How insurance rules about intoxication affect drinking and injury care
Official title: The impact of the Uniform Accident and Sickness Policy Provision Law on Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol Consumption Related Outcomes
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11127765 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether state insurance laws that let insurers deny coverage for alcohol-related injuries change people's drinking, blood-alcohol testing after injury, and related outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $78,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AA031507-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11127765 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who experience alcohol-related injuries, drivers involved in crashes, and adults living in states with UPPL provisions are the populations most directly connected to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol-related injuries or those living outside the United States are unlikely to be affected by these findings.
What this research studies
This project examines how state laws called the Uniform Accident and Sickness Policy Provision Law (UPPL) influence drinking and care after alcohol-related injuries. The team will combine health survey data, hospital blood-alcohol test records, and insurance claim information across U.S. states and over time. They will compare trends in states with and without UPPLs to see whether the laws change drinking behavior, clinician testing, or insurance denial patterns. The goal is to understand whether these laws unintentionally discourage testing or affect patient care and coverage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform policy and clinical guidance so people with alcohol-related injuries receive fairer insurance coverage and better medical care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have been mostly descriptive or focused narrowly on repeals and show mixed or unintended effects, so this project uses stronger methods to fill gaps.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yoruk, Baris K — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Yoruk, Baris K
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.