Uncompensated emergency care in hospital markets in Los Angeles County.
A survey of hospital emergency rooms in Los Angeles County was conducted in March 1987. Analysis of the distribution of uninsured emergency care patients revealed that private hospitals play a significant frontline role in terms of entry into the hospital system for patients who are unable to pay--almost one-half of such patients were treated in the emergency rooms of private hospitals. Hospitals serving markets in which a higher proportion of residents had incomes below the poverty level provided a greater share of uncompensated emergency room services.
Melnick
G A
GA
University of California School of Public Health, Los Angeles 90024.
Mann
J
J
Golan
I
I
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D006777:Hospitals, Proprietary / Q000191:economics; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics; D015141:Los Angeles; D008489:Medical Indigency / Q000191:economics*