Data Highlights
Data Highlights
Utilization of Z Codes for Social Determinants of Health among Medicare-Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries, 2019
This report updates the 2017 data highlight on Z code claims for Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries. Using social determinants of health (SDOH) Z codes can enhance quality improvement activities, track factors that influence people’s health, and provide further insight into existing health inequities. The report describes Z code claim data collected from 2016-2019 and highlights potential strategies to increase Z code utilization in reducing health care disparities.
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 30 - April 2022
This data highlight focuses on analyzing the utilization of Z codes in a sample of Medicare Advantage enrollees from 2016 to 2019. The report describes sociodemographic data, Z codes claims data collected, and highlights potential incentives to increasing the use of Z codes to help reduce health care disparities.
Volume 29 - January 2022
This data highlight describes and compares sociodemographic, health condition characteristics, and health care utilization, including use of telehealth, among patients enrolled in Medicare Fee-for-Service who have opioid use disorder, examining the data before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of the CARES Act.
Volume 28 - January 2022
This data highlight compares access to medication treatment for Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder before and after COVID-19 telehealth expansion was implemented. The report highlights sociodemographic characteristics and health condition characteristics among beneficiaries affected by opioid use disorder, pointing out any disparities in outpatient telehealth and medication access during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Volume 27 - January 2022
This data highlight expands on monthly trends in hospitalizations for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), comparing trends before and in the six months after the CARES Act telehealth expansion. This report describes trends in seven-day post-discharge follow-up after hospitalization for HRRP health conditions, compares 30-day readmission rates, and describes trends in the use of telehealth for post-discharge follow-up.
Volume 26 - December 2021
This data highlight characterizes monthly trends in hospitalizations for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). The report examines health conditions, unadjusted 30-day readmissions rates, and how competing mortality impacted 30-day readmission rates before and after the implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures and whether these rates differ by sociodemographic characteristics.

Volume 25 - September 2021
This data highlight examines disparities in quality of diabetes care and preventable utilization of health care services by race, ethnicity and social determinants of health factors for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who were 18 years or older by December 31, 2017.

Volume 24 - September 2021
This report updates the 2017 data highlight on Z code claims for Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries. Using social determinants of health (SDOH) Z codes can enhance quality improvement activities, track factors that influence people’s health, and provide further insight into existing health inequities. The report describes Z code claim data collected from 2016-2019 and highlights potential strategies to increase Z code utilization in reducing health care disparities.

Volume 23 - July 2021
This data highlight complements and expands upon the CMS Final Enrollment Report for the Marketplace by describing Race and ethnicity data and Preferred written and spoken language data. The data highlight speaks of consumers who made Qualified Health Plan (QHP) selections from the 39 states that participated in the 2019 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) through the HealthCare.gov eligibility and enrollment platform from November 1, 2018 through to December 23, 2018.

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.