Does how much and how you pay matter? Evidence from the inpatient rehabilitation care prospective payment system

Neeraj Sood, Melinda Beeuwkes Buntin, José J. Escarce

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We use the implementation of a new prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) to investigate the effect of changes in marginal and average reimbursement on costs. The results show that the IRF PPS led to a significant decline in costs and length of stay. Changes in marginal reimbursement associated with the move from a cost-based system to a PPS led to a 7-11% reduction in costs. The elasticity of costs with respect to average reimbursement ranged from 0.26 to 0.34. Finally, the IRF PPS had little or no impact on mortality or the rate of return to community residence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1046-1059
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of health economics
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Medicare
  • Prospective payment
  • Provider reimbursement

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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