Data Highlights
Data Highlights

Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries with Opioid Use Disorder in 2018: Disparities in Prevalence by Beneficiary Characteristics
In order to fill a gap in research about a subpopulation within the Medicare fee for service population who are most heavily impacted by opioid use disorder, this data highlight describes the population, identifies disparities, and finds opportunities for beneficiaries who may benefit from tailored supports to ensure access to evidence-based OUD treatment.
CMS Office of Minority Health Data Highlights present national and regional data on health care service utilization, spending, and quality indicators for the Medicare population. The information products include an overview of the specific public health issue, provide a brief quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of the data, and explain how the findings support or relate to CMS or HHS policy or initiatives. These data products are valuable to the work of researchers, policy makers, and health care professionals.

Volume 22 - December 2020
Building on prior research, this data highlight focuses on both definitions of disability. It examines access and utilization among adult Medicaid beneficiaries who are not dually eligible for Medicare and who reported difficulty accessing needed health care by comparing the experiences of beneficiaries who self-reported having a disability to those who were eligible for Medicaid on the basis of a disability, and to those beneficiaries who did not have a disability.

Volume 21 - December 2020
In order to fill a gap in research about a subpopulation within the Medicare fee for service population who are most heavily impacted by opioid use disorder, this data highlight describes the population, identifies disparities, and finds opportunities for beneficiaries who may benefit from tailored supports to ensure access to evidence-based OUD treatment.

Volume 20 - October 2020
This data highlight compared kidney disease stage between lab tests and diagnoses (claims data) among Medicare beneficiaries. Findings show chronic kidney disease is under recognized in Medicare populations across all stages and that provider recognition of CKD varies by disease stage. Later stages are more likely to be recognized.

Volume 19 - September 2020
Rural hospital bypass may occur for a number of reasons, including patient choice and the complexity of care a patient needs. When patients bypass their local rural hospital for services that are available locally, it can further threaten the sustainability of their local rural hospital. This data highlight seeks to understand the extent to which rural Medicare beneficiaries bypass their nearest rural hospital and to learn what hospital services rural Medicare beneficiaries most often seek locally and at distant hospitals.

Volume 18 - January 2020
In light of the growing awareness of the importance of SDOH in patient health outcomes, and the need for the collection and documentation of this data in clinical settings to improve patient care, this study analyzes the utilization of Z codes in 2017 among Medicare fee-for-services (FFS) beneficiaries.

Volume 17 - July 2019
This data highlight examines how a disability affects access to health care for Medicare and Medicare dual eligible beneficiaries.

Volume 16 - June 2019
This data highlight details the national prevalence estimates of sickle cell disease (SCD) among Medicaid beneficiaries.

Volume 15 - June 2019
This data highlight details the national prevalence estimates of sickle cell disease (SCD) among Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries.

Volume 14 - October 2018
Learn about the significant differences in health among varying Hispanic populations.

Volume 13 - October 2018
This data highlight looks to understand Medicare beneficiaries' health prior to hurricane Maria.

Volume 12 - September 2018
This data highlight talks about the variability in opioid prescribing among Medicare beneficiaries with sickle cell disease.

Volume 11 - December 2017
This data highlight examines the physical and mental health outcomes of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries by race and ethnicity. It is one of the few analyses that compares granular racial and ethnic groups in the same study, is based on a nationally representative sample, and focuses on mental health in older adults.

Volume 10 - August 2017
This brief presents findings from the 2013-2015 HOS Baseline, Cohorts 16, 17, and 18 for Asian and NHOPI beneficiaries including self-rated general health status, days with activity limitations, rates of depressions, prevalence of obesity, and two measures of sleep health.

Volume 9 - July 2017
Using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse (CCW), this report describes Medicare beneficiaries by disability and End Stage Renal Disease status.

Volume 8 - July 2017
This report uses data from the 2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey to examine differences in self-reported receipt of preventive care by type of disability for community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older.

Volume 7 - April 2017
This data highlight examines Marketplace enrollment activity by racial and ethnic subgroup as well as spoken and written language preference. It provides national level and state level data for Marketplace consumers ages 18-64 using the HealthCare.gov eligibility and enrollment platform during the 2017 Open Enrollment Period.

Volume 6 - March 2017
This brief uses 2012 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data to examine racial and ethnic differences in self-reported measures on access to care, propensity to seek care, self-care knowledge and behaviors, diabetes management, and complications among Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older.

Volume 5 - June 2016
Using combined data from the 2013 and 2014 National health Interview Survey, this highlight provides insight in to the health status of older sexual minorities.

Volume 4 - Fall 2015
This data highlight presents information about Medicare Fee-For-Service Home Health Agency payments from 2007 to 2013, as well as spending by gender, race and ethnicity, and dual eligible status during 2013, to show differences in spending and utilization among these groups.

Volume 3 - Summer 2015
This data highlight describes the health of Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders from the 2014 Cohort 17 Baseline. These data represent a unique source of information about the self-reported health of two populations.

Volume 2 - Spring 2015
This brief presents findings from the 2013-2015 HOS Baseline, Cohorts 16, 17, and 18 for Asian and NHOPI beneficiaries including self-rated general health status, days with activity limitations, rates of depressions, prevalence of obesity, and two measures of sleep health.

Volume 1 - Winter 2015
This brief provides a descriptive analysis of 30-day, all-cause overall inpatient hospital readmission rates from 2007 to 2013 and trends in the rates among minority populations.