Cover: The Impact of Air Quality on Hospital Spending
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The Impact of Air Quality on Hospital Spending

by John A. Romley, Andrew Hackbarth, Dana P. Goldman

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Air pollution is harmful to human health, but little is known about the costs of pollution-related health care. If such care imposes a significant burden on insurance companies and employers, they would have substantial stakes in improving air quality. Reduced medical spending could also benefit public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. This study estimated the amount of medical spending by private health insurers and public purchasers, such as Medicare, that is related to air pollution. Specifically, the authors determined how much failing to meet air quality standards cost various purchasers of hospital care in California over 2005-2007. The results indicate that substantial reductions in hospital spending can be achieved through reductions in air pollution.

Table of Contents

  • Chapter One

    Introduction

  • Chapter Two

    Background

  • Chapter Three

    Analytic Approach

  • Chapter Four

    Results

  • Chapter Five

    Conclusions

  • Appendix A

    Results Within Regions and by Detailed Payer Type

  • Appendix B

    Results for Specific Health Plans

  • Appendix C

    Additional Details for Analysis Step 2

  • Appendix D

    Payer Category Assignment

This work was sponsored by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The research was conducted in RAND Health, a division of the RAND Corporation.

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