Dermatologic disease accounts for a large number of hospital admissions annually

Background: Severe skin disease uncommonly requires hospitalization. The nu mber of patients hospitalized for skin disease annually in the United State s has never been reported. Objective: We evaluated the number of patients admitted for skin disorders. Method: Using data from 2 national databases, the Healthcare Cost and Utili zation Project-3 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-3 NIS) 1992-1994 and Med icare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) 1990-1996 file, we evaluated th e total discharges, total charges, and reimbursement of the dermatology-spe cific (272, 273, 283, and 284) and -related (263, 264, 265, 266, 271, 277, 278, and 279) diagnosis-related groups (DRGs). Results: In 1994, the HCUP-3 NIS data showed that a total of 468,014 discha rges were classified under Dermatology DRGs, whereas in 1996 MEDPAR data ga ve a figure of 183,310 discharges with a total Medicare reimbursement of $8 92 million. In both data sets, dermatology-specific DRGs show a decrease ov er time, although dermatology-related DRGs generally showed an opposite inc reasing pattern. The top 10 states reimbursed by Medicare in 1996 for the d ischarges grouped under the DRGs mentioned above were New York, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ma ssachusetts, Conclusion: Many patients are admitted annually for skin disease. The minor ity are admitted by dermatologists.