New Study Finds Avoidable Admissions for Children A Nationwide Problem

According to report by the USC Center for Community Health Studies, 6.2 percent of all hospital pediatric admissions between 2000 and 2005 were for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACS) “for which hospitalization is widely considered unnecessary if managed well in primary care.”

Not only does a lack of proper primary care put these children at greater health risk, it also risks putting their families in great financial peril.

CHCC’s analysis of OSHPD data shows that in 2006, the average charge for all patients admitted with these conditions ranged from $8000 to $20000.

The study suggests that improvements in care can significantly reduce the number of ACS admissions. Nine California counties had implemented Children’s Health Initiative (CHI) programs by the end of the study period. Admission rates for the seven identified conditions dropped by 25% after the CHI was initiated for lower income children.

Other studies have shown that access to high quality primary care not only promotes better health but also lowers overall costs. Cost-shifting erects barriers to health access, especially but not exclusively among lower-income populations, resulting in poorer health and higher costs later on.

For this reason, CHCC supports and promotes cost containment strategies aimed at measuring, reporting and improving the quality of care, not strategies that merely shift costs from purchasers to patients through higher co-pays and deductibles.

Copies of the report can be obtained here.

Cousineau, Michael R., Gregory D. Stevens, and Trevor A. Pickering. "CHILDREN’S HEALTH INITIATIVES HAVE HELPED PREVENT OVER 1,000 UNNECESSARY CHILD HOSPITALIZATIONS ANNUALLY." Center for Community Health Studies (2007): http://communityhealth.usc.edu/USC%20Center%20for%20Community%20Health%20Studies/
Center%20for%20Community%20Health%20Studies%20at%20USC_files/Preventable%20Hospitalizations%20Brief.%2012-7.pdf. (accessed July 23, 2008).