Rural Hospital Bypass by Patients With Commercial Health Insurance

TL;DR

The study explores how commercially insured patients bypass rural hospitals, looking at factors like location and health conditions, and the financial impact on hospitals.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into rural hospital bypass patterns and associated payment variations among commercially insured patients.

Findings

Commercially insured patients frequently bypass their nearest rural hospitals.

Bypass rates vary by rurality and clinical condition.

Hospital payments differ for patients who bypass their nearest hospitals.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examines rural hospital bypass among commercially insured patients, including variation in bypass by rurality and clinical condition, and hospital payments generated by patients who bypassed their nearest hospitals.

Figures