System Compare Definitions and Methodology

Utilization statistics are obtained from a hospital's most recent Medicare cost report.  Data are updated on a quarterly basis as more recent information becomes available:

Beds:	W/S S-3, part I, col 1
Revenue:	W/S C, part I, col 6 Note:  Revenue for swing beds is included with other services.
Inpatient Days:	W/S S-3, part I, col 4-6
Discharges:	W/S S-3, part I, col 15
Average Length of Stay:	Calculated:  Days / Discharges
Average Daily Census:	Calculated:  Days / 365
Gross Medicare Patient Revenue:	Calculated; sum of the following:
IP Routine (Part A)	W/S D-4, col 2, lines 25-31
IP Ancillary (Part A)	W/S D-4, col 2, line 103
IP (Part B)	W/S D, part V, col 10, line 104
OP Ancillary ( Part B)	W/S D, part V, col 2-5.02, line 104
Gross Medicaid Patient Revenue	W/S S-10, col 1, line 28
Gross Total Patient Revenue:	Calculated; sum of the following:
IP Patient Revenue	W/S G-2, part I, col 1, line 25
OP Patient Revenue	W/S G-2, part I, col 2, line 25
Gross Other Patient Revenue:	Calculated: Total - Medicare - Medicaid

Financial

Financial information is reported for a hospital's most recent cost reporting period.  The most current status of each period is reported (i.e. as submitted, settled, reopened, etc.).

Balance Sheet

Balance Sheet information is obtained from a hospital's Medicare cost report (W/S G).  Only the most recent cost reporting period is reported and data are updated on a quarterly basis as more recent information becomes available.

Income Statement

Income Statement information is obtained from a hospital's Medicare cost report (W/S G2 and G3).  Only the most recent cost reporting period is reported and data are updated on a quarterly basis as more recent information becomes available.  Data for cost reporting periods representing other than 12 months are annualized.

Uncompensated Care

Uncompensated Care information is obtained from a hospital's Medicare cost report (W/S S10).  Only the most recent cost reporting period is reported and data are annualized for periods representing other than 12 months.  Costs are estimated based on a hospital's gross charges and overall cost-to-charge ratio.  (Please note that this information is a new reporting requirement in the Medicare cost report and appears to be improperly reported by some hospitals.)