Use of Medicare services by elderly residents of Puerto Rico.
OBJECTIVE
We describe hospitalization rates among Medicare beneficiaries resident in Puerto Rico compared to beneficiaries in the mainland U.S., in 1999.


METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis using Medicare Denominator and hospitalization files.


RESULTS
The rate ratio (PR/U.S.) of age, gender-adjusted hospitalizations among elderly Medicare beneficiaries with Part A coverage was 0.78, compared with 0.92 among beneficiaries with both Part A and Part B coverage. Among the latter, the rate ratios were 0.78 for surgical admissions, 1.08 for low-variation medical conditions, and 0.97 for high variation medical conditions. They were higher for younger elderly beneficiaries.


CONCLUSIONS
Rates of hospitalization in Puerto Rico may be lower, the same or exceed those of the mainland U.S. depending on the age of the beneficiary and the type of hospitalization.
McBean
A Marshal
AM
Division of Health Services Research and Policy, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, MMC 97, Mayo Memorial Building, 420 Delaware St., S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. mcbea002@umn.edu
Bubolz
Thomas A
TA
Conde
José G
JG
Barosso
Geralyn M
GM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology