The Center for Health Information and Analysis

CHIA’s latest research shows that Black and Hispanic families in Massachusetts experience unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs) more than twice as often as White residents even after adjusting for other sociodemographic factors. The brief, 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙐𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝-𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙉𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨, utilizes data from the 2023 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey (MHIS) to investigate disparities in resident rates of experiencing: food insecurity, financial strain, and housing instability. In each case, rates were 2 to 3 times higher for Black and Hispanic residents. Racial and ethnic disparities in the rates of unmet HRSNs contribute to inequities in health care access, utilization, and affordability for Massachusetts residents. This report aims to inform policies that address key social and economic factors outside of the health care system, with the ultimate goal of reducing acute care utilization and improving health outcomes.  See all findings and get more information on the MHIS at https://lnkd.in/ekx3BYup #MassCHIA #HealthData #HealthPolicy #HRSN #healthcaredisparities #disparities #healthcareresearch

In the new 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨: ➤ Catch up on all CHIA’s recent health equity reporting that looks at disparities in coverage, access, and affordability by race, ethnicity, geography and other sociodemographics.      ➤ See how BerryDunn's Health Analytics Practice Group uses CHIA data to support our mandated benefit reporting that looks at the cost and health impacts of certain health insurance coverage requirements in Massachusetts.    ➤ Check out our list of upcoming health care-related events and announcements that may be of interest. See: https://lnkd.in/e6nVTejD   #MassCHIA #HealthData #HealthPolicy

Visual analytics help people understand data, gain new insights, and make data-driven decisions. Did you know that.....     Many of CHIA's reports include interactive graphics that translate our large, complex databases into useful charts, graphs, and maps? Identifying and integrating key information and datasets is foundational to understanding health care trends and outliers. What are the challenges in behavioral health care, where are the high public payer hospitals, what are the high-deductible enrollment trends? Find out and explore with CHIA’s interactive data and analyses:  https://lnkd.in/e6cC3SmF #MassCHIA #HealthData #HealthPolicy

Some of CHIA’s most visible work includes our annual report of the Massachusetts health care system, surveys of resident and employers, and profiles of Massachusetts hospitals. But did you also know… ‣ CHIA reports on provider price variation in the Massachusetts health care market. Relative Price (RP) facilitates price comparisons while also accounting for differences in patient acuity, types of services delivered, and different insurance products. ‣ When proposed legislation requires new health insurance benefits, legislative committees often ask CHIA to evaluate the medical effectiveness and cost impact. ‣ CHIA monitors Massachusetts nursing facilities on financial performance, quality of care, and payer mix.  Find out more at https://www.chiamass.gov #MassCHIA #HealthData #HealthPolicy

CHIA navigates increasingly complex challenges in monitoring the Massachusetts health care system; CHIA’s success is attributable to all of our employees who are committed to their own learning and professional growth. Fourteen staff members recently finished career development programs for current and aspiring managers; congratulations to our recent graduates! Pictured: Executive Director Lauren Peters (left) with Ahmad Yassine, MPH, Lee Adelsheim, Stephanie Williams, MPH, Stephanie Howard, Anitra Reynolds, Eugenia Chang, Molly Bailey, William Moy, Shirley Wong, Haley F.-Muir, Megan Klein Hattori, and Colleen Merson; inset: Patrick Hunter and Cassandra Martin #MassCHIA #HealthPolicy #HealthData

CHIA has published our latest analysis on the financial stability of Massachusetts hospitals and hospital health systems to provide common ground for state and federal policy makers, industry leaders, and the public.    See the latest interactive dashboard released today, now including High Medicaid and High Medicare hospital designations alongside metrics such as capital reinvestment, profitability, liquidity, and solvency: https://lnkd.in/exuyJZxa   #MassCHIA #HealthData #HealthPolicy

𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡’𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧…but not forever. Here’s a final exam for all the health care leaders, researchers, health care policy aficionados, data wonks, and others who want to speak perceptively about health care in Massachusetts.   1. Nearly half of Massachusetts residents reported that they or their families have issues affording health care. Does that number vary by race and ethnicity?  2. Statewide, more than 98% of residents have health insurance. What two regions of the state have the 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘵 proportion of residents with health care coverage? 3. Which of the following increased to almost 12 million in 2023? A) Inpatient hospital visits b) Nursing facility days c) Outpatient and emergency visits combined d) none of the above   Answers below. 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀:    1) Health care affordability is significantly greater for Black and Hispanic residents. While 39% of White residents have trouble affording health care, that increases to almost 49% for Black residents and more than 58% for Hispanic residents. Residents identifying as Asian experienced the lowest burden of affordability but still exceeded 1 in 4 people (26.3%). This information is one of the key findings from 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 (MHIS).  2. As shown in CHIA’s new 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱, the South Coast and Cape and Islands regions have the lowest rates of health insurance coverage (89.4% and 89.9%, respectively). 3. Massachusetts nursing facility utilization by resident days. CHIA maintains a 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 with individual profiles of each facility, including revenues, expenses, utilization, and quality rating.    𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩: Where can you get more information about all these topics? That’s easy. At chiamass.gov! See: https://www.chiamass.gov     #MassCHIA #HealthData #HealthPolicy #HealthCareResearch 

The importance of 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵 is twofold: to recognize the end of slavery in the United States and to reflect on the history, culture, and experiences of African Americans in this country. At CHIA, we are committed to appreciating everyone’s unique stories and backgrounds to enrich both our workplace and work product. Learn more about Juneteenth at: https://lnkd.in/eNH7H22 #MassCHIA #Juneteenth

The Behavioral Health Workforce Center at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (BHWC) is excited to announce the release of a new Request for Responses: Qualitative Needs Assessment of the Child & Youth Serving Behavioral Health Workforce in Massachusetts. Through this RFR, the BHWC will identify a contractor to conduct a qualitative study of the child and youth serving behavioral health workforce in Massachusetts. Please see the RFR for more details: https://lnkd.in/e2zEbvw7 Any questions should be directed to hpc-procurement@mass.gov.