PHC4 Research Brief - Hospital Admissions for Firearm-Related Injuries in Pennsylvania - News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joe Martin, Communications Director
717-232-6787 or

FIREARM-RELATED HOSPITALIZATIONS DECREASE; MORTALITIES, HOSPITAL CHARGES ON THE RISE

Harrisburg, PA - February 26, 2004 - Hospital admissions in Pennsylvania for firearm-related injuries decreased by 26 percent between 1997 and 2002, according to figures released today by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4). During the same period, the inhospital mortality rate for these admissions increased by 12 percent and hospital charges rose by 87 percent.

"While it is good news that hospital admissions for firearm-related injuries are down, these types of injuries continue to occur disproportionately in urban areas," stated Marc P. Volavka, Executive Director of PHC4. "These cases also represent mounting costs to publicly-financed health care as 70 percent of all firearm-related injury victims in Pennsylvania were either Medical Assistance recipients or had no health insurance coverage at all."

In 1997, there were 2,056 hospital admissions for firearm-related injuries compared to 1,518 in 2002. Total charges in 2002 amounted to nearly $127 million.Hospital Admissions for Firearm-Related Injuries in Pennsylvania is the first of PHC4’s new Research Briefs. To be released periodically, this new web-based publication will examine health care topics relevant to public policy and public interest.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) is an independent state agency charged with collecting, analyzing and reporting information that can be used to improve the quality and restrain the cost of health care in Pennsylvania. Copies of this brief are free and are available on the Council's website at http://www.phc4.org or by calling PHC4 at (717) 232-6787.