Comprehensive Analysis of US Health Care Spending on Injuries: Mechanisms, Demographics, and Payer Perspectives

US injury-related health care spending reached $106.7 billion in 2022, with more than half occurring outside acute and ambulatory care settings.
Falls accounted for the largest share of spending, especially among older women, reflecting heavy post-acute care utilization.
Distinct demographic and payer-related spending phenotypes emerged: firearms and assaults predominantly affected young men with acute care needs; Medicare bore most fall-related costs while private insurance covered most transport injury expenses.
Private insurance spending per inpatient encounter was markedly higher than Medicaid for patients under 65, illuminating payer-based cost disparities influencing trauma system financing.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

US injury-related health care spending reached $106.7 billion in 2022, with more than half occurring outside acute and ambulatory care settings.
Falls accounted for the largest share of spending, especially among older women, reflecting heavy post-acute care utilization.
Distinct demographic and payer-related spending phenotypes emerged: firearms and assaults predominantly affected young men with acute care needs; Medicare bore most fall-related costs while private insurance covered most transport injury expenses.
Private insurance spending per inpatient encounter was markedly higher than Medicaid for patients under 65, illuminating payer-based cost disparities influencing trauma system financing.

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