Abstract
We estimate the financial effects of an influenza pandemic on US hospitals, including the cost of deferring elective admissions and the cost of uncompensated care for uninsured patients. Using US pandemic planning assumptions and national data on health care costs and revenues, a 1918-like pandemic would cause US hospitals to absorb a net loss of $3.9 billion, or an average $784,592 per hospital. Policy-makers should consider contingencies to ensure that hospitals do not become insolvent as a result of a severe pandemic.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 58-63 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Health Care Finance |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Bed use
- Elective admissions
- FluSurge
- Hospitalization
- Influenza pandemic
- SARS
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Policy