Conclusion: overall lower use of Medicare in New Haven did not result in an increased mortality rate over Boston
High-variation conditions (i.e., ones where there is no concensus over whether hospitalization is usefull) accounted for most of the difference
So the New Haven hospitals had a greater percentage of ill patients which made them appear to have a higher mortality rate--but the over all population rate was the same
Results
Hospitalization Rates among Medicare beneficiaries
Hospital use and reimbursement were about twice as high per capita in Boston
Overall Popluation-Based Mortality Rates
virtually the same
Mortality According to Place of Daeath and Hosptial-Associated Mortality
differences in patient death rates are a result of clinical policies not physican skill