THE 1966 ENACTMENT OF MEDICARE - ITS EFFECT ON DISCHARGES FROM LOS-ANGELES COUNTY-OPERATED HOSPITALS

The effect of Medicare on two public hospitals in Los Angeles County w as analyzed by examining the percentage of patients 65 years of age an d older among all discharges from 1958 through 1971. At Harbor General Hospital, discharges of elderly patients had dropped from 21.7% to 7. 9% by late 1966; at Los Angeles County General Hospital, discharges de creased from 15.3% to 10.7% between 1966 and 1967. Monitoring public h ospitals' demographic changes after enacting a national health plan ma y provide information on patients' and providers' acceptance of insura nce and on resources needed by public hospitals to care for those left without coverage.