The most comprehensive study on US healthcare spending and variations across 3,110 counties has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and JAMA Health Forum. Researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) analyzed over 40 billion insurance claims and nearly one billion facility records, as well as data from surveys.
The study found that healthcare expenses vary dramatically across the country, with some counties spending up to four times more per capita than others. For example, Nassau County in New York City’s metropolitan area has the highest per capita expenditure at $13,332, while Clark County in Idaho spends just $3,410. Additionally, Sumter County in Florida had the highest per capita total for Medicare and private insurance.
The study also identified significant variations within states, with some counties having much higher or lower healthcare expenses than others. The top 10 countries in ambulatory care spending were all located in California, while Texas saw a 78% reduction in spending compared to other states.
Researchers found that utilization rate accounted for the largest percentage of variation in costs (65%), followed by price and intensity of services (24%). Age was also a significant factor, with older adults having higher healthcare expenses. The study suggests that addressing disparities in access to primary care could help reduce healthcare spending.
According to Dr. Joseph Dieleman, lead author and associate professor at IHME, better insurance coverage would encourage people to pursue regular health check-ups, potentially reducing the need for emergency care. This change would also lead to better health outcomes and allow emergency providers to focus on patients with urgent medical needs.
Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250214/Study-reveals-drastic-variations-in-US-health-care-spending-across-counties.aspx