A cross-sectional analysis of the association between self-employment, racial and ethnic minority status, sex and cardiovascular disease risk factors among a nationally representative sample.

Background: There is a body of evidence that suggest risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be linked with self-employment status. Work context varies across race, ethnicity and sex. The objective is to examine the association of self-employment status and CVD risk factors across racial and ethnic minority status as well as sex.

Exploring Racial and Ethnic Differences in Utilization of Medications for Obesity Management in a Nationally Representative Survey.

Background: The burden of obesity falls disproportionately on some racial and ethnic minority groups.

Objective: To assess for racial and ethnic differences in the utilization of obesity-management medications among clinically eligible individuals.

Design: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2011-2016, 2018 and 2020) data and a cross-sectional study design was used to assess for racial and ethnic differences in obesity-management medication utilization.

Exploring the Relationship Between Medication Adherence and Diabetes Disparities among Hispanic Patients in a Large Health System.

Background: Sub-optimal HbA1c control is a driver of disparities in diabetes outcomes among Hispanic patients. Differences in medication adherence may underlie racial/ethnic differences in HbA1c level.

Objective: To examine the relationship between medication adherence and disparities in HbA1c level among Hispanic patients, relative to other racial/ethnic groups, obtaining care in the University of California Health System (UC Health).

Pharmacist-Led Diabetes Control Intervention and Health Outcomes in Hispanic Patients With Diabetes.

Importance: Among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), Hispanic individuals are more likely than non-Hispanic White individuals to develop diabetes-related complications.

Objective: To examine the association of a pharmacist-led intervention (UCMyRx) with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) among Hispanic patients with T2D.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This quality improvement study used electronic health record data and a difference-in-differences study design to evaluate the association of UCMyRx exposure with changes in HbA1c concentration and SBP among Hispanic patients with T2D, relative to usual care, at University of California, Los Angeles primary care clinics between February and April of 2023.

The Diabetes Health Plan and Healthcare Utilization Among Beneficiaries with Low Incomes.

Background: The socioeconomic status (SES) gradient in hospital and emergency room utilization among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is partially driven by cost-related non-adherence.

Objective: To test the impact of the Diabetes Health Plan (DHP), a diabetes-specific health plan incorporating value-based insurance design principles on healthcare utilization among low-income adults with T2DM.

Design: To examine the impact of the DHP on healthcare utilization, we employed a difference-in-differences (DID) study design with a propensity-matched comparison group.

An Effectiveness Study of a Primary Care-embedded Clinical Pharmacist-Led Intervention Among Patients With Diabetes and Medicaid Coverage.

Examine the impact of a primary care-embedded clinical pharmacist-led intervention (UCMyRx) on hemoglobin A1C and blood pressure control, relative to usual care, among patients with Type 2 diabetes (TD2) and Medicaid, in a large healthcare system. We used data extracted from the Electronic Health Records system and a Difference-In-Differences study design with a 2:1 propensity-matched comparison group to evaluate the impact of UCMyRx on HbA1c and systolic blood pressure among patients with TD2 and Medicaid, relative to usual care. Having at least one UCMyRx clinical pharmacist visit was associated with a significant reduction in HbA1c; (-.

Exploring the relationship between self-employment and women's cardiovascular health.

Background: Compared with wage and salary work, self-employment has been linked to more favorable cardiovascular health outcomes within the general population. Women comprise a significant proportion of the self-employed workforce and are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease. Self-employed women represent a unique population in that their cardiovascular health outcomes may be related to gender-specific advantages of non-traditional employment.

The Long-term Value of Bariatric Surgery Interventions for American Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Bariatric surgery can cause type 2 diabetes (diabetes) remission for individuals with comorbid obesity, yet utilization is <1%. Surgery eligibility is currently limited to body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m 2 , though the American Diabetes Association recommends expansion to BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 .

Objective: We estimate the individual-level net social value benefits of diabetes remission through bariatric surgery and compare the population-level effects of expanding eligibility alone versus improving utilization for currently eligible individuals.

Evidence for the Role of State-Level Economic Policy in HIV Risk Reduction: State Earned Income Tax Credit Generosity and HIV Risk Behavior Among Single Mothers.

We investigated the impact of State-level Earned Income Tax Credit (SEITC) generosity on HIV risk behavior among single mothers with low education. We merged individual-level data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2002-2018) with state-level data from the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research and conducted a multi-state, multi-year difference-in-differences (DID) analysis. We found that a refundable SEITC ≥ 10% of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit was associated with 21% relative risk reduction in reporting any high-risk behavior for HIV in the last year, relative to no SEITC.

The diabetes health plan and medication adherence among individuals with low incomes.

Objective: To test the impact of the Diabetes Health Plan (DHP), a diabetes-specific insurance plan that lowers out-of-pocket costs for diabetes-related medications and clinical visits, on adherence to oral hypoglycemic medications among low-income adults with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM).

Data Sources And Study Setting: Cohort of adults (18-64) with T2DM, an annual household income
Study Design: We employed a linear regression Difference-In-Differences (DID) approach with a matched comparison group.

The impact of Dual Eligible Special Need Plan regulations on healthcare utilization.

Background: To determine if requiring Dual Eligible Special Need Plans (D-SNPs) to receive approval from the National Committee of Quality Assurance and contract with state Medicaid agencies impacts healthcare utilization.

Methods: We use a Multiple Interrupted Time Series to examine the association of D-SNP regulations with dichotomized measures of emergency room (ER) and hospital utilization. Our treatment group is elderly D-SNP enrollees.

An Effectiveness Evaluation of a Primary Care-Embedded Clinical Pharmacist-Led Intervention Among Blacks with Diabetes.

Background: Black individuals with type 2 diabetes suffer disproportionate morbidity and mortality relative to whites with type 2 diabetes, irrespective of health insurance coverage.

Objective: Examine the impact of a primary care-embedded clinical pharmacist-led intervention (UCMyRx) on cardiovascular risk factor control among blacks with type 2 diabetes in a large healthcare system.

Design: We used data extracted from the electronic health records (EHR) system and a difference-in-differences study design with a propensity-matched comparison group to evaluate the impact of UCMyRx on HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP) among black patients with type 2 diabetes, relative to usual care.

Exploring the Relationship Between Self-Employment and Health Among Blacks.

There is some evidence that self-employment may improve measures of cardiovascular and general health among the general population; however, no studies have examined this relationship among Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs). Studying the health implications of self-employment among NHBs is important because of the disparities that persist in both cardiovascular health and self-employment rates between NHBs and other racial/ethnic subgroups. A pooled cross-sectional analysis of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2000 to 2014) was used to explore the association between self-employment and the following self-reported outcomes: "no exercise," fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, days of alcohol consumption, fair or poor health, hypertension, poor mental health days, and poor physical health days among the total population of NHBs and across gender/income subgroups.

Examining the association of changes in minimum wage with health across race/ethnicity and gender in the United States.

Background: The minimum wage creates both winners (through wage increases) and-potentially-losers (through job losses). Research on the health effects of minimum wage policies has been sparse, particularly across gender and among racial/ethnic minorities. We test the impact of minimum wage increases on health outcomes, health behaviors and access to healthcare across gender and race/ethnicity.

Quantifying the Value of Prevention: A Survey of Public Health Departments' Quantitative and Economic Modeling Capacity.

Objective: To improve the understanding of local health departments' (LHDs') capacity for and perceived barriers to using quantitative/economic modeling information to inform policy and program decisions.

Design: We developed, tested, and deployed a novel survey to examine this topic.

Setting: The study's sample frame included the 200 largest LHDs in terms of size of population served plus all other accredited LHDs (n = 67).

Making Strides Toward Health Equity: The Experiences of Public Health Departments.

Objectives: We explored the definition of health equity being used by public health departments and the extent of engagement of public health departments in activities to improve health equity, as well as facilitators and barriers to this work.

Design: We conducted 25 semistructured qualitative interviews with lead public health officials (n = 20) and their designees (n = 5). All interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed.

Racial/ethnic disparities in specialty behavioral health care treatment patterns and expenditures among commercially insured patients in managed behavioral health care plans.

Objective: To document differences among racial/ethnic/gender groups in specialty behavioral health care (BH) utilization/expenditures; examine whether these differences are driven by probability vs intensity of treatment; and identify whether differences are explained by socioeconomic status (SES).

Data Source: The cohort consists of adults continuously enrolled in Optum plans with BH benefits during 2013.

Study Design: We modeled each outcome using linear regressions among the entire sample stratified by race/ethnicity, language and gender.

Evidentiary needs of US public health departments with a mission to advance equity and health: a qualitative analysis.

Objectives: We sought the perspectives of lead public health officials working to improve health equity in the USA regarding the drivers of scientific evidence use, the supply of scientific evidence and the gap between their evidentiary needs and the available scientific evidence.

Design: We conducted 25 semistructured qualitative interviews (April 2017 to June 2017) with lead public health officials and their designees. All interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed.

Access to Care and Health Outcomes Among Women Veterans Using Veterans Administration Health Care: Association With Food Insufficiency.

Background: Food insecurity has been associated with worse health outcomes in the civilian population. Male veterans of the Gulf Wars have been shown to have a higher prevalence of food insecurity than similarly situated civilians. Women veterans have more risk factors for food insecurity, relative to male veterans, yet little is known about the prevalence of food insecurity in this cohort.

Experiences with Health Insurance and Health Care in the Context of Welfare Reform.

Studies have shown that in the wake of welfare reform there has been a drop in the health insurance coverage and health care utilization of low-income mothers. Using data from 20 telephone interviews, this study explored the health insurance and health care experiences of current and former welfare participants living in Los Angeles County. This study found that half of these women had been uninsured at some point.

The Impact of Exceeding TANF Time Limits on the Access to Healthcare of Low-Income Mothers.

The objective of this article is to estimate the relationship of exceeding Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) time limits, with health insurance, healthcare, and health outcomes. The authors use Heckman selection models that exploit variability in state time-limit duration and timing of policy implementation as identifying exclusion restrictions to adjust the effect estimates of exceeding time limits for possible correlations between the probability of exceeding time limits and unobservable factors influencing the outcomes. The authors find that exceeding time limits decreases the predicted probability of Medicaid coverage, increases the predicted probability of being uninsured, and decreases the predicted probability of annual medical provider contact.

The impact of welfare reform on the health insurance coverage, utilization and health of low education single mothers.

The Personal Responsibility Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 imposed time limits on the receipt of welfare cash benefits and mandated cash benefit sanctions for failure to meet work requirements. Many studies examining the health implications of PRWORA have found associated declines in health insurance coverage and healthcare utilization among single mothers but no impact of PRWORA on health outcomes. A limitation of this literature is that most studies cover a time period before time limits were implemented in all states and also before individuals began actually timing out.

Nutrition Policy Decreases Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Municipal Parks: Lessons Learned From Carson, California.

In light of the childhood obesity epidemic, many cities are adopting healthy park vending policies, but the evidence on the effectiveness of these policies is scant. This study examines how implementation of a healthy vending policy in Carson, California, changes the types of beverages that are available in park vending machines. The study design is a pre-posttest with post-only comparison group.