Unassigned, Undocumented Inpatients Present Challenges; Some Hospitalists Have Solutions
By working with other care team members at facilities such as outpatient clinics and pharmacies, hospitalists and other staff have been able to improve care for patients without insurance or a PCP after discharge. Knowing the funding that is available, as well as programs to help these patients, is also integral.
Karen Appold is a medical writer in Pennsylvania.
Costs of the Uninsured Add Up
The U.S. government estimates that approximately 49 million Americans don’t have health insurance. Seven million (9.4%) of those are under the age of 18. Less than 2% are over the age of 65. Racially, 30% are Hispanic, 20% are black, and 15% are white.4,5
In 2013, the cost of “uncompensated care” provided to uninsured individuals reached $84.9 billion. Uncompensated care includes healthcare services without a direct source of payment. The majority of uncompensated care (60%) is provided in hospitals. Community-based providers (including clinics and health centers) and office-based physicians provide the rest, providing 26% and 14% of uncompensated care, respectively.6
In 2013, $53.3 billion was paid to help providers offset uncompensated care costs. Most of these funds ($32.8 billion) came from the federal government through programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Veterans Health Administration. States and localities provided $19.8 billion, and the private sector provided $0.7 billion.6
References
- American Hospital Association. American Hospital Association Uncompensated Hospital Care Cost Fact Sheet. Accessed October 8, 2015.
- The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Health IT in long-term and post acute care: issue brief. March 15, 2013. Accessed October 8, 2015.
- Addison E. Gage award winner HITS the streets to connect with the uninsured. America’s Essential Hospitals. July 22, 2014. Accessed October 8, 2015.
- DeNavas C, Proctor BD, Smith JC. Income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States: 2010. United States Census Bureau. September 2011. Accessed October 8, 2015.
- United States Census Bureau. People without health insurance coverage by selected characteristics: 2010 and 2011. Accessed October 8, 2015.
- Coughlin TA, Holahan J, Caswell K, McGrath M. Uncompensated care for the uninsured in 2013: a detailed examination. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. May 30, 2014. Accessed October 8, 2015.
