Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Doctor of Healthcare Administration, DHA

School

Health Services

Advisor

Miriam Ross

Abstract

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with a significant economic burden that includes frequent emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and readmissions. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences, if any, between hospital readmission rates and insurance reimbursement rates for non-Hispanic Black and White CHF patients in California. The theoretical framework was Bandura's social cognitive theory. Secondary data for this quantitative study were obtained from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and State Inpatient Databases from Healthcare Cost and Utilization for calendar year 2014-2016. A t-test and Levene's test for equality of variance were conducted on a sample of 11,905 patient records from 675 hospitals in California; the readmission discharge data and insurance reimbursement rates were analyzed by ethnicity and payer type. The results indicated that there was not a statistically significant difference between non-Hispanic Blacks as compared to non-Hispanic Whites in relation to readmission rates (M = 49.6, SD = 38.28) or insurance reimbursement rates (M = 50.88, SD = 36.52). Non-Hispanic Blacks had a higher readmission rate (36%) as compared to Whites (29%), and although these results are not significant, they support the need for healthcare professionals to develop programs that meet the needs of the community. The results of this study contribute to positive social change by providing information that healthcare professionals may be able to use to decrease CHF readmissions and improve access to care for non-Hispanic Blacks and other vulnerable patient groups.

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