Long-term utilization and charges among post-rehabilitation stroke patients.

This paper presents longitudinal charge data on 89 former stroke rehabilitation patients discharged from three Boston area rehabilitation facilities. Medical charges are presented on initial acute and rehabilitation inpatient stays and on care received in the 12 months after discharge. In the sample of 89 stroke patients, charges exceeded four million dollars excluding physician fees and out-of-pocket expenses. Of this total, 23% was for acute hospital care preceding rehabilitation (mean = 18 days), 52% for inpatient rehabilitation (mean = 55 days), 13% for rehospitalizations in the 12 months after discharge from rehabilitation (mean = 22 days) and 12% for a variety of outpatient services.