Increased Reimbursement by Civilian Patients Receiving Care at the Army Burn Center

Gao ID: HRD-77-156 September 29, 1977

A survey of the cost of providing medical care to patients treated at the burn center of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, indicated that the reimbursement rate for the intensive medical care provided should receive immediate attention. Although the cost of care at the center is about $370 per day, the Department of Defense (DOD) is obtaining reimbursement at the rate of only $168 per day.

In 1976, care was provided for 277 patients, of which 135 were civilians not customarily eligible for care in DOD facilities. The 135 civilians were provided a total of 4,668 days of care subject to reimbursement. This represented about 90 percent of the total civilian patient days and about one-half of the burn center's total workload. Full cost recovery for the burn center could have resulted in increased reimbursements of about $990,000.

Recommendations

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