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Three scenarios of clinical claim reimbursement for nosocomial infection: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

We studied the extent to which hospitals can expect to receive reimbursement for costs relating to nosocomial infections (NI) under the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system of clinical claims and calculated the loss of reimbursement due to missed or incorrect registration of infective complications on hospital discharge records (HDR). We calculated clinical claim reimbursement in three scenarios: the good, in which all NI are recorded on HDR; the bad, in which a proportion of NI recorded on HDR observed at the 41 participating hospitals; the ugly, in which none of the NI are recorded on HDR. We analysed in which patients the recording of infective complications changed the DRG clinical claim and the economic consequences on reimbursements. Compared with the ugly scenario, the bad scenario, which is closest to what actually occurs, with only 55.9% of NI (180/322) properly recorded, produced an increased DRG clinical claim in 30 cases, of on average 403 for every NI. Compared with the ugly scenario, the good scenario, produced an increased DRG clinical claim in 45 cases with an average reimbursement of 618. The difference between the bad and the good scenarios shows an average loss of 215 for every case. Our calculated good scenario could cover only 3.8% of direct costs per case attributable to NI. Real, tangible benefits in health, both social and economic, will only accrue from the monitoring and control of NI in hospitals.

Cross Infection↗

Politicians' and hospital managers' trade-offs in the choice of reimbursement scheme: a discrete choice experiment.

Trade-offs in the choice of hospital reimbursement schemes are widely discussed in the health economics literature but no one has previously, to this authors' knowledge, made an attempt at quantifying how purchasers and providers trade-off anticipated outcomes of reimbursement schemes. The purpose of this study is to elicit Danish county council politicians' and hospital managers' preferences for the anticipated incentives and consequences embedded in reimbursement schemes using the discrete choice method. Results indicate that politicians and hospital managers agree that increasing the number of patients treated is the most important objective for the choice of reimbursement scheme. The second most important objective to the politicians is to provide budget safety whereas inducing increased quality of treatment is third. Hospital managers rank inducement of increased quality of treatment as the second most important objective and have the county's budget safety as their third most important objective.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Analysis of hospital charges for ischemic stroke in Fukuoka, Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Stroke is a heavy economic burden on individuals, society, and health services in Japan, where health expenditures are rising rapidly. The objective of the present study was to examine medical services and demographic factors associated with increased inpatient charges for ischemic stroke in Japan. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 316 patients with a principal diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke who were discharged from the National Kyushu Medical Center Hospital from 1 July 1995 through 31 June 1999. Demographic, clinical, and administrative data were retrospectively collected from medical records and the hospital Clinical Financial Information System (CFIS). The influence of social and medical factors on total charges was analyzed using the stepwise multiple regression model. RESULTS: Among the total subjects, the mean (median) length of hospital stay (LOHS) was 33 (30) days (range, 2-155 days). The mean (median) hospital charge per patient was US dollars 9020 (dollars 7974) with a range of dollars 336-54,509. The distribution of charges was 42% for fundamental, 17% for injection therapies, 13% for radiological test, 11% for other laboratory examinations, 3% for drugs, and 3% for operations. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that LOHS was the key determinant of the hospital charge (partial R2=0.5993, P=0.0001). Operations (P=0.0001) and angiography (P=0.03) were also independent but less contributory determinants of the hospital charge. CONCLUSIONS: LOHS was strongly, positively associated with inpatient charges for ischemic stroke in Japan. This implies that significant charge reductions are more likely to rely on shortening LOHS, which probably can be achieved by altering reimbursement policies.

Adult↗

Addressing government and market failures with payment incentives: Hospital reimbursement reform in Hainan, China.

This paper examines the role of provider payment policy as an instrument for addressing government and market failures and controlling costs in the health sector, particularly in developing countries. We empirically evaluate the impact of provider payment reform in Hainan province, China, on expenditures for different categories of services that had been subject to distorted prices under fee-for-service. Using a pre-post study design with a control group, we analyze two years of claims data to assess the impact of a January 1997 change to prospective payment for a sub-sample of the hospitals. This difference-in-difference empirical strategy allows us to isolate the supply-side payment reform effects from demand-side policy interventions. We find that prepayment is associated with a slower increase in spending on expensive drugs and high technology services, compared to fee-for-service. The fact that payment reform is associated with reduced growth in spending on the most expensive drugs is particularly encouraging, given that drugs account for a remarkably high percentage of both the level and growth of aggregate health expenditure in China. Payment reform can be an effective policy instrument for correcting market failures and adverse side effects of government health sector interventions (such as distorted prices to assure access to basic services), both of which can lead to excessive health care expenditure growth. Such health spending growth can have a particularly high opportunity cost for developing countries.

China↗

Changes in the status of hospitalized stroke patients since inception of the prospective payment system in 1983.

OBJECTIVE: To describe epidemiologically the changes in acute-care delivery services for stroke victims since the inception of the 1983 prospective payment system (PPS). DESIGN: A cross-sectional comparison of 2 acute-care hospitalized samples of stroke patients before and after implementation of PPS. SETTING: Fifteen acute-care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1992 stroke patients discharged from 15 acute care hospitals in 1995-1996 were compared with 1665 patients studied in the same geographic area in 1981-1982. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence rates, length of stay (LOS), discharge destinations, in-hospital transfers, and mortality. RESULTS: Incidence rates between the 2 time periods remained similar (1.13-1.14/1000). Major changes between 1981-1982 and 1995-1996 included reengineering of hospitals to establish subacute units with an increased use of rehabilitation units, a 63% decrease in acute hospital LOS, a 44% increase in discharges to long-term care facilities, a 39% decrease in mortality, and a 5% decrease in discharge to home. Age (avg, 71y), gender, and living arrangements confounded discharge destinations. Significantly more men in 1995-1996 had strokes at younger ages, but overall 53% were women. CONCLUSIONS: Institution of the PPS has dramatically influenced hospital LOS, location of treatment, and discharge destinations with no improvement in home discharges.

Adolescent↗

Hospital cost containment in the 1980s. Hard lessons learned and prospects for the 1990s.

BACKGROUND: A key strategy used to contain hospital costs during the 1980s was to reduce the total number of admissions and average lengths of stay. We assessed the magnitude of the savings achieved, the effect of the reductions on the rate of increase in costs, and the prospects for future savings through reductions in the number of days patients spend in the hospital (inpatient days). METHODS: Using data from the American Hospital Association and the Health Care Financing Administration, we calculated the savings in the total number of inpatient days as the deviation from the historical increase in the number of inpatient days per year. We then estimated the real increase in costs that would have been observed if the reduction in the number of inpatient days had not occurred; we defined this value as the "underlying" rate of increase in costs. Finally, we compared the rates of increase in hospital reimbursement for Medicare beneficiaries and patients not covered by Medicare (non-Medicare patients). RESULTS: The total number of inpatient days per year decreased by 28 percent, in aggregate, between 1981 and 1988. The annual reduction was greatest in 1984 and 1985 and became progressively smaller in each subsequent year; by 1988 there was virtually no further reduction in the total number of inpatient days. The brief slowing of the increase in costs in the mid-1980s can be attributed entirely to the reduction in the number of inpatient days per year. The underlying rate of increase in costs was thus unaffected by efforts to contain spending. An increased number of outpatient visits partially offset the savings that resulted from the reduction in the number of inpatient days. This increase persisted even when the savings due to the lower number of inpatient days dwindled, and it virtually eliminated any dollar savings during the latter part of the 1980s. Between 1976 and 1982, Medicare spending on services provided by acute care hospitals rose by 9.2 percent per year in real terms, whereas non-Medicare expenditures rose by only 4.6 percent. This pattern has been reversed in recent years; in 1987-1988, Medicare spending rose by only 0.6 percent per year, whereas non-Medicare spending rose by 9 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the era of easy reductions in the number of inpatient days, with the associated attenuation of rising costs, is largely over. If further reductions in inpatient days are accompanied by an increase in the amount of ambulatory care similar to that during the past few years, the net savings will probably be negligible. Once the potential savings due to reductions in the number of inappropriate inpatient days has been exhausted, real hospital costs can be expected to rise, unless other effective measures to contain costs are implemented.

Ambulatory Care↗

Combining DRGs and per diem payments in the private sector: the Equitable Payment Model.

The many types of payment models used in the Australian private sector are reviewed. Their features are compared and contrasted to those desirable in an optimal private sector payment model. The EPM(TM) (Equitable Payment Model) is discussed and its consistency with the desirable features of an optimal private sector payment model outlined. These include being based on a robust classification system, nationally benchmarked length of stay (LOS) results, nationally benchmarked relative cost and encouraging continual improvement in efficiency to the benefit of both health funds and private hospitals. The advantages in the context of the private sector of EPM(TM) being a per diem model, albeit very different to current per diem models, are discussed. The advantages of EPM(TM) for hospitals and health funds are outlined.

Acute Disease↗

Private care and public waiting.

Waiting time for public hospital care is a regular matter for political debate One political response has been to suggest that expanding private sector activity will reduce public waiting times. This paper tests the hypothesis that increased private activity in the health system is associated with reduced waiting times using secondary analysis of hospital activity data for 2001-02. Median waiting time is shown to be inversely related to the proportion of public patients. Policymakers should therefore be cautious about assuming that additional support for the private sector will take pressure off the public sector and reduce waiting times for public patients.

Australia↗

The relationship of gender and in-hospital death: increased risk of death in men.

OBJECTIVES: The prognostic importance of gender in hospitalized patients has been poorly studied. The current study compared in-hospital death rates between men and women after adjusting for severity of illness. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS: 89,793 eligible patients with 6 common nonsurgical diagnoses who were discharged from 30 hospitals in Northeast Ohio in 1991 to 1993. METHODS: Admission severity of illness (ie, predicted risk of death) was calculated using multivariable models that were based on data abstracted from patients' clinical records (ROC curve areas, 0.83-0.90). In hospital death rates were then adjusted for predicted risks of death and other covariates using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Adjusted odds of death were higher (P < 0.05) in men, compared with women, for 4 diagnoses (stroke [OR, 1.60]; obstructive airway disease [OR, 1.38]; gastrointestinal hemorrhage [OR 1.32]; pneumonia [OR, 1.18]) and similar for two diagnoses (congestive heart failure [OR, 1.12]; and acute myocardial infarction [OR, 0.97]). These differences were somewhat attenuated by excluding patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities or other hospitals from analysis; nonetheless, the odds of death in men remained higher for 3 diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that inhospital death rates are generally higher in men than in women, after adjusting for severity of illness. In addition, the risk of in-hospital death in men and women was influenced by diagnosis. These differences may reflect gender-related variation in the utilization of hospital services, the effectiveness of care, over- or underestimation of severity of illness, or biological differences in men and women.

Aged↗

Economics of critical care: Medicare part A versus part B payments.

OBJECTIVE: To review the effect of Medicare part A payments (to hospitals) and part B payments (to providers) on critical care in the United States. DATA SOURCE AND SELECTION: Sources included U.S. government data and published literature reviewing the impact of Medicate payments on critical care. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Government data were reviewed to assess the history and status of reimbursement to hospitals and healthcare providers. These data, along with input from published literature, was used to assess the adequacy of current and projected Medicare reimbursements and the implications of these payments. CONCLUSION: Medicare payments to hospitals, particularly for critically ill patients, seem to fall short of the costs of caring for these patients. Reimbursements to providers seem more encouraging, although the opportunity exists to improve in this area as well.

Critical Care↗