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Show na?1 SbcHiflki November 51981 Why Are Hospital Costs So High? Foundation Tries to Find Answers (Continued from Page Utahns are admitted to the which means less demand on hospital at a slightly higher health services. The elderly use rate than elsewhere in the a comparatively large propor- region (141 compared with 138 tion of health care, with some of per 1,000) but they spend less the greatest expenditures comtime in the hospital (5.13 days, compared with 6.50). So the ing in the last period of life. final patient days per A generally healthful 1,000, figure, is lower, with Utahs lifestyle also keeps Utahns out 721 and the region 898. of hospitals, compared with figure Both state and region tally residents of other states. lower than the national rate of Shopping for the least cost- 156 admissions per 1,000, an y stay and 1,180 ly medical services is virtually average unheard of, either in Utah or patient days per 1,000. elsewhere, and is unlikely even The number of physicians if consumers were to have serving a community affects access to comparative prices. consumer costs. Utah has tradiof one first the Convenience, tionally had fewer doctors per still would considerations, keep 100,000 population than is in their neighborhoods reported nationally. In recent people for care whenever possible. years, however, the Salt Lake area supply of doctors has very Even along the more densely slightly exceeded the national populated Wasatch Front, average. Rural Utah, however, with' a choice of hospitals, continues to have some shorpeople dont compare and tages in physicians. choose a lower-price- d facility. They go where their doctors tell A profile of the medical profesthem to, in the vast majority of sion shows Utah with more cases. specialists in proportion to practitioners than is In the long run, Americans general norm elsewhere in the counthe worry little about health care try. costs, the report says. Third-part- y Nationally, there is concern payers insurance comtoo many new physicians and health that government panies are tab for the entering the field each programs pick up 91 cent of Utahs residents. Payear. Cutbacks in some tients are shielded from the im- medical school supports and student loans reflect that conpact of their health care bills. cern. By most measures, Utahs A comparison of average availability of health care Medicare resources, their utilization and prevailing charges costs compare favorably with for selected serves shows the nation and with the Moun- Utahns generally paying less, tain West, the foundation pro- with a few exceptions. file shows. 1) 7.56-da- Computerized axial The state has fewer hospital tomography scans cost more in beds in ratio to population 2.9 Utah, at $225, compared with per 1,000, compared with 3.7 in $185 nationally That may sugthe region and 4.4 nationally. gest an oversupply of CAT Beds cost money. If they are scanners in the state, Billings radiation empty, those who use the said. facilities still pay for them. $40 therapy also costs more Low-volta- per treatment, compared with An electrocar- $21 nationally. diogram in Utah costs $24, just $1 more than the national average. For other medical services in the survey however, Utah parisons, with Utah first and the national figure second, include: initial office visit to a ingeneral practitioner, $15-2itial office visit to a specialist, 2; flf complete X-ra- y, 8; larger-than-nation- rural, large rural, small urban and large urban. For the small rural hospitals the average increase over the period was 18.67; for large rural hospitals, 18.36 small urban hospitals, 16.49; and large urban, 17.22. g45-46p- Javelin, $2,000. Power steering, air conditioning, auto, trans., 40,000 miles on rebuilt engine. Runs 3 ( 37) great. Call 71 screens, 529-775- s45pd 896-521- (33 ) 39tfc Nice and clean mobile home courts. Has some spaces avail. FHA approved, close to schools, shopping and church. Please call (34) !!& 529-755- 5. 23tfc FOR RENT mobile home. 14x70 3 bdrm. 2 mo. $150.00 deposit. Call after 1:00 p.m. Located in Monroe. (34 ) 39tfc $275.00 527-434- 1 1979 Teton Trailer 5th Wheel. 40 ft. 2 bdrm with t. $13,500. Call 527- 4720 ( 34 ) 38tfc tip-ou- Must Sell 1980 Chev. Luv shell. Ex. condition. $4,780. Call 7011 - Aurora. (38) Truck with 529-bat- XMAS IS COMING! Must 1973 Datsun pickup, engine replaced with newer 2000 cc, new d paint, new sacrifice, steel-belte- radials. Must see to appreciate. $1900. Call 529-733- MOBILE HOME FOR RENT In Richfield Call 896-440- 1 Ask for Rick (38) s45pd 79 Dodge xk ton shortbed 6 cyl. eng., 4 spd, P S, low deluxe interior, mileage, great econ., Bridgestone tires. 527-330- 1 (38) 45tfc 1977 Chev. Luv, 4 speed, cassete stereo, sun roof, new radial tires on custom wheels, 6 pack 7 camper, $2950.00. AM-F- home. Inquire Rays Bar. Ph. 529-325- at Papa or 529-986- 9 (34) s45pd i As the foundation continues its work, comparisons will be studied in more detail and attempts will be made to sort out the underlying factors that contribute to health care costs. Even though they are relatively 'isolated from the effects of rising hospital costs, Utahns are paying more for the insurance that provides the buffer. The annual increase in premium charges among Utahs largest insurers has If possible, the foundation then will attempt to inject competition by creating pressures that will help the health care industry put on its own brakes. ranged from 14.6 percent to 19.8 percent. Tax loads have gone up to support Medicare and Systems CUT OUT AND MAIL IN YOUR AD Richfield Reaper 43 South Main Phone Richfield Gunnison Phone 896-443- 1 Garfield County News 115 North Main Phone ADS: 20 words for 676-816- 38) p45pd i 1976 to 1979, Utah salaries increased 9.2 percent and the nations 7.6. Since personnel costs represent approximately 70 percent of a hospitals expenses, those statistics say something about Valley News 510 South Main 676-270- $:t.OO - Panguitch - Salina Sun Phone 6 minimum. Gunnison 528-311- 60 East Main 15c - Salina 529-783- 9 per word after 20 words. (each ad. each week) FILL YOUR AD OUT ON THIS HANDY AD TO READ AS FOLLOWS: S3. 00 Per Week $6.00 Per Week al From 1 HE YOU CAN MAIL YOUR AD TO: ar (33) 40tfc skirting & blocks, swamp cooler. Very attractive 1 home $6,600. Call Health (non-profi- t) 896-65- Vi for hospitals associated with Advanced 2. 896-562- 12x55. rising hospital costs. In 1979, the average per day. Medicaid. increase 7; 896-556- windows, chest test, $14-1appendectomy, al 7; 896-469- Buddy bdrm., storm $8-- 9; al 8; FOR SALE 1976 24x65 1979 Plymouth Volare, 4 Double wide. 3 bdrm., 2 dr. sedan, 6 cylinders, air bath on private lot. Call conditioning, power 6 after 6 p.m. (33) steering. A-- l condition. Priced to sell. Call Howard Jensen, Axtell, 5 d FOR SALE ( 37) 1973 Longmont Mobile Home. 14x70 3 bdrm, lVi bath, Good FOR SALE part furn. For more info, 1968 Pontiac, looking call (33) and power steering A.C. and heater, brakes, FOR SALE 26 Kings radial tires. Make offer Hiway Motor Home, 9 mornings and 12,000 miles, $15,500. Call (37) 45pd evenings. before 5:00 p.m. 1973 count, multi-hospit- (for profit) $17-1management system was 68.5 $280-37hysterectomy, percent; for those associated $540-68open reduction of with Hospital Corporation of cardiac America (for profit), 15.7 perfracture, $600-79cent; Humana (for profit) 13.1 catheterization, $318-41and Intermountain Indicative of Utahs changing percent; Health Care Inc. health cost scene is a review of 15.1 percent. Medicare reimbursement. In The first couple of years after 1976, the average reimbursement per beneficiary was $321 a hospital joins a larger system in Utah, $442 in the region and are typically marked by large $500 for the nation. By 1979, the expenditures in a catch-u- p or were and $602 $514, construction fugures phase. Billings $686. Utahs 17 percent increase said. Typically, the hospital has compared with 10.9 for the been sold or put under a region and 11. 1 for the country. management contract because usually a The states increased costs its public sponsor is losing or city also have outstripd the in- county is to and unable operate creases in per capita income, money the economically. facilty the profile shows. From 1976 to 1980, per capita income rose 9.2 Increasing personnel costs percent and hospitals costs rose are contributing to higher 15.2 percent. hospital bills. Utah facilities At individual hospitals, have traditionally paid wages below the national scale and for average increases during that the past few years have made four-yeperiod ranged from increases 10.27 (at Milford Valley) to to help bring their employees to 30.58 (at Juab). par. From 1969 to 1976. Utahs In the profile, hospitals are annual increase average was 8 grouped into categories: small percent and the nations 8.3 CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE blood $4-- 5; 7; TIIE 528-771- routine urinalysis, $30-3- 0; BOYlflG? LOOK well. The com- compares The profile also looks at hospital charge increases in relationship to the hospitals affiliation with a system. In recent, affiliation with a larger system has not only become a near-norin Utah but throughout the country. The multi-hospitgroupings offer hospitals savings in purchases, insurance, construction and other costs. $9,00 Per Week MAIL-I- FORM |