title: Racial disparities in rehospitalization among Medicare patients in skilled nursing facilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined racial disparities in rehospitalization rates among a cohort of non-Hispanic White and Black Medicare beneficiaries admitted to skilled nursing facilities for postacute care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the 2008 national Nursing Home Minimum Data Set, augmented with other databases. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate overall racial disparities in rehospitalization rates within 30 days and 90 days of nursing facility admission and the extent to which the disparities were explained by patient, facility, market, and state factors. Stratified analyses identified persistent disparities within patient subgroups, facility types, and states.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day rehospitalization rates were 14.3% for White patients (n = 865 993) and 18.6% for Black patients (n = 94 651); the 90-day rehospitalization rates were 22.1% and 29.5%, respectively. Both patient and admitting facility characteristics accounted for a considerable portion of overall racial disparities, but disparities persisted after multivariable adjustments overall and in patient subgroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found persistent racial disparities in rehospitalization among the nation's skilled nursing facility patients receiving postacute care. Targeted efforts are needed to remove these disparities.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 52242, USA. yue-li@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Laurent G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Glance
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Dana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mukamel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American