KHS maintains over 100 million records updated annually of patient resource utilization, cost and charge data. Over the years, we have frequently researched critical issues related to our managed care consultations with hospitals. Recently, we have begun to publish the results in the form of "Mini Studies". These studies provide unique insights into targeted aspects of the managed healthcare market. They can serve as valuable background knowledge to KHS retainer clients when negotiating contracts or determining strategies. As we publish more such "Mini Studies", this portion of the retainer web site will serve as an archive for future reference and use.