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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 2 of 2 Research Studies DisplayedChua KP, Fendrick AM, Conti RM
Prevalence and magnitude of potential surprise bills for childbirth.
This research letter describes a cross-sectional study that examined surprise bills that are received for childbirths and newborn hospitalizations, and whether new legislation to protect families from surprise bills would have a benefit. The authors analyzed 2019 data from Optum’s deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart and identified families with an in-network delivery in 2019 that could be linked to 1 or more in-network newborn hospitalization that was covered by the same family plan. The analysis included 95,384 families, and of those 17,949 (18.8%) had 1 or more potential surprise bill for the delivery, newborn hospitalization(s), or both. The median total liability for potential surprise bills was $744 for 6417 families, with total liability exceeding $2000. Among 32,203, and 63,181 deliveries with and without 1 or more cesarean delivery, 6594 (20.5%) and 5597 (8.9%) had 1 or more potential surprise bill, with a median liability of $1825 respectively. For 5970 and 90,991 newborn hospitalizations with or without 1 or more neonatal intensive care claim, 15.5% and 8.9% had 1 or more potential surprise bill, with a median liability of $1282 and $262 respectively. While this study was limited by lack of information whether these families actually received surprise bills, the findings suggest that federal protections against surprise bills could benefit many families.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465.
Citation: Chua KP, Fendrick AM, Conti RM .
Prevalence and magnitude of potential surprise bills for childbirth.
JAMA Health Forum 2021 Jul; 2(7):e211460. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.1460..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Maternal Care, Newborns/Infants, Hospitalization
Trudnak Fowler T, Fairbrother G, Owens P
AHRQ Author: Owens P
Trends in complicated newborn hospital stays & costs, 2002-2009: implications for the future.
The researchers used HCUP data to examine trends from 2002 through 2009 in complicated newborn hospital stays, and to explore the relationship between expected sources of payment and reasons for hospitalizations. They concluded that state Medicaid programs are paying for an increasing proportion of births and costly complicated births, and they suggested that policies to prevent common birth complications have the potential to reduce costs for public programs and improve birth outcomes.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Trudnak Fowler T, Fairbrother G, Owens P .
Trends in complicated newborn hospital stays & costs, 2002-2009: implications for the future.
Medicare Medicaid Res Rev 2014;4(4). doi: 10.5600/mmrr.004.04.a03.
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Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization, Newborns/Infants