Medicaid admissions grew 30 percent and admissions for uninsured patients grew 27 percent from 1997-2008, compared with 5 percent for privately insured patients, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
AHRQ also found the following:
• The average cost for a Medicaid patient stay in the 10-year period rose 11 percent, compared with 34 percent for privately insured stays and 26 percent for uninsured patients.
• The average Medicaid patient stay cost a hospital $6,900 in 2008, compared with about the same cost for the uninsured and $8,400 for private-pay patients.
• Medicaid patient stays in 2008 cost hospitals $51 billion, compared with $117 billion for private-pay and $16 billion for the uninsured.
• Medicaid was the primary payor for more than 18 percent of the nearly 40 million hospital stays in 2008.
• Maternity-related and newborn infant care accounted for half of all Medicaid hospital stays, compared with one-third of private-pay stays and one-fifth of uninsured stays.
• About 6 percent of Medicaid stays were for mental health and substance abuse, compared with 4 percent for private-pay and 10 percent for the uninsured.
Read the AHRQ release on Medicaid admissions.
Read other coverage about Medicaid costs:
- Supreme Court to Hear States' Call to Cut Medicaid Spending
- Governors Want Reform Law Changed So They Can Reduce Medicaid Coverage
- More Than Half of States Expanded Medicaid Programs in 2010
AHRQ also found the following:
• The average cost for a Medicaid patient stay in the 10-year period rose 11 percent, compared with 34 percent for privately insured stays and 26 percent for uninsured patients.
• The average Medicaid patient stay cost a hospital $6,900 in 2008, compared with about the same cost for the uninsured and $8,400 for private-pay patients.
• Medicaid patient stays in 2008 cost hospitals $51 billion, compared with $117 billion for private-pay and $16 billion for the uninsured.
• Medicaid was the primary payor for more than 18 percent of the nearly 40 million hospital stays in 2008.
• Maternity-related and newborn infant care accounted for half of all Medicaid hospital stays, compared with one-third of private-pay stays and one-fifth of uninsured stays.
• About 6 percent of Medicaid stays were for mental health and substance abuse, compared with 4 percent for private-pay and 10 percent for the uninsured.
Read the AHRQ release on Medicaid admissions.
Read other coverage about Medicaid costs:
- Supreme Court to Hear States' Call to Cut Medicaid Spending
- Governors Want Reform Law Changed So They Can Reduce Medicaid Coverage
- More Than Half of States Expanded Medicaid Programs in 2010