Uncompensated hospital care payment and access for the uninsured: evidence from New Jersey.
OBJECTIVE
We assess the impacts of New Jersey's payment for hospital uncompensated care on access for the uninsured.


METHODS
Uncompensated care charges and other data were obtained from audited reports maintained by the New Jersey State Department of Health. Other data sources include the AHA Annual Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The sample includes 80 of 88 acute care hospitals in the state for 1979 to 1987.


METHODS
This study used a pre- and postdesign to assess the impacts of the introduction of uncompensated care payment. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were used. Key variables include hospital ownership and teaching characteristics; the labor force composition; and the level of government funding for public health insurance.


RESULTS
The overall level of uncompensated hospital care increased markedly in New Jersey during the period 1979 through 1987. However, this trend can be attributed to variables other than the new payment system, including increased demand for uncompensated care. The program did result in a more even distribution of uncompensated care across hospitals. The financial condition of hospitals providing the largest share of this care also improved, ensuring continued access.


CONCLUSIONS
Funding of uncompensated care via hospital payment regulation did not increase its overall provision. However, improved access was achieved as opportunities for the uninsured to receive care were made more widely available.
Dunn
D L
DL
Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Chen
M
M
D005377:Financial Management, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009515:New Jersey; D010067:Ownership; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017664:Uncompensated Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends