Quality of care is the extent to which all individuals receive the right care, at the right time, every time. RAND has been conducting research on measuring and assessing quality of health care for 40 years, and RAND teams developed many of the quality measures being used around the world today. In 2005, RAND analysts produced the first national report card on quality of care in the United States.
The results of this study provide some assurance that Medicare's onboarding process is effective, and that the care experiences of new enrollees with health care services are broadly similar to those with longer experience in the Medicare program.
The decline in audio-only visits from the early pandemic peak appears to coincide with the return of in-person visits rather than growth in video visits.
Re-coaching improved patient experience more than initial coaching, suggesting the reactivation of knowledge from initial coaching. However, re-coaching gains also eroded. Coaching should occur every 6–12 months to maintain behaviors and scores.
Testimony submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health on May 17, 2023.
This retrospective cohort study evaluated the quality and cost implications of receiving primary care from nurse practitioners (NPs) compared to physicians in 14 states that reimburse NPs at the Medicaid fee-for-service physician rate (pay parity).
Low income is associated with lower performance on behavioral health measures, but associations differ across racial groups. Improving care integration and addressing barriers to care may improve equity across income levels.
RAND Health Care researchers used public and private data, such as data from health care claims, to understand telehealth’s effect on health care delivery and how it affects care quality, access, and equity.
We worked with a steering committee and surveyed patients with rheumatoid arthritis to test a new method for engaging patients in healthcare valuation using patient goals.
In 2008–2017, 15–18% of U.S. primary care practices sought or maintained patient-centered medical home recognition. We interviewed a sample of 105 of these practices to determine why patient experience surveys were chosen.
To ensure fair comparison of serious illness programs, quality measure scores should be case-mix adjusted for variables that influence patients' reports about care quality, but are not under the control of the program administering care.
Increases in vertical integration were not associated with changes in medication adherence rates. However, adherence rates after vertical integration declined for non-Whites, patients over 80 years old, and patients with greater comorbidities.
This population-based cross-sectional study found that although quality of care and patient experience were slightly higher with higher-premium plans, quality varied widely within each premium category.
We examined the associations of inpatient pediatric nurse burnout with their perspectives on the importance of quality at the hospital, patient experience measurement, quality improvement, unit culture, and staffing.
Mental health services provide essential supports to people living with psychiatric disorders. However, in the United States as a whole and in New York City in particular, the use of mental health services is low and care is not equitably distributed. To advance policy strategy for addressing gaps in the mental health services system, RAND researchers investigate the availability and accessibility of mental health services in New York City.
Many states separate, or "carve out," Medicaid financing of behavioral health services from that for other types of health care, but there has been a recent trend in some states toward "carve-ins," whereby financing for behavioral health services is combined with the larger pool of Medicaid-covered services. To inform California's consideration of a carve-in approach, the authors examine the experiences of other states that have implemented it.
This study aimed to examine the content of the recommendations given to providers aimed at improving provider-patient interactions, characterize these recommendations, and examine their actionability.
To inform the development of No Surprises Act (NSA) reports to Congress, this report summarizes recent patterns of and trends in horizontal and vertical consolidation of hospitals, physician practices, and health insurers; what is known about the impacts of consolidation on health care prices, health care spending, quality of care, patient access, and health care wages; and the potential impact that NSA provisions might have on consolidation.
In this model, CMS pays participating organizations for assessing each of their eligible Medicare beneficiary's risk of having a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years and for reducing CVD risk among high-risk beneficiaries.
Patients ages 75+ reported less-positive experiences than patients ages 55-74, especially for measures of communication. These differences may be specific to inpatient care.
RAND Corporation and MedStar researchers examined the intersection of patient safety and racism, focusing on patient safety and health equity from clinician leaders' perspectives. An overarching emphasis of the work concerned the impact of racism and other related factors (i.e., bias) on patient safety events and potential interventions or changes (such as creating a culture of speaking up about racism in care) that can help prevent such events.
