Case mix and resource utilization by uninsured hospital patients in the Boston metropolitan area

The hospital care received by uninsured patients in the Boston, Mass., metropolitan area during 1983 was compared with that of patients insured by Blue Cross or Medicaid. Even after controlling for diagnosis related group case mix, uninsured patients were found to have had an average of 7% shorter stays and undergone 7% fewer procedures than Blue Cross patients. Uninsured patients also had shorter stays on average than Medicaid patients though, except in public hospitals, they underwent a similar number of procedures. These data suggest that patients who lack insurance may receive unequal treatment in hospitals. (KIE abstract)