Citation

Saywell RM, Woods JR, Rodman GH, Nyhuis AW, Bender LB, Phillips JD, Bock HC. Ann. Emerg. Med. 1989; 18(1): 21-25.

Affiliation

School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Indianapolis 46223.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2910158

Abstract

Trauma centers are now being perceived as financial burdens because of recent changes in trauma reimbursement for the Medicare Prospective Payment System population and the perception that collection rates are lower among trauma patients. We examined the demographic and clinical factors associated with the collection experience in a series of 114 trauma patients transferred by helicopter from the accident site to an inner-city trauma center. Factors affecting payment at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days included patient age, insurance class, and discharge status. While not as high as the collection rate for the facility as a whole, we found an average 71.2% collection rate for trauma patients at 180 days. As long as trauma reimbursement continues to be cost based for nonMedicare patients, collection rates remain an important consideration in determining the financial viability of trauma centers.

Language: en