Study Links Insurance Status to Mortality Rates in ICUs

Uninsured patients in an intensive care unit are 21% more likely to die within 30 days than patients with private coverage, according to a study presented Monday at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society. Investigators said additional research is needed to determine whether a treatment bias caused the disparity.

• "Insurance Affects ICU Survival Rate in U.S.: Study" (Fox, Reuters, 5/17).