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2024 Completed Studies
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Area Deprivation and Access to Primary Care for Medicaid Beneficiaries
Socioeconomic indexes are increasingly being used to identify areas that may have access disparities and to allocate workforce resources to potentially underserved areas. This study examined how ambulatory primary care and specialist utilization, as well as utilization of community health centers (CHCs), varies by 1) the ADI, SVI, the Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and the Structural Racism Effect Index (SREI), and 2) by underlying demographic and socioeconomic variables. Related Product: Changing Medicaid Participation from 2016 To 2019 and Associated Factors
Medicaid beneficiaries face multiple challenges accessing care, compared to those covered by private insurance. This study explored the volume of Medicaid beneficiaries seen by primary care providers* (PCPs) from 2016 to 2019. We found that approximately 60% of PCPs that engaged with state Medicaid programs served a relatively stable number of Medicaid beneficiaries over time compared to the baseline. There was mixed evidence on state-level factors associated with changes in Medicaid participation and results also varied by primary care specialty and profession. *PCPs included Family Physicians, Internal Medicine, Physicians, OB/GYNs, Pediatricians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Associates Related Product: For questions about this study, contact Mandar Bodas. Identifying Strategies to Address Health Worker Wellbeing, Recruitment, and Retention in FQHCs
This study utilized an exploratory descriptive design to examine strategies employed by four CHCs to address burnout and moral injury among their staff. The qualitative analysis of interviews with leaders and staff from four CHCs suggests that considerable thought and resources have been invested in reducing burnout and moral injury, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is noteworthy that, for these four CHCs, the goal of enhancing employee voice was central to their strategies. This stands in contrast to the centrality of individual-level programs and wellness apps that are being used and studied in many other healthcare settings. Related Products: Impact of Vertical Integration on Utilization and Quality Outcomes of Community Health Center Patients
As the nation seeks to strengthen primary care and enhance health equity, we must understand how changes in the health care marketplace affect Community Health Centers (CHCs) and their patients. One such trend has been vertical integration, widespread among specialty practices. This study examined whether there are noticeable differences in utilization and quality outcomes between patients of vertically integrated CHCs and non-integrated CHCs. While our previous study indicated that integrated CHCs tend to be larger and better staffed, our current analysis provides moderate evidence that there might be some improvement in patient outcomes. Related Products: For questions about this study, contact Eric Luo. Telehealth Use for Prenatal Visits Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Medicaid Populations
Despite Medicaid being the largest payor of births in the United States, there are no published estimates of telehealth for pregnant Medicaid populations, before or during the pandemic. Given the telehealth payment flexibilities that were introduced under the Public Health Emergency Act, this study examined to what extent telehealth perinatal care was provided to pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries. This first estimate of telehealth provision to postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries before and during COVID-19 demonstrates that telehealth is a viable way to increase access to perinatal care for underserved populations, although broadband availability continues to be a constraint. The precipitous decline following the peak in April 2022 suggests more could be done to encourage telehealth use as a means to improve access for underserved populations and improve the nation’s maternal outcomes. Related Products: For questions about this study, contact Mandar Bodas. |