Inequities in hospital care, the Massachusetts experience

This study examined the relationship between patient insurance status and the process and outcome of hospital care in Massachusetts, a state that has had an uncompensated care pool for paying hospitals since 1986. This study examined data on 4,972 patients admitted to a Massachusetts hospital on an emergency basis in 1987 and diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. We classified these patients into three groups: having fee-for-service insurance, having prepaid coverage through a health maintenance organization (HMO), or being uninsured at the time of hospital admission. Results showed treatment differences by insurance status and significantly greater mortality rates for uninsured patients than for either fee-for-service or HMO patients. Our findings indicate that in Massachusetts the process and outcome of hospital care do differ by insurance status.