Table 2 Frequency of use of each operational definition of Safety Net Hospital (SNH) and corresponding thematic categories among included articles published 2009–2018

1

DSH payment index (top quartile/top 20%).

7

X

2

Medicaid and Uninsured Inpatient Discharges (top quartile)

5

X

X

3

Medicaid Inpatient Discharges (one standard deviation above the state median/mean).

4

X

4

Medicaid Inpatient Discharges (one standard deviation above state mean) OR Non-Federal Government Hospitals (Public Hospitals).

3

X

X

5

AHRQ SES Index.

1

X

6

The ratio of bad debt plus charity care (top decile) OR uncompensated care expenses

1

X

7

Teaching COTH Member OR Non-Federal Government (Public Hospitals).

1

X

8

Medicaid Inpatient Discharges (top quartile) OR DSH status (y/n) OR proportion of charges for charity care.

1

X

X

X

9

Percentage of patients eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

1

X

10

Non-Federal Government Hospitals (Public Hospitals)

1

X

11

Medicare uncompensated care burden (top quartile)

1

X

Total

26

4

4

3

2

2