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´óÏóÊÓƵStats

Access more data on this topic in the , plus additional ´óÏóÊÓƵdata infographics.

Today's Headlines:

• ´óÏóÊÓƵSignals Plan To Establish Healthcare Extension Service.
• Study Examines Sources of Financial Strain for Patients Paying for Healthcare.
• Report Updates Evidence on Pharmacotherapy for Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder.
• Medicare Advantage Not Associated With Rural Hospital Closings, Study Finds.
• Highlights From ´¡±á¸é²Ï’s Patient Safety Network.
• Register for Dec. 6 Webinar on ´¡±á¸é²Ï’s Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Child Hospital Survey Database and Narrative Items.
• ´óÏóÊÓƵin the Professional Literature.

´óÏóÊÓƵSignals Plan To Establish Healthcare Extension Service

A new issued by ´óÏóÊÓƵsignals the agency’s plan to publish a funding opportunity announcement to create state-based healthcare extension cooperatives to accelerate the implementation of actionable evidence into practice. The initiative—´¡±á¸é²Ï’s Healthcare Extension Service: State-Based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement—will aim to strengthen the capacity of healthcare systems, other healthcare organizations and clinicians to deliver evidence-based care that addresses the whole person. Each cooperative will convene a variety of public and private partners that are drivers of healthcare improvement in their state. The project will be funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Trust Fund. Sign up for and access more information about PCOR at AHRQ.

Study Examines Sources of Financial Strain for Patients Paying for Healthcare

While the Affordable Care Act significantly increased the percentage of U.S. residents with insurance coverage, Americans continue to face challenges paying for healthcare, according to a new ´óÏóÊÓƵstudy published in Health Affairs. For some, the problem is high out-of-pocket spending on insurance premiums and care, according to the analysis. Others might be forced into temporary debt, paying medical bills over time, and some need to postpone or forgo care altogether. To better understand the health-related financial burden on Americans, ´óÏóÊÓƵresearchers reviewed government data from 2018-19 on out-of-pocket spending, medical debt and cost-related care delays. They found that 7.5 percent of those sampled lived in households with high out-of-pocket burdens, 8.4 percent reported medical debt and 18.8 percent postponed or skipped care. In all, 27 percent of those questioned confirmed one or more of the indicators. Access the .

Report Updates Evidence on Pharmacotherapy for Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder

Decisions about medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), including the use of drugs such as naltrexone or acamprosate, should be made collaboratively between patients and clinicians with considerations for desired outcomes, tolerance of side effects, contraindications and the potential to adhere to the medication regimen, according to an updated ´óÏóÊÓƵsystematic review. The report, which updates a 2014 systematic review, recognizes that the literature on medications for AUD has grown substantially. ´óÏóÊÓƵexpects that this updated systematic review from the will be helpful to health plans, care providers, government programs and healthcare systems. Access the , which includes key findings on the benefits and harms of several medications, and the abstract to a article based on the report.

Medicare Advantage Not Associated With Rural Hospital Closings, Study Finds

Although more than 100 rural hospitals have closed in the past decade, an ´óÏóÊÓƵstudy published in The American Journal of Managed Care finds that increased enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans seems to be associated with increased financial stability and reduced likelihood of rural hospital closure. Researchers used ´¡±á¸é²Ï’s Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database to follow 556 rural hospitals in 14 states open in 2008 through 2019 or until closure. They found that as Medicare Advantage penetration grew in rural hospitals, from 6.5 percent in 2008 to 20.6 percent in 2019, a 1 percentage-point increase in hospital penetration was associated with an increase in financial stability and a 4 percent reduction in risk of closure. Access the .

Highlights From ´¡±á¸é²Ï’s Patient Safety Network

´¡±á¸é²Ï’s highlights journal articles, books and tools related to patient safety. Articles featured this week include:

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Review additional new publications in PSNet’s or access recent in ´¡±á¸é²Ï’s WebM&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web).

Register for Dec. 6 Webinar on ´¡±á¸é²Ï’s Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Child Hospital Survey Database and Narrative Items

Registration is open for a webinar on Dec. 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. ET about ´¡±á¸é²Ï’s new Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Child Hospital Survey (HCAHPS) Database and narrative items. Speakers will provide an overview of the Child HCAHPS Survey, including highlights from current data, steps for and benefits of future participation, and details about the new narrative item set.

´óÏóÊÓƵin the Professional Literature

Reducing length of antibiotics for children with ear infections: protocol for a cluster-randomized trial in the USA. Keith A, Jenkins TC, O'Leary S, et al. J Comp Eff Res 2023 Nov;12(11):e230088. Epub 2023 Oct 19. Access the on PubMed®.

A multisite qualitative analysis of perceived roles in medication safety: older adults' perspectives. Jallow F, Stehling E, Sajwani-Merchant Z, et al. J Patient Exp 2023 Jan-Dec;10:23743735231158887. Epub 2023 Feb 27. Access the on PubMed®.

The impact of stimulant medications on blood pressure and body mass index in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Suess M, Chrenka EA, Kharbanda EO, et al. Acad Pediatr 2023 Aug 29. [Epub ahead of print.] Access the on PubMed®.

Validation of measures for perioperative urinary catheter use, urinary retention, and urinary catheter-related trauma in surgical patients. Hendren S, Ameling J, Rocker C, et al. Am J Surg 2023 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print.] Access the on PubMed®.

Primary care teams' reported actions to improve medication safety: a qualitative study with insights in high reliability organising. Young RA, Gurses AP, Fulda KG, et al. BMJ Open Qual 2023 Sep;12(3):e002350. Access the on PubMed®.

Impact of neighborhood social disadvantage on the presentation and management of peripheral artery disease. Mota L, Marcaccio CL, Zhu M, et al. J Vasc Surg 2023 May;77(5):1477-85. Epub 2023 Jan 7. Access the on PubMed®.

Prevalence and appropriateness of in-person versus not-in-person ambulatory antibiotic prescribing in an integrated academic health system: a cohort study. Brown T, Lee JY, Guzman A, et al. PLoS One 2023 Jul 27;18(7):e0289303. Access the on PubMed®.

Televisits compared with in-person visits for routine antenatal care: a systematic review. Balk EM, Danilack VA, Cao W, et al. Obstet Gynecol 2023 Jul 1;142(1):19-29. Epub 2023 Jun 7. Access the on PubMed®.