Digital Commons Network^™

Health Status And Care Access Of The Uninsured In Kentucky, Douglas Keith Branham

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

ABSTRACT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

With the individual mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) set to go into effect in 2014, as well as the Medicaid expansion in some states, the federal and state governments have a difficult road ahead planning how to respond to the anticipated increase in health services use. Kentucky is an undecided state regarding the Medicaid expansion and as one of the more impoverished states in the U.S. potentially has much to gain from the new law.

Many studies have focused on the U.S. as a whole in describing the health status of the uninsured. …

The Effect Of State Expansion Of Medicaid Eligibility On Uninsurance Rates And Health Outcomes Of Nonelderly Adulst, Lazarus Ude Eze

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract

Background:

Arizona, New York, and Maine expanded Medicaid eligibility to include nonelderly non-disabled childless adults between 2001 and 2002. This study examines whether this policy affects the percentage of uninsured nonelderly adult population and years of potential life lost in the state.

Methods

I compared the three states with Medicaid expansion with three other states with similar demographic characteristics but without expansions. The study population consists of uninsured adults between ages of 19 and 64 years of income equals or below 138% federal poverty level. I carried out a paired-samples t-test on the data and also plotted a line …

Relationship Between Nonmedical Benzodiazepine Use And Psychiatric Disorders Among Rural Appalachian Drug Abusers, Derek Szesny

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract

Background: Inhabitants of Appalachian Kentucky are encumbered by tremendous health disparities, exhibit high rates of prescription drug abuse, and often co-present with psychiatric disorders. Compared to opioids, little research has focused on the nonmedical use of benzodiazepines.

Objective: To examine the association between nonmedical benzodiazepine use and major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) in a population of opioid drug abusers.

Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study was obtained from the Social Networks among Appalachian People (SNAP) study. Contingency tables analysis and the

X2statistic were used to …

The Impact Of Discontinuing Coverage Of Second Generation Antihistamines In A Managed Care Organization, Matthew D. Harman

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

ABSTRACT Background: Second generation antihistamines (SGAs) are approved to treat seasonal and/or perennial allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). It is estimated that 82% of Americans with AR use antihistamines, with the majority using SGAs due to their low side effect profile. As policy, over-the-counter (OTC) SGAs were not covered in this health plan population (cetirizine and loratadine products were available OTC prior to the study period, while fexofenadine products became available OTC during the study period). On January 1, 2012, the policy was extended to remove coverage of prescription-only SGAs (included desloratadine and levocetirizine products). Objectives: To …