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Telehealth Visit Data, ACEs Data, Opioid Sales, and More Updated on State Health Compare
June 06, 2024:State Health Compare is a user-friendly data tool that allows users to obtain state-level estimates related to health, health care, insurance coverage, health equity, and more. This tool provides interactive maps, graphs, and downloadable data for over 40 measures ranging from telehealth visit data to insurance coverage data to cancer screening data and more.
SHADAC researchers update these measures regularly to provide users with the most up-to-date data available. Recently, 9 measures were updated using a variety of data sources, including the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Drug Enforcement Administration Automated Reports and Consolidated Ordering System (ARCOS) data, and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In this post, we will go over each of the updated measures broken down by each data source used.
National Survey of Children’s Health Data (NSCH)
NSCH Data was used to update the Adverse Childhood Experiences measure.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
![aces data adverse childhood experiences data icon showing outlines of two children on a dark background](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/aces%20data.png)
On this measure, updated with 2021-2022 data, users can explore data on the percent of children that have experiences ACEs by race/ethnicity, state, insurance coverage type, number of ACEs, age, and more. Explore the measure here, and learn more about ACEs in our brief titled: The Kids Aren’t Alright: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Implications for Health Equity.
National Health Interview Survey Data (NHIS)
2021-2022 NHIS data was used to update the following measures:
Made Changes to Medical Drugs (NHIS)
![made changes to medical drugs icon showing outlines of three pills and drugs on a dark background](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/changes%20to%20drugs.png)
Measuring changes in medical drugs sheds light on cost of care, health care accessibility, and overall health care affordability in the United States. Explore this measure here with breakdowns by state, age, and insurance coverage type.
Trouble Paying Medical Bills (NHIS)
![trouble playing medical bills icon clipboard with medical bill on a teal background. cost of case medical bills in the US](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/medical%20bills.png)
Explore this measure here with breakdowns by state, age, and insurance coverage type.
Had Emergency Department Visit (NHIS)
![Emergency department visits per year ED visits icon showing a medical shield symbol on a teal background](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/ED%20visits.png)
Preventable ED visits can be a result of lack of access to primary care physicians or other health care options, a lack of understanding of how the medical system works, poor care management, and more. These visits are more expensive than a primary care visit would be and can affect the overall efficiency of the ED itself for both providers and other patients.
This updated measure on State Health Compare monitors the percentage of people who visit the ED each year. This information can help researchers and policymakers better understand ED utilization to uncover any trends or potential underlying causes resulting in these visits. Explore this measure here with breakdowns by state, age, and insurance coverage type.
Had Telehealth Visit (NHIS)
![telehealth visit data icon showing a telehealth provider female doctor outline on a computer screen on a teal background.](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/telehealth%20visit%20data.png)
This measure monitors the percentage of people who had a medical appointment by video or phone in the past year. This measure can also be broken down by state, age, and insurance coverage type.
Had Usual Source of Medical Care (NHIS)
![had usual source of medical care icon shows clipboard and pen on light blue background](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/usual%20source%20of%20medical%20care%20icon.png)
This updated measure on State Health Compare tracks the percentage of people who had a usual source of medical care other than the emergency department in the past year by state, age, and insurance coverage type.
Had General Doctor or Provider Visit (NHIS)
![had general doctor or provider visit icon showing a heard symbol on a teal background](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/general%20doctors%20visit%20icon.png)
However, as we discussed earlier in this post, there are many barriers that prevent individuals from seeing a general doctor or other health care provider, such as the cost of care, lack of transportation, uninsurance, a distrust of the medical system, or a lack of providers in their area, among others.
This updated measure shows the percentage of people who report having a general doctor or provider visit in the last year. This helps in identifying gaps in health care access among subgroups, including by state, age, and coverage type on State Health Compare.
Drug Enforcement Administration ARCOS Data
DEA ARCOS Data was used to update the ‘Sales of Opioid Painkillers’ measure.
Sales of Opioid Painkillers
![opioid sales icon showing a symbol of a bag of money with arrows pointing out on a teal background](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/opioid%20sales.png)
Opioid painkillers, while oftentimes obtained and used legally to manage pain and chronic illness, are addictive and can lead to substance abuse, overdose, and use of other opioid drugs when prescriptions run out. Understanding sales of these painkillers can help us understand how many people are using these drugs along with where the demand lies amongst various regions and populations.
This updated measure on State Health Compare tracks prescription opioid painkiller (oxycodone and hydrocodone) sales in kilograms per 100,000 people by state and by drug. Explore the updated measure here.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was used to update the ‘Unemployment Rate’ measure.
Unemployment Rate
![unemployment rate icon showing a briefcase on a teal background](https://www.shadac.org/sites/default/files/SHC/unemployment%20rate%20icon.png)
While this rate has decreased since, unemployment rate ranges when examined by state and by subpopulation, like by race/ethnicity. This measure has been updated with 2023 data – explore it here. You can also read our researchers’ analysis of this data in our blog post on Unemployment Rate Trends of the Last 5 years.
Stay Up to Date with the Latest Data
SHADAC researchers are consistently adding and updating each of the measures on State Health Compare as new data is collected and released. To stay up to date on the latest info, check our blog regularly for SHC measure updates like this, or you can sign up for our newsletter to get notified of our newest products and updates.