New Chronic Disease Study Findings Reported from Oregon Health and Science University (Medicaid’s Impact on Chronic Disease Biomarkers: A Cohort…

New Chronic Disease Study Findings Reported from Oregon Health and Science University (Medicaid's Impact on Chronic Disease Biomarkers: A Cohort Study of Community Health Center Patients)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Disease Attributes - Chronic Disease have been published. According to news originating from Portland, Oregon, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Understanding the impact of health insurance is critical, particularly in the era of Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion. The electronic health record (EHR) provides new opportunities to quantify health outcomes."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Oregon Health and Science University, "To assess changes in biomarkers of chronic disease among community health center (CHC) patients who gained Medicaid coverage with the Oregon Medicaid expansion (2008-2011). Prospective cohort. Patients were followed for 24 months, and rate of mean biomarker change was calculated. Time to a controlled follow-up measurement was compared using Cox regression models. Using EHR data from OCHIN (a non-profit network of CHCs) linked to state Medicaid data, we identified three cohorts of patients with uncontrolled chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia). Within these cohorts, we included patients who gained Medicaid coverage along with a propensity score-matched comparison group who remained uninsured (diabetes n = 608; hypertension n = 1244; hyperlipidemia n = 546). Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for the diabetes cohort, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively) for the hypertension cohort, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) for the hyperlipidemia cohort. All cohorts improved over time. Compared to matched uninsured patients, adults in the diabetes and hypertension cohorts who gained Medicaid coverage were significantly more likely to have a follow-up controlled measurement (hazard ratio [HR] =1.26, p = 0.020; HR = 1.35, p< 0.001, respectively). No significant difference was observed in the hyperlipidemia cohort (HR = 1.09, p = 0.392). OCHIN patients with uncontrolled chronic conditions experienced objective health improvements over time. In two of three chronic disease cohorts, those who gained Medicaid coverage were more likely to achieve a controlled measurement than those who remained uninsured."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "These findings demonstrate the effective care provided by CHCs and the importance of health insurance coverage within a usual source of care setting."

For more information on this research see: Medicaid's Impact on Chronic Disease Biomarkers: A Cohort Study of Community Health Center Patients. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2017;32(8):940-947. Journal of General Internal Medicine can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013, USA. (Wiley-Blackwell - www.wiley.com/; Journal of General Internal Medicine - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1525-1497)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from H. Angier, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR 97201, United States. Additional authors for this research include M. Marino, M. Killerby, B. Hatch, M. Hoopes, S.R. Bailey, J. Heintzman, J. PO'Malley and J.E. DeVoe.

Keywords for this news article include: Portland, Oregon, United States, North and Central America, Health Insurance, Diagnostics and Screening, Cardiovascular Diseases and Conditions, Pathologic Processes, Disease Attributes, Community Health, Chronic Disease, Hyperlipidemia, Health Policy, Hypertension, Medicaid, Diabetes, Oregon Health and Science University.

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