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The effect of N orth C arolina hospital payor mix on dental‐related pediatric emergency room utilization
Author(s) -
Hom Jacqueline M.,
Burgette Lane F.,
Lee Jessica Y.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/jphd.12025
Subject(s) - food science , chemistry
Objectives We examined the effect of hospital payor mix on the proportion of pediatric emergency department ( ED ) visits that were dental related. Methods We used the North Carolina ( NC ) E mergency R oom D ischarge D atabase from 2007 to 2009 to estimate the relationship between the percent of pediatric ED patients that were covered by M edicaid and the percent of pediatric ED visits that were dental related. Hospital‐level fixed effects controlled for unobserved hospital‐level characteristics. Discharge claims from 110 ED facilities in NC were analyzed over the 3‐year study period. Claims were limited to individuals under 18 years old with dental disease‐related I nternational C lassification of D iseases, N inth E dition, C linical M odification diagnostic codes, 520.00‐530.00. Results Using 327 hospital‐years of data, 62 percent of ED visits for pediatric dental reasons were covered by M edicaid, a proportion over two times greater than for pediatric reasons overall, 26 percent. Hospitals with a greater proportion of M edicaid payors had a greater proportion of pediatric dental ED visits ( P < 0.01). Conclusions Hospitals serving a large population of children on M edicaid should be prepared to provide emergency dental services. Public health administrators should prioritize oral health resources at hospital communities with a high proportion of M edicaid payors.