ArticleHealth services research2021
Patient administrative burden in the US health care system.
Article in Health services research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 66 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
66 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 100 citations in OpenAlex.
- Experiences with diagnostic delay among underserved racial and ethnic patients: a systematic review of the qualitative literature.BMJ quality & safety · 2025Pooled it
- Primary Care Utilization Within 1 Year After a Facilitated Postpartum-to-Primary Care Transition.Obstetrics and gynecology · 2025Trial
- Postpartum Primary Care Engagement Using Default Scheduling and Tailored Messaging: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2024Trial
- Dementia Family Caregivers' Involvement and Perceived Challenges in Health Care Interactions: Informing the GUIDE Model.Journal of general internal medicine · 2026Observational
- Administrative Burden and Patient-Provider Communication Quality: Evidence From 11 Years of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2026Article
- Administrative Burden Documented in Medicaid Care Coordination.JAMA health forum · 2026Article
- Beyond Coverage Expansion: Exploring Persistent Barriers to CGM Utilization in the Clinical Environment.Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders · 2026Article
- Patient and Caregiver Involvement With Prior Authorization and Care Delivery and Delays.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Caregiver experiences of healthcare-related administrative burden: a scoping review.Health affairs scholar · 2026Review
- When Covering and Discovering Are at Odds: How the Logic of US Health Insurance Undercuts the Promise and Equity of Precision Medicine for People with Hereditary Cancer Risks.Journal of health politics, policy and law · 2026Article
- Scientists' Warning to Humanity: Unnecessary Bureaucracy Is a Global Impediment to Productivity, Advancement of Human and Planetary Wellbeing, Science and Sustainability.Microbial biotechnology · 2026Article
- U.S. health plan coverage of Neuromuscular Disease Therapies: An assessment of policy availability and restrictions.Journal of neuromuscular diseases · 2026Article
- Crowdsourcing Cancer Survivors' Perspectives on the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Financial Hardship Interventions.JCO oncology practice · 2026Article
- Postpartum Primary Care Engagement and Acute Care Use: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2026Observational
- Health Plan Disenrollment and Mortality After Initiation of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder.JAMA psychiatry · 2026Article
- The Access, Initiation, Engagement, Retention, and Recovery (AIERR) Model: A Stage-Based Framework for Understanding Mental Health Service Utilization.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Shifting barriers to health care access: from affordability to coverage issues.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Attitudes About Administrative Burdens for Beneficiaries and Dental Care Providers in Medicaid.Journal of public health dentistry · 2026Article
- Trends in prescription drug coverage restrictions in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans, 2011-2019.Health affairs scholar · 2026Article
- Effects of Dual-Eligible Integrated Care Plans on Medicaid Enrollment and Retention: Evidence From the Implementation of Medicare-Medicaid Plans.Medical care research and review : MCRR · 2026Article
6 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo assess the prevalence of patient administrative tasks and whether they are associated with delayed and/or foregone care. DATA SOURCE: March 2019 Health Reform Monitoring Survey. STUDY
designWe assess the prevalence of five common patient administrative tasks-scheduling, obtaining information, prior authorizations, resolving billing issues, and resolving premium problems-and associated administrative burden, defined as delayed and/or foregone care. Using multivariate logistic models, we examined the association of demographic characteristics with odds of doing tasks and experiencing burdens. Our outcome variables were five common types of administrative tasks as well as composite measures of any task, any delayed care, any foregone care, and any burden (combined delayed/foregone), respectively. DATA COLLECTION: We developed and administered survey questions to a nationally representative sample of insured, nonelderly adults (n = 4155). PRINCIPAL
findingsThe survey completion rate was 62%. Seventy-three percent of respondents reported performing at least one administrative task in the past year. About one in three task-doers, or 24.4% of respondents overall, reported delayed or foregone care due to an administrative task: Adjusted for demographics, disability status had the strongest association with administrative tasks (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.91, p < 0.001) and burden (adjusted OR 1.66, p < 0.001). Being a woman was associated with doing administrative tasks (adjusted OR 2.19, p < 0.001). Being a college graduate was associated with performing an administrative task (adjusted OR 2.79, p < 0.001), while higher income was associated with fewer subsequent burdens (adjusted OR 0.55, p < 0.01).
conclusionsPatients frequently do administrative tasks that can create burdens resulting in delayed/foregone care. The prevalence of delayed/foregone care due to administrative tasks is comparable to similar estimates of cost-related barriers to care. Demographic disparities in burden warrant further attention. Enhancing measurement of patient administrative work and associated burdens may identify opportunities for assessing quality, value, and patient experience.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.