On the Costs of Inpatient Long-term Care in a Comparison of the Austrian Länder

The public discussion about the differences between the average costs of inpatient care in the Länder is often based on comparisons and explanations that do not stand up to scrutiny. The aim of this article is to analyse the actual cost differences on the basis of statistical methods, taking into account on the one hand the sometimes considerable differences between the care structures, but also the wage and real estate price levels in the Länder, and on the other hand a number of limitations with regard to the comparability of the data in the care service statistics. Large parts of the dispersion of costs per settlement day between the Länder can be explained in a simple regression model using these factors. The cost differences between the Länder that cannot be explained economically or statistically are ultimately small.