Evaluating Inpatient Hospital Charges Associated With Trauma Service Patients Participating in an Accountable Care...

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Trauma Surgery
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) programs incentivize cost containment and quality care.
• While ACOs have shown success, their impact on trauma care costs is under-researched.
• This study investigates cost-effectiveness in trauma care within ACO frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate inpatient hospital charges for trauma patients within an ACO compared to non-ACO patients.
• To determine if ACO participation influences the financial burden of trauma care.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control study comparing ACO and general trauma patients.
• 1:1 matching based on age, sex, race, and Injury Severity Score (ISS).
• Analysis of inpatient charges from January 2019 to December 2021 at a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center.

Main Results:

• 80 ACO patients and 80 matched general trauma patients were analyzed.
• ACO patients had higher rates of hypertension and cardiac disease.
• Total charges, length of stay, and ISS were similar between ACO and general trauma cohorts.

Conclusions:

• ACO participation in trauma care did not lead to significant differences in inpatient charges.
• Despite higher comorbidity burden, ACO trauma patients incurred similar costs to non-ACO patients.
• Further research is needed to explore cost-saving potentials within ACO trauma care models.