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Shi L, Li T, Luck J, Ghanem B. The Association of Medicaid expansion with prescription drug utilization and expenditure among low-income participants with asthma. J Asthma 2023; 60:2030-2039. [PMID: 37171903 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2023.2213331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study estimated the association between the 2014 Medicaid expansion and asthma-related prescription drug utilization and expenditures among low-income adult participants with asthma, including those with uncontrolled asthma, in the United States. METHODS In this national analysis, using a pooled dataset from 2007-2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS), regression discontinuity (D-RD) analyses estimated the association between Medicaid expansion and utilization of and expenditures for asthma-related prescription drugs among participants with asthma aged 26-64 with incomes below vs. at/above 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL). A sub-sample analysis was also conducted among participants with uncontrolled asthma. Utilization and expenditure outcomes were estimated using two-part models with logit as the first part and generalized linear models as the second part. RESULTS Utilization of and total cost for asthma-related prescription drugs increased by 1.89 fills (p < 0.001) and $306.59 (p < 0.001) among participants with asthma with income below 138% FPL after Medicaid expansion. The utilization and total cost of both short-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) increased after Medicaid expansion among participants with asthma with incomes below 138% FPL. Among participants with uncontrolled asthma with incomes below 138% FPL, utilization and expenditures increased after Medicaid expansion for all asthma-related prescription drugs and short-acting bronchodilators. CONCLUSION Medicaid expansion was associated with increased utilization of and total expenditures for both quick-relief and preventive asthma medications among all low-income participants with asthma, but not with utilization of preventive medications among those with uncontrolled asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shi
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Tao Li
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jeff Luck
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Buthainah Ghanem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, USA
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Laksono AD, Megatsari H, Senewe FP, Latifah L, Ashar H. Policy to expand hospital utilization in disadvantaged areas in Indonesia: who should be the target? BMC Public Health 2023; 23:12. [PMID: 36597082 PMCID: PMC9808954 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14656-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The disadvantaged areas are one of the government's focuses in accelerating development in Indonesia, including the health sector. The study aims to determine the target for expanding hospital utilization in disadvantaged areas in Indonesia. METHODS The study employed the 2018 Indonesian Basic Health Survey data. This cross-sectional study analyzed 42,644 respondents. The study used nine independent variables: residence, age, gender, marital, education, employment, wealth, insurance, and travel time, in addition to hospital utilization, as a dependent variable. The study employed binary logistic regression to evaluate the data. RESULTS The results found that average hospital utilization in disadvantaged areas in Indonesia in 2018 was 3.7%. Urban areas are 1.045 times more likely than rural areas to utilize the hospital (95% CI 1.032-1.058). The study also found age has a relationship with hospital utilization. Females are 1.656 times more likely than males to use the hospital (95% CI 1.639-1.673). Moreover, the study found marital status has a relationship with hospital utilization. The higher the education level, the higher the hospital utilization. Employed individuals have a 0.748 possibility to use the hospital compared with those unemployed (95% CI 0.740-0.757). Wealthy individuals have more chances of using the hospital than poor individuals. Individuals with all insurance types are more likely to utilize the hospital than those uninsured. Individuals with travel times of ≤ 1 h are 2.510 more likely to use the hospital than those with > 1 h (95% CI 2.483-2.537). CONCLUSION The specific targets to accelerate the increase in hospital utilization in disadvantaged areas in Indonesia are living in a rural area, being male, never in a union, having no education, being employed, being the poorest, uninsured, and having a travel time of > 1 h. The government should make a policy addressing the problem based on the research findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agung Dwi Laksono
- National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Hario Megatsari
- grid.440745.60000 0001 0152 762XFaculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | | | - Leny Latifah
- National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Hadi Ashar
- National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Brewer B, Conway KS, Ozabaci D, Woodward RS. US Health Care Expenditures, GDP and Health Policy Reforms: Evidence from End-of-Sample Structural Break Tests. EASTERN ECONOMIC JOURNAL 2022; 48:451-487. [PMID: 35729891 PMCID: PMC9188657 DOI: 10.1057/s41302-022-00218-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This research investigates the over-time stability of the aggregate US healthcare expenditure (HCE)-GDP relationship, focusing on periods of healthcare reforms. The most consequential reforms-Medicaid/Medicare and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)-are challenging to study because they occur near the ends of the available data. Using annual national- and state-level data and a battery of structural break tests, we find the HCE-GDP relationship to be overwhelmingly stable. An ancillary analysis around the 2006 Massachusetts healthcare reform, which avoids the confounding effects of the Great Recession and the staggered rollout of the ACA, likewise finds no change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Brewer
- University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT USA
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Levine DM, Chalasani R, Linder JA, Landon BE. Association of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act With Ambulatory Quality, Patient Experience, Utilization, and Cost, 2014-2016. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2218167. [PMID: 35713900 PMCID: PMC9206183 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid eligibility at the discretion of states to US individuals earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and made private insurance subsidies available to most individuals earning up to 400% of the FPL. Its national impact remains debated. OBJECTIVE To determine the association of the ACA with ambulatory quality, patient experience, utilization, and cost. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study used difference-in-differences (DiD) analyses comparing outcomes before (2011-2013) and after (2014-2016) ACA implementation for US adults aged 18 to 64 years with income below and greater than or equal to 400% of the FPL. Participants were respondents to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative annual survey. Data analysis was performed from January 2021 to March 2022. EXPOSURES ACA implementation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES For quality and experience, this study examined previously published composites based on individual measures, including high-value care composites (eg, preventive testing) and low-value care composites (eg, inappropriate imaging), an overall patient experience rating, a physician communication composite, and an access-to-care composite. For utilization, outpatient, emergency, and inpatient encounters and prescribed medicines were examined. Overall and out-of-pocket expenditures were analyzed for cost. RESULTS The total sample included 123 171 individuals (mean [SD] age, 39.9 [13.4] years; 65 034 women [52.8%]). After ACA implementation, adults with income less than 400% of the FPL received increased high-value care (diagnostic and preventive testing) compared with adults with income 400% or higher of the FPL (change from 70% to 72% vs change from 84% to 84%; adjusted DiD, 1.20%; 95% CI, 0.18% to 2.21%; P = .02) with no difference in any other quality composites. Individuals with income less than 400% of the FPL had larger improvements in experience, communication, and access composites compared with those with income greater than or equal to 400% of the FPL (global rating of health, change from 69% to 73% vs change from 79% to 81%; adjusted DiD, 2.12%; 95% CI, 0.18% to 4.05%; P = .03). There were no differences in utilization or cost, except that receipt of primary care increased for those with lower income vs those with higher income (change from 65% to 66% vs change from 80% to 77%; adjusted DiD, 2.97%; 95% CI, 1.18% to 4.77%; P = .001) and total out-of-pocket expenditures decreased for those with lower income vs those with higher income (change from $504 to $439 vs from $757 to $769; adjusted DiD, -$105.50; 95% CI, -$167.80 to -$43.20; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cross-sectional national study, the ACA was associated with improved patient experience, communication, and access and decreased out-of-pocket expenditures, but little or no change in quality, utilization, and total cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. Levine
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rohan Chalasani
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jeffrey A. Linder
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Bruce E. Landon
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of General Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
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Shi H, Zhou K, Cochuyt J, Hodge D, Qin H, Manochakian R, Zhao Y, Ailawadhi S, Adjei AA, Lou Y. Survival of Black and White Patients With Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:773958. [PMID: 34956892 PMCID: PMC8702563 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.773958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with aggressive biology and limited treatment options, making this disease a historical challenge. The influence of race and socioeconomic status on the survival of stage IV SCLC remains mostly unknown. Our study is designed to investigate the clinical survival outcomes in Black and White patients with stage IV SCLC and study the demographic, socioeconomic, clinical features, and treatment patterns of the disease and their impact on survival in Blacks and Whites. Methods and Results Stage IV SCLC cases from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 were obtained. The follow-up endpoint is defined as death or the date of the last contact. Patients were divided into two groups by white and black. Features including demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, treatments and survival outcomes in Blacks and Whites were collected. Mortality hazard ratios of Blacks and Whites stage IV SCLC patients were analyzed. Survival of stage IV SCLC Black and White patients was also analyzed. Adjusted hazard ratios were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression models. Patients’ median follow-up time was 8.18 (2.37-15.84) months. Overall survival at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months were 52.4%, 25.7%, 13.2% and 7.9% in Blacks in compared to 51.0%, 23.6%, 11.5% and 6.9% in Whites. White patients had significantly higher socioeconomic status than Black patients. By contrast, Blacks were found associated with younger age at diagnosis, a significantly higher chance of receiving radiation therapy and treatments at an academic/research program. Compared to Whites, Blacks had a 9% decreased risk of death. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that Blacks have significant socioeconomic disadvantages compared to Whites. However, despite these unfavorable factors, survival for Blacks was significantly improved compared to Whites after covariable adjustment. This may be due to Blacks with Stage IV SCLC having a higher chance of receiving radiation therapy and treatments at an academic/research program. Identifying and removing the barriers to obtaining treatments at academic/research programs or improving the management in non-academic centers could improve the overall survival of stage IV SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huashan Shi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Kexun Zhou
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Jordan Cochuyt
- Department of Health Sciences Research/Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - David Hodge
- Department of Health Sciences Research/Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Hong Qin
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Rami Manochakian
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Yujie Zhao
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Sikander Ailawadhi
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Alex A Adjei
- Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Yanyan Lou
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
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Gaffney A, Himmelstein DU, Woolhandler S, Kahn JG. Pricing Universal Health Care: How Much Would The Use Of Medical Care Rise? Health Aff (Millwood) 2021; 40:105-112. [PMID: 33400569 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The return of a Democratic administration to the White House, coupled with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-induced contractions of job-based insurance, may reignite debate over public coverage expansion and its costs. Decades of research demonstrate that uninsured people and people with copays and deductibles use less care than people with first-dollar coverage. Hence, most economic analyses of Medicare for All proposals and other coverage expansions project increased utilization and associated costs. We review the utilization surges that such analyses have predicted and contrast them with the more modest utilization increments observed after past coverage expansions in the US and other affluent nations. The discrepancy between predicted and observed utilization changes suggests that analysts underestimate the role of supply-side constraints-for example, the finite number of physicians and hospital beds. Our review of the utilization effects of past coverage expansions suggests that a first-dollar universal coverage expansion would increase ambulatory visits by 7-10 percent and hospital use by 0-3 percent. Modest administrative savings could offset the costs of such increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gaffney
- Adam Gaffney is an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, and is in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance, in Cambridge, both in Massachusetts
| | - David U Himmelstein
- David U. Himmelstein is a distinguished professor of public health at Hunter College, City University of New York, in New York, New York, and a lecturer in medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School
| | - Steffie Woolhandler
- Steffie Woolhandler is a distinguished professor of public health at Hunter College, City University of New York, and a lecturer in medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School
| | - James G Kahn
- James G. Kahn is an emeritus professor in the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California San Francisco, in San Francisco, California
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Gaffney A, Woolhandler S, Himmelstein D. The Effect of Large-scale Health Coverage Expansions in Wealthy Nations on Society-Wide Healthcare Utilization. J Gen Intern Med 2020; 35:2406-2417. [PMID: 31745857 PMCID: PMC7403378 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-05529-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Most analysts project that a reform like Medicare-for-All that lowers financial barriers to care would cause a surge in the utilization of services, raising costs despite stable or even reduced prices. However, the finite supply of physicians and hospital beds could constrain such utilization increases. We reviewed the effects of 13 universal coverage expansions in capitalist nations on physician and hospital utilization, beginning with New Zealand's 1938 Social Security Act up through the 2010 Affordable Care Act in the USA. Almost all coverage expansions had either a small (i.e., < 10%) or no effect on society-wide utilization. However, coverage expansions often redistributed care-increasing use among newly covered groups while producing small, offsetting reductions among those already covered. We conclude that in wealthy nations, large-scale coverage expansions need not cause overall utilization to surge if provider supply is controlled. However, such reforms could redirect care towards patients who most need it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gaffney
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
| | - Steffie Woolhandler
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
- City University of New York at Hunter College, New York, USA
| | - David Himmelstein
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
- City University of New York at Hunter College, New York, USA
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Gaffney A, McCormick D, Bor D, Woolhandler S, Himmelstein D. Coverage Expansions and Utilization of Physician Care: Evidence From the 2014 Affordable Care Act and 1966 Medicare/Medicaid Expansions. Am J Public Health 2019; 109:1694-1701. [PMID: 31622135 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2019.305330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate the effects of the 2 major coverage expansions in US history-Medicare/Medicaid in 1966 and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014-on the utilization of physician care.Methods. Using the National Health Interview Survey (1963-1969; 2011-2016), we analyzed trends in utilization of physician services society-wide and by targeted subgroups.Results. Following Medicare/Medicaid's implementation, society-wide utilization remained unchanged. While visits by low-income persons increased 6.2% (P < .01) and surgical procedures among the elderly increased 14.7% (P < .01), decreases among nontargeted groups offset these increases. After the ACA, society-wide utilization again remained unchanged. Increased utilization among targeted low-income groups (e.g., a 3.5-percentage-point increase in the proportion of persons earning less than or equal to 138% of the federal poverty level with at least 1 office visit [P < .001]) was offset by small, nonsignificant reductions among the nontargeted population.Conclusions. Past coverage expansions in the United States have redistributed physician care, but have not increased society-wide utilization in the short term, possibly because of the limited supply of physicians.Public Health Implications. These findings suggest that future expansions may not cause unaffordable surges in utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gaffney
- All of the authors are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein are also with the City University of New York at Hunter College, New York
| | - Danny McCormick
- All of the authors are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein are also with the City University of New York at Hunter College, New York
| | - David Bor
- All of the authors are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein are also with the City University of New York at Hunter College, New York
| | - Steffie Woolhandler
- All of the authors are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein are also with the City University of New York at Hunter College, New York
| | - David Himmelstein
- All of the authors are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein are also with the City University of New York at Hunter College, New York
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Mahase E. "Medicare for all" is unlikely to cause the surge in hospital use that critics warn of, study says. BMJ 2019; 366:l4878. [PMID: 31345793 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l4878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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