How are age and payors related to avoidable hospitalization conditions?

OBJECTIVE: (1) Examine variations in AHC indicators across age groups and payor types; (2) evaluate the impact of individual and community characteristics on AHC indicators; and (3) investigate the effect of adjustment for age and other factors on AHC indicators. MCOs can use AHC hospitalization and inpatient days to develop focused strategies in reducing AHC hospitalization. But biased comparisons often occur without adjustment for confounding factors. This study demonstrates that age and age/gender adjustments are needed for privately insured and Medicare patients while additional adjustment for community characteristics is needed for Medicaid and Self-Pay patients.