LAUSR

Key Points Question Do children’s hospitals provide higher value care for routine surgical procedures compared with non–children’s hospitals? Findings In this cohort study of 368 220 pediatric patients, negotiated payments for commonly performed surgical procedures in children were significantly higher at children’s hospitals than non–children’s hospitals. Inpatient procedures were 39% higher and outpatient procedures were 34% higher. Meaning This study’s findings suggest that for routine surgical procedures, children’s hospitals have comparable clinical outcomes but higher payments, and thus lower value, compared with non–children’s hospitals.