AHRQ Stats
New data nuggets from AHRQ News Now posted weekly to highlight AHRQ statistical reports on health care trends.
Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare Hospital Costs
The cost of hospital stays among patients at least 65 years old with Medicare Advantage as the expected primary payer climbed 68 percent from 2009 to 2017 ($20 billion to $33 billion). During the same time, costs for hospital stays with traditional Medicare as expected primary payer fell 2 percent ($68 billion to $67 billion), despite a 12 percent drop in the number of these stays. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #262: Medicare Advantage Versus the Traditional Medicare Program: Costs of Inpatient Stays, 2009-2017.)
Counties With High Rates of Opioid-Related Medical Care
In 2016, counties with high rates of opioid-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits had the following social determinants of health characteristics: higher percentages of economically disadvantaged residents and Medicaid recipients; higher crime rates; and more densely populated and racially segregated. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #260: Social Determinants of Health and County Population Rates of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits, 2016
Average Deductibles for Healthcare Coverage
Average individual healthcare deductibles in 2019 were higher in small ($2,386) and medium-sized businesses ($2,441) compared with large businesses ($1,778). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #530, Trends in Health Insurance at Private Employers, 2008-2019.)
Hospital Stays Covered by Medicare Advantage
The number of hospital stays among patients aged 65+ years with Medicare Advantage as the expected primary payer increased 45 percent from 2009 to 2017, while those for which traditional Medicare was the expected primary payer fell 12 percent. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #262: Medicare Advantage Versus the Traditional Medicare Program: Costs of Inpatient Stays, 2009-2017.)
Potentially Preventable Hospital Stays for Adults
As many as 3.5 million hospital stays among adults in 2017 were considered potentially preventable, costing nearly $34 billion. The preventable stays represented nearly 13 percent of all hospital stays (excluding obstetrics) and almost 9 percent of all costs. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #259, Characteristics and Costs of Potentially Preventable Inpatient Stays, 2017.)
Hospitalizations for Live Births
Live births represented one of every 10 hospitalizations in 2017, accounting for nearly $16 billion in total hospital costs. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #261, National Inpatient Hospital Costs: The Most Expensive Conditions by Payer, 2017.)
Most Expensive Medical Conditions
The five most expensive medical conditions requiring hospitalization in 2017 were septicemia, osteoarthritis, live birth, heart attack and heart failure. These conditions accounted for about one-quarter of the $434 billion in total hospitalization costs that year. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #261, National Inpatient Hospital Costs: The Most Expensive Conditions by Payer, 2017.)
AHRQ Stats: Hospitalizations in 2017
Nearly 36 million hospitalizations occurred in 2017, representing a total cost of $434 billion. (Source: AHRQ, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #261, National Inpatient Hospital Costs: The Most Expensive Conditions by Payer, 2017.)
AHRQ Stats: Emergency Care Covered by Medicare
In 2017, Medicare covered the largest share of hospital emergency department visit costs for anxiety (37 percent) and depressive disorders (41 percent). (Source: AHRQ, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #257, Costs of Emergency Department Visits for Mental and Substance Use Disorders in the United States, 2017.
AHRQ Stats: Emergency Care Covered by Medicaid
In 2017, Medicaid covered the largest share of hospital emergency department visit costs for patients with suicidal ideation, attempt or self-harm (39 percent), bipolar and related disorders (37 percent) and alcohol-related disorders (34 percent). (Source: AHRQ, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #257: Costs of Emergency Department Visits for Mental and Substance Use Disorders in the United States, 2017.)
AHRQ Stats: Urban-Rural Variations in Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays
In 2016, hospitals in U.S. metropolitan areas had a higher average rate of opioid-related inpatient stays (31 per 1,000 stays) compared with hospitals in adjacent rural areas (20 per 1,000), or those in more remote rural areas (16 per 1,000). (Source: AHRQ, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #258, Hospital Burden of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays: Metropolitan and Rural Hospitals, 2016
AHRQ Stats: Highest Rates of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays
Hospitals in the New England Census division had the nation’s highest rates of opioid-related stays in 2016. This includes hospitalization rates for metropolitan hospitals (41 per 1,000 stays), adjacent rural areas (33 per 1,000) or more remote rural areas (35 per 1,000). (Source: AHRQ, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #258, Hospital Burden of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays: Metropolitan and Rural Hospitals, 2016.)
Highest Rates of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays
Hospitals in the New England Census division had the nation's highest rates of opioid-related stays in 2016. This includes hospitalization rates for metropolitan hospitals (41 per 1,000 stays), adjacent rural areas (33 per 1,000) or more remote rural areas (35 per 1,000). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #258, Hospital Burden of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays: Metropolitan and Rural Hospitals, 2016.)
Traumatic Brain Injury Due to Assault
In 2017, about 25 percent of hospitalizations related to treatment of traumatic brain injuries for children younger than 5 years old were caused by assault. (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #255, Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Involving Traumatic Brain Injury, 2017.)
Highest Rates of Traumatic Brain Injury
Population rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits related to treatment of traumatic brain injuries in 2017 were highest among people living in low-income and rural areas, and in the Midwest. (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #255, Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Involving Traumatic Brain Injury, 2017.)
Use of Morphine To Treat Pain
Overall in 2015-2016, non-elderly U.S. adults obtained an annual average of 376 milligram morphine equivalents (MMEs), and elderly adults obtained an annual average of 774 MMEs of outpatient prescription opioids to treat chronic and acute pain. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Research Findings #45: Average Annual Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs) of Outpatient Prescription Opioids and Share of Total MMEs among Elderly and Non-Elderly Adults in 2015–2016.)
Disparities in Anemia
The percentage of U.S. hemodialysis patients with hemoglobin below 10 gm/dL (grams per deciliter) in 2015 was 19.0 percent among blacks; 15.6 percent among whites; 13.8 percent among Asians; and 13.7 percent among Alaskan Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). Anemia occurs when hemoglobin levels are less than 13.0 gm/dL for males and 12.0 gm/dL for females. (Anemia Increasing in Hemodialysis Patients, Especially for Blacks, December 2019 [PDF]).
Patient Safety Culture in Nursing Homes
Nursing home staff completing AHRQ's Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture in 2019 gave the highest positive response— 85 percent—to "overall perceptions of nursing home resident safety" and staff "feedback and communication about incidents." (Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient Safety, 2019 [PDF].)
Inappropriate Medications for Seniors
The total percentage of adults age 65 and older who received at least one of 33 inappropriate prescription medications declined from 19 percent in 2002 to 10 percent in 2016. (Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient Safety, 2019 [PDF].)
Employee Share of Healthcare Premiums
Among private-sector establishments offering health insurance in 2018, enrolled employees paid 21.3 percent of the premium for single coverage, 27.1 percent for employee-plus-one coverage, and 27.8 percent for family coverage. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance Component 2018 Chartbook.)
Choice of Healthcare Plans
Among private-sector establishments offering health insurance, the percentage of employees with a choice of health plans increased from 72.4 percent in 2017 to 75.7 percent in 2018. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance Component 2018 Chartbook.)
Lowest Healthcare Premiums in the United States
In 2018, average annual healthcare premiums for single coverage in employer-sponsored plans were significantly lower than the national average of $6,715 in 14 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee and Utah. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance Component 2018 Chartbook.)
Highest Healthcare Premiums in the Nation
Average annual healthcare premiums for single coverage in employer-sponsored plans in 2018 were significantly higher than the national average in nine states: Alaska, Connecticut, District of Columbia (treated as a state in this analysis), Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance Component 2018 Chartbook.)
Employee Healthcare Contributions
The average annual employee contribution for single coverage in employer-sponsored health insurance plans rose from $723 in 2005 to $1,427 in 2018. For family coverage, the contribution increased from $2,890 in 2005 to $5,431 in 2018. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Insurance Component 2018 Chartbook.)
Workforce Age and Employee Healthcare Contributions
Average employee contributions toward family healthcare coverage in 2018 were $5,905 per year in companies where workers age 50 or older made up less than a quarter of the workforce. By comparison, employee contributions were $5,255 where 50 to 74 percent of workers were over 50. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #527: Premiums and Employee Contributions to Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance by Workforce Age and Firm Size, Private Industry, 2018.)
Brand-Name and Generic Drugs
From 2011 to 2016, the share of filled prescriptions that were nonspecialty, single-source, brand-name drugs decreased from 22 to 11 percent while nonspecialty generic equivalents increased from 72 to 83 percent. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Research Findings #44: Retail Drug Prices, Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Discounts and Markups Relative to List Prices: Trends and Differences by Drug Type and Insurance Status, 2011 to 2016.)
Average Per-Pill Prices for Prescription
In 2016, average prescription prices ranged from $1.00 per pill for nonspecialty generic drugs to $324.65 per pill for specialty drugs. People with private insurance had an overall per-pill price averaging $14.46, which was two to three times as high as the average per-pill price paid by those with Medicare Part D ($6.95), Medicaid ($7.67), and the uninsured ($4.25). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Research Findings #44: Retail Drug Prices, Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Discounts and Markups Relative to List Prices: Trends and Differences by Drug Type and Insurance Status, 2011 to 2016.)
Delivery Stays With a Substance Use Diagnosis
Among women giving birth in hospitals and diagnosed with substance use disorder, rates of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia were higher for those living in urban areas (44.3 per 1,000 delivery stays) than for those living in rural areas (31.8 per 1,000). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #254: Obstetric Delivery Inpatient Stays Involving Substance Use Disorders and Related Clinical Outcomes, 2016.)
Impact of Gender on Healthcare Premiums
Among companies where women accounted for 75 percent or more of the workforce, employer-sponsored healthcare coverage averaged $20,593 per family in 2018. Premiums averaged $18,875, meanwhile, where women represented less than 25 percent of the workforce. Women have higher healthcare expenses than men, which impacts the amount of healthcare premiums. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #525: Premiums and Employee Contributions to Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance by Workforce Gender and Firm Size, Private Industry, 2018.)
Cost Differences for Pediatric Hospital Care
The average cost of a pediatric hospital stay for a complicated birth in 2016 was higher when the expected payer was Medicaid ($9,700 per stay) as compared with private insurance ($8,300 per stay). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #250: Costs of Pediatric Hospital Stays, 2016.)
High-Cost Pediatric Hospital Care
Pediatric hospital stays with the highest cost in 2016 involved the circulatory system and averaged $56,300 per stay. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #250: Costs of Pediatric Hospital Stays, 2016.)
Healthcare Premiums and Workforce Gender
Among companies where women accounted for 75 percent or more of the workforce, employer-sponsored healthcare premiums averaged $7,233 for single coverage in 2018. Premiums averaged $6,400, meanwhile, where women accounted for less than 25 percent of the workforce. Women have higher medical expenses than men, which influences premiums. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #525: Premiums and Employee Contributions to Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance by Workforce Gender and Firm Size, Private Industry, 2018.)
Hospital Readmissions for Sickle Cell Disease
One-third of hospital stays for sickle cell disease in 2016 resulted in a readmission within 30 days, compared with 13 percent of hospital stays unrelated to sickle cell disease. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #251, Characteristics of Inpatient Hospital Stays Involving Sickle Cell Disease, 2000–2016.)
Pediatric Hospital Costs for Childbirth
In 2016, pediatric hospitalization costs averaged about $8,900 for a complicated birth and $1,200 for an uncomplicated birth. Meanwhile, the cost of a pediatric hospital stay (excluding births) averaged $13,400. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #250: Costs of Pediatric Hospital Stays, 2016.)
Hospital Stays for Sickle Cell Disease
Costs of hospital stays specifically for sickle cell disease totaled $811.4 million in 2016, with an average length of stay of five days. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #251, Characteristics of Inpatient Hospital Stays Involving Sickle Cell Disease, 2000-2016.)
Uninsured Population
The percentage of adults ages 18 to 64 who were uninsured at any time during the calendar year fell from about 24 percent in 2015 (45.1 million adults) to 22 percent in 2016 (42.3 million adults). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Research Findings #42: Non-Elderly Adults Ever Uninsured During the Calendar Year, 2013-2016.)
Pediatric Hospital Care for Childbirth
Childbirth represented about 30 percent of pediatric hospital costs in 2016 yet constituted about 60 percent of pediatric hospitalizations that year. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #250: Costs of Pediatric Hospital Stays, 2016.)
Where Patients Obtain Their Usual Source of Provider Care
Among adults with four or more office visits to their usual source of provider care in 2016, fewer were treated by a physician network owned by a hospital (25 percent) compared with an independent practice (29 percent) or a nonprofit/government clinic (27 percent). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #523: Number of Adult Visits by Characteristics of Practices Identified as Usual Source of Care Providers during 2016—Results from the MEPS Medical Organizations Survey.)
Opioid Hospitalizations Among Women
The rate of opioid-related hospitalizations was higher among women (302 stays per 100,000 people) than men (291 stays per 100,000) in 2016. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Fast Stats: Opioid Related Hospital Use.)
Alcohol Use Screening and Counseling
Only about one-third to one-half of Americans ages 35 and older received alcohol use screening and counseling in 2015. (Source: MEPS Research Findings #14: Use of Clinical Preventive Services in the United States: Estimates from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2015.)
Vaccination for Shingles
Fewer than four in 10 Americans 65 and older received the shingles vaccine in 2015. (Source: MEPS Research Findings #41: Use of Clinical Preventive Services in the United States: Estimates From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2015.)
Patients’ Usual Source of Provider Care
Among adults who had four or more office visits to their usual source of provider care in 2016, more were treated at a large medical practice (31 percent) as compared with small or medium-sized practices (27 percent each). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #523: Number of Adult Visits by Characteristics of Practices Identified as Usual Source of Care Providers during 2016—Results from the MEPS Medical Organizations Survey.)
Depression Screening
Fewer than half of all Americans ages 35 and older were screened for depression in 2015. (Source: MEPS Research Findings #41: Use of Clinical Preventive Services in the United States: Estimates from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2015.)
Colon Cancer Screenings
Among women ages 50–64, 61.2 percent received colon cancer screening in 2015, compared with only 56.2 percent of men in the same age group. (Source: MEPS Research Findings #41: Use of Clinical Preventive Services in the United States: Estimates from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2015).
Common Mental and Substance Use Disorders
In 2016, one in five hospitalizations for mental and substance use disorders was for alcohol disorders and schizophrenia. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #249: Inpatient Stays Involving Mental and Substance Use Disorders, 2016.)
Confirming Patients Understand Their Healthcare Instructions
Less than one-third (30 percent) of adults whose providers gave them healthcare instructions reported that they were always asked to describe the information in their own words, which is the first step of the "teach-back" method, an evidence-based technique providers can use to confirm patients understand their instructions. (Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Data Spotlight: Health Literacy and the Teach-Back Method.)
Readmissions Cost More Than Initial Admissions
Compared with initial hospital admissions costs, average costs for readmissions were 90 percent higher for ear/mastoid diseases ($12,900 vs. $6,800) and 63 percent higher for skin diseases ($13,200 vs. $8,100) in 2016. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #248: Characteristics of 30-Day All-Cause Hospital Readmissions, 2010-2016.)
Hospitalization for Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Nearly 10 million hospital stays in 2016 involved a mental and substance use disorder (MSUD). Six percent of all U.S. hospitalizations involved a principal diagnosis of MSUD (2.2 million stays) while 22 percent had a secondary diagnosis (7.7 million stays). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #249: Inpatient Stays Involving Mental and Substance Use Disorders, 2016.)
Hospital Participation in a Medicare Bundled Payment Model
About 28 percent of hospitals that are part of health systems participated in a Medicare bundled payment model in 2016, whereas only 8 percent of nonsystem hospitals participated in Medicare bundled payment models. (Source: Compendium of U.S. Health Systems—Health System Participation in Medicare Bundled Payment Models, 2016.)
Mental and Substance Use Disorders Among Men
In 2016, alcohol-related disorders were the most common reason for mental and substance use disorder (MSUD) hospitalizations among men ages 45 to 64. Meanwhile, schizophrenia was the most common reason for MSUD hospitalizations among men ages 18 to 44. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #249: Inpatient Stays Involving Mental and Substance Use Disorders, 2016.)
Health Systems Offering Insurance Products
Nearly four in 10 health systems offered an insurance product to patients in 2016. The most common types were health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations. (Source: Compendium of U.S. Health Systems—Provider-Offered Insurance Products Among U.S. Health Systems, 2016.)
Increased Use of “Teach-Back” Method
The percentage of adults whose healthcare providers always initiated the “teach-back” method increased from about 24 percent in 2011 to 30 percent in 2015. Teach-back, an evidence-based way of confirming understanding, starts when providers ask patients to describe in their own words what their provider just told them. (Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Data Spotlight: Health Literacy and the Teach-Back Method.)
Health Systems Offering Medicare Advantage Plans
About 12 percent of health systems offered a Medicare Advantage insurance plan in 2016. The most common type was a health maintenance organization plan. (Source: Compendium of U.S. Health Systems—Provider-Offered Medicare Advantage Plans Among U.S. Health Systems, 2016 [PDF].)
Hospitalizations for Depressive Disorders
In 2016, one in four hospitalizations for mental and substance use disorders was for depressive disorders. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #249: Inpatient Stays Involving Mental and Substance Use Disorders, 2016.)
Diagnosis of Diabetes Among Adults by Race/Ethnicity
In 2015-16, 13 percent of blacks were diagnosed with diabetes, compared with 10 percent of Hispanics and 9 percent each of whites and Asians. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #518: Treatment and Monitoring of Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes by Race/Ethnicity, 2015-2016.)
Health System Participation in Accountable Care Organizations
About 44 percent of hospitals that belonged to health systems in 2016 participated in accountable care organization (ACO) contracts. Meanwhile, only 13 percent of nonsystem hospitals participated in ACOs. (Source: Compendium of U.S. Health Systems—Health System Participation in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), 2016 [PDF].)
Hospitals’ Participation in Accountable Care Organizations
About 44 percent of hospitals that belonged to health systems in 2016 participated in accountable care organization (ACO) contracts. Meanwhile, only 12 percent of nonsystem hospitals participated in ACOs. (Source: Compendium of U.S. Health Systems—Provider-Offered Medicare Advantage Plans Among U.S. Health Systems, 2016 [PDF].)
Hospital Costs for Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Hospitalizations primarily to treat mental and substance use disorders cost $15.3 billion in 2016, or 3.6 percent of total U.S. hospital costs. The average stay was 6.5 days and cost $7,100. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #249: Inpatient Stays Involving Mental and Substance Use Disorders, 2016.)
Treatment for Adults Diagnosed With Diabetes
In 2015–16, only 15 percent of Asian adults diagnosed with diabetes reported using insulin injections to treat the condition, about half the rate of other racial/ethnic groups. Asians were more likely to report having their diabetes treated by diet modification and oral medication but no insulin injections. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #518: Treatment and Monitoring of Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes by Race/Ethnicity, 2015–2016.)
Highest and Lowest Hospital Readmission Rates
The highest hospital readmission rates in 2016 were due to blood diseases (25 percent) and tumors (18 percent) while the lowest readmission rate was related to pregnancy/childbirth (4 percent). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #248: Characteristics of 30-Day All-Cause Hospital Readmissions, 2010–2016.)
Improvement in Patient Safety Measures
From 2000 to 2016, more than two-thirds of patient safety measures were improving overall. Measures showing the most improvement included reduced adverse events among hospital patients receiving knee and hip joint replacement. (Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient Safety, October 2018.
State Variations in Health Plan Enrollment
In 2016, Alaska had the highest percent (36 percent) of private- sector employees enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans with annual single-coverage premiums of at least $8,500. Arkansas had the lowest (5 percent). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #519: Enrollment in High-Premium Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance by State: Private Industry, 2016.)
Hospital Readmission Rates by Payer
From 2010 to 2016, the overall hospital readmission rate decreased 7 percent for Medicare patients and 14 percent for uninsured patients, while remaining stable for patients with Medicaid or private insurance. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #248: Characteristics of 30-Day All-Cause Hospital Readmissions, 2010-2016.)
Deaths After Colorectal Surgery
The rate of adults who died within 30 days after colorectal surgery decreased from 4.3 percent in 2008 to 2.9 percent in 2017. (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
A1C Tests for Adults Diagnosed With Diabetes
In 2015-16, at least one in five adults with diabetes in all racial and ethnic groups did not know whether they had received an A1C test during the year. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #518: Treatment and Monitoring of Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes by Race/Ethnicity, 2015-2016.)
Employer Health Plan Enrollment
An estimated 10 percent of private-sector employees were enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan having an annual premium of at least $24,000 for family coverage in 2016. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #519: Enrollment in High-Premium Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance by State: Private Industry, 2016.)
Enrollment in Employer Health Plans
An estimated 10 percent of private-sector employees were enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan having an annual premium of at least $8,500 for single coverage in 2016. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #519: Enrollment in High-Premium Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance by State: Private Industry, 2016.)
Opioid-Related Hospital Care for Seniors
From 2010 to 2015, the rate of opioid-related hospital stays increased between 27 and 39 percent among patients age 65 and older, depending on the age group. Non–opioid-related hospital stays decreased 17 percent for patients age 65 and older during the same period. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #244: Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Among Patients Aged 65 Years and Older, 2010 and 2015.)
Variations in Opioid Use According to Health Status
While fewer than 9 percent of elderly Americans in excellent health filled any outpatient opioid prescriptions in 2015–2016, nearly 40 percent of those in poor health did. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #515: Any Use and Frequent Use of Opioids among Elderly Adults in 2015-2016.)
Monitoring Exams for Adults Diagnosed With Diabetes
In 2015–16, an annual average of 89 percent of white adults diagnosed with diabetes had their blood cholesterol checked, compared with 83 percent of black adults and 82 percent of Hispanic adults. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #518: Treatment and Monitoring of Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes by Race/Ethnicity, 2015–2016.)
Children With ADHD
The percentage of children ages 5 to 12 diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increased from 8.5 percent to 10.4 percent between 2008 and 2015. Meanwhile, the rate of ADHD remained stable at 13 percent for children ages 13 to 17. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #514: Reported Diagnosis and Prescription Utilization Related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17, 2008–2015.)
Opioid-Related Emergency Care for Seniors
Among patients age 65 and older, the number of opioid-related emergency department visits doubled from 18,100 visits in 2010 to 36,200 visits in 2015. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #244: Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Among Patients Aged 65 Years and Older, 2010 and 2015.)
Colorectal Surgery Deaths
The 30-day mortality rate after colorectal surgery in 2017 was lower for Hispanics (2.2 percent) compared with whites (2.8 percent) or blacks (3.5 percent). (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
Complications After a Hip Replacement
The rate of adult patients who experienced complications after hip replacement surgery fell from 8 percent in 2010 to 4 percent in 2015. (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
Trauma During Childbirth
The rate of obstetric trauma during childbirth involving instruments such as forceps or vacuums declined from 2000 to 2015, from 196 to 119 instances per 1,000 deliveries, respectively. (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
Opioid Use Among Seniors
More than 19 percent of seniors filled at least one outpatient opioid prescription per year, on average, in 2015-16. More than 7 percent obtained four or more. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #515: Any Use and Frequent Use of Opioids among Elderly Adults in 2015-2016, by Socioeconomic Characteristics.)
ADHD Diagnoses and Family Income
In 2014–15, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was diagnosed at a higher rate among children in lower-income families (15 percent) than children in upper-income families (9 percent). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #514: Reported Diagnosis and Prescription Utilization Related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17, 2008–2015.)
Number of Health Care Practitioners
In 2017, there were 951,000 active medical doctors in the United States. In 2016 (the latest year for which statistics were available), there were 2.9 million registered nurses, 2.4 million health technologists and 2.6 million nursing and other aides. An additional 361,000 health practitioners provided care, including more than 104,000 physician assistants. (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.
Prevalence of Health Care Systems
In 2016, about 70 percent of all hospitals were in health systems. Those hospitals accounted for about 88 percent of all beds and 92 percent of all discharges. (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.)
Variations in Opioids Use According to Income
Nearly 10 percent of elderly adults who were poor and 11 percent of those who were low income obtained at least four opioid prescription fills in 2015–2016, compared with just under 5 percent of high-income elderly adults. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #515: Any Use and Frequent Use of Opioids among Elderly Adults in 2015–2016, by Socioeconomic Characteristics.)
Disparities in Health Care
About 55 percent of health care quality measures improved overall between 2000 and 2014–2015 for blacks. However, the most recent data show that about 40 percent of quality measures remain worse for blacks compared with whites. (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.)
Growth in Medicaid Coverage for Pediatric Emergency Care
From 2007 to 2015, the number of pediatric emergency department visits covered by Medicaid increased more than 50 percent. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #242: Overview of Pediatric Emergency Department Visits, 2015.)
Disparities in Health Care
About three-fifths of health care quality measures improved overall between 2000 and 2014–2015 for Hispanics. But in 2014–2015, nearly one-third of quality measures remained worse for Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic whites. (Source: AHRQ 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.)
Opioid-Related Hospitalizations for Older Americans
Among patients ages 65 years and older, the rate of opioid-related hospitalizations increased 34 percent while the rate of non-opioid-related hospitalizations decreased 17 percent between 2010 and 2015. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #244: Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Among Patients Aged 65 Years and Older, 2010 and 2015.)
Regional Variations in Severe Maternal Morbidity
The severe maternal morbidity rate was highest in hospitals located in the Northeast (165 per 10,000 deliveries) and lowest in the Midwest (116 per 10,000) in 2015. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #243: Trends and Disparities in Delivery Hospitalizations Involving Severe Maternal Morbidity, 2006-2015.)
Pediatric Emergency Care for Influenza
Among children visiting the emergency department for influenza in 2015, infants younger than 1 year old had the highest rate of visits (11.4 visits per 1,000 population) compared with children ages 1 to 4 (8.6 visits per 1,000). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #242: Overview of Pediatric Emergency Department Visits, 2015.)
Medicaid Coverage for Pediatric Emergency Care
Medicaid was the primary payer for more than 60 percent of pediatric emergency department visits in 2015. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #242: Overview of Pediatric Emergency Department Visits, 2015.)
Hospital Stays for Physical and Mental Health/Substance Use Conditions
The percentage of adult hospitalizations involving both physical health and mental health/substance use conditions increased from 38 percent in 2010 to 45 percent by 2014. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #240: Co-occurrence of Physical Health Conditions and Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions Among Adult Inpatient Stays, 2010 Versus 2014.)
Uninsured Rates for Part-Time and Full-Time Workers
From 2005 to 2015, the percent of uninsured part-time workers dropped by 6.6 percentage points (from 19.3 to 12.7 percent). The percent uninsured among full-time workers fell by 3.0 percentage points (from 12.6 to 9.6 percent) during the same time period.(Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #511: Differences in Health Insurance Coverage between Part-Time and Full-Time Private-Sector Workers, 2005 and 2015.)
Use of Electronic Health or Medical Records
More than 90 percent of medical practices that were visited and served as patients' usual source of care in 2015 used an electronic health or medical record system. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #509: Characteristics of Practices Used as Usual Source of Care Providers during 2015, by Age—Results from the MEPS Medical Organizations Survey.)
Increased Emergency Department Visits
The rate of emergency department visits increased for all age groups between 2006 and 2015. The highest increase—20 percent—was among patients between 45 and 64. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #238, Trends in Hospital Emergency Department Visits by Age and Payer, 2006–2015.)
Care Provided by Nurse Practitioners and Physician's Assistants
About 54 percent of adults who saw their usual source of care provider in 2015 visited a practice that had two or more nurse practitioners or physician's assistants. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #509: Characteristics of Practices Used as Usual Source of Care Providers during 2015, by Age—Results from the MEPS Medical Organizations Survey.)
Same-Day Appointments
More than 95 percent of medical practices that serve as patients' usual source of care and were visited in 2015 routinely set aside time for same-day appointments. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #509: Characteristics of Practices Used as Usual Source of Care Providers during 2015, by Age—Results from the MEPS Medical Organizations Survey.)
Increased Medicaid Hospitalizations
From 2000 to 2015, the share of hospitalizations with Medicaid as primary payer grew 74 percent for patients ages 18 to 44 and 68 percent for those ages 45 to 64. Those rates do not include hospitalizations for pregnancies or newborns. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #235: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays by Age and Payer, 2000-2015.)
Declining Hospitalizations Among Emergency Department Patients
Hospital admissions declined between 2006 and 2015 among people seeking care at emergency departments. The biggest decline—27 percent—was among patients under age 18. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #238, Trends in Hospital Emergency Department Visits by Age and Payer, 2006–2015.)
Decreasing Pressure Ulcers Among Hospital Patients
The average rate of hospital-associated pressure ulcers fell 23 percent from 2011 to 2014. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #237: Patient Safety and Adverse Events, 2011 and 2014.)
Retention of Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage
About 77 percent of people who had Health Insurance Marketplace coverage in December 2014 retained their coverage in December 2015. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #510, Transitions in Health Insurance Status: Longitudinal Data from the MEPS-Household Component, 2013–2015.)
Declining In-Hospital Hip Fractures
The average hospital rate of in-hospital hip fractures due to falls decreased 74 percent from 2011 to 2014. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #237: Patient Safety and Adverse Events, 2011 and 2014.)
Increased Hospital Stays for Kidney Failure
While the overall rate of hospital stays for acute kidney failure increased 66 percent nationwide between 2005 and 2014, the increase was higher for low-income people (86 percent) and patients ages 45 to 64 (79 percent). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #231: Acute Renal Failure Hospitalizations, 2005–2014.)
Demographics of Veterans
Veterans treated at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities in 2014-15 were more likely to be age 65 or older, black, lower income and in poorer health compared with veterans who received treatment at non-VA facilities only. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #508: Characteristics and Health Care Expenditures of VA Health System Users versus Other Veterans, 2014–2015 (Combined).)
Surgical Hospital Stays
While hospitalizations involving surgery accounted for 29 percent of hospital stays in 2014, those stays represented 48 percent of the $386.2 billion in total hospital costs that year. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #233: Overview of Operating Room Procedures During Inpatient Stays in U.S. Hospitals, 2014.)
Household Expenses for Health Care
Among families with no elderly members, out-of-pocket expenses for health care averaged $451 in 2015. These expenses increased with family income, however. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #507: Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses for Non-Elderly Families by Income and Family Structure, 2015.)
Hospital Stays Involving Surgery
The number of hospitalizations involving operating room procedures decreased from 11.1 million in 2011 to 10.1 million in 2014. Total costs for those hospitalizations, however, increased from about $185 billion to $187 billion. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #233: Overview of Operating Room Procedures During Inpatient Stays in U.S. Hospitals, 2014, and Statistical Brief #170: Characteristics of Operating Room Procedures in U.S. Hospitals, 2011.)
Pressure Ulcer Rates of Hospital Patients
About 1.2 million cases of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers occurred in 2015. That reflected a rate of about 36 per 1,000 discharges, a decrease over the 2010 rate of 40 per 1,000 discharges. (Source: 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
Family Expenses for Health Care
About 14 percent of families had out-of-pocket health care expenses exceeding $2,500 in 2015. This level of expense occurred in 4 percent of poor families and 22 percent of high-income families. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #507: Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses for Non-Elderly Families by Income and Family Structure, 2015.)
Veterans' Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses
Out-of-pocket medical expenses accounted for 7 percent of total expenses for veterans who used Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in 2014-15. That compared with 15 percent for veterans treated at non-VA facilities only. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #508: Characteristics and Health Care Expenditures of VA Health System Users versus Other Veterans, 2014-2015 (Combined))
Private Insurance vs. Medicaid for Hospital Payments
Medicaid was the primary payer for 54 percent of hospitalizations for patients younger than 18 (excluding hospitalizations for pregnancies and newborns) in 2015. That represented a sizeable increase from 2000, when Medicaid paid for 39 percent of hospitalizations in that category. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #235: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays by Age and Payer, 2000-2015.)
Decline in Hospitalizations
While the rate of hospitalizations (excluding pregnancies and newborns) declined for all age groups from 2000 to 2015, the biggest drop—25 percent—occurred among patients 65 and older. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #235: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays by Age and Payer, 2000–2015.)
Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalization Rate Rises for Americans Under 65
Hospital stays involving atrial fibrillation increased more than 50 percent for Americans age 18 to 64 from 1998 to 2014. Rates have stabilized in recent years for those age 65 and older. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #236: Inpatient Stays Involving Atrial Fibrillation, 1998–2014.)
Increased Suicide Rates in Rural Areas
From 1999 to 2015, suicide rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives in nonmetropolitan areas increased from about 21 to 34 per 100,000 people. Rates also increased among whites, from 17 to 25 per 100,000, and among blacks, from 7 to 8 per 100,000. (Source: AHRQ 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, Chartbook on Rural Health Care.)
'Baby Boomer' Hospital Stays Involving Hepatitis C
Hospital stays involving hepatitis C increased the most—67 percent—among "Baby Boomers" (ages 52–72) between 2005 and 2014. During the same period, hospital stays involving hepatitis C decreased 15 percent among patients ages 18 to 51. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #232: Characteristics of Inpatient Stays Involving Hepatitis C, 2005-2014.)
Trends in Dental Expenses
The average annual expense for dental care was $696 in 2015. That compares with $374 ($564 when adjusted for inflation) in 1996. (Source: AHRQ, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Research Findings #38: Dental Services: Use, Expenses, Source of Payment, Coverage and Procedure Type, 1996-2015.)
Cost of Hospital Stays for Kidney Failure
The cost for a hospital stay in 2014 involving acute kidney failure averaged $19,200, nearly twice the $9,900 average cost for stays not involving kidney failure. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #231: Acute Renal Failure Hospitalizations, 2005-2014.)
Increased Hospital Stays for Hepatitis C
Hospital stays solely to treat hepatitis C increased 49 percent from 2005 to 2014. During the same period, hospital stays to treat hepatitis C in patients with other conditions such as hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increased by 11 percent. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #232: Characteristics of Inpatient Stays Involving Hepatitis C, 2005-2014.)
Payments Vary for Public, Private Physician Office Visits
Medicaid payments to physicians for office visits in 2014-15 averaged 62 percent of payments made to physicians by employer-sponsored insurance. (Source: Public and Private Payments For Physician Office Visits, Health Aff 2017 Dec;36(12):2160-2164.)
Highest Hospital Readmission Rates by Payer
Thirty-day all-cause hospital readmission rates in 2014 were highest among patients covered by Medicare (17 percent), followed by those with Medicaid (14 percent), no insurance (12 percent) and private insurance (9 percent). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #230: A Comparison of All-Cause 7-Day and 30-Day Readmissions, 2014.)
Highest Hospital Readmission Rates
Thirty-day all-cause hospital readmission rates in 2014 were highest for patients with congestive heart failure (23.2 per 100 admissions), schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (22.9), and respiratory failure (21.6). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #230: A Comparison of All-Cause 7-Day and 30-Day Readmissions, 2014.)
Schizophrenia's Role in Hospital Admissions
Schizophrenia was the principal diagnosis in more than half of African Americans who were homeless and admitted to hospitals through emergency departments for mental or substance use disorders in 2014. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #229: Characteristics of Homeless Individuals Using Emergency Department Services in 2014.)
Trends in Payments for Emergency Department Care
From 2006 to 2014, the number of emergency department (ED) visits covered by Medicaid increased by 66 percent while the number covered by Medicare rose by 29 percent. ED visits covered by private insurance, meanwhile, decreased by 10 percent. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #227: Trends in Emergency Department Visits, 2006–2014.)
Trends in Emergency Department Visits
Emergency department (ED) visits increased 15 percent from 2006 to 2014. During that time, ED visits for injuries decreased by 13 percent while ED visits for mental health/substance abuse increased by 44 percent. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #227: Trends in Emergency Department Visits, 2006–2014.)
Insurance Payments for Child Orthopedic Visits
The average payment for a child's visit to an orthopedist when covered by private insurance was $423 in 2014-2015, compared with $162 when covered by Medicaid. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #504: Differences in Payments for Child Visits to Office-Based Physicians: Private versus Medicaid Insurance, 2010 to 2015.)
Differences in Insurance Payments for Child Visits to Physicians
In 2015, payments for child visits to a physician's office averaged $88 higher when covered by private insurance compared with visits covered by Medicaid. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #504: Differences in Payments for Child Visits to Office-Based Physicians: Private versus Medicaid Insurance, 2010 to 2015.)
Medication Errors Among Seniors
The percentage of adults age 65 and older who received potentially inappropriate prescription medications declined from 19 percent in 2003 to 12 percent in 2014. (Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
Hospital-Acquired Conditions
The overall rate of hospital-acquired conditions, such as pressure ulcers or adverse drug events, decreased 21 percent between 2010 and 2015, from 145 to 115 per 1,000 hospital discharges. (Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparity Report, Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
Insurance Trends Among Hispanics, Blacks
The uninsured rate among Hispanics declined from 42 percent in 2010 to 26 percent in 2016. The uninsured rate for blacks during the same period declined from 28 percent to 15 percent. (Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.)
Disparities in Patient Safety
In 2013-2014, blacks and Hispanics received worse health care than whites in more than 20 percent of patient safety measures. Meanwhile, Asians received worse care than whites for 35 percent of such measures. (Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, Chartbook on Patient Safety.)
Decreasing Uninsurance
From 2010 to 2016, the overall rate of uninsured people under age 65 decreased from 18 percent to 11 percent. (Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.)
Health Care Coverage for Young Adults
Young adults ages 18 to 29 made up the largest percentage of people gaining health care coverage from 2010 to 2016. The uninsured rate for this group declined by more than half, from 31 percent to 15 percent. (Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.)
Coverage for Patients With Chronic Conditions
About 15 percent of Americans under 65 with no chronic conditions lacked health insurance throughout 2015, down from about 23 percent in 2013. The trend was similar among nonelderly adults with at least one chronic condition, whose uninsurance rate dropped to about 9 percent in 2015 from 16 percent in 2013. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Research Findings #36: Uninsurance and Insurance Transitions, 2012-2013 through 2014-2015: Estimates for U.S., Non-Elderly Adults by Health Status, Presence of Chronic Conditions, and State Medicaid Expansion Status.)
Opioid-Related Hospital Stays Increase in Small Metro Areas
Opioid-related hospital stays more than doubled nationwide between 2005 and 2014 in small metropolitan areas (counties with 50,000 to 249,000 people). (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #226: Patient Residence Characteristics of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Nationally and by State, 2014.)
Cost Trends for Hospital Stays
From 2005 to 2014, the average inflation-adjusted cost of a hospital stay increased approximately 13 percent, from $9,500 to $10,900. Average costs for stays covered by Medicaid and private insurance increased 16 to 18 percent. Costs rose 8 percent for Medicare stays and 7 percent for uninsured stays. (AHRQ, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #225: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays in the United States, 2005-2014.)
Insurance Coverage for Hospital Stays
From 2005 to 2014, the number of Medicaid-insured hospital stays increased nearly 16 percent, while privately insured and uninsured hospital stays both decreased nearly 13 percent. Medicare-insured stays remained essentially unchanged. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #225: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays in the United States, 2005-2014.)
Hospital Stays Decline for Coronary Atherosclerosis
Hospital stays for coronary atherosclerosis decreased from more than 1 million in 2005 to fewer than 400,000 in 2014, a decline of more than 60 percent. (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #225: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays in the United States, 2005-2014.)
Hospital Care for Mental Health/Substance Use
The proportion of hospital stays for mental health/substance use increased by 20 percent from 2005 to 2014, representing nearly 6 percent of all hospital stays by 2014. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #225: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays in the United States, 2005-2014.)
Hospital Care for Septicemia
Hospital stays for septicemia (blood infection) nearly tripled between 2005 and 2014 and exceeded more than 1.5 million stays by 2014. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #225: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays in the United States, 2005-2014.)
Declines in Employer-Sponsored Insurance
Enrollment rates for employer-sponsored insurance fell 7.1 percentage points from 2008 to 2015 in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The decline was 4.5 percentage points in non-expansion states. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #499, Trends in Enrollment, Offers, Eligibility and Take-Up for Employer-Sponsored Insurance: Private Sector, by State Medicaid Expansion Status, 2008-2015.)
Outpatient Appendectomies
Of nearly 448,000 appendectomies in 2014, about 47 percent were performed as outpatient procedures. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #223, Surgeries in Hospital-Based Ambulatory Surgery and Hospital Inpatient Settings, 2014.)
Hospital Stays for Older HIV Patients
Although hospital stays for patients diagnosed with HIV fell 49 percent from 2006 to 2013, stays among older HIV patients increased—by 27 percent for patients between 55 and 64, and by 57 percent for patients 65 and older. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #206: HIV Hospital Stays in the United States, 2006‑2013.)
Outpatient Cardiac Surgeries
In 2014, 53 percent of hospital-based surgeries involving the insertion, revision, replacement or removal of a cardiac pacemaker or cardioverter/defibrillator were performed in an outpatient setting. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #223, Surgeries in Hospital-Based Ambulatory Surgery and Hospital Inpatient Settings, 2014.)
Highest Average Expenses for Common Conditions
For the nine most commonly treated conditions among U.S. adults in 2013, the highest average expenses per person were for the treatment of heart conditions ($3,794 per person), trauma-related disorders ($3,070) and diabetes ($2,565). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #487: Expenditures for Commonly Treated Conditions among Adults Age 18 and Older in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2013.
Patterns in Office-Based Medical Care
Among people with a usual doctor's office to visit for medical care in 2015, a majority visited an independent physician practice (55 percent). Others visited a hospital-owned physician network (19 percent) or a nonprofit or government clinic (17 percent). (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #502: Characteristics of Practices Used as Usual Source of Care Providers during 2015 – Results from the MEPS Medical Organizations Survey.)
Hospital Costs for HIV Patients
The overall hospital costs of treating patients with HIV fell by 12 percent between 2006 and 2013, from $3.2 billion to $2.8 billion. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #206: HIV Hospital Stays in the United States, 2006–2013.
Declines in Employer-Sponsored Insurance
The insurance enrollment rate for private-sector employees in states that expanded Medicaid fell by 7.1 percentage points from 2008 to 2015, while the decline was 4.5 percentage points in non-expansion states. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief 499, Trends in Enrollment, Offers, Eligibility and Take-Up for Employer-Sponsored Insurance: Private Sector, by State Medicaid Expansion Status, 2008-2015.)
Substance Abuse-Related Disorders Among Hospitalized HIV Patients
Substance abuse-related disorders among hospitalized HIV patients decreased by 27 percent from 2006 to 2013. (Source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #206: HIV Hospital Stays in the United States, 2006–2013.)
National Health Care Spending
Of the $1.4 trillion spent on health care in 2013, about 38 percent of spending was for ambulatory care while about 28 percent was for hospital inpatient care and 22 percent was for prescription medicines. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #491: National Health Care Expenses in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, Distributions by Type of Service and Source of Payment, 2013.)
Medical Care for Children
In 2014, approximately 8 percent of U.S. children younger than 18 (about 5.8 million children) were reported as not having a usual source of care. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #501: Children's Usual Source of Care: Insurance, Income, and Racial/Ethnic Disparities, 2004-2014.)
Out-of-Pocket Spending Among Seniors
Among seniors with Medicare and additional public coverage such as Medicaid, inflation-adjusted out-of-pocket payments for medical care decreased from an average of $1,253 in 2000 to $427 in 2014. (Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #500: Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenses for Medical Services, by Insurance Coverage, 2000-2014.)
Decline in Hospital-Acquired Conditions
Improvements in patient safety led to fewer deaths from hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) from 2010 to 2015. Compared with the HAC rate in 2010, more than 37,000 fewer patients died from HACs in 2015. The improvement saved about $8.3 billion in 2015. (Source: National Scorecard on Rates of Hospital-Acquired Conditions 2010 to 2015: Interim Data From National Efforts to Make Health Care Safer.)
Medicare "Super-Utilizer" Patients
"Super-utilizers"—patients who visit an emergency department (ED) four times or more in a year—accounted for 19 percent of ED visits by people on Medicare for urinary tract infections in 2014. (Source: Characteristics of Emergency Department Visits for Super-Utilizers by Payer, 2014.)
Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Chronic Conditions
Among adults with health care expenses in 2014, those treated for multiple chronic conditions had average out-of-pocket expenses that were more than three times as high as expenses for adults with one or no chronic condition ($13,031 versus $3,579). (Source: Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Adults with Health Care Expenses for Multiple Chronic Conditions, U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2014.)
Opioid-Related Emergency Department Care
Opioid-related emergency department visits more than doubled between 2009 and 2014 in three states—Minnesota, Ohio and South Dakota. (Source: Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visit by State, 2009-2014.)
Insurance for Young Adults
As of mid-2015, young adults ages 18 to 29 were the most likely to gain health insurance coverage since January 2010. The uninsured rate for this group declined from 31 percent to 15 percent. (Source: 2015 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report and 5th Anniversary Update on the National Quality Strategy.)
Patient-Provider Communication
From 2002 to 2013, the portion of uninsured adults who reported poor communication with health care providers dropped from 19 percent to 14 percent. (Source: 2015 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Person- and Family-Centered Care.)
End-of-Life Care
In 2014, hospice patients who were age 65 and older reported receiving care consistent with their end-of-life wishes about 95 percent of the time. (Source: 2015 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Person- and Family-Centered Care.)
Opioid-Related Emergency Department Care
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Ohio and Connecticut were the states with the highest rates of opioid-related emergency department visits in 2014. (Source: Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits by State, 2009-2014.)
Readmissions for Malnutrition
In 2013, the 30-day hospital readmission rate for patients with malnutrition was 23 per 100 initial hospital stays, compared with 15 per 100 for patients without malnutrition. (Source: All-Cause Readmissions Following Hospital Stays for Patients With Malnutrition, 2013.)
MRSA in California
In 2013, 8 percent of patients in California with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) acquired the infection during a hospital stay. (Source: Hospital-, Health Care-, and Community-Acquired MRSA: Estimates From California Hospitals, 2013.)
Treatment of Burn-Related Injuries
Between 1993 and 2013, rates of burn-related hospital stays decreased 35 percent while burn-related emergency department visits declined 17 percent. Infants had the highest rates of burn-related hospital stays and emergency department visits in 2013. (Source: Burn-Related Hospital Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits, 2013.)
Rates of Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy
Hysterectomies performed in ambulatory surgery or inpatient settings without oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) increased nearly 15 percent from 2005 to 2013. During the same period, however, the rate of hysterectomies performed in combination with oophorectomies decreased nearly 30 percent. (Source: Trends in Hysterectomies and Oophorectomies in Hospital Inpatient and Ambulatory Settings, 2005–2013.)
