Kevin Bennett, PhD

Rural and Minority Health Research Center

Phone: 803.545.6306
Email: kevin.bennett@uscmed.sc.edu

Family & Preventative Medicine
University of South Carolina
240 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 206
Columbia, SC 29210

Current Projects - (1)
Completed Projects - (7)
Publications - (30)

Current Projects - (1)

Oral Healthcare Utilization and Outcomes of Rural and Urban Medicaid-Insured Children in the United States
Using nationally representative Medicaid claims data, this project will determine rural-urban differences in the prevalence of early childhood caries, preventative dental visits, and restorative dental visits.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Children and adolescents, Health disparities and health equity, Medicaid and CHIP, Oral health, Rural statistics and demographics

Completed Projects - (7)

Characteristics and Utilization Patterns of Rural Medicaid Recipients
This study used the Medicaid Analytic Extract file to examine the characteristics of persons enrolled in Medicaid by type of eligibility. The study also examined overall utilization and total payments for this utilization. All estimates were subset by rurality and region.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Medicaid and CHIP, Rural statistics and demographics
Identification of Highly Vulnerable Counties: The Intersection of Race, Poverty, and Health Care Resources
The United States rural population has changed since the 2000 Census; minority populations have increased while overall population growth has slowed. This analysis will identify places of high vulnerability, defined as counties with high proportions of poor and/or minority populations with low or reduced healthcare resources.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Minority health, Uninsured and underinsured
Intensity of Service Provision for Medicare Beneficiaries Utilizing Home Health Services
This study will assess whether Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas receive a lower intensity of home health (HH) services compared to their urban counterparts. Specifically, the study will examine (1) the distribution of levels of HH services for four conditions: joint (hip and knee) replacement, stroke, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and diabetes; (2) the distribution of type of provider for each condition across the levels of rurality; and (3) the median charge and payment per beneficiary for these services across the levels of rurality.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Home health, Medicare
Post-Hospital Transitions in Care Among Dually-Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries
This project will examine the hospitalization rates, post-discharge physician follow-up, and subsequent readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries who are also enrolled in Medicaid. We will examine these dual-eligible beneficiaries by level of rurality to determine if residence is a significant factor in these rates. We will also control for co-morbidities, county characteristics, and other factors related to readmission rates.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Diabetes, Hospitals and clinics, Medicare
Rural and Urban Differences in Case-Mix Among Recipients of Home Health Care
We will examine current patient case-mix for the Medicare population receiving skilled health care from a home health agency to determine if there are rural or race/ethnicity-based disparities with regards to receipt of services and clinical acuity indicators.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Home health, Medicare
Rural-Urban Differences in Medicare Service Use and Expenditures in the Last Six Months of Life
Patterns of end-of-life care are known to vary by rurality and by minority status, and the availability of facilities such as hospice also vary with rurality. This study will examine the relationship between level of service use during the last six months of life and facility availability in county of residence (hospital, SNF, IRF, home health, hospice), as well as minority status of the beneficiary and whether the beneficiary is also eligible for Medicaid ("dual eligible").
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare, Minority health
Transitions in Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes
Hospital readmission rates among persons with diabetes, as well as absolute admission rates, may be used to study health disparities among rural and minority populations. This project will use data from the Medicare Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse to explore residence- and race-based disparities in diabetes admission rates, effective transitions to outpatient care, and re-admission rates, to help guide rural policy-makers and healthcare providers.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Medicare, Minority health

Publications - (30)

2022

Examining the Association Between Rurality and Positive Childhood Experiences Among a National Sample
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2022
Using the full National Survey of Children's Health with all 50 states and the District of Columbia, this study examined rural-urban differences in positive childhood experiences.
Rural Children With 4+ Adverse Childhood Experiences Often Lack Positive Experiences
Fact Sheet
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 07/2022
This research explored the proportion of rural children with adverse childhood experiences who lack positive childhood experience exposure.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences Across Rural Communities: Results From the National Survey of Children's Health
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 05/2022
This study examined whether ACE and PCE exposure varied by race/ethnicity, among rural children, finding that there were higher rates of four or more ACEs among racial/ethnic minority children.
Rural-Urban Differences in Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences: Results From the National Survey of Children's Health
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 01/2022
This brief examines the types and counts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) for rural and urban children. The study reports on the differences between rural and urban ACEs and PCEs across all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

2018

Differences in Medicare Utilization and Expenditures in the Last Six Months of Life Among Patients With and Without Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 10/2018
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in utilization of inpatient services and Medicare expenditures (overall and by category) in the last six months of life for patients with, versus those without, a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
The Importance of Rural Hospitals: Transfers and 30-day Readmissions Among Rural Residents and Patients Presenting at Rural Hospitals
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 07/2018
This study looked at reasons why transfers and readmissions occurred among Medicare patients who first came to rural hospitals.
Characteristics of Rural Medicaid Recipients, 2012, 35 States
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 04/2018
The purpose of this brief is to examine the characteristics of Medicaid enrollees prior to Medicaid expansion in 2014, using enrollment and claims data from the Medicaid Analytic Extract Files. This sample allowed for a detailed examination of Medicaid populations in the pre-Medicaid expansion period.
Health Care Utilization Patterns of Rural Medicaid Recipients, 2012, 35 States
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 04/2018
The purpose of this brief is to examine inpatient and other institutional encounters among individuals enrolled in Medicaid prior to expansion in 2014, using enrollment and claims data from the Medicaid Analytic eXtract Files. All Medicaid-covered individuals, institutionalized and living in the community, are included.
Rural-Urban Differences in Costs of End-of-Life Care for the Last 6 Months of Life Among Patients With Breast, Lung, or Colorectal Cancer
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 04/2018
Our findings indicate that Medicare expenditures are lower for rural beneficiaries with each type of cancer than urban beneficiaries, even after adjusting for age, gender, race, dual eligibility, region, chronic conditions, and type of service utilization.

2017

ESRD Facility Characteristics by Rurality and Risk of Closure
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2017
This study's purpose was to profile rural end stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, focusing on those at greatest risk for closure. We examined the characteristics of these facilities, the quality of care provided, and the distance patients in rural areas would have to travel if the facilities closed.
Gender and Geographic Differences in Medicare Service Utilization During the Last Six Months of Life
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2017
End-of-life issues are important for senior women, particularly rural women, who are more likely than their urban counterparts to live alone. The role of residence has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine whether service utilization in the last six months of life differs across gender and rurality.
Supply-Side Differences Only Modestly Associated With Inpatient Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries in the Last Six Months of Life
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2017
This study examined rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries and inpatient hospitalizations during their last six months of life. The study concluded that care at the end of life is much the same for rural and urban Medicare decedents.
Differences in Medicare Service Use in the Last Six Months of Life Among Rural and Urban Dual – Eligible Beneficiaries
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2017
In this brief, we compare rural and urban dual-eligible beneficiaries to Medicare-only beneficiaries in their service utilization in the last six months of life. Within rural beneficiaries, we further explore differences associated with race/ethnicity.
Rural-Urban Differences in Medicare Service Use in the Last Six Months of Life
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2017
This brief focuses on the current status of healthcare use during the last six months of life among Medicare beneficiaries. We used data from a sample of Medicare beneficiary claims to assess whether service utilization differed between rural and urban decedents and across decedents of different race/ethnicity categories.
Transitions in Care Among Rural Residents With Congestive Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, and Pneumonia
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2017
Rural and urban hospitals vary with regard to the levels of care they are able to provide, requiring that a subset of patients be transferred from the first point of encounter to a second facility. The degree to which inter-hospital transfers occur, and the outcomes for transfer patients, have not been studied across rural and urban institutions.

2016

Vulnerable Rural Counties: The Changing Landscape, 2000-2010
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 07/2016
This brief illustrates the distribution of rural vulnerable populations and the challenges they face. Understanding the demography of rural America is vital to understanding what programs, interventions and policy initiatives are needed to improve healthcare access, delivery and outcomes.
Geographic Disparities in Mortality Among the End Stage Renal Disease Patients: An Analysis of the United States Renal Data System, 2007-08.
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 06/2016
Explores the association between morality, rurality, and distance from the treatment facility of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Rural patients were found to have a mortality advantage.
Disparities in Home Health Service Providers Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Stroke
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 01/2016
Examines the intensity of home health services, by the number of visits and service delivery by rehabilitation specialists, among Medicare beneficiates with stroke. There were no significant rural-urban differences in the number of home health visits, but rural residents were less likely to receive services from rehabilitation specialists.

2015

Post-Discharge Rehabilitation Care Delivery for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries With Stroke
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 09/2015
Provision/type of post-discharge rehab care (PDRC) received by stroke survivors by rurality and race/ethnicity are examined as are the distances between their homes and the discharge hospitals related to the type of PDRC recommended. The brief also looks at whether factors such as initial hospital admission relate to the PDRC provision/type.
Thirty-Day Readmission Rates Among Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2015
Examines readmission rates and factors affecting readmission of patients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligibility).

2014

Characteristics, Utilization Patterns, and Expenditures of Rural Dual Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2014
This study analyzes the rural-urban differences regarding dual eligible beneficiaries and their races, regions of residence, patterns of utilizing health services, and Medicare expenditures.
Intensity of Service Provision for Medicare Beneficiaries Utilizing Home Health Services: A Closer Look at Cerebrovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Joint Replacement
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2014
This report details the impact of home health services provided to the rural elderly receiving Medicare by the number of visits, the use of rehabilitation specialists, and the median payment per each claim.
Home Health Care Agency Availability in Rural Counties
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 06/2014
This report looks at home healthcare, including availability and service quality, in the United States and in rural counties. Findings include that counties at risk for limited service availability were almost all rural. Of the 34 counties lacking home health agencies, 30 were rural. Of the 120 counties served by single agencies, 118 were rural.

2013

Dialysis Availability in Rural America
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 01/2013
This study explores the availability of dialysis services in rural America, including the prevalence of dialysis use across urban and rural counties, travel distance for services, and dialysis quality outcomes.
Rural Population Estimates: An Analysis of a Large Secondary Data Set
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2013
Examines in the underrepresentation of rural counties in large secondary data sources, specifically the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

2012

Lower Rehospitalization Rates Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2012
Evaluates 30-day readmission rates of Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes in rural areas.
Missing the Handoff: Post-Hospitalization Follow-up Care Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2012
Analyzes urban and rural differences in post-discharge physician follow-up care using data from 2005 Medicare claims files.

2011

Handling the Handoff: Rural and Race-Based Disparities in Post Hospitalization Follow-Up Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 09/2011
This report uses information regarding Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes to examine the provision of care in rural America.

2008

Health Disparities: A Rural-Urban Chartbook (Full Report)
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 06/2008
This chartbook expands the work of the National Healthcare Disparities Reports, issued annually by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, by examining potential disparities among rural populations in health, health behaviors, preventive services, and diabetes care.

2004

Impact of Medicaid Managed Care, Race/Ethnicity, and Rural/Urban Residence on Potentially Avoidable Maternity Complications: A Five-State Multi-Level Analysis
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 12/2004
This study examines pregnancy-related complications using Potentially Avoidable Maternity Complications as an indicator of access.