Medicare patients treated in hospital outpatient departments have more chronic conditions and are poorer than Medicare patients treated in independent physician offices, according to an American Hospital Association study.
Medicare patients, including those with cancer, that seek care in HOPDs tend to be:
- From lower-income areas
- Under 65 years old
- Sicker
- Previously hospitalized or cared for in an emergency department
- Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said, "The needs of the patients hospital outpatient departments care for each day are different from those who choose to be seen at an independent physician office. Proposals that treat them the same ignore the very different clinical and regulatory demands hospitals face and could threaten access to care."