Racial minorities bear a much higher cost burden than White patients for unplanned hospital visits after breast reconstruction surgery

Racial minorities bear a much higher cost burden than White patients for  unplanned hospital visits after breast reconstruction surgery, according to a study of more than 17,000 patients. Researchers could not identify from the data they analyzed why the women had undergone breast reconstruction.

Black women were charged an average of $2,840 more than White women, Hispanic women $2,380 more, and Asian and Native American/Alaska Native women $8,103 more.

Unplanned hospital visits after a variety if elective preocedures are an indicator of surgical care quality, the researchers observed. Minority women may have faced differences in access to care and the provision of care.

 

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