Association Between Insurance Type and Extended Length of Stay in Urban & Rural Vermont Hospitals

Author

Patrick Payne, University of VermontFollow
Katrina Moreau MAT, MLS(ASCP)CM, University of VermontFollow
Mia Klonsky, University of VermontFollow
Alyssa Oviedo, University of VermontFollow
Sarah Nowak PhD, University of VermontFollow

Date of Publication

2023

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Tom Delaney, Dr. Leah Grout and Dr. Sarah Nowak

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the link between insurance status and patient length of stay (LOS) for inpatient admissions in rural and urban hospitals in Vermont.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing 2016 to 2020 data from the Vermont Uniform Hospital at Data Discharge System (VUHDDS). Vermont residents 18-64 years of age admitted for heart and circulatory illnesses who spent least one day as inpatient at one of Vermont’s 14 hospitals were included. Frequency statistics were run to determine distribution of sample characteristics and a two-side Z-test was conducted to compare differences between normal and extended lengths of stay. Three multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to control for confounding fac- tors and identify differences in lengths of stay and mortality.

Findings

Private insurance was more common among patients with a normal LOS (46%) and public insurance more common among patients with extended lengths of stay (54%). Rural Medicare patients have 0.77 (CI: 0.66-0.90) times lower odds of extended LOS, which is distinct from the 95% con- fidence interval for urban patients (CI: 0.94-1.46). Urban Medicaid insured patients had 1.413 (CI: 1.15-1.74) times greater odds of an extended LOS, which is outside of the 95% confidence interval for rural patients (CI: 0.80-1.09).

Conclusions

In conclusion, the rurality of a patient’s residence appears to impact health outcomes for cardiac related discharges for individuals in Vermont related to their insurer. Further studies with more demographic data are needed to better understand the implications of these findings.

Document Type

Project

Recommended Citation

Payne, Patrick; Moreau, Katrina MAT, MLS(ASCP)CM; Klonsky, Mia; Oviedo, Alyssa; and Nowak, Sarah PhD, "Association Between Insurance Type and Extended Length of Stay in Urban & Rural Vermont Hospitals" (2023). Master of Public Health Culminating Projects. 38.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/mphcp/38