The effect of Medicaid waivers on ameliorating racial/ethnic disparities among children with autism.

Objective: To examine the effects of Medicaid Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) waivers on reducing racial/ethnic disparities in unmet need for services among families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Data Sources: Data from the 2003, 2007, and 2011 waves of the National Survey of Children's Health and the 2005 and 2010 waves of the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs were used. Data on waiver characteristics were collected from source materials that were submitted in support of each state's waiver application.

Spatial-temporal analysis of prostate cancer incidence from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry, 2000-2011.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among males, and the incidence in Pennsylvania, USA is considerably higher than nationally. Knowledge of regional differences and time trends in prostate cancer incidence may contribute to a better understanding of aetiologic factors and racial disparities in outcomes, and to improvements in preventive intervention and screening efforts. We used Pennsylvania Cancer Registry data on reported prostate cancer diagnoses between 2000 and 2011 to study the regional distribution and temporal trends of prostate cancer incidence in both Pennsylvania White males and Philadelphia metropolitan area Black males.

Is venous blood gas performed in the Emergency Department predictive of outcome during acute on chronic hypercarbic respiratory failure?

Background: During acute on chronic hypercarbic respiratory failure (AHRF), arterial pH is associated with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) failure and mortality. Venous blood gas (VBG) has been proposed as a substitute for arterial blood gas, based on a good agreement between venous and arterial values. We assessed the predictive value of admission VBG on intubation rate, NIV failure and mortality during AHRF.

Medicaid Waivers Targeting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Reduce The Need For Parents To Stop Working.

Several states have passed Medicaid home and community-based services waivers that expand eligibility criteria and available services for children with autism spectrum disorder. Although previous research has shown considerable variation in these waivers, little is known about the programs' impact on parents' workforce participation. We used nationally representative survey data combined with detailed information on state Medicaid waiver programs to determine the effects of waivers on whether parents of children with autism spectrum disorder had to stop working because of the child's condition.

Hepatic resection is associated with reduced postoperative opioid requirement.

Background And Aims: Postoperative pain can significantly affect surgical outcomes. As opioid metabolism is liver-dependent, any reduction in hepatic volume can lead to increased opioid concentrations in the blood. The hypothesis of this retrospective study was that patients undergoing open hepatic resection would require less opioid for pain management than those undergoing open pancreaticoduodenectomy.

The Effects of Medicaid Home and Community-based Services Waivers on Unmet Needs Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background: Several states have passed Medicaid Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) waivers that expand eligibility criteria and available services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous research has shown considerable variation in these waivers, but little is known about the extent to which they address the health care needs of children with ASD.

Objective: To determine the effects of Medicaid HCBS waivers, and their characteristics, on unmet health care needs among children with ASD.

Autoimmune conditions are associated with perioperative thrombotic complications in liver transplant recipients: A UNOS database analysis.

Background: End stage liver disease (ESLD) is associated with significant thrombotic complications. In this study, we attempted to determine if patients with ESLD, due to oncologic or autoimmune diseases, are susceptible to thrombosis to a greater extent than patients with ESLD due to other causes.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the UNOS database to determine the incidence of thrombotic complications in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients with autoimmune and oncologic conditions.