Briefs
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Measuring the Prevalence of Obesity Using a Distributed Electronic Health Record Network
Read more: Measuring the Prevalence of Obesity Using a Distributed Electronic Health Record NetworkObesity is a serious and costly chronic disease that has been increasingly common among the U.S. population. Electronic health record (EHR) data have the potential to support research and patient care interventions. The timeliness and availability of aggregated clinical data can be used in near-real time to monitor obesity prevalence based on body mass index…
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Telehealth Use Increased more than 50-fold for Primary Care Visits and Behavioral Health Services in Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Read more: Telehealth Use Increased more than 50-fold for Primary Care Visits and Behavioral Health Services in Early Months of the COVID-19 PandemicTelehealth facilitates medical care, allows for the sharing of health information, and offers patient health education through remote communication. In 2020, the onset of the public health emergency prompted many localities to restrict in-person gatherings to prevent transmission of the virus. Health care providers responded by expanding telehealth services in an effort to continue serving…
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COVID-19 Hospitalizations in 2020 were Highest for People Living in the Most Socially Vulnerable Areas and American Indian and Alaska Native People
Read more: COVID-19 Hospitalizations in 2020 were Highest for People Living in the Most Socially Vulnerable Areas and American Indian and Alaska Native PeopleThe onset of the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally shifted health and health care in the US in 2020. Hospitals have been central to responding to the pandemic and treating COVID, which means that hospitalizations can provide an important lens to understanding the pandemic’s impact. Earlier HCCI research looked at hospital use and spending among people with…
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HCCI Spotlights National Diabetes Month: ESI Enrollees with Diabetes Face High Out-of-Pocket Costs. A Cap on Insulin Costs Would Help Many.
Read more: HCCI Spotlights National Diabetes Month: ESI Enrollees with Diabetes Face High Out-of-Pocket Costs. A Cap on Insulin Costs Would Help Many.Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects over 10% of the U.S. population. It is possible for people who are diagnosed with diabetes to live a healthy, long life if the condition is managed properly. However, management often involves significant health care use, which can be costly for patients. Over the past few months, we used HCCI’s…
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Prevention and Screening Rates among ESI Enrollees are Lower in Rural and Socially Vulnerable Areas, with Smaller Differences in Medication Adherence
Read more: Prevention and Screening Rates among ESI Enrollees are Lower in Rural and Socially Vulnerable Areas, with Smaller Differences in Medication AdherenceInequities in health care access and outcomes among vulnerable populations are well-documented, as is the fact that where you live affects health outcomes to a similar or even greater extent than your health behaviors. Previous HCCI work shows that employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) plays an important role in many vulnerable communities. Among the population in…
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Over 50% of Insulin Users with ESI Spend over $35 Out-of-pocket on 30-day Supply of Insulin
Read more: Over 50% of Insulin Users with ESI Spend over $35 Out-of-pocket on 30-day Supply of InsulinPreviously, HCCI analyzed prescription drug spending to understand how many insulin users with employer sponsored insurance (ESI) would be affected by a $35 monthly cap on patient out-of-pocket spending on insulin. Our estimates were based on average monthly out-of-pocket spending on insulin across all insulin products. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) recently passed by Congress…
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Spending on Preventive Services Represents a Small Fraction of Total Health Care Spending, but Costs to Individuals Could Be High without ACA Protection
Read more: Spending on Preventive Services Represents a Small Fraction of Total Health Care Spending, but Costs to Individuals Could Be High without ACA ProtectionThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers to cover certain services without charging patients out-of-pocket. These services include routine preventive care, such as wellness visits, immunizations, contraceptive services, and cancer and other disease screenings. In September 2022, a federal court ruled portions of the law’s preventive services provision unconstitutional. If the court decision stands, it…
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Greater Share of Children’s Emergency Room Visits were for Mental Health Needs in 2020
Read more: Greater Share of Children’s Emergency Room Visits were for Mental Health Needs in 2020In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association, declared a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including the loss of caregivers, school closures, social isolation, and gaps in health care (see citations below). Understanding the effect…
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Trends in HIV PrEP utilization, spending, and price
Read more: Trends in HIV PrEP utilization, spending, and pricePre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV are medications that reduce an individual’s chances of contracting HIV. The CDC estimates that 1.2 million people are at risk of HIV infection and may benefit from a PrEP prescription. We analyzed health insurance claims for 55 million Americans with employer-sponsored insurance in order to examine utilization and spending on…
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HCCI Spotlights Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Use of Mammograms Peaks in October
Read more: HCCI Spotlights Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Use of Mammograms Peaks in OctoberMammography screenings are recommended every 1-2 years for women aged 40 and older, as well as for younger women who are at high risk for breast cancer. These screenings are an essential tool for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Using HCCI’s data on people with employer-sponsored insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid…