Patient demographics as determinants of where they go for hospitalization, what inpatient care they get, and what they are charged: A national study.

Abstract

This study focuses on the impact of race, income, age, and gender on hospital charges in the US. The data include 28,133 discharge records for appendectomies from a stratified sample of 4,584 hospitals in the HCUP's (Hospital Cost and Utilization Project) NIS (National Inpatient Sample) database. Results show that race, income, and age were significant determinants of hospital charges. Gender was not significantly related to the variance in hospital charges. Additionally, hospital variables (ownership/control region, teaching status, size, and primary expected payer) had statistically significant effects on hospital charges. We conclude with implications for clinicians, hospital administrators, and policy makers.