Table 4.

Disparities in Outcomes Associated with Observation Versus Short-Stay Hospitalization Among Medicare Beneficiaries (Percentage Point Change)

	Return ED visit		Readmission		Mortality
	30-Day	90-Day	30-Day	90-Day	In-event	30-Day	90-Day
Nonrural
White	0.5	1.0	−3.4	−4.3	−9.9	−1.2	−1.5
Black	1.0	1.9	−4.4	−6.0	−10.5	−0.8	−1.1
Other race	1.2	1.9	−4.7	−6.6	−10.3	−0.8	−1.1
Rural
White	−0.6	−0.5	−3.8	−4.6	−10.2	−1.2	−1.6
Black	−0.1	0.4	−4.8	−6.3	−10.8	−0.8	−1.2
Other race	0.1	0.4	−5.1	−6.9	−10.6	−0.8	−1.2

Source: Authors' analysis of Medicare claims data, 2007–2010.