NIHCM Foundation awarded seven new grants totaling $345,000 to support investigator-initiated health services research.
The winning studies were selected for their potential to improve the health care system and their strong research design.
“The studies we’re supporting are developing practical evidence that is actively improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the U.S. health care system,” said NIHCM CEO Nancy Chockley. “This investment in evidence is critical to achieving a healthier America.”
The latest round of grants will support the following projects:
Promoting Better Pain Management Outcomes: Precision Decision Support for Opioid Prescription
This study will investigate the feasibility and impact of using personalized decision support to assist physicians with prescribing decisions by predicting a patient’s risk of developing opioid dependence. Findings have the potential to improve prescribing practices and reduce the prevalence of addiction.
Researchers:
Ritu Agarwal, University of Maryland
Margret Bjarnadottir, University of Maryland
Kislaya Prasad,University of Maryland
Kenyon Crowley, University of Maryland
Selected Market Failures in Health Care: Analyzing the Scope, Causes, and Potential Solutions
This two-part study will examine health care market failures affecting consumers: 1) the frequency and causes of surprise bills for out-of-network services, and 2) the significance of various barriers to shopping around for services, including travel distance, referral practices, vertical integration and transparency. Results have the potential to inform policy responses.
Researchers:
Zack Cooper, Yale University
Fiona Scott Morton, Yale University
Michael Chernew, Harvard University
Evaluating and Improving Post-Hospitalization Mental Health Follow-Up Care
This study will identify the characteristics associated with receipt of timely follow-up mental health care after a hospitalization or emergency department visit related to mental illness, and it will examine whether follow-up care affects outcomes or spending. Findings have the potential to improve care for this vulnerable and potentially expensive patient population.
Researcher:
Kimberley Geissler,
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Clinical and Economic Impact of Washington State’s Oral Anticancer Treatment Access Law
This study will examine how Washington state’s oral chemotherapy parity law has affected access, spending, out-of-pocket costs and health outcomes. Findings are expected to be broadly applicable to the 42 other states with similar laws and to inform debate over federal legislation.
Researchers:
Caroline Bennette, University of Washington
Scott Ramsey, University of Washington
Zachary Marcum, University of Washington
Patterns and Determinants of Inappropriate Diagnostic Imaging
This study will describe the magnitude and costs of inappropriate diagnostic imaging and estimate the influence of patient, physician and practice characteristics and of physician self-referrals. Researchers will also examine the impact of cost containment initiatives in Massachusetts, with findings expected to inform future efforts to reduce inappropriate care.
Researchers:
Gary Young, Northeastern University
Stephen Flaherty, Northeastern University
Koenraad Mortele, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School
eQuality: Improving LGBT, GNC, and DSD Health Through a Comprehensive Medical School Training Program
This study will develop, evaluate and disseminate a clinical skills training manual for medical students on how to provide high quality care to patients who are LGBT, gender nonconforming or have differences of sex development. This work has the potential to improve care standards nationwide through broader training on evidence-based practices.
Researchers:
Susan Sawning, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Amy Holthouser, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Carrie Bohnert, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Laura Weingartner, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Jennifer Potter, Harvard Medical School
Consumer Directed Health Plan Impact on Low-Value Service Utilization and Spending
This study will examine how enrollment in a consumer directed health plan (CDHP) affects use of and spending for 26 measures of low-value outpatient care. Results should inform discussions of the extent to which the growing use of CDHPs can reduce waste in the health care system.
Researchers:
Neeraj Sood, University of Southern California
Rachel Reid, RAND Corp.
