NYSDA Publications

AHRQ Issues Regulatory Update

Sep 16, 2025

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has issued its weekly regulatory update, which can be read below.

September 16, 2025 | Issue #975

In This Week's Issue: new data on obesity and chronic conditions; best practices for patient safety webinar; National Cholesterol Education Month; reducing adverse events by deprescribing; CAUTI prevention program recruitment

Report Highlights Impact of Obesity and Chronic Conditions in 2022

In 2022, over 77 percent of U.S. adults were affected by obesity, at least one chronic condition, or both, and that number rose to 99 percent among adults aged 80 and older.  A new research findings report from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, “Combined Prevalence of Chronic Conditions or Obesity for Adults in 2022,” explores 2022 data on the prevalence of these conditions among adults aged 18 and older.  The report covers data by age, sex, health insurance, poverty level, and geographic regions.  Check out the highlights and discover which Americans are most impacted by obesity and chronic conditions.

 

Upcoming NAA Webinar: Best Practices for Safer Healthcare Systems

The National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety (NAA) recently reviewed high-performing healthcare systems to identify strategies and practices that advance safer care.  This work supports the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Patient Safety Structural Measure and the National Action Plan for Patient Safety, emphasizing culture, leadership, and governance as foundations of safe care.  The NAA studied three exemplar systems—St. Luke’s University Health Network (PA), Houston Methodist (TX), and the Mayo Clinic (MN, WI)—through onsite visits.  These visits revealed common themes and approaches tied to safety culture, leadership, and governance.  The NAA distilled the findings into the Best Practices to Strengthen Safety Culture, Leadership, and Governance Change Package, a practical guide with strategies organizations can apply to drive improvements.  The Change Package will launch later this month, alongside a webinar on Monday, September 22, 12–1 p.m. ET.  Register for the webinar here and plan to visit the NAA website to download the change package coming soon.

National Cholesterol Education Month: MEPS Has the Latest Trends

The majority of adults who were treated for diet-related conditions in 2021-2022—on average, 76.4 million out of 84.1 million people in total—received care for cardiovascular diseases including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, cardiac dysrhythmias, and stroke.  In recognition of this year’s National Cholesterol Education Month, AHRQ invites researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to explore how high cholesterol has impacted Americans.  High cholesterol is a priority condition for AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), and the most impactful data is conveniently available through MEPS Public Use Files and two associated statistical briefs.  Explore costs associated with high cholesterol and other common diet-related conditions in  “Expenditures for Key Diet-Related Health Conditions, 2021–2022,” and discover common conditions and expenditures, including for high cholesterol, among people with high expenses in “Concentration of Healthcare Expenditures and Selected Characteristics of People with High Expenses United States Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2018–2022.”

Deprescribing May Help Improve Patient Safety

Deprescribing is the practice of discontinuing inappropriate or unneeded medications.  Deprescribing can help reduce adverse drug events as well as healthcare utilization and costs.  An AHRQ-funded study published in JAMA Network Open found that interventions for deprescribing help older adults living at home take fewer medications or fewer potentially inappropriate medications.  The study authors indicated more research is needed to determine whether focusing on reducing a single type of drug or drug class, such as sleeping pills, is more effective than targeting the reduction of many types of medications.  The study was based on a rapid evidence report from AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program and General Patient Safety Program.  Access the article.

Webinar Recording Available for Units Interested in Free CAUTI Prevention Program

The AHRQ Safety Program for Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention is recruiting adult intensive and non-intensive care units for its catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) cohort.  In webinars on August 13 and 28, Drs. Bradford Winters and Sara Cosgrove, lead subject matter experts, presented details of the program, which aims to reduce CAUTI, strengthen patient safety culture, and improve team communication.  Additional cohort benefits include expert coaching, monthly educational webinars, implementation support, benchmarking reports, free CME/CEU credits, and a flexible data collection process.  Responding to attendee questions, the presenters offered guidance on structuring teams, applying at the hospital or unit level, and ensuring adequate staff support for multiple units.  Visit the website to register for upcoming webinars on October 3 and October 28, or download the presentation materials.  Apply for the program by January 30, 2026.

AHRQ Stats: Healthcare Spending Among Children Treated for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Annual healthcare expenditures for children treated for autism spectrum disorder averaged $20,122 per person between 2018 and 2022.  (Source: AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #565, Treatment and Health Expenditures among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2018–2022.)

New Research and Evidence

AHRQ in the Professional Literature

Medicare plan switching among beneficiaries with and without a history of cancer.  Jazowski SA, Achola EM, Nicholas LH, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jun 2;8(6):e2513394.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Medigap protection and plan switching among Medicare Advantage enrollees with cancer.  Kwon Y, Jazowski SA, Hu X, et al. JAMA Health Forum. 2025 Jun 7;6(6):e252018.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Accounting for healthcare structures when measuring variation in care.  Colquhoun DA, Janda AM, Mentz G, et al. Anesthesiology. 2025 May;142(5):793-805. Epub 2025 Apr 8.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Observational survey of financial difficulties among patients with multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated at US community oncology clinics (Alliance A231602CD).  Conti RM, McCue S, Dockter T, et al. BMJ Open. 2025 Jun 3;15(6):e091769.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Accuracy of pathogen diagnostic codes for acute hematogenous musculoskeletal infections in children.  Searns JB, Hall M, Birkholz M, et al. J Hosp Med. 2025 Aug;20(8):853-7. Epub 2025 Jan 13.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Video versus audio telehealth in safety net clinic patients: changes by rurality and time.  Larson AE, Stange KC, Heintzman J, et al. J Rural Health. 2025 Mar;41(2):e12887. Epub 2024 Oct 2.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Antibiotic treatment in patients hospitalized for nonsevere COVID-19.  Pulia MS, Griffin M, Schwei R, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 May 1;8(5):e2511499.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Enhancing the role of community pharmacists in medication safety: a qualitative study of voices from the frontline.  White A, Thompson EL, Kim S, et al. Pharmacy. 2025 Jul 9;13(4):94.  Access the abstract on PubMed®.