External Research

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External Research

December 16, 2021

External researchers rely on FAIR Health data and publications for a broad array of studies featured in prominent journals and government reports. This year’s external research included studies from JAMA, Pediatrics and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), among others. Topics included COVID-19, telehealth, surprise billing and food allergies.

External research came in two basic forms: studies making direct use of FAIR Health data, and research citing FAIR Health’s own data studies. FAIR Health remains strenuously neutral as to the points of view or conclusions expressed in the various published studies listed below.

Direct Use of FAIR Health Data

Eric Bressman, Ali Russo and Rachel M. Werner, “Trends in Outpatient Care and Use of Telemedicine after Hospital Discharge in a Large Commercially Insured Population,” JAMA Health Forum (November 12, 2021).
The researchers examined trends in utilization of outpatient care, including telemedicine, after hospital discharge. They used FAIR Health data to conduct their study.

Arielle Kane, Charlie Katebi and Maha Subramanian, Telehealth Saves Money and Lives: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Progressive Policy Institute, November 2021.
The authors studied how telehealth use changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed its impact on costs and health outcomes. The study used FAIR Health data.

Stacey McMorrow, Robert A. Berenson and John Holahan, Commercial Health Insurance Markups over Medicare Prices for Physician Services Vary Widely by Specialty, Urban Institute Health Policy Center, October 2021.
The researchers assessed variation across physician specialties in commercial markups over Medicare prices for professional services. They relied on FAIR Health data.

Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Office of Health Policy, Air Ambulance Use and Surprise Billing, issue brief, September 10, 2021.
This issue brief discussed the effects of surprise billing protections for patients for air ambulance services. The brief cited FAIR Health data from a US Government Accountability Office report.

Mohanad R. Youssef et al., “Thyroid Lobectomy as a Cost-Effective Approach in Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer versus Active Surveillance,” Surgery (August 10, 2021).
The researchers studied lobectomy as a cost-effective strategy in low-risk papillary thyroid cancer versus active surveillance. The analysis obtained direct medical costs from FAIR Health data.

Jiani Yu, Lawrence Casalino and Harold Alan Pincus, “Telehealth Use for Mental Health Conditions among Enrollees in Commercial Insurance,” Psychiatric Services (July 13, 2021).
This report examined trends in telehealth use among commercial insurance patients from January to June 2020. The report cited the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker and used FAIR Health data to identify telehealth services.

Arun Karpur et al., “Brief Report: Impact of COVID-19 in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Analysis of a National Private Claims Insurance Database,” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (May 26, 2021).
The authors sought to understand the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorders in the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis used FAIR Health claims data.

Matthew Fiedler, Loren Adler and Benedic Ippolito, “Recommendations for Implementing the No Surprises Act,” USC-Brookings Schaeffer on Health Policy (blog), March 16, 2021.
This blog post discussed the implementation challenges of the No Surprises Act and recommendations for overcoming these challenges. The authors proposed the use of FAIR Health claims data.

Karyn Schwartz et al., Limiting Private Insurance Reimbursement to Medicare Rates Would Reduce Health Spending by about $350 Billion in 2021, KFF issue brief, March 1, 2021.
This brief analyzed how much individuals and employers would spend on healthcare if private insurance reimbursed healthcare providers at Medicare rates. The analysis used FAIR Health claims data.

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, March 2021.
This report fulfilled MedPAC’s legislative mandate to evaluate Medicare payment issues and make recommendations to Congress. The report cited FAIR Health data on healthcare spending per privately insured enrollee and on clinician revenue in 2020 compared to 2019.

Athena Poppas and Frederick A. Masoudi, “NCDR: Advancing Patient Care, Outcomes, and Value through Innovation and Knowledge,” Journal of the American College of Cardiology 77, no. 2 (January 2021): 224-26.
This narrative review presented the mission and growth of the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR). The authors discussed assessing care value with the combination of quality performance data from NCDR and costs of care from FAIR Health claims data.

Citations of FAIR Health Data Studies

Amanda M. Caleb and Stacy Gallin, “Policies of Exclusion: The Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities,” Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy 14, no. 2 (December 2021).
The authors discussed the impact of policies related to COVID-19 on people with disabilities. A FAIR Health white paper on risk factors for COVID-19 mortality was cited.

Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Office of Health Policy, Evidence on Surprise Billing: Protecting Consumers with the No Surprises Act, issue brief, November 22, 2021.
This issue brief reviewed evidence on surprise billing and described new federal rules implementing the No Surprises Act. The brief cited a FAIR Health study on air ambulance services.

Md Rafiul Islam et al., “Evaluation of the United States COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy,” PLOS ONE (November 17, 2021).
This study evaluated the US COVID-19 vaccine allocation strategy. A FAIR Health white paper on risk factors for COVID-19 mortality was cited.

John A. Graves, Khrysta Baig and Melinda Buntin, “The Financial Effects and Consequences of COVID-19: A Gathering Storm,” JAMA (October 29, 2021).
This article discussed the financial consequences of COVID-19. A FAIR Health brief on the economic impact of COVID-19 on the US healthcare system was cited.

Sarah C. Tinker et al., “Important Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination of Children with Developmental Disabilities,” Pediatrics 148, no. 4 (October 2021): e2021053190.
The authors reviewed the evidence relevant to COVID-19 vaccination of children with developmental disabilities. The article cited a FAIR Health white paper on risk factors for COVID-19 mortality.

Loren Adler et al., “Changes in Emergency Physician Service Prices after Connecticut’s 2016 Surprise Billing Law,” USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, September 23, 2021.
This study offered evidence about the effects of Connecticut’s 2016 surprise billing law on the emergency physician services market. The researchers cited a FAIR Health brief on surprise billing.

Jonathan Cantor et al., “Telehealth Adoption by Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities in the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Psychiatric Services (August 21, 2021).
The researchers examined the availability of telehealth at US behavioral treatment facilities and risk factors for not offering telehealth. A FAIR Health white paper on the impact of COVID-19 on pediatric mental health was cited.

Annette Majnemer et al., “Time to Be Counted: COVID-19 and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities—an RSC Policy Briefing,” FACETS (August 12, 2021).
This policy briefing provided recommendations to mitigate negative impacts of COVID-19 for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The authors cited a FAIR Health white paper on risk factors for COVID-19 mortality.

Audra M. Webber and Brittany L. Willer, “Obesity, Race, and Perioperative Complications,” Current Anesthesiology Reports (July 17, 2021).
This report studied the effects of pediatric obesity and pediatric minority status on perioperative management and outcomes. The authors cited a FAIR Health white paper on pediatric obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Nicole A. Kahhan and Katherine W. Junger, “Introduction to the Special Interest Issue on Parent/Guardian Interventions in Pediatric Psychology: The Role of the Pediatric Psychologist Working with Caregivers as the Target of Intervention,” Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology 9, no. 2 (June 2021): 107-11.
This report explored the role that pediatric psychologists play in treating parents/guardians of pediatric patients. A FAIR Health white paper on the impact of COVID-19 on pediatric mental health was cited.

Shari Brotman et al., “The Crisis Facing Older People Living with Neurodiversity and Their Aging Family Carers: A Social Work Perspective,” Journal of Gerontological Social Work (April 26, 2021).
The authors examined the barriers to care among patients with neurodiversity and their aging caregivers in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. A FAIR Health white paper on the risk factors for COVID-19 mortality was cited.

Ziyad S. Almalki, “COVID-19's Economic Impact on the Global Health Systems: Time to Respond to New Realities,” Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International 33, no. 24A (April 17, 2021): 85-91.
The researchers studied the costs and economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on global health systems. A FAIR Health brief on the economic impact of COVID-19 on the US healthcare system was cited.

Michael T. Kemp et al., “Surgery Provider Perceptions on Telehealth Visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Room for Improvement,” Journal of Surgical Research 260 (April 1, 2021): P300-306.
The researchers studied surgeons’ perceptions of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for improving telehealth programs. A FAIR Health white paper on telehealth was cited.

Bina Kassamali et al., “Teledermatology before, during, and after Covid-19: A Vital Tool to Improve Access and Equity in Specialty Care,” Journal of Cellular Immunology 3, no. 1 (April 2021): 61-67.
This article assessed teledermatology before the COVID-19 pandemic, its expansion during the pandemic and the importance of continued teledermatology after it. The authors cited FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker.

United States International Trade Commission, Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade: 2021 Annual Report, April 2021.
This report discussed United States professional services trends and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for professional services. A FAIR Health white paper on healthcare indicators and the medical price index was cited.

Jonathan P. Weiner et al., “In-Person and Telehealth Ambulatory Contacts and Costs in a Large US Insured Cohort before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” JAMA Network Open 4, no. 3 (March 23, 2021): e212618.
This study assessed the role of telehealth in healthcare delivery at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors cited FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker and a FAIR Health white paper on telehealth.

Creola Johnson, “Crushed by COVID-19 Medical Bills, Coronavirus Victims Need Debt Relief under the Bankruptcy Code and Workers’ Compensation Laws,” Penn State Law Review (March 22, 2021).
The author proposed legislative amendments to protect COVID-19 patients from excessive financial burdens related to their healthcare. A FAIR Health brief on the economic impact of COVID-19 on the US healthcare system was cited.

Jonathan Gleason et al., “The Devastating Impact of Covid-19 on Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in the United States,” NEJM Catalyst (March 5, 2021).
This study aimed to describe the relative impact of COVID-19 on individuals with intellectual disabilities compared to the general population. A FAIR Health white paper on the risk factors for COVID-19 mortality was cited.

Constance L. Wall-Haas, “Connect, Engage: Televisits for Children with Asthma during COVID-19 and After,” Journal for Nurse Practitioners 17, no. 3 (March 1, 2021): P293-98.
The authors aimed to provide healthcare providers with tools and guidelines for providing telehealth visits to children with asthma during and after COVID-19. FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker was cited.

Brantlee Broome et al., “Food Allergy Symptom Self-Management with Technology (FASST) mHealth Intervention to Address Psychosocial Outcomes in Caregivers of Children with Newly Diagnosed Food Allergy: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial,” JMIR Research Protocols 10, no. 3 (March 2021): e25805.
This article discussed the benefits of developing a mobile health app to address the psychological needs of caregivers of children with food allergies. A FAIR Health white paper on food allergy was cited.

Joonu-Noel Andrews Coste, “COVID-19, Health Justice, and the Privilege of Space: A New Critical Intersectional Framework for Creating a Prescription for Equal Well-Being and Applied to Addressing Health of Children Residing in Psychiatric Institutions,” Campbell Law Review 43, no. 3 (Spring 2021).
The authors examined the risk of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic for children in psychiatric institutions in North Carolina and the Southeast. A FAIR Health white paper on the risk factors for COVID-19 mortality was cited.

Kurt R. Herzer and Peter J. Pronovost, “Ensuring Quality in the Era of Virtual Care,” JAMA 325, no. 5 (February 2, 2021): 429-30.
This article presented physician guidelines for providing high-quality virtual care. The authors cited FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker.

Michael A. Moverman et al., “Public Perceptions of Resuming Elective Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Journal of Arthroplasty 36, no. 2 (February 1, 2021): P397-402.E2.
The researchers studied patients’ beliefs and concerns about the safety of resuming elective surgery during COVID-19. A FAIR Health brief on the economic impact of COVID-19 on the US healthcare system was cited.

D’Andra Millsap Shu, “Food Allergy Bullying as Disability Harassment: Holding Schools Accountable,” University of Colorado Law Review 92, no. 1 (January 31, 2021).
The authors argued that schools should be held liable for food allergy bullying among students under federal discrimination disability laws. A FAIR Health white paper on food allergy was cited.

Edna M. Lewin, “Health Literacy and Psychiatric Hospital Readmission,” Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 52, no. 2 (January 27, 2021): 90-99.
This study examined the link between health literacy of patients with bipolar disorder and psychiatric health readmissions. The author cited a FAIR Health brief on the economic impact of COVID-19 on the US healthcare system.

Nanette Elster and Kayhan Parsi, “Oral Health Matters: The Ethics of Providing Oral Health during COVID-19,” HEC Forum (January 15, 2021).
The authors examined how COVID-19 has affected dental services and the health disparities in oral health. A FAIR Health brief on the impact of COVID-19 on dental services was cited.

Bala Bhagavath, Linnea Goodman and John Petrozza, “Billing, Coding, and Practice Management: A Primer for Today’s Reproductive Medicine Professional,” Fertility and Sterility 115, no. 1 (January 1, 2021): P22-28.
The authors aimed to provide reproductive medicine physicians with an understanding of billing, coding and cost containment for a typical fertility practice. FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker was cited.