Medicare coverage is an independent predictor of prolonged hospitalization after primary total joint arthroplasty

Mohamad J. Halawi, MD; Andrew D. Stone, BS; Christian Gronbeck, BS; Lawrence Savoy, BS; Mark P. Cote, DPT

Arthroplasty Today (Dec 2019)

Medicare coverage is an independent predictor of prolonged hospitalization after primary total joint arthroplasty

Mohamad J. Halawi, MD,
Andrew D. Stone, BS,
Christian Gronbeck, BS,
Lawrence Savoy, BS,
Mark P. Cote, DPT

Affiliations

Mohamad J. Halawi, MD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA. Tel.: +1 860 679 3520.
Andrew D. Stone, BS: University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
Christian Gronbeck, BS: University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
Lawrence Savoy, BS: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
Mark P. Cote, DPT: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5, no. 4
pp. 489 – 492

Abstract

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between insurance type and length of stay (LOS) in primary total joint arthroplasty. A retrospective review of 848 patients was performed. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on their insurance type: Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial coverage. Medicare patients had a significantly higher rate of LOS > 2 days than the Medicaid and commercial groups (P .05). Arthroplasty surgeons not experienced with outpatient surgery should not be pressured to default to outpatient admission in Medicare patients. Keywords: Arthroplasty, Payer type, Medicare, Length of stay, Outpatient

Published in Arthroplasty Today

ISSN: 2352-3441 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery: Orthopedic surgery
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/arthroplasty-today/

About the journal