Subject Area
Economic policy
Description
This paper explores differences in costs and lengths of stay for cancer patients admitted to National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, non-designated academic medical centers, and community hospitals in New York State using patient-level data from the New York State Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System Hospital Inpatient Discharges dataset from 2017-2019. We employ ordinary least squares and Poisson regressions to compare hospital costs and length of stay for cancer patients, controlling for hospital type, patient demographics, and patient health. Inpatient costs were 27% higher, but length of stay was 12% shorter, in comprehensive cancer centers relative to community hospitals. In New York State, comprehensive cancer centers are a magnet for more complex oncology cases and administer more expensive treatments. That expertise, however, seems to be responsible for more efficient care delivery and thorough discharge planning, allowing for shorter average lengths of stay.
Publisher
Providence College
Date
Fall 12-2022
Start Date
3-25-2023 10:00 AM
Type
Article
Format
Text
Language
English
