PAYMENT FOR HOSPITAL CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS

[摘要] This report describes the method developed by the New York City Department of Health to pay for the hospital care of prematurely born infants in six approved premature centers. It also discusses the results of this payment program. A total of $291,072.00 was paid for the care of 911 infants in a one-year period, of whom 38% were extramural infants. Family payment amounted to only 2.9% of the total funds expended. The average length of center stay was 26.6 days. Variations between centers were noted in the length of time it took the infants to reach their discharge weight of 2,500 gm. Thirteen per cent of the infants were kept in the centers after they reached 2,500 gm. in weight, approximately one-half of whom were for nonmedical reasons. Some of the implications of the program for public health and hospital administrators, pediatricians and social workers are discussed.

[学科分类] 儿科学