Table 9. Coefficients for low-income-patient-share variables from weighted regressions, using cost per discharge net of estimated outlier payments (STDCSTO) as a dependent variable.
| Hospital's share (percent) of low-income patients | Alternative model specification | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Payment variables only1 | Fully specified2 | Fully specified3 | |
|
| |||
| Coefficient | |||
| 5-10 | *−0.01 | *0.00 | *0.01 |
| 10-15 | *0.00 | *0.02 | 0.03 |
| 15-20 | *0.01 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| 20-25 | *0.01 | *0.02 | 0.03 |
| 25-30 | *0.02 | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| 30-35 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 35-40 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| 40-45 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.16 |
| 45 or more | *0.00 | *0.00 | *0.00 |
*
Not statistically significant.
1
Includes IRB as an independent variable.
2
Includes IRB, city size, and number of beds as independent variables.
3
Includes IRB, city size, and number of beds as independent variables. Also, regions are represented by dummy variables for the four Census Regions. In addition, variables are added representing type of hospital ownership (public or investor).
NOTE: Variable names and definitions are shown in Table 1.
SOURCE: Health Care Financing Administration, Bureau of Data Management and Strategy: Data from the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review file, Medicare Cost Reports, and the Provider-Specific file.