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Yan J, Shi Y, Zhang J, Chen S, Huo X, Shen Y, Zhang N. Impact of capitation prepayment on the medical expenses and health service utilization of patients with coronary heart disease: a community policy intervention program in a county in China. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2224. [PMID: 37950184 PMCID: PMC10638726 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17161-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical costs have been rising rapidly in recent years, and China is controlling medical costs from the perspective of health insurance payments. OBJECTIVES To explore the impact of the capitation prepayment method on medical expenses and health service utilization of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, which provides a scientific basis for further improvement of the payment approach. METHODS The diagnosis records of visits for CHD in the database from 2014 to 2016 (April to December each year) were selected, and two townships were randomly selected as the pilot and control groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) and difference-in-difference (DID) model were used to assess changes in outpatient and inpatient expenses and health service utilization among CHD patients after the implementation of the capitation prepayment policy. RESULTS There were eventually 3,900 outpatients and 664 inpatients enrolled in this study after PSM. The DID model showed that in the first year of implementing the reform, total outpatient expenses decreased by CNY 13.953, drug expenses decreased by CNY 11.289, as well as Medicare payments decreased by CNY 8.707 in the pilot group compared to the control group. In the second year of implementing the reform, compared with the control group, the pilot group had a reduction of CNY 3.123 in other expenses, and a reduction of CNY 6.841 in Medicare payments. There was no significant change in inpatient expenses in the pilot group compared to the control group, but there was an increase of 0.829 visits to rural medical institutions, and an increase of 0.750 visits within the county for inpatients. CONCLUSIONS The capitation prepayment method has been effective in controlling the outpatient expenses of CHD patients, as well as improving the medical service capacity of medical institutions within the Medical Community, and increasing the rate of inside county visits for inpatients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincao Yan
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yunke Shi
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Jiani Zhang
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Siwei Chen
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xinran Huo
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yue Shen
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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Okunna N, Ezeama NN, Ezeama CO, Munala L. Exploring physicians' experiences under the national health insurance scheme in Southeastern Nigeria. Int J Health Plann Manage 2023; 38:398-415. [PMID: 36333276 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A number of low-and middle-income countries have implemented National Health Insurance Schemes (NHIS) as part of efforts to increase access to quality healthcare and financial protection from regressive out-of-pocket payments. This study explored physicians' experiences under the Nigerian (NHIS) to identify factors that may influence efficient health care delivery. METHODS A convenient sample of 85 physicians residing in South-East Nigeria who had active contracts with the NHIS were surveyed via self-administered questionnaire for this study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data while Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine if there were statistically significant associations between physician professional characteristics and their responses to key statements that assessed their experiences and behavior. Also, thematic analysis was used to assess additional qualitative data provided by study participants. RESULTS Provider experiences were affected by the perceived inadequacy of reimbursement rates, delays in payment and services not covered by the NHIS. Participants' responses to statements on inadequacy of reimbursement was significantly associated with location using Kruskal-Wallis test (χ2 (1) = 7.24, p = 0.027) while billing patients for services not covered under the NHIS was significantly associated with length of years of practice (χ2 (1) = 15.5, p = 0.001) and place of employment (χ2 (1) = 5.82, p = 0.054). CONCLUSION Physician experiences and challenges they face under the NHIS program in Nigeria have unintended effects on the delivery of health care services. It is imperative that these issues are addressed to improve health service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nene Okunna
- Department of Health, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nkiru Nwamaka Ezeama
- Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | | | - Leso Munala
- Department of Public Health, St. Catherine University, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Yambah JK, Kuunibe N, Atinga RA, Laar K. The effects of Ghana's capitation policy on hospital Under-5 mortality in the Ashanti Region. Ghana Med J 2022; 56:185-190. [PMID: 37448997 PMCID: PMC10336635 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v56i3.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The study estimated the capitation policy's effect on the under-5 mortality (U5MR) rate in hospitals in Ashanti Region. Design We used an interrupted time series design to estimate the impact from secondary data obtained from the DHIMS-2 database. Monthly under-5 deaths and the number of live births per month were extracted and entered into Stata 15.0 for analyses. The U5MR was calculated by dividing the number of live deaths by the number of live births for each of the 60 months of the study. Setting Health facilities of the Ashanti Region with Data in the DHIMS 2. Intervention the level and trend of U5MR for 31 months during the Capitation Policy implementation (January 2015 to July 2017) were compared with the level and trend 29 months after the withdrawal of the capitation policy (August 2017 to December 2019). Outcome measures changes in trend or level of U5MR after the withdrawal of capitation. Main Results During the capitation policy, monthly U5MR averaged 10.71 +/-2.71 per 1000 live births. It declined to 0.03 deaths per 1000 live births (p=0.65). After the policy withdrawal, the immediate (increase of 0.01 per 1000live births) and the trend (decline of 0.13 deaths per 1000 live births per month) were still not statistically significant. Conclusion We conclude that the capitation policy did not appear to have influenced under-5 mortality in the Ashanti Region. The design of future healthcare payment models should target quality improvement to reduce under-5 mortalities. Funding None declared.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K Yambah
- University Health Services, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Naasegnibe Kuunibe
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Science and Arts, SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Ghana
| | - Roger A Atinga
- Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kindness Laar
- Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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McPake B, Gilbert K, Vong S, Ros B, Has P, Khuong AT, Phuc PD, Hoang QC, Nguyen DH, Siengsounthone L, Luangphaxay C, Annear P, McKinley J. Role of regulatory capacity in the animal and human health systems in driving response to zoonotic disease outbreaks in the the Mekong region. One Health 2022; 14:100369. [PMID: 35106358 PMCID: PMC8784321 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a policy situation analysis in three Mekong region countries, focused on how the animal and human health systems interact to control avian influenza (AI). The study used scoping literature reviews aimed at establishing existing knowledge concerning the regulatory context. We then conducted a series of key informant interviews with national and sub-national government officials and representatives of producers and poultry farmers to understand their realities in managing the complex interface of the two sectors to control AI. We found signs of formal progress in establishing the policy and legislative frameworks needed to enable cooperation of the two sectors but a series of constraints that impede their effective operation. These included the competitive relationships involved, especially with budgetary allocations and mandates that can conflict with each other. Many local actors also view development partners (e.g., bilateral and multilateral donors) as having a dominant role in establishing these collaborations, limiting the extent to which there is local ownership of the agenda. The animal and human health sectors are not equally resourced, with the animal health sector disadvantaged in terms of surveillance and laboratory systems, human resources and financial allocations. Contrasting strategies for achieving objectives have also characterised the two sectors in recent decades, seeing a major shift towards the use of incentive-based approaches in the human health sector but very little parallel development in the animal health sector, largely dependent on command and control approaches. Successful future collaborations between the two sectors are likely to depend on better resourcing in the animal health sector, increasing local ownership of the agenda, and ensuring that both sectors can use the full range of regulatory strategies available to achieve objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara McPake
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Sreytouch Vong
- Independent consultants contracted by the Nossal Institute for Global Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Bandeth Ros
- Independent consultants contracted by the Nossal Institute for Global Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Phalmony Has
- National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | - Pham-Duc Phuc
- Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | | | - Duc Hai Nguyen
- Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | | | | | - Peter Annear
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne, Australia
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Nguyen BU, Holterman A, Holterman M, Dinh LT. Academic Pediatric Surgery Capacity Building in Vietnam Through PASS, a Pediatric Acute Surgical Support Course. Front Surg 2022; 9:868483. [PMID: 35529908 PMCID: PMC9069233 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.868483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal and pediatric surgical emergencies in Low and Low Middle Income countries remain a significant challenge in combatting the burden and inequities of global health. IPSAC-Vietnam is a small Non-Governmental Organization that has been engaged in a 12-year multi-pronged partnership with several children’s hospitals in Vietnam VN to enhance pediatric surgery capacity. We describe the health care, medical training and emergency system in VN as the background for IPSAC activities and development of Pediatric Acute Surgical Support (PASS) course. The course goal is to prepare health care personnel in the immediate management of neonatal/pediatric life-threatening surgical conditions and road injuries at their first point of entry into Vietnam hospitals. PASS is a horizontal outreach initiative that adopts an interprofessional, multidisciplinary, team-training, train-the-trainers, and outcome-based training approach. PASS can be used as a tool for sustainable horizontal capacity-building by champion leaders at the teaching children’s hospitals and medical universities in developing countries, to strengthen training for pediatric surgical emergencies, to integrate pediatric and pediatric surgical care and to advocate for a comprehensive approach to emergency care of the critically ill child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bich-Uyen Nguyen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Aixuan Holterman
- Department of Surgery at Peoria and Chicago; Department of Pediatrics at Chicago, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mark Holterman
- Department of Surgery at Peoria and Chicago; Department of Pediatrics at Chicago, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Le-Thanh Dinh
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Correspondence: L-T Dinh
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Van Doorslaer E, O'Donnell O, Gwatkin D, Yazbeck AS, Lindelow M, Bredenkamp C, Yip W, Bales S, McIntyre D, Filmer DP, De Walque D, Couffinhal A, Hafez R. In Appreciation of Adam: Reflections from Friends and Colleagues. Health Syst Reform 2021; 7:e1968564. [PMID: 34554034 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2021.1968564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Some of Adam Wagstsaff's colleagues and research collaborators submitted short reflections about the different ways Adam made a difference through his amazing research output to health equity and health systems as well as a leader and mentor. The Guest Editors of this Special Issue selected a set of six essays related to dimensions of Adam's contributions.The first contribution highlights his role early on in his career, prior to joining the World Bank, in defining and expanding an important field of research on equity in health ("Adam and Equity," by Eddy van Doorslaer and Owen O'Donnell). The second contribution focuses on Adam's early work on equity and health within the World Bank and his leadership on important initiatives that have had impact far beyond the World Bank ("Adam and Health Equity at the World Bank," by Davidson Gwatkin and Abdo Yazbeck). The next contribution focuses on Adam's deep dive into providing support, through research, for country-specific programs and reforms, with a special focus on some countries in East Asia ("Adam and Country Health System Research," by Magnus Lindelow, Caryn Bredenkamp, Winnie Yip, and Sarah Bales). The next contribution highlights Adam's many ways of contributing to the International Health Economics Association, from the impressive technical contributions to leadership and organizational reform ("Adam and iHEA," by Diane McIntyre). The next to last contribution focuses on Adam's long-term leadership in the research group at the World Bank and the long-lasting influence on integrating the research produced into World Bank operations and creating an environment that rewarded producing evidence for action ("Adam the Research Manager," by Deon Filmer and Damien de Walque). The last contribution pulls on the thread found in many of the earlier ones, mentorship with honesty, directness, caring, commitment, and equity ("Adam the Mentor," by Agnes Couffinhal, Caryn Bredenkamp, and Reem Hafez).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddy Van Doorslaer
- Department of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Owen O'Donnell
- Erasmus School of Economics and School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Tinbergen Institute, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Abdo S Yazbeck
- International Health Department, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Magnus Lindelow
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank Group, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Caryn Bredenkamp
- Human Development Practice Group, World Bank, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Winnie Yip
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Bales
- Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Diane McIntyre
- Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Deon P Filmer
- Development Research Group, The World Bank Group, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Damien De Walque
- Development Research Group, The World Bank Group, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Agnès Couffinhal
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank Group, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Reem Hafez
- Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice, The World Bank Group, Washington, DC, USA
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Ghazaryan E, Delarmente BA, Garber K, Gross M, Sriudomporn S, Rao KD. Effectiveness of hospital payment reforms in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Health Policy Plan 2021; 36:1344-1356. [PMID: 33954776 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Payment mechanisms have attracted substantial research interest because of their consequent effect on care outcomes, including treatment costs, admission and readmission rates and patient satisfaction. Those mechanisms create the incentive environment within which health workers operate and can influence provider behaviour in ways that can facilitate achievement of national health policy goals. This systematic review aims to understand the effects of changes in hospital payment mechanisms introduced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) on hospital- and patient-level outcomes. A standardised search of seven databases and a manual search of the grey literature and reference lists of existing reviews were performed to identify relevant articles published between January 2000 and July 2019. We included original studies focused on hospital payment reforms and their effect on hospital and patient outcomes in LMICs. Narrative descriptions or studies focusing only on provider payments or primary care settings were excluded. The authors used the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions tool to assess the risk of bias and quality. Results were synthesized in a narrative description due to methodological heterogeneity. A total of 24 articles from seven middle-income countries were included, the majority of which are from Asia. In most cases, hospital payment reforms included shifts from passive (fee-for-service) to active payment models-the most common being diagnosis-related group payments, capitation and global budget. In general, hospital payment reforms were associated with decreases in hospital expenditures, out-of-pocket payments, length of hospital stay and readmission rates. The majority of the articles scored low on quality due to weak study design. A shift from passive to active hospital payment methods in LMICs has been associated with lower hospital and patient costs as well as increased efficiency without any apparent compromise on quality. However, there is an important need for high-quality studies in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ghazaryan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 W Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Benjo A Delarmente
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 W Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 W Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kent Garber
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 W Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Margaret Gross
- Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1900 E Monument St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,William Rand Kenan, Jr. Library of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Dr., Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Salin Sriudomporn
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 W Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 W Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Krishna D Rao
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 W Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Diaconu K, Falconer J, Verbel A, Fretheim A, Witter S. Paying for performance to improve the delivery of health interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 5:CD007899. [PMID: 33951190 PMCID: PMC8099148 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd007899.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing interest in paying for performance (P4P) as a means to align the incentives of healthcare providers with public health goals. Rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of these strategies in improving health care and health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is lacking; this is an update of the 2012 review on this topic. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of paying for performance on the provision of health care and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and 10 other databases between April and June 2018. We also searched two trial registries, websites, online resources of international agencies, organizations and universities, and contacted experts in the field. Studies identified from rerunning searches in 2020 are under 'Studies awaiting classification.' SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomized or non-randomized trials, controlled before-after studies, or interrupted time series studies conducted in LMICs (as defined by the World Bank in 2018). P4P refers to the transfer of money or material goods conditional on taking a measurable action or achieving a predetermined performance target. To be included, a study had to report at least one of the following outcomes: patient health outcomes, changes in targeted measures of provider performance (such as the delivery of healthcare services), unintended effects, or changes in resource use. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We extracted data as per original review protocol and narratively synthesised findings. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Given diversity and variability in intervention types, patient populations, analyses and outcome reporting, we deemed meta-analysis inappropriate. We noted the range of effects associated with P4P against each outcome of interest. Based on intervention descriptions provided in documents, we classified design schemes and explored variation in effect by scheme design. MAIN RESULTS We included 59 studies: controlled before-after studies (19), non-randomized (16) or cluster randomized trials (14); and interrupted time-series studies (9). One study included both an interrupted time series and a controlled before-after study. Studies focused on a wide range of P4P interventions, including target payments and payment for outputs as modified by quality (or quality and equity assessments). Only one study assessed results-based aid. Many schemes were funded by national governments (23 studies) with the World Bank funding most externally funded schemes (11 studies). Targeted services varied; however, most interventions focused on reproductive, maternal and child health indicators. Participants were predominantly located in public or in a mix of public, non-governmental and faith-based facilities (54 studies). P4P was assessed predominantly at health facility level, though districts and other levels were also involved. Most studies assessed the effects of P4P against a status quo control (49 studies); however, some studies assessed effects against comparator interventions (predominantly enhanced financing intended to match P4P funds (17 studies)). Four studies reported intervention effects against both comparator and status quo. Controlled before-after studies were at higher risk of bias than other study designs. However, some randomised trials were also downgraded due to risk of bias. The interrupted time-series studies provided insufficient information on other concurrent changes in the study context. P4P compared to a status quo control For health services that are specifically targeted, P4P may slightly improve health outcomes (low certainty evidence), but few studies assessed this. P4P may also improve service quality overall (low certainty evidence); and probably increases the availability of health workers, medicines and well-functioning infrastructure and equipment (moderate certainty evidence). P4P may have mixed effects on the delivery and use of services (low certainty evidence) and may have few or no distorting unintended effects on outcomes that were not targeted (low-certainty evidence), but few studies assessed these. For secondary outcomes, P4P may make little or no difference to provider absenteeism, motivation or satisfaction (low certainty evidence); but may improve patient satisfaction and acceptability (low certainty evidence); and may positively affect facility managerial autonomy (low certainty evidence). P4P probably makes little to no difference to management quality or facility governance (low certainty evidence). Impacts on equity were mixed (low certainty evidence). For health services that are untargeted, P4P probably improves some health outcomes (moderate certainty evidence); may improve the delivery, use and quality of some health services but may make little or no difference to others (low certainty evidence); and may have few or no distorting unintended effects (low certainty evidence). The effects of P4P on the availability of medicines and other resources are uncertain (very low certainty evidence). P4P compared to other strategies For health outcomes and services that are specifically targeted, P4P may make little or no difference to health outcomes (low certainty evidence), but few studies assessed this. P4P may improve service quality (low certainty evidence); and may have mixed effects on the delivery and use of health services and on the availability of equipment and medicines (low certainty evidence). For health outcomes and services that are untargeted, P4P may make little or no difference to health outcomes and to the delivery and use of health services (low certainty evidence). The effects of P4P on service quality, resource availability and unintended effects are uncertain (very low certainty evidence). Findings of subgroup analyses Results-based aid, and schemes using payment per output adjusted for service quality, appeared to yield the greatest positive effects on outcomes. However, only one study evaluated results-based aid, so the effects may be spurious. Overall, schemes adjusting both for quality of service and rewarding equitable delivery of services appeared to perform best in relation to service utilization outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The evidence base on the impacts of P4P schemes has grown considerably, with study quality gradually increasing. P4P schemes may have mixed effects on outcomes of interest, and there is high heterogeneity in the types of schemes implemented and evaluations conducted. P4P is not a uniform intervention, but rather a range of approaches. Its effects depend on the interaction of several variables, including the design of the intervention (e.g., who receives payments ), the amount of additional funding, ancillary components (such as technical support) and contextual factors (including organizational context).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Diaconu
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer Falconer
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adrian Verbel
- Research Group for Evidence Based Public Health, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Atle Fretheim
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sophie Witter
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
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Ha NT, Anh NQ, Van Toan P, Huong NT. Health Insurance Reimbursement to Hosptials in Vietnam: Policy Implementation Results and Challenges. Health Serv Insights 2021; 14:11786329211010126. [PMID: 33911875 PMCID: PMC8050760 DOI: 10.1177/11786329211010126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In Vietnam, social health insurance (SHI) benefit package has been defined in a more explicit approach with the introduction of a regulation on the list of conditional reimbursed and non-reimbursed medical services. This paper aims to analyze the implementation results of this regulation from an economical perspective as well as the implementation challenges. Mix-method approach was employed. The quantitative component was employed to understand the implementation results. Desk study and qualitative components (2 inteviews with key informants from Ministry of Health; 6 discussions with key informants from provincial Social Security Offices and Departments of Health in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Tuyen Quang, Thai Binh and Soc Trang provinces; the other 23 discussions and 31 interviews with key informants from 23 selected hospitals) was employed to summarize the implementation challenges. The regulation seems to not able to mitigate the reimbursement of high-technology and expensive services in higher-level providers. There is a sign of increasing out-of-pocket payments for those regulated services in higher-level providers. It has also posed greater influence on lower-level providers in terms of the proportion of reimbursement amount rather than to higher-level hospitals. Applying World Health Organization's 6 building blocks of health system to analyze the implementation challenges, we provide policymakers evidence to improve the regulation, as well as point out the relating health system weakness need to be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Phan Van Toan
- Health Insurance Department, Ministry
of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
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10
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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Performance of Primary Health Care Service Providers in a Capitation Payment System: A Case Study from Poland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041407. [PMID: 33546467 PMCID: PMC7913620 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In Poland, as in many other countries, the use of capitation payment schemes in primary health care is popular. Despite this popularity, the subject literature discusses its role in decreasing the quality of primary medical services. This problem is particularly important during COVID-19, when medical entities provide telehealth services to patients. The objective of the study is to examine the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the primary health care providers in Poland under a capitation payment scheme. In this study the authors use data from interviews with personnel of medical entities and financial and administrative reports of primary health care providers in order to identify how this crisis situation impacts the performance of primary health care entities, under capitation payment system. The performance indicators include both the financial and quality measures. Selected to the case study primary health care service providers significantly improved their profitability due to considerable costs savings and reduction of services provided to patients in a time of COVID-19 pandemic. Capitation payment system proved to be inefficient, in the studied pandemic period, in terms of the services provided by primary health care service providers to patients and the funds paid to them, in exchange, by the government entities.
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Siita S, Cox SE, Hanson K. Does capitation affect patient satisfaction and prevalence of out-of-pocket payments in the insured? A propensity score analysis of Ghana's demographic and health survey data. BMC Health Serv Res 2019; 19:732. [PMID: 31640699 PMCID: PMC6805416 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4581-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) piloted capitation payment for primary care services in the Ashanti region from 2012 to 2017. Capitation was piloted as a means of cost containment but also to induce managed competition among health providers to improve the responsiveness of healthcare delivery. This study examined the effects of exposure to capitation on perceived health service quality and prevalence of out-of-pocket payments in NHIS insured clients. Methods Respondents of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (G-DHS) who reported having a valid NHIS card as their only form of health insurance coverage and made a health facility visit within the 6 months prior to the survey were used to assess the exposure effects of capitation on four outcomes: overall patient satisfaction, perceived friendliness of health staff, perceived adequacy of consultation time, and prevalence of out-of-pocket payments. We applied propensity score matching to balance distributions of covariates and to compare outcomes between exposed NHIS insured clients and their unexposed counterparts. Results NHIS insured clients exposed to capitation had 10 percentage points higher probability of encountering out-of-pocket payments than their unexposed counterparts (p = 0.009; 95% CI: 2.5–17.8%). There was no evidence of a difference between the two exposure groups for ratings of the three quality perceptions outcomes examined: overall patient satisfaction, difference 0.63 units (p = 0.46); perceived friendliness of health staff, difference 1.1% (p = 0.50); and perceived adequacy of consultation times, difference 0.1% (p = 0.96). Conclusion In the Ghanaian context, our results suggest capitation was associated with a greater probability of out-of-pocket payments and no difference in perceived service quality. Future research should examine clinical quality of healthcare and how much out-of-pocket payment occurred under capitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafiq Siita
- National Health Insurance Authority, Upper East Regional Office, Bolgatanga, Ghana.
| | - Sharon E Cox
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
| | - Kara Hanson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
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Tan SY, Qian J. An unintended consequence of provider payment reform: The case of capitation grants in the National Health Insurance reform of Indonesia. Int J Health Plann Manage 2019; 34:e1688-e1710. [PMID: 31423635 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most important components of the ambitious 2014 National Health Insurance reform in Indonesia is the implementation of prospective payment system known as capitation grants, paid monthly to the primary health providers based on the enrolment rate. This has ushered in additional financial resources for the health managers in resource allocations, especially in the hiring of manpower. Drawing data from the Indonesia Family Life Survey (1993-2015), this paper uses difference-in-differences method to evaluate the effects of the payment method reform on the allocation of human resources for health among the primary health providers. To our surprise, there was no statistically significant change in the total number of full-time staff among the capitated facilities after the reform. However, capitation grants caused an increase in the number of full-time equivalent and part-time equivalent contract staff, but a significant decline in the number of full-time permanent staff among the urban capitated facilities. It is likely that more contract health workers were hired at the expense of full-time permanent staff among the capitated facilities in the urban regions. This unintended consequence shed light on the need to develop nuanced and contextual understanding of payment reforms in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Ying Tan
- Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jiwei Qian
- East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Dong Y, Chen J, Jing X, Shi X, Chen Y, Deng X, Li C, Ma J. Impact of capitation on outpatient expenses among patients with diabetes mellitus in Tianjin, China: a natural experiment. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e024807. [PMID: 31229998 PMCID: PMC6596975 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Capitation policy, a new medical insurance settlement method implemented on 1 January 2014 in Tianjin, China, aimed to control unreasonable increases in medical costs. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the impact of capitation on outpatient expenses among patients with diabetes mellitus and provide scientific evidence for health policy-makers. DESIGN A natural experiment. SETTING The medical insurance database of Tianjin from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014. PARTICIPANTS In total, 35 529 records were included, comprising 9646 records in the pilot group (4907 records in 2014 and 4739 records in 2013) and 25 883 records in the control group (9814 records in 2014 and 16 069 records in 2013). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The outcome variables included annual total outpatient expenses, drug expenses, examination expenses, treatment expenses and other expenses. RESULTS Capitation produced an increase in total outpatient expenses of ¥1993.76 (95% CI, ¥1643.74 to ¥2343.77) in the pilot group relative to the control group. There was also an increase in drug expenses of ¥1904.30 (95% CI, ¥1578.63 to ¥2229.96) after the implementation of capitation. An increase in examination expenses of ¥44.90 (95% CI, ¥19.11 to ¥70.68) was found in the pilot group versus the control group. Capitation also produced an increase in treatment expenses of ¥3.55 (95% CI, ¥1.01 to ¥6.09) and an increase in other expenses of ¥43.46 (95% CI, ¥26.81 to ¥60.11) in the pilot group versus the control group. CONCLUSION Compared with those who participated in the 'control' policy, outpatient expenses of patients enrolled in capitation increased significantly. The increases were due to the actual needs of patients, changes in drug directories, and the autonomy and independence of hospitals. It is necessary for the government, policy-makers, hospitals, doctors, patients and supervisory agencies to improve the capitation policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Dong
- Health Statistics, College of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | | | | | - Xinjun Shi
- Health Statistics, College of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | | | - Xiaowei Deng
- Health Statistics, College of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Tan SY, Melendez-Torres GJ, Pang T. Implementation of provider payment system reforms in the age of universal health coverage: a realist review of evidence from Asian developing countries. J Health Serv Res Policy 2019; 24:279-287. [PMID: 31007065 DOI: 10.1177/1355819619842305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Objective Launched to assist in achieving universal health coverage, provider payment reform (PPR) is one of the most important policy tools deployed to transform incentives within a health system that is plagued with allocative inefficiency and high out-of-pocket payments to one that is able to deliver basic services and be cost-efficient. However, the black box of such reform – that is, the contexts in which reform operates, the mechanisms by which it changes health systems and behaviour within health systems, and the outcome patterns that arise from – remains unexplored. This review aims to examine the implementation mechanisms underlying PPR in Asian developing countries. Methods A realist synthesis approach was employed to tease out the configurative elements of PPR in developing countries. A multimethod and retrospective search was conducted to locate the evidence. A programme theory and data extraction framework were developed. Data were analysed using thematic synthesis to inform an overarching realist synthesis, expressed as a set of synthesized context-mechanism-outcome configurations. Results This review found that the policy design of PPR, policy capacity, willingness of policy adoption at the local government level and provider autonomy are critical contextual factors that could trigger different policy mechanisms leading to either intended theoretical outcomes or perverse incentives. Conclusions Our findings, demonstrating the PPR implementation contexts and mechanisms that have worked in Asian countries, have implications in terms of policy learning for most developing countries that are contemplating rolling out similar reforms in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Ying Tan
- Researcher, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - G J Melendez-Torres
- Senior Lecturer, Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Tikki Pang
- Visiting Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Simon-Tuval T, Shmueli A, Harman-Boehm I. Adherence of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to medications: the role of risk preferences. Curr Med Res Opin 2018; 34:345-351. [PMID: 29069921 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2017.1397506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether risk tolerance is associated with adherence to oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs). METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 308) presenting for routine out-patient visits, using validated questionnaires to estimate: risk preferences (risk-seeking, risk averse, risk neutral), motivation, self-efficacy, impulsivity, perception of the disease and of the interpersonal process of care, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics; computerized patient medical records to estimate disease severity and a computerized database for retrieval of medication adherence, 1 year before the interview. Adherence was estimated using prescription-based measures of proportion of days covered (PDC). Concurrent adherence was calculated as: PDC with ≥1 OHAs; average PDC; PDC of ≥80% for all OHAs. RESULTS Multivariable ordered logit model revealed that compared to others, risk-seeking patients had lower PDC with ≥1 OHAs (β = -0.50, p ≤ .1). Specifically, risk-seeking patients were 11.2 percentage points less likely to have ≥80% of the follow-up period covered with ≥1 OHAs available (p ≤ .1). In addition, risk-seeking patients had lower average PDC (β = -0.85, p ≤ .05). Specifically, these patients were 19.5 percentage points less likely to have an average PDC of ≥80% (p ≤ .05). Multivariable logistic model revealed that risk-seeking was associated with lower probability of having PDC ≥80% for all OHAs in the follow-up period (OR; 90% CI: 0.59; 0.35-0.97). CONCLUSIONS Risk-seeking patients are less adherent to OHA medications. Identifying these patients may enable practitioners to proactively tailor strategies to improve their adherence and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzahit Simon-Tuval
- a Department of Health Systems Management, Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management and Faculty of Health Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Israel
| | - Amir Shmueli
- b The Braun Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health , Israel
| | - Ilana Harman-Boehm
- c Faculty of Health Sciences , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Israel
- d Diabetes Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine C , Soroka University Medical Center , Israel
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