Hospital Cost and Utilization Project. Characteristics of Financially Distressed Hospitals

摘要

Goals of this National Center for Health Services Research study are to help understand how hospitals provide health care services and to determine patterns of hospital use and costs. HCUP is specifically designed to provide information and analyses on research and policy questions pertaining to the performance of the hospital industry. This HCUP Research Note identifies and clarifies the roles of hospital case mix, operating characteristics, and other factors that may contribute to financial distress. The effects of chronic deficits on hospital management and operations are discussed. Chronic hospital financial distress is defined and analyzed across hospital locations. Differences in patient case mix and treatment patterns are examined to test hypotheses regarding causes of chronic deficits. Cost and revenue factors associated with differences in hospital output and operating characteristics also are contrasted. A discussion of policy implications concludes the report.