Publications
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On Average, ESI Pays Nearly 3 times Medicare for Hospital Outpatient Services
Read more: On Average, ESI Pays Nearly 3 times Medicare for Hospital Outpatient ServicesHealth care spending continues to grow, and prices are the primary driver. Without addressing high and growing prices, efforts to make care more affordable will not be successful. One way to understand what is going on with prices in employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) is to compare negotiated rates paid in that market to Medicare payments for the same…
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Antidepressant Medication Use Increased Post-Pandemic, but Large Disparities Exist across Nearly Every Demographic Measure
Read more: Antidepressant Medication Use Increased Post-Pandemic, but Large Disparities Exist across Nearly Every Demographic MeasureThe World Health Organization reported that, following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. Mental health crises following months and years of social isolation and other effects of the pandemic have renewed national interest in mental health care access. Understanding how mental health services, including medications…
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Telehealth use increased dramatically from 2019-2021, but varied by state, age, and area-level social determinants of health
Read more: Telehealth use increased dramatically from 2019-2021, but varied by state, age, and area-level social determinants of healthBuilding on existing work on telehealth use early in the COVID-19 pandemic among people who get health insurance through work, HCCI examined the use of telehealth services by year through 2021. We examined patterns of telehealth use by modality (synchronous or asynchronous) and state, as well as select measures of area (zip or county)-level social…
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Emergency Room Spending, Price, and Use Trends 2012-2021
Read more: Emergency Room Spending, Price, and Use Trends 2012-2021The emergency room (ER) is a critical and life-saving source of care for many Americans, but the resulting medical bills that patients receive can be a source of confusion and extreme financial burden. From incredibly high, varying prices to surprise bills resulting from in/out of network confusion, many Americans have no idea what to expect when it…
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Ambulance Trends over 10 Years (2012-2021)
Read more: Ambulance Trends over 10 Years (2012-2021)Ambulance services play an essential, life-saving role in the health care system but can also be a source of surprise bills to patients and unexpected high out-of-pocket costs. This HCCI data brief and downloadable data explores the 10-year trends in ambulance prices, utilization, spending, and the frequency of out-of-network billing for the commercially insured – people…
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Long COVID Affects People with Higher Medical Needs and is Associated with Higher Per Person Health Spending
Read more: Long COVID Affects People with Higher Medical Needs and is Associated with Higher Per Person Health SpendingImportant research is underway to understand the impacts of Long COVID. Studies about the clinical pathways, patient-specific needs, and treatment for Long COVID are highlighting necessary medical care and intervention. To inform public and private decisionmakers’ efforts to support and treat patients, this study uses HCCI’s unique health care claims dataset to identify the effects of…
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Rates of Gynecological Care Services Suggest Underdiagnosis of Uterine Fibroids and Endometriosis
Tags: ESI
Read more: Rates of Gynecological Care Services Suggest Underdiagnosis of Uterine Fibroids and EndometriosisUterine fibroids can affect up to 80% of women by age 50. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Together, they are two of the leading conditions among reproductive-aged women causing infertility, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, nausea, and heavy menstruation. Symptoms of uterine fibroids and endometriosis are also associated with abdominal pelvic pain, heavy…
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HCCI Data Brief: Sexual and Reproductive Health Among People with Employer-Sponsored Insurance, 2021 Data Update
Read more: HCCI Data Brief: Sexual and Reproductive Health Among People with Employer-Sponsored Insurance, 2021 Data UpdateReproductive and sexual health services play an important role in daily life and wellbeing for many people. These services include preventive services (such as screenings for sexually transmitted infections and reproductive cancers), contraceptive services, and services relating to pregnancy and childbirth. The objective of this report is to provide national and state data on the…
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More Children Visit the Emergency Room for Asthma during School Months Compared to Summer Months
Read more: More Children Visit the Emergency Room for Asthma during School Months Compared to Summer MonthsAsthma is the most common chronic condition among children in the U.S. and one of the leading reasons for pediatric emergency room (ER) visits. Schools play an important role in managing asthma among children since kids spend most of their time in school and school buildings may have environmental factors such as poor air quality…
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Trends in Asynchronous Health Communication
Read more: Trends in Asynchronous Health CommunicationThe COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the use of telehealth services and online asynchronous health communication, commonly referred to as emails. These tools allow patients to ask their physicians and other clinicians questions regarding medication changes, symptoms, and to check in regarding management of chronic conditions. In March 2020, CMS expanded Medicare telehealth…