Health & Health Care Utilization Effects of Medical Debt Forgiveness

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of this study is to estimate the direct, causal impact of medical debt on health care utilization, mental health, and wellbeing of patients. The investigators will conduct a survey to measure the impact of the debt forgiveness on health care use, mental health, and wellbeing. The survey will be administered to approximately 17,000 subjects of a recent medical financial intervention. In that prior intervention, a non-profit charity, RIP Medical Debt, purchased and abolished medical debt for a randomly selected about 6,000 (out of the 17,000) individuals. In this current protocol, the investigators will administer the survey, and will compare surveyed outcomes of subjects who received and did not receive the intervention.

Clinical Trial Description

This study will estimate the direct, causal impact of medical debt on health care utilization, mental health, and wellbeing of patients. To do so, the investigators will administer a survey to approximately 17,000 subjects of a recent medical financial intervention. In that intervention, a non-profit charity, RIP Medical Debt, purchased and abolished medical debt for a randomly selected about 6,000 (out of the 17,000) study subjects. In this current protocol, the investigators will compare surveyed outcomes of subjects who received and did not receive the medical debt abolishment intervention. Because debt abolishment was randomized, comparing surveyed outcomes of treated and control subjects in the cross-section will allow the study to estimate the causal impact of the medical debt abolishment. The survey will measure the effects of medical debt on three sets of outcomes: (i) health care utilization, as measured by medical care visits, prescription drug utilization and adherence, and unmet need for medical care; (ii) mental health, as measured by validated screens for depression and anxiety; and (iii) subjective wellbeing, as measured by self-reported health, forgone consumption, and financial strain. This study would be the first to provide a direct, causal connection between the rising personal debt associated with U.S. health care and the health outcomes of its recipients. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT04835012
Study type	Observational
Source	University of California, Los Angeles
Contact	Professor, PhD
Phone	(310) 206-3969
Email	aorkin@research.ucla.edu
Status	Recruiting
Phase
Start date	November 9, 2020
Completion date	December 2023

View Details

See also
Status	Clinical Trial	Phase
Active, not recruiting	`NCT05777044` - The Effect of Hatha Yoga on Mental Health	N/A
Recruiting	`NCT04680611` - Severe Asthma, MepolizumaB and Affect: SAMBA Study
Recruiting	`NCT04977232` - Adjunctive Game Intervention for Anhedonia in MDD Patients	N/A
Recruiting	`NCT04043052` - Mobile Technologies and Post-stroke Depression	N/A
Completed	`NCT04512768` - Treating Comorbid Insomnia in Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy	N/A
Recruiting	`NCT03207828` - Testing Interventions for Patients With Fibromyalgia and Depression	N/A
Completed	`NCT04617015` - Defining and Treating Depression-related Asthma	Early Phase 1
Recruiting	`NCT06011681` - The Rapid Diagnosis of MCI and Depression in Patients Ages 60 and Over
Completed	`NCT04476446` - An Expanded Access Protocol for Esketamine Treatment in Participants With Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) Who do Not Have Other Treatment Alternatives	Phase 3
Recruiting	`NCT02783430` - Evaluation of the Initial Prescription of Ketamine and Milnacipran in Depression in Patients With a Progressive Disease	Phase 2/Phase 3
Recruiting	`NCT05563805` - Exploring Virtual Reality Adventure Training Exergaming	N/A
Completed	`NCT04598165` - Mobile WACh NEO: Mobile Solutions for Neonatal Health and Maternal Support	N/A
Completed	`NCT03457714` - Guided Internet Delivered Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy for Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: A Feasibility Trial
Recruiting	`NCT05956912` - Implementing Group Metacognitive Therapy in Cardiac Rehabilitation Services (PATHWAY-Beacons)
Completed	`NCT05588622` - Meru Health Program for Cancer Patients With Depression and Anxiety	N/A
Recruiting	`NCT05234476` - Behavioral Activation Plus Savoring for University Students	N/A
Active, not recruiting	`NCT05006976` - A Naturalistic Trial of Nudging Clinicians in the Norwegian Sickness Absence Clinic. The NSAC Nudge Study	N/A
Enrolling by invitation	`NCT03276585` - Night in Japan Home Sleep Monitoring Study
Completed	`NCT03167372` - Pilot Comparison of N-of-1 Trials of Light Therapy	N/A
Terminated	`NCT03275571` - HIV, Computerized Depression Therapy & Cognition	N/A

Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.

Health and Health Care Utilization Effects of Medical Debt Forgiveness

Clinical Trial Summary

Clinical Trial Description

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms