Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays by Age and Payer, 2000-2015 #235

Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays by Age and Payer, 2000-2015 #235

AHRQ Stats: Decline in Hospitalizations

While the rate of hospitalizations (excluding pregnancies and newborns) declined for all age groups from 2000 to 2015, the biggest drop -- 25 percent -- occurred among patients 65 and older. (Source: AHRQ, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #235: Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays by Age and Payer, 2000-2015.)

Trends in Hospital Inpatient Stays by Age and Payer, 2000-2015

Ruirui Sun, Ph.D., Zeynal Karaca, Ph.D., and Herbert S. Wong, Ph.D. 

Highlights

Between 2000 and 2015, the population rate of nonneonatal, nonmaternal inpatient stays dropped for all age groups; the largest percentage decrease (25 percent) was among patients aged 65 years and over. Between 2000 and 2015, for all age groups under 65 years old the share of uninsured stays reached its 16-year low in 2015. From 2007 to 2015, Medicaid was the top primary payer for patients under age 18 years with nonneonatal, nonmaternal inpatient stays; its share exceeded 50 percent starting in 2012. From 2000 to 2015, the share of Medicaid among nonneonatal, nonmaternal inpatient stays for those aged 18-44 years and 45-64 years increased by 74 percent and 68 percent, respectively. Among patients aged 18-44 years, the share of nonneonatal, nonmaternal inpatient stays covered by Medicare increased by 21 percent from 2000 to 2015. Among patients aged 45-64 years, the share of nonneonatal, nonmaternal stays covered by Medicare increased by 43 percent from 2000 to 2015. Among patients aged 65 years and over, Medicare and private insurance together accounted for about 97 percent of inpatient stays each year.