Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
R. Garland Almquist, M. Chloe Barrera, Rachel Fried, L. Sheree L. Boulet, F. Jennifer Kawwass, S. Heather Hipp
Summary: This study investigated the association between race/ethnicity, access to care (including insurance coverage, distance to the clinic, and zip code), and care discontinuation following IVF. The results showed that women with high access to care had poorer IVF prognosis compared to the low access group, which may have influenced the association with care discontinuation. Distance to the clinic, rather than insurance coverage or zip code, was associated with an increased risk of care discontinuation. Non-Hispanic Black women, despite having higher rates of insurance coverage, were more likely to discontinue care and less likely to achieve a live birth compared to non-Hispanic White women.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
G. A. Ramaraju, Sanni Prasada Rao Muvvala
Summary: Infertility is a global problem that is worsening over time. It can be caused by male, female, or combined factors. Various factors such as diet, environment, occupation, and psychology contribute to infertility. The article discusses the current situation of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in India, including clinics, clinicians, and regulatory mechanisms. It also addresses India's potential as a reproductive tourist destination and surrogacy issues. The social, economic, and family problems resulting from infertility are discussed. The ART status in India is improving, and the influence of regulatory mechanisms introduced through the ART Act is expected to narrow the gap between India and the West. The article also includes neglected factors and recent research findings that have an impact on infertility treatment outcomes, with a focus on possible future developments in the field of ART.
BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH CLINICAL OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Paul D. Jacobs
Summary: Research suggests that Medicare eligibility is associated with easier access to necessary care and reduced inability to afford needed care. The study also indicates that incremental expansions of Medicare coverage could have positive impacts on access and affordability for enrollees compared to other insurance options available before they turn sixty-five.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Adrian Diaz, Timothy M. Pawlik
Summary: Health care providers and policymakers are dedicated to increasing access to high-quality health care for all patients, with a focus on optimizing the delivery of high-quality cancer care.
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Clodagh Cogley, Claire Carswell, Kate Bramham, Joseph Chilcot
Summary: Individuals with severe mental illness have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease, partly due to known risk factors such as lithium treatment and cardiovascular disease. However, the reasons for the higher proportion of chronic kidney disease in this population still require further research. Similarly, there is a lack of data on the rates of severe mental illness in individuals with chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, individuals with severe mental illness and chronic kidney disease have poorer health outcomes and receive suboptimal kidney care. Education and closer collaboration between kidney healthcare staff and psychiatry may improve care for this population.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kelly A. Kyanko, Leslie A. Curry, Danya E. Keene, Ryan Sutherland, Krishna Naik, Susan H. Busch
Summary: This study aimed to understand whether primary care filled the gap when individuals were unable to access specialty mental health care. The survey found that among those who tried but did not access specialty mental health care, 53% received mental health care from primary care. However, respondents who only received care from primary care rated their care lower.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kenton J. Johnston, Gmerice Hammond, David J. Meyers, Karen E. Joynt Maddox
Summary: This study compared rates of enrollment, ambulatory care access, and ambulatory care quality for minority beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage vs traditional Medicare plans. It found that minority beneficiaries generally had worse outcomes compared to White or multiracial beneficiaries, but Medicare Advantage was associated with better outcomes for some measures.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
James B. Kirby, Leticia M. Nogueira, Jingxuan Zhao, K. Robin Yabroff, Stacey A. Fedewa
Summary: This study examines the association between disruptions in health insurance coverage and access to care. It finds that previous disruptions in coverage have persistent effects on access to care even after coverage is regained. Therefore, improving access to care in the U.S. may require policies and programs that focus on strengthening coverage continuity among insured individuals.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Kelly A. Stahl, Daleela Dodge, Elizabeth J. Olecki, Rolfy Perez Holguin, Christopher McLaughlin, William Wong, Chan Shen
Summary: The study found that insurance status and travel distance have a significant impact on the choice of surgical treatments for early-stage breast cancer patients receiving care at a single facility. The disparities in treatment choices vary among different races and ethnicities, with African Americans being particularly affected by travel distance.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Haoran Li, Kamal Kant Sahu, Shruti Adidam Kumar, Nishita Tripathi, Nicolas Sayegh, Blake Nordblad, Beverly Chigarira, Sumati Gupta, Benjamin L. Maughan, Neeraj Agarwal, Umang Swami
Summary: In this study, disparities in healthcare outcomes between urban and rural patients with advanced genitourinary cancers were compared. The research found that although urban patients had a higher annual income than rural patients, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of treatment options, clinical trials enrollment, and tumor genomic profiling.
Article
Oncology
Junaid Nabi, Karl H. Tully, Alexander P. Cole, Maya Marchese, Eugene B. Cone, Nelya Melnitchouk, Adam S. Kibel, Quoc-Dien Trinh
Summary: The study found that underinsured, Medicare-insured, and Medicaid-insured patients are less likely to receive surgical care at high-volume hospitals. For patients with colorectal cancer, the effect of insurance coverage differed by study period, and improved since 2011.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Selena E. Ortiz, Joel E. Segel, Linh M. Tran
Summary: This study investigates the access to care difficulties experienced by chronically ill Blacks and Hispanics enrolled in high-deductible health plans, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, and analyzes the role of health savings plans in mitigating racial/ethnic disparities. Results show that Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to use health savings plans, leading to increased problems with provider-related access, although the impact on reducing affordability-related access disparities is minimal. Understanding the function of health savings plans in improving access to care for racial/ethnic minority groups can inform policy approaches to their use.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jennifer F. Kawwass, Alan S. Penzias, Eli Y. Adashi
Summary: State infertility mandates in the United States have varying qualifications and requirements, leading to disparities in access to care for certain groups; despite the increasing number of states with mandates, significant gaps remain in implementation and access; advocacy by providers, patients, and legislators is needed to expand insurance coverage and maximize reproductive outcomes.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sameer Thakker, Jesse Persily, Paxton Voigt, Jennifer Blakemore, Frederick Licciardi, Bobby B. Najari
Summary: The study examined demographic differences between infertile/sub-fertile women who used infertility services and those who did not. Factors such as income, education, marital status, and insurance were found to influence the utilization of infertility care. Insurance status was identified as a significant predictor of access to treatment among infertile women.
JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Andrew S. Oseran, Tianyu Sun, Rishi K. Wadhera
Summary: This study found that in states without Medicaid expansion, working-age adults with low income had higher rates of uninsurance and worse access to healthcare. However, cardiovascular risk factor management was similar regardless of insurance status.