Public spending on acute and long-term care for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Introduction: We estimate the spending attributable to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) to the United States government for the first 5 years post-diagnosis.

Methods: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study matched to Medicare and Medicaid claims, we identify a retrospective cohort of adults with a claims-based ADRD diagnosis along with matched controls.

Results: The costs attributable to ADRD are $15,632 for traditional Medicare and $8833 for Medicaid per dementia case over the first 5 years after diagnosis.

Out-of-pocket costs attributable to dementia: A longitudinal analysis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect 5.7 million Americans, and are expensive despite the lack of a cure or even treatments effective in managing the disease. The literature thus far has tended to focus on the costs to Medicare, even though one of the main characteristics of ADRD (the loss of independence and ability to care for oneself) incurs costs not covered by Medicare.

The effect of health insurance on sexual health: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act's dependent coverage mandate.

This study estimates changes in sexually transmitted disease rates for young adults in the United States following the Affordable Care Act's dependent coverage mandate; a provision that allows dependents to remain covered under their parents' health insurance plans until the age of 26. This study is the first to analyze changes in reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates resulting from the dependent coverage mandate. Utilizing a difference-in-differences framework coupled with administrative data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I find that reported chlamydia rates increased for males and females ages 20-24 relative to comparison groups of males and females ages 15-19 and 25-29 following the mandate.

What factors predict the passage of state-level e-cigarette regulations?

E-cigarettes are controversial products. They may help addicted smokers to consume nicotine in a less harmful manner or to quit tobacco cigarettes entirely, but these products may also entice youth into smoking. This controversy complicates e-cigarette regulation as any regulation may lead to health improvements for some populations, and health declines for other populations.