Do Declining Private Insurance Coverage Rates Influence Pediatric Hospital Charging Practices?
- 27 February 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Clinical Pediatrics
- Vol. 50 (5), 417-423
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922810393498
Abstract
Objective: To analyze trends in primary payer composition for pediatric hospitalizations and insurance coverage rates from 2000 to 2006 and possible effects on hospital charging practices. Design: We documented national trends in hospital charge-to-cost ratios and primary payer mixes for pediatric discharges from 2000 to 2006 using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kid’s Inpatient Database (KID). We then performed regression analyses at the hospital level to analyze associations between pediatric insurance coverage rates and hospital charge-to-cost ratios. Results: We found pediatric inpatient charge-to-cost ratios increased dramatically during study period. Charge-to-cost ratios were higher for hospitals located in states with either higher uninsurance rates or a public-private coverage mix that was skewed towards public coverage. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of both important changes in pediatric health insurance distribution in the United States and hospital charging practices.Keywords
This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- Medical Bankruptcy in the United States, 2007: Results of a National StudyAmerican Journal Of Medicine, 2009
- Trends in Hospitalizations for Neonatal Jaundice and Kernicterus in the United States, 1988–2005PEDIATRICS, 2009
- Job-Based Health Insurance: Costs Climb At A Moderate PaceHealth Affairs, 2009
- Public And Private Health Insurance: Stacking Up The CostsHealth Affairs, 2008
- From ‘Soak The Rich’ To ‘Soak The Poor’: Recent Trends In Hospital PricingHealth Affairs, 2007
- Admission to acute care hospitals for adolescent substance abuse: a national descriptive analysisSubstance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 2006
- Lengths of Stay and Costs Associated With Children's HospitalsPEDIATRICS, 2005
- Incremental Treatment Costs in National Cancer Institute–Sponsored Clinical TrialsJAMA, 2003
- A Review of the Costs, Cost‐Effectiveness and Third‐Party Charges of Bone Marrow TransplantationThe International Journal of Cell Cloning, 1996