Policy Brief: Regional Variation in Rural Hospital Charges Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (Number PB2007-5, December 2007)

This policy brief presents findings on regional variations of hospital charges associated with ambulatory care sensitive conditions in rural hospitals. It informs policy makers about the regional magnitudes of rural preventable hospitalizations and the associated potential savings in hospital resource utilization when rural patients receive timely and effective primary care. The policy brief includes a figure, a table, references and appendices.