Hospitals see rise in international patients

More than half of U.S. hospitals with formal programs to cater to international patients saw demand grow between 2009 and 2011, though its unclear if the cause is more patients traveling for care or consolidation of the market, says a Rush University assistant professor who spoke in Chicago on the final day of the American College of Healthcare Executive's yearly leadership meeting.

Tricia Johnson, director of Rush University's Rush Center for the Advancement of Healthcare Value, said U.S. hospitals with formal programs to assist international patients have grown more aggressive about marketing during the past decade as global competition for traveling patients has increased.

A 2012 survey by the U.S. Cooperative for International Programs of 30 hospitals with dedicated resources to assist patients from abroad found volume grew at more than half of programs, including roughly a half-dozen with volume growth of more than 15%.

International programs require capital investment and absorb hospital resources, but are also highly profitable, which is revenue that can be reinvested toward hospital operations, said Andrea Dacquino, director of international business development for New York Presbyterian Hospital.

The mean charges—or amount billed—for international patients in 2010 was $69,771 compared with $33,079 for all patients.

Johnson, also an associate professor and associate chair of education and research in the university's Department of Health Systems Management, said discounts negotiated off the charges are typically smaller for international than domestic patients.

Meanwhile, a growing number of U.S. residents sought care abroad during the past decade.

Johnson said the reason could be wider availability of information on the Internet. The growth in high-deductible health plans and other out-of-pocket costs also contributed to the trend, she said.

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