This paper examines the incidence of inpatient cranial surgery among Medicare beneficiaries. Many of these surgeries are trauma related and reflect accidents or falls. Other cases reflect chronic disabilities. This study examines MEDPAR inpatient hospital discharge data for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries during FY 1996 for DRGs 1, 2, and 484. Incidence patterns and length of stay are examined by Medicare beneficiary group, age, race, sex, and beneficiary location (urban/rural). Source of admission and discharge destination are also examined. Approximately 86% of beneficiaries receiving cranial surgery were age 65 or over, but only 9.9% were age 85 or over. The average patient was 72 years old. Nearly 52% of patients were male and 86.1% were white. About 35% of patients were admitted from the emergency room. Over 16% of patients were in DRGs for trauma. Average length of stay for cranial surgery hospitalizations was 10.2 days with an average of 3.5 ICU days. While 44.5% of patients were discharged to home, 41.3% were discharged to postacute care and 10.7% died in the hospital. Over 70% of patients were treated in major or minor teaching hospitals. While 24.1% of Medicare cranial surgery patients were rural residents, only 4.6% were treated in rural areas. The average inpatient charge was $30,332. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy were received by a substantial number of patients during their hospitalization.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session,the participant will be able to know the incidence of cranial surgery in the Medicare population, demographic variation across patients,variation in resource use and cost of care and characteristics of hospitals providing treatment
Keywords: Medicare, Health Care Utilization
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.