Bundling post-acute care (PAC) with Medicare DRG payments: an exploration of the distributional and risk consequences

Inquiry. 1996 Fall;33(3):283-91.

Abstract

This exploratory study simulates the distributional and risk consequences of bundling 60 days' worth of post-hospital, post-acute care (PAC) with the inpatient stay, and paying for both on an all-inclusive, single-free basis. Simulations are conducted using 1987-1988 Medicare claims data from five states, focusing on patients discharged in 14 PAC-intensive diagnosis-related groups (DRGs). In this data, we find that hospital-level risk actually would be reduced if post-acute care were bundled with the DRG payments for inpatient stays.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis-Related Groups / economics*
  • Episode of Care*
  • Financial Management, Hospital / methods*
  • Health Services Research
  • Hospitalization / economics
  • Humans
  • Insurance Claim Reporting
  • Length of Stay / economics
  • Medicare Part A / organization & administration*
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / economics
  • Reimbursement Mechanisms
  • United States