The purpose of this study is to document the magnitude of and variation in ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC) expenditures of rural hospitals and explore the relationships between rural hospital ACSC expenditure and its key determinants in the areas of population demand, health care system supply, and provider practice style.

There will be two components within this study: (1) to document the magnitude of ACSC-related expenditures incurred by rural hospitals and describe the patterns of geographic variation in these type of expenditures among rural areas and (2) to develop an econometric model to explain the variation in ACSC-related expenditures among rural hospitals.

The RUPRI Center will publish policy briefs based on this research.

Publications

• National Rural Hospital Charges Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
  RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
  Date: 12/2007
  This policy brief documents the national magnitude of charges associated with hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions in rural hospitals.
• Regional Variation in Rural Hospital Charges Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
  Policy Brief
  RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
  Date: 12/2007
  This policy brief estimates and documents the regional magnitude of charges associated with hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions in rural hospitals.