Comparing hospital costs and length of stay for cancer patients in New York State Comprehensive Cancer Centers versus nondesignated academic centers and community hospitals

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore differences in costs and lengths of stay for cancer patients admitted to National Cancer Institute‐designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, nondesignated academic medical centers, and community hospitals in New York State.Data SourcesWe use patient‐level data from the New York State Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System Hospital Inpatient Discharges dataset for the years 2017–2019.Study DesignWe employ ordinary least squares and Poisson regressions to compare hospital costs and length of stay for cancer patients, controlling for hospital type, patient demographics, and patient health. Our key outcomes are differences in costs and lengths of stay.Data CollectionWe use data on patient demographics, total treatment costs, and lengths of stay for patients discharged from New York hospitals with cancer‐related diagnoses between 2017 and 2019.Principal FindingsWe determine that inpatient costs were 27% higher (95% CI 0.252, 0.285), but length of stay was 12% shorter (95% CI −0.131, −0.100), in Comprehensive Cancer Centers relative to community hospitals.ConclusionsThe results imply that, in New York State, Comprehensive Cancer Centers are a magnet for more complex oncology cases and administer more expensive treatments. That expertise, however, seems to be responsible for more efficient care delivery and thorough discharge planning, allowing for shorter average lengths of stay.