title: Cost and length-of-stay of hospital care billed to the Ministry of Public Health by private hospitals.
abstract: Two measures of care were estimated from a random sample of 2033 (65%) bills presented to the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) by hospitals from all over Lebanon in February 1994. Average length-of-stay was 5 days in surgery, 5.5 days in medicine, and 2.4 days in obstetrics. Average daily costs of hospitalization were 296,971 LL (approximately 170 US$) in surgery, 142,690 LL (approximately 81.5 US$) in medicine, and 225,000 LL (approximately 129 US$) in obstetrics. While neither one of these outcomes was affected by patients' sex, differences were found by age, and hospitals' geographical location and classification. Implications and recommendations for effective evaluation of subsidized care, and better allocation of public funds are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Adib
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajjar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lawand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007861:Lebanon; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors