Assessing the Relationship Between Behavioral Health Integration and Alcohol-Related Treatment Among Patients with Medicaid.

Behavioral health integration (BHI) is increasingly implemented to expand capacity to address behavioral health conditions within primary care. Survey and claims data from the evaluation of the Public Hospital Redesign and Incentives in Medi-Cal program were used to examine the relationship between BHI and alcohol-related outcomes among Medicaid patients within 17 public hospitals in California. Key informant survey data measured hospital-level BHI at 3 levels (overall composite, infrastructure, and process domains, 10 themes).

Enhancing the diversity and productivity of scientists in aging research: contributions of the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research, 2018-2023.

The Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) is a flagship education, training, and development program of the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) focused on increasing the number and diversity of researchers in aging. We sought to assess the program's contributions to geriatric and gerontology education by examining the scientific productivity of 294 RCMAR scientists who received pilot funding from the program during the last complete grant cycle, 2018 to 2023. Across the 18 funded sites, the scientists obtained 53 NIH grants and 29 NIA-specific grants.

Impact of management guidelines for abnormal cervical cytology on colposcopy procedure rates among young women.

Objective: In 2012, updated ASCCP management guidelines for abnormal cervical cytology recommended observation rather than immediate referral to colposcopy for low-grade abnormalities in women ages 21-24. We evaluated the impact of these guidelines on changes in colposcopy procedure rates among young women.

Methods: We analyzed administrative and claims data from the largest statewide family planning program between July 2011 and June 2015.

Ethnic disparities in mental health problems in New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

Objectives: Indigenous people experience poorer mental health compared to the general population. Socioeconomic gaps partly explain these disparities. However, there is variability between populations and French overseas territories are understudied.

Associations of Homelessness With Primary Care and Acute Care Utilization Among Medicaid-Enrolled Youth.

Background: Youth comprise one-third of the US homeless population. However, little is known about how homelessness affects health care utilization.

Objective: Examine associations of homelessness with hospitalization, primary care, and ED visits, varying by race/ethnicity, among Medicaid-enrolled youth.

Ten health policy challenges for the next 10 years.

Health policies and associated research initiatives are constantly evolving and changing. In recent years, there has been a dizzying increase in research on emerging topics such as the implications of changing public and private health payment models, the global impact of pandemics, novel initiatives to tackle the persistence of health inequities, broad efforts to reduce the impact of climate change, the emergence of novel technologies such as whole-genome sequencing and artificial intelligence, and the increase in consumer-directed care. This evolution demands future-thinking research to meet the needs of policymakers in translating science into policy.

Inability to Access Needed Medical Care Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Medicaid Enrollees.

We examined self-reported inability to access to needed medical care and reasons for not accessing medical care among US-representative adult Medicaid enrollees, disaggregated across 10 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ethnic groups. Chinese (-4.54 percentage points [PP], P < .

Democratizing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Data: Examining Community Accessibility of Data for Health and the Social Drivers of Health.

Making data accessible to communities is essential for developing community-driven solutions to address health inequities. In this analytic essay, we highlight the importance of democratizing data for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs)-diverse populations that historically have had little access to their data-in the context of achieving equity in health and the social drivers of health. We provide a framework for evaluating community accessibility of data, which includes concepts of data availability, salience, cost, and report back.

Traffic-related air pollution and Parkinson's disease in central California.

Background: Prior studies suggested that air pollution exposure may increase the risk of Parkinson's Disease (PD). We investigated the long-term impacts of traffic-related and multiple sources of particulate air pollution on PD in central California.

Methods: Our case-control analysis included 761 PD patients and 910 population controls.

Association of neighborhood gentrification and residential moves with hypertension and diabetes control in Los Angeles County, 2014-2019: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine whether gentrification exposure is associated with future hypertension and diabetes control.

Methods: Linking records from an integrated health care system to census-tract characteristics, we identified adults with hypertension and/or diabetes residing in stably low-SES census tracts in 2014 (n = 69,524). We tested associations of census tract gentrification occurring between 2015 and 2019 with participants' disease control in 2019.

Short-Term total and wildfire fine particulate matter exposure and work loss in California.

Background: Few studies investigated the impact of particulate matter (PM) on some symptom exacerbations that are not perceived as severe enough to search for medical assistance. We aimed to study the association of short-term daily total PM exposure with work loss due to sickness among adults living in California.

Methods: We included 44,544 adult respondents in the workforce from 2015 to 2018 California Health Interview Survey data.

A pesticide and iPSC dopaminergic neuron screen identifies and classifies Parkinson-relevant pesticides.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease with etiology rooted in genetic vulnerability and environmental factors. Here we combine quantitative epidemiologic study of pesticide exposures and PD with toxicity screening in dopaminergic neurons derived from PD patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to identify Parkinson's-relevant pesticides. Agricultural records enable investigation of 288 specific pesticides and PD risk in a comprehensive, pesticide-wide association study.

Variation in adults' use of flavored tobacco products by sales restrictions in California jurisdictions.

Background: State and local policies prohibiting the sales of flavored tobacco have been effective in curtailing retail availability and sales of products across the United States. Less is known about the use of flavored tobacco which could vary as a function of type of ordinance, product category, policy implementation, and other factors.

Methods: The 2019-2020 California Health Interview Surveys were used to estimate flavored and non-flavored tobacco use among adults (n = 43,681) residing in a California jurisdiction with a comprehensive (n = 48), partial (n = 35), or no flavored tobacco sales restriction (FTSR) (n = 427).

Rethinking integrated service delivery for malaria.

Despite worldwide efforts and much progress toward malaria control, declines in malaria morbidity and mortality have hit a plateau. While many nations achieved significant malaria suppression or even elimination, success has been uneven, and other nations have made little headway-or even lost ground in this battle. These alarming trends threaten to derail the attainment of global targets for malaria control.

Weight management practices of health center providers in the United States.

Background: We examined weight management counseling practices of Health Resources and Services Administration-funded health center (HC) providers for patients with overweight (POW) and obesity (POB) status, focusing on weight-related conditions, risk factors, and health care utilization.

Method: We used a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of HC patients and multilevel generalized structural equation logistic regression models to assess the association of provider counseling practices for POW and POB and by three obesity classes. Dependent variables included being told by the HC provider that weight was a problem, receiving a diet or exercise recommendation, referral to a nutritionist, or receiving weight loss prescriptions.

Undocumented Latino Immigrants and the Latino Health Paradox.

Introduction: Despite having worse healthcare access and other social disadvantages, immigrants have, on average, better health outcomes than U.S.-born individuals.

Ensuring Equitable Care in Diabetes Management Among Patients of Health Resources & Services Administration-Funded Health Centers in the United States.

Aim: To explore whether there are racial/ethnic differences in diabetes management and outcomes among adult health center (HC) patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We analyzed data from the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey, a national sample of HC patients. We examined indicators of diabetes monitoring (A1C testing, annual foot/eye doctor visits, and cholesterol checks) and care management (specialist referrals, individual treatment plan, and receipt of calls/appointments/home visits).

Factors associated with frequent emergency department visits among health centre patients receiving primary care.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: We sought to examine specific care-seeking behaviours and experiences, access indicators, and patient care management approaches associated with frequency of emergency department (ED) visits among patients of Health Resources and Services Administration-funded health centres that provide comprehensive primary care to low-income and uninsured patients.

Method: We used cross-sectional data of a most recent nationally representative sample of health centre adult patients aged 18-64 (n = 4577) conducted between October 2014 and April 2015. These data were merged with the 2014 Uniform Data System to incorporate health centre characteristics.

Easy to use and validated predictive models to identify beneficiaries experiencing homelessness in Medicaid administrative data.

Objective: To develop easy to use and validated predictive models to identify beneficiaries experiencing homelessness from administrative data.

Data Sources: We pooled enrollment and claims data from enrollees of the California Whole Person Care (WPC) Medicaid demonstration program that coordinated the care of a subset of Medicaid beneficiaries identified as high utilizers in 26 California counties (25 WPC Pilots). We also used public directories of social service and health care facilities.

European immigrant health policies, immigrants' health, and immigrants' access to healthcare.

Objective: Evidence indicates presence of immigrant health disparities in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). We examined the association between immigrant health policies and the gap in health status, unmet needs and service use between immigrants and citizens, in the EU and US.

Methods: We used the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), European Health Interview Survey, and National Health Interview Survey for 2014.

Measuring Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care.

Behavioral health integration (BHI) within primary care settings is shown to improve outcomes. However, achieving BHI requires identifying best practices and a reliable tool that can be used to measure existing levels and progress toward BHI. The objective of this study was to develop and apply a conceptual framework to measure BHI, test the approach, and examine challenges to achieving BHI.

Trust, Care Avoidance, and Care Experiences among Kenyan Women Who Delivered during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We explore how the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with avoidance of, and challenges with, antenatal, childbirth and postpartum care among women in Kiambu and Nairobi counties, Kenya; and whether this was associated with a report of declined trust in the health system due to the pandemic. Women who delivered between March and November 2020 were invited to participate in a phone survey about their care experiences (n = 1122 respondents). We explored associations between reduced trust and care avoidance, delays and challenges with healthcare seeking, using logistic regression models adjusted for women's characteristics.