Abstract:
This study examines the socioeconomic status of NSW hospital patients in
1999-2000 and projects likely hospital costs to 2009-2010. It draws upon
unique patient based datasets from NSW public and private hospitals that
include hospital separations, as well as the associated treatment costs in
each of the four years to 1999-2000. First, we examine whether patients of
similar age had similar per patient hospital costs by socioeconomic status.
Second, we examine whether patients requiring similar treatment had similar
per patient hospital costs by considering patients treatedfor coronary heart
disease. Third, we consider the impact that population ageing and changes in
treatment propensities are likely to have on hospital usage and costs by
2009-2010, assuming that no changes occur in per unit treatment costs.
Finally, we have estimated the additional impact of rising medical costs on
these projections.
