Who Can Participate in the California Health Benefit Exchange?: A Profile of Subsidy-Eligible Uninsured and Individually Insured

Examines the size of the population that will be eligible for subsidies in the state health insurance exchange and their demographic and other characteristics, including health status and healthcare utilization. Considers implications

A Profile of Health Insurance Exchange Enrollees

Based on the 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, examines the demographic, health status, and healthcare utilization characteristics of the population expected to obtain coverage through state-run exchanges in 2019. Considers policy implications

Impact of the Economy on Health Care

Reviews research on how economic downturns affect healthcare access, costs, and outcomes. Examines changes in employer-based insurance, limitations on COBRA and public programs, impact on the healthcare sector, and implications for healthcare utilization

The Diversity of Dual Eligible Beneficiaries: An Examination of Services and Spending for People Eligible for Both Medicaid and Medicare

Analyzes updated data on the characteristics, health status, healthcare utilization, and spending for those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare compared with those of non-dual eligible Medicare beneficiaries and implications of their diversity

Healthcare Utilization Analysis for Housing First Program in Anchorage Alaska

Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Anchorage In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTHHomelessness, especially for the chronically homeless individual with substance abuse issues, often results in high use of emergency services, depression, loss of hope, increased victimization, poor medical care of chronic conditions, and intense suffering for the individual affected. Proponents of the Housing First model believe that housing is a human right, a need, and should be made available to all for basic human dignity. The primary purpose of this study was to answer the question of whether a Housing First model example in Alaska has impacted healthcare utilization for this specific population. Data on hospital visit numbers and hospital costs were collected from both a tenant and a control sample, for the 2011-2013 period, from three area hospitals. Initial findings indicated there was higher outpatient healthcare service use for the tenant sample after obtaining supportive housing. The control sample also showed statistical significance for an increase in emergency services costs, which was not evident for the tenant sample. Future Housing First programs in Alaska may provide improved healthcare for individual tenants by increasing utilization of outpatient services.Signature Page / Title Page / Abstract / Table of Contents / List of Figures / List of Tables / Introduction / Background / Project Goals and Objectives / Methods / Results / Discussion / Strengths and Limitations / Public Health Implications / Conclusions and Recommendations / Reference

Social capital and utilization of HIV/ AIDS-related healthcare in rural Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe

This study examined the relationship between social capital and utilization of HIV/AIDSrelated healthcare amongst people living with HIV in rural Matabeleland South province of Zimbabwe. It also explored barriers to optimal HIV/AIDS-related healthcare utilization among this rural population. Grounded on the Andersen and Newman model of healthcare utilization and social capital theory, the study employed a mixed method research design. Using time-location sampling procedure, a total of 399 people living with HIV were interviewed using a survey questionnaire. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were also conducted with 40 purposively selected key informants that included healthcare workers, HIV/AIDS service providers and community leaders. A statistically significant association was found between social capital and healthcare utilization. The binary logistic regression model was statistically significant, χ² (11) =129.362, (p < .005), it correctly classified 80.20% of cases and explained 59.3% of the variance in healthcare utilization (Nagelkerke R-Square =59.30%). The 16 items of the social capital scale were subjected to principal compoments analysis (PCA). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of sampling adequacy was 0.645 and Bartletts's Test of Spehericity reached statistical significance (χ² (120) = 128, p < .001), supporting the factorability of the correlation matrix. Social capital was a significant predictor of HIV/AIDS-related healthcare utilization (p<0.001). The results indicated that for a unit increase in social capital the odds of utilization of HIV/AIDS-related healthcare increased by a factor of 59.84. Other significant predictors of HIV/AID-related healthcare utilization amongst the study participants were gender (p<.05, odds ratio=3.4), discrimination (p<.05, odds ratio = 7.7) and household headship (p<.001, odds ratio = 4.3). Enabling factors such as membership in health insurance schemes and household income had no significant effect on HIV/AIDS-related healthcare utilization. Major barriers to HIV/AIDS-related healthcare utilization were food insecurity and reliance on informal sources of medication. This study contributed to understanding of the influences of social capital on the utilization of HIV/AIDS-related health care and underscored the need to integrate social capital in designing interventions to improve HIV/AIDS-related healthcare utilization in rural contexts