Marginal Cost of Hospital Output and Empty Beds. Executive Summary and Final Report

摘要

The report consists of a 60 page monograph and an executive summary. The major data sources are information reported to Michigan Blue Cross-Blue Shield between 1979-82 on forecasted and actual output and expenses for 176 Michigan hospitals and discharge abstracts for the universe of Michigan inpatients in 1981. The theory underlying the study is that a forecasted empty bed is unlikely to be staffed and therefore will cost less than an unforecasted empty bed. The study addresses three major issues. First, what is the cost of an empty bed. Second, how does this cost vary from small to medium to large hospitals. Third, does the current DRG payment mechanism undercompensate hospitals with more complex case-mixes. Study findings indicate that the average annual cost of an empty bed is approximately $8,400, that the figure is considerably greater for large hospitals, and that the current DRG payment mechanism undercompensates hospitals with more complex case-mixes.