ABSTRACT
Objective@#To examine the effect of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) point payment on hospitalization costs of parturition among lying-in women, so as to provide the evidence for alleviating the burdens and saving medical resources among lying-in women.@*Methods@#Lying-in women's age, gestational age, parity, duration of hospital stay, DRGs grouping and hospitalization costs were collected from the Inpatient Medical Record System and DRG Operation Analysis System in a tertiary women and children's hospital in Ningbo City from 2020 to 2021. The changes of hospitalization costs of parturition were compared among lying-in women before and after DRGs point payments, and the association between DRGs point payments and gross hospitalization costs of parturition was examined among lying-in women using a multivariable logistic regression analysis.@*Results@# A total of 11 505 lying-in women after DRGs point payments, including 6 216 women at age of 30 years and below (54.03%), and 10 871 lying-in women before DRGs point payments, including 6 208 women at age of 30 years and below (57.11%), were enrolled. The median (interquartile range) gross hospitalization expenses, material expenses and laboratory testing expenses of parturition were 8 519.19 (2 456.61), 881.38 (816.16) and 939.00 (310.00) Yuan among lying-in women after DRGs point payments, which were significantly lower than those [9 123.13 (2 660.33), 915.57 (825.26), 1 036.00 (385.00) Yuan] among lying-in women before DRGs point payments (Z=-21.971,-16.061 and -27.199, all P<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that DRGs point payment was statistically associated with lower gross hospitalization expenses of parturition among lying-in women after adjustment for age, duration of hospital stay, gestational age, parity, type of delivery and development of complications (OR=0.462, 95%CI: 0.432-0.494).@*Conclusion@#DRGs point payment is beneficial to reduce the hospitalization cost of parturition among lying-in women.