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AHRQ News and Numbers
Release Date: November 1, 2005
Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)—a condition associated with smoking and therefore
largely preventable—was the 5th most common cause of hospitalization
for Americans over 65 years of age in 2003. COPD cost Medicare roughly $6.6
billion or nearly two-thirds of the total national hospital bill of more than
$10.2 billion for COPD, according to the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality.
- Medicaid paid
nearly $2 billion, or one-fifth of the total hospital bill for COPD.
- Private health
insurance plans paid $1.3 billion, or 13 percent of the bill.
- Hospital charges
do not include physician fees.
- Overall, COPD
accounted for more than 620,000 hospitals stays in U.S. community hospitals.
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