Publication Date: June 2nd, 2002
Publication Type(s): Working Paper
Topic(s): Hospitals and Clinics
Author(s): Radcliff, T., Brasure, M., Moscovice, I., Stenslad, J.
This study provides a descriptive analysis of rural hospital bypass behavior. Although this issue has been described as a barrier to financial viability for rural hospital facilities, little is known about bypass behavior. The paper examines hospital discharge data in 1991 and 1996 from seven states to determine the extent to which patients admitted from rural areas are bypassing local facilities and whether there are changes in bypass patterns over time.