AHRQ: Cost trends for inpatient stays

Editor's Note

From 2005 to 2014, the average inflation-adjusted cost of a hospital inpatient stay increased by 12.7%, from $9,500 to $10,900, according to new statistics from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Average costs for stays increased:

• 16% for Medicaid
• 18% for private insurance
• 8% for Medicare
• 7% for uninsured.

In both 2005 and 2014, medical hospitalizations constituted the highest proportion of stays (46.2% and 47%, respectively), followed by surgical hospitalizations (21% and 19.8%, respectively).

The only hospitalization type that changed substantially from 2005 to 2014 was mental health/substance use, which increased 20%.

Hospital utilization and cost trends in the United States are presented from 2005 to 2014. The 10-year change is provided for the population rate of inpatient stays by patient characteristics and for the percentage distribution by payer and hospitalization type. The most common reasons for hospital stays in 2005 versus 2014 are presented overall and by patient age group.