Report Looks At Autoworker Health Care For Spending Variation Clues
A new report looks at autoworker health care claims to find clues as to why spending varies by region and finds that hospital price variation made up one-third of the difference.
Kaiser Health News: Autoworkers' Health Claims Offer Clues To Regional Spending Variations
Why does health care cost more in some areas of the country than others? It’s a question researchers have struggled with for decades, because the potential answers — unnecessary surgeries, generally bad health of patients or high prices charged by providers — each carry different prescriptions for how to hold down medical costs. Now a new study from the Center for Studying Health System Change takes a novel approach by comparing claims among 218,000 autoworkers in 19 metropolitan areas (Rau, 2/15).
Modern Healthcare: Report Notes Impact Of Hospital Price Variation
Hospital price variation accounted for one-third of the difference in health spending in 19 communities, even after accounting for geographic differences in wages and rent, according to a report. ... Spending per person ranged from $4,500 to $9,000 with price accounting for 33 percent of the difference, according to the report by Chapin White, a senior researcher for the center (Evans, 2/15).
