortality for life-threatening general surgery emergencies.
J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2019 Jul;87(1):35-42. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000002267..
Keywords: Access to Care, Emergency Department, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Mortality, Outcomes, Surgery
Jarman MP, Castillo RC
Rural risk: geographic disparities in trauma mortality.
The authors sought to quantify differences in injury mortality comparing rural and nonrural residents with traumatic injuries. They concluded that rural residents are significantly more likely than nonrural residents to die after traumatic injury, a disparity that varies by trauma center designation, injury severity, and US Census region.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Jarman MP, Castillo RC .
Rural risk: geographic disparities in trauma mortality.
Surgery 2016 Dec;160(6):1551-59. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2016.06.020.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Rural Health
Zhang W, Lyman S, Boutin-Foster C
Racial and ethnic disparities in utilization rate, hospital volume, and perioperative outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.
The researchers sought to study racial disparities in the utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the use of high-volume hospitals, and TKA outcomes, including mortality and complications, using all-payer databases. They found that minorities had lower rates of TKA utilization but higher rates of adverse health outcomes associated with the procedure, even after adjusting for patient-related and health-care system-related characteristics.
AHRQ-funded; HS021734.
Citation: Zhang W, Lyman S, Boutin-Foster C .
Racial and ethnic disparities in utilization rate, hospital volume, and perioperative outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2016 Aug 3;98(15):1243-52. doi: 10.2106/jbjs.15.01009.
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Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Healthcare Utilization, Surgery, Access to Care
Geissler KH, Holmes GM
Emergency department use in the US-Mexico border region and violence in Mexico: is there a relationship?
This study assessed the association between homicide rates in northern Mexico and potentially avoidable use of emergency departments (ED) in the US-Mexico border region. It concluded that a substantial majority of ED encounters in the US-Mexico border region were potentially avoidable. However, there was not a strong relationship between homicide rates in northern Mexico and the distribution of ED discharges in Arizona and California.
AHRQ-funded; HS021074.
Citation: Geissler KH, Holmes GM .
Emergency department use in the US-Mexico border region and violence in Mexico: is there a relationship?
J Rural Health 2015 Summer;31(3):316-25. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12109.
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Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care, Vulnerable Populations
Basu J
AHRQ Author: Basu J
Has access to care changed in minority communities? A study of preventable hospitalizations over time in selected States.
Basu assessed the changes in access to care in minority communities by examining the association between preventable hospitalization rates and racial/ethnic composition of the community during 1995-2005. Using HCUP data, the results indicated increases in barriers faced by minority adults in accessing primary care over time, with no similar evidence for the elderly subgroup.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Basu J .
Has access to care changed in minority communities? A study of preventable hospitalizations over time in selected States.
J Ambul Care Manage 2014 Oct-Dec;37(4):314-30. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000024.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Primary Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities