|15,990 |
|Cost per visit |$294 |$280 |
The root causes of these variances are difficult to pin down, since there are so many variables that affect them, but miller and Ryan (1995) identify unexpected patient mix and inpatient use rate changes as key factors. Since the inpatient figure is higher than projected but the outpatient figure is lower than projected, there is a suggestion that the emergency department may be admitting more patients than is really necessary. The member figure is 1,000 lower than anticipated, and this could be because of alternative medical care facilities in the area. Outpatient visits are lower than expected, which may also be due to alternative care available. The cost per visit is lower, possibly because it is slightly inflated to ensure that it is cove
...