Medical Care: Role of Geography and Nurse Practitioner Scope-of-Practice in Efforts to Expand Primary Care System Capacity: Health Reform and the Primary Care Workforce
Authors: Graves, John A. PhD; Mishra, Pranita MPP; Dittus, Robert S. MD, MPH; Parikh, Ravi MD, MPH; Perloff, Jennifer PhD; Buerhaus, Peter I. PhD, RN, FAAN
Objective: We investigated whether geographic accessibility to primary care clinicians (PCCs) differed across urban and rural areas and across states with more or less restrictive scope-of-practice laws.
American Journal of Public Health: Health Care Disparities in the Post–Affordable Care Act Era
Abstract: Disparities in health care have been targeted for elimination by federal agen- cies and professional orga- nizations, including the American Public Health As- sociation. Although the Af- fordable Care Act (ACA) provides a valuable first step in reducing the disparities gap, progress is contingent upon whether opportunities in the ACA help or hinder populations at risk for im- paired health and limited access to medical care. (Am J Public Health. 2015;105: S665–S667. doi:10.2105/ AJPH.2015.302611)
NEJM: Hospital Charity Care — Effects of New Community-Benefit Requirements
Hospital Charity Care — Effects of New Community-Benefit Requirements
Sayeh S. Nikpay, Ph.D., M.P.H., and John Z. Ayanian, M.D., M.P.P.
N Engl J Med 2015; 373:1687-1690October 29, 2015DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1508605
Full article here
HSR: The Effects of Medicaid Eligibility on Mental Health Services and Out-of-Pocket Spending for Mental Health Services
Principal Findings
Medicaid expansions significantly increased health insurance coverage and reduced out-of-pocket spending on mental health services for low-income adults. Effects of expanded Medicaid eligibility on out-of-pocket spending were strongest for adults with psychological distress. Expanding Medicaid eligibility did not significantly increase the use of mental health services.
Authors:
Ezra Golberstein Ph.D.1,* and
Gilbert Gonzales M.H.A.2
American Journal of Public Health: Differences by Sexual Orientation in Expectations About Future Long-Term Care Needs Among Adults 40 to 65 Years Old
Objectives. We examined whether and how lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults between 40 and 65 years of age differ from heterosexual adults in long-term care (LTC) expectations.
Authors:
Carrie Henning-Smith, MPH, MSW, Gilbert Gonzales, MHA, and Tetyana P. Shippee, PhD
Full Article Here
Health Affairs: Waiving The Three-Day Rule: Admissions And Length-Of-Stay At Hospitals And Skilled Nursing Facilities Did Not Increase
Abstract: The traditional Medicare program requires an enrollee to have a hospital stay of at least three consecutive calendar days to qualify for coverage of subsequent postacute care in a skilled nursing facility. This long-standing policy, implemented to discourage premature discharges from hospitals, might now be inappropriately lengthening hospital stays for patients who could be transferred sooner.