Research Findings # 0

Table 1. Events, charges, and expenses for health care services and supplies, by event type: United States, 1997

Expenses

Event type

Events
(in millions)

Charges
(in billions)

Payments
(in billions)

Percent
distribution

Total^a

$553.2

100.0

Hospital inpatient^b

26.5

388.8

209.4

37.9

Ambulatory^c

1,346.3

300.4

181.3

32.8

Prescription Medicine^d

1,873.7

72.3

13.1

Dental^e

286.9

50.7

44.5

8.0

Home health^f

40.0

29.2

5.3

Other medical^g

17.7

16.6

3.0

^aTotal includes inpatient hospital and physician services, ambulatory physician and nonphysician services, prescribed medicines, home health services, dental services, and various other medical equipment, supplies, and services that were purchased or rented during the year. Over-the-counter medications, alternative care services and phone contacts are excluded.

^bHospital admissions that did not involve an overnight stay are excluded but are counted as ambulatory events. Expenses include room and board and all hospital diagnostic and laboratory expenses associated with the basic facility charge, payments for separately billed physician inpatient services, and emergency room expenses incurred immediately prior to inpatient stays. Events for newborns who left the hospital on the same day as the mother are not treated as separate events, but associated expenses are included in expense estimates.

^cEvents and expenses for both physician and nonphysician medical providers seen in office-based settings or clinics, hospital outpatient departments, emergency rooms (except visits resulting in an overnight hospital stay), and clinics owned and operated by hospitals are included, as are events and expenses for hospital admissions without an overnight stay.

^dAll prescribed medicines initially purchased or otherwise obtained during 1997, as well as refills and free samples, are included.

^eServices provided by general dentists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists, and periodontists are included.

^fExpenses for care provided by home health agencies and independent home health providers are included. Most home health expenses (88.1%) were for agency providers.

^gExpenses for glasses, ambulance services, orthopedic items, hearing devices, prostheses, bathroom aids, medical equipment, disposable supplies, and other miscellaneous items or services that were obtained, purchased, or rented during the year are included.

NA - not available

Note: these estimates are for a target population of approximately 271.3 million persons who were in the civilian noninstitutionalized population for all or part of 1997. Percents may not add to 100 because of rounding.

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1997.

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