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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
North Dakota Value:
Discharges following hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (PQI 90) per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries age 18 and older enrolled in the fee-for-service program
North Dakota Rank:
Discharges following hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (PQI 90) per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries age 18 and older enrolled in the fee-for-service program
1,531 - 2,150
2,151 - 2,552
2,553 - 2,857
2,858 - 3,160
3,161 - 3,954
US Value: 2,768
Top State(s): Idaho: 1,531
Bottom State(s): West Virginia: 3,954
Definition: Discharges following hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (PQI 90) per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries age 18 and older enrolled in the fee-for-service program
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Some hospital admissions related to chronic conditions or short-term illnesses are avoidable through adequate management and treatment in outpatient settings. The measure of preventable hospitalizations reflects overuse of hospitals as a primary source of care and provides insight into issues with accessibility and quality of outpatient primary care services.
Preventable hospitalizations place financial burdens on patients, insurance providers and hospitals. In 2017, preventable hospitalizations cost the United States an estimated $33.7 billion, the majority for chronic conditions such as heart failure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Populations that experience higher rates of preventable hospitalizations include:
Ongoing care for short-term or long-term health problems can prevent complications and keep people out of hospitals. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality identifies care coordination and transition programs as highly effective strategies to reduce preventable hospitalizations, especially among older adults and patients with multiple chronic conditions. Preventive health care, such as routine check-ups and screenings, has also been cited as a way to reduce preventable hospitalizations.
Additional strategies to reduce hospital readmissions include:
Healthy People 2030 has several objectives related to hospitals and emergency services that aim to reduce preventable hospital stays and improve hospital care.
Dhaliwal, Jasninder S., and Ashujot Kaur Dang. “Reducing Hospital Readmissions.” In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing, 2024. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK606114/.
Kao, Yu-Hsiang, Wei-Ting Lin, Wan-Hsuan Chen, Shiao-Chi Wu, and Tung-Sung Tseng. “Continuity of Outpatient Care and Avoidable Hospitalization: A Systematic Review.” The American Journal of Managed Care 25, no. 4 (April 1, 2019): e126–34. https://www.ajmc.com/view/continuity-of-outpatient-care-and-avoidable-hospitalization-a-systematic-review.
Kringos, Dionne S., Wienke G. W. Boerma, Allen Hutchinson, Jouke van der Zee, and Peter P. Groenewegen. “The Breadth of Primary Care: A Systematic Literature Review of Its Core Dimensions.” BMC Health Services Research 10, no. 1 (December 2010): 65. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-10-65.
Lyhne, Cecilie Nørby, Merete Bjerrum, Anders Hammerich Riis, and Marianne Johansson Jørgensen. “Interventions to Prevent Potentially Avoidable Hospitalizations: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review.” Frontiers in Public Health 10 (July 11, 2022): 898359. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.898359.
McDermott, Kimberly W., and H. Joanna Jiang. Characteristics and Costs of Potentially Preventable Inpatient Stays, 2017. HCUP Statistical Brief #259. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, June 2020. https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb259-Potentially-Preventable-Hospitalizations-2017.jsp.
National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chartbook on Care Coordination. AHRQ Pub. No. 16-0015-6-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, June 2016. https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/research/findings/nhqrdr/chartbooks/carecoordination/qdr2015-chartbook-carecoordination.pdf.
Rosano, Aldo, Christian Abo Loha, Roberto Falvo, Jouke van der Zee, Walter Ricciardi, Gabriella Guasticchi, and Antonio Giulio de Belvis. “The Relationship between Avoidable Hospitalization and Accessibility to Primary Care: A Systematic Review.” European Journal of Public Health 23, no. 3 (May 29, 2012): 356–60.https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cks053.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
