Keywords: Disparities
Background: The Maryland Health Enterprise Zone (HEZ) Initiative was implemented from 2013 to 2017. The HEZ is a collaboration between community-based organizations and the local health department or hospital to provide incentives and resources to attract primary care providers to underserved communities by provide other community services.
Objectives: This study determined the impact of HEZ on hospital utilization.
Design, Setting, and Participants: This quasi-experimental study of HEZ uses 7 years of utilization data, from 2009 to 2015. The study population compare residents of the HEZ zip codes to those of zip codes that were eligible for the initiative.
Methodology: The study design was difference-in-difference using fixed and random effects regression models.
Results: The HEZ is associated with a reduction of 8.8 inpatient stays per 100 residents (95% CI, 17.6 to .1) in 2012 to a reduction of 20.0 inpatient stays per 100 residents (95% CI, -38.9 to -1.1) in 2015.
Conclusion: Implementing initiatives like HEZ is a viable way to reduce inpatient admission and inpatient cost.