Reduction in inequalities in health insurance coverage and healthcare utilization among older adults in the Philippines after mandatory national health insurance coverage: trend analysis for 2003-2017

BACKGROUND@#Health policies in the Philippines have evolved in response to increasing health demands of older adults. However, there is a lack of research on equity among the ageing population in low-middle income countries. The objective of this study was to identify the trends in National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) coverage and healthcare utilization among older adults in the Philippines for the period from 2003 to 2017, during which NHIP expansion policies were implemented, focusing on reductions in socio-economic inequalities.@*METHODS@#A literature search of policies for older adults and an analysis of four Philippine National Demographic and Health Surveys (2003, 2008, 2013, and 2017) with data from 25,217 older adults who were 60 years or older were performed. The major outcome variables were NHIP coverage, self-reported illness, outpatient healthcare utilization, and inpatient healthcare utilization. Inequalities in NHIP coverage and healthcare utilization according to wealth were evaluated by calculating the concentration index for individual years, followed by a regression-based decomposition analysis.@*RESULTS@#NHIP coverage among older adults increased from 9.4 (2003) to 87.6% (2017). Although inequalities according to wealth quintile were observed in all four surveys (all P < 0.001), the concentration index declined from 0.3000 (2003) to 0.0247 (2017), showing reduced inequalities in NHIP coverage over time as observed for self-reported illness and healthcare utilization. NHIP coverage expansion for older adults in 2014 enabled equal opportunity for access to healthcare.@*CONCLUSION@#The passage of mandatory NHIP coverage for older Filipino adults in 2014 was followed by a reduction in inequality in NHIP coverage and healthcare utilization according to wealth.

The Inequality in Health and Healthcare Utilization: Evidence from Provincial Data / 中国卫生经济

Objective:To acquire the differences in health and healthcare utilization among different regions with various economic development in China,so as to provide references for improving health inequalities related to economic development.Methods:Decomposing the health and healthcare utilization among different income groups.Results:Inequalities in health and healthcare utilization were captured,whereas the gaps among groups were enlarging over time in terms of low birth weight newborns and healthcare utilization.Conclusion:In order to promote the equality in newborns,more attention should be paid to high income regions.In order to improve the equality in healthcare utilization,more attention should be drawn to low income regions and rural areas.

Associations of Generalized Trust and Social Participation at the Individual Level with Unmet Healthcare Needs in Communities with High Mortality

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether generalized trust and/or social participation at an individual level have negative associations with unmet healthcare needs. METHODS: Door-to-door interviews were conducted by trained interviewers to collect information. The 8,800 study participants included 220 adults sampled systematically using the resident registration database from 40 sub-municipal-level administrative units in Korea. Unmet healthcare needs were measured subjectively by the following question: “During the past 12 months, was there ever a time when you felt that you needed healthcare (excluding dental care) but did not receive it?” The responses were classified as either “yes” or “no.” RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for unmet healthcare needs based on one positive response, two positive responses, and three positive responses to the three items of generalized trust compared to no positive responses were 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77–1.09), 0.90 (95% CI, 0.74–1.09), and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.61–0.87), respectively. The adjusted ORs for unmet healthcare needs based on social participation only in informal organizations, only in formal organizations, and in both informal and formal organizations compared to no social participation were 0.83 (95% CI, 0.71–0.98), 0.97 (95% CI, 0.77–1.21), and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.82–1.15), respectively. The covariates included in the multiple logistic regression were sociodemographic variables (gender, age, marital status, educational level, occupation, food security, and administrative unit), self-rated health, and perceived stress. CONCLUSION: Therefore, generalized trust and social participation in informal organizations can decrease the incidence of unmet healthcare needs.

Utilización de servicios de salud por enfermedades catastróficas o de alto costo en Antioquia / Use of Health Services for Catastrophic or High-Cost Illnesses in Antioquia / Utilização de serviços de saúde por doenças catastróficas ou de alto custo em Antioquia

Resumen Las enfermedades catastróficas o de alto costo (EAC) causan alta morbimortalidad y demandan atención permanente, compleja y costosa. Objetivo: caracterizar la utilización de servicios de salud por enfermedades de alto costo. Método: estudio descriptivo transversal. Se analizó información de los registros individuales de prestación de servicios para ocho EAC, usando codificación CIE-10. La utilización se analizó según variables sociodemográficas y características de la oferta. Resultados: el 16 % de la utilización de servicios fue atribuible a pacientes con EAC. Esta fue más frecuente en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica y precursoras (ERC-P), enfermedades huérfanas y epilepsia, mujeres mayores de 50 años y personas del régimen contributivo (con variaciones según la enfermedad). Entre 66 y 83 % de la utilización se produjo en instituciones privadas y predominó la atención por medicina general, con escasa participación de otras áreas de salud. Conclusión: se encontraron diferencias inaceptables de utilización entre regímenes de afiliación y variables de oferta, afines a las políticas privatizadoras.

Abstract Catastrophic or high-cost illnesses (HCI) cause high morbidity and mortality, and demand permanent, complex, and expensive care. Objective: to characterize the use of health services due to high cost illnesses. Method: cross-sectional descriptive study. We analyzed information from individual service rendering records for eight HCIs, using CIE-10 coding. The use was analyzed according to sociodemographic variables and characteristics of the offer. Results: 16% of the service use was attributable to patients with HCI. This was more frequent in patients with chronic renal disease and precursors (ERC-P), orphan diseases, and epilepsy; women over 50 years of age and people in the contributory regime (with variations depending on the disease). Between 66 and 83 percent of the use occurred in private institutions and care through general medicine was prevailing, with little participation of other health areas. Conclusion: unacceptable differences of use were found between affiliation regimes and supply variables, related to privatization policies.

Resumo As doenças catastróficas ou de alto custo (EAC) ocasionam alta morbimortalidade e demandam atenção permanente, complexa e custosa. Objetivo: caracterizar a utilização de serviços de saúde por doenças de alto custo. Método: estudo descritivo transversal. Analizou-se informação dos registros individuais de prestação de serviços para oito EAC, usando codificação CIE-10. A utilização analizou-se segundo variáveis sociodemográficas e características da oferta. Resultados: o 16 % da utilização de serviços foi atribuível a pacientes com EAC. Esta foi mais frequente em pacientes com doença renal crónica e precursoras (ERC-P), doenças orfanas e epilepsia, mulheres maiores de 50 anos e pessoas do régime contributivo (com variações segundo a doença). Entre 66 e 83 % da utilização produziu-se em instituições privadas e predominou o atendimento por medicina geral, com escassa participação de outras áreas da saúde. Conclusão: verificaram-se diferenças inaceitáveis de utilização entre regímenes de afiliação e variáveis de oferta, afins às políticas privatizadoras.

Association between Healthcare Utilization and Depression in Korean Women with Cardiovascular Conditions

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the associations between depression and both coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRs) in Korean women. Furthermore, this study sought to determine whether depression was associated with use of healthcare services in women with CAD or CVRs. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 26,335 women who were aged 19 years or older, and who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2014). Associations of prior diagnosis of depression with CAD and CVRs and with nonutilization of healthcare services were investigated. RESULTS: Women with depression had a higher prevalence of CAD and CVRs including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome than those without depression. In addition, depression was significantly associated with nonutilization of healthcare services in women with most CVRs. CONCLUSION: Considering the high rate of comorbid depression with CAD or CVRs and the low lvels of health service utilization in depressed patients, screening for common CVRs, such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, should be provided for patients with depression in mental health care settings.

Health Status and Health Service Utilization: Barriers and Facilitators for Korea Medicaid Beneficiaries

PURPOSE: This study compares beneficiaries of Korean Medicaid with those under the National Health Insurance program, seeking to understand how each group utilizes their healthcare. METHODS: Data were obtained from a Health Promotion Survey in 2005. Health status was measured by the respondents' perception of health. Health service utilization included the availability of healthcare services, the type of healthcare institution, and intent to revisit. Predisposing and enabling factors, as well as health care needs were used for this study. RESULTS: Compared to National Health Insurance beneficiaries, Medicaid beneficiaries reported lower levels of health status and fewer enabling factors. They had more chronic diseases and disabilities. Education level, existence of chronic diseases, exercise patterns, and disabilities were associated with health status. CONCLUSION: We found that Medicaid beneficiaries had fewer resources and higher levels of health needs. As Medicaid is reformed, policy makers and administrators should understand healthcare utilization behaviors of Medicaid beneficiaries and the factors hindering access to care.

Horizontal inequities in dental service utilization / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: Health inequity across social classes is closely associated with unequal healthcare utilization, and there have been sustained efforts to improve healthcare accessibility. Public healthcare insurance is one attempt to eliminate such health inequities. The purpose of this study was to examine a horizontal equity index for dental service utilization, which included diverse factors affecting health inequity, such as personal health and social context variables. METHODS: The 2008 to 2011 outpatient datasets of the Korean Healthcare Panel were analyzed. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) was conducted to estimate need-adjusted healthcare use with the following independent variables: health outcome (EQ-5D), chronic disease, and the Composite Deprivation Index. The concentration index and horizontal inequality index were calculated for the actual use of dental services and resource use-based dental visits. RESULTS: The ZINB regression analysis showed that age and personal health level on the EQ-5D were significant predictors, and the Composite Deprivation Index was influential. The concentration index for dental service utilization indicated that there was inequity favoring high-income brackets, but there was inequity favoring low-income groups when health level was taken into account. Overall, the horizontal equity index for dental service utilization estimated based on the two values was positive, meaning that there was inequity favoring high-income groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of dental services has been steadily on the rise, and dental service accessibility and public healthcare coverage seem to have expanded. However, when the horizontal equity index for dental service utilization was estimated based on health level, there was inequity, with high-income groups making more use of dental services. Thus, equal access to dental services is not guaranteed, despite the adjustment for need. Methods of increasing dental service use in different income brackets must be carefully considered to remove disparities in the use of dental services.

Healthcare policy and healthcare utilization behavior to improve hospital infection control after the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak

The recent outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in South Korea in May 2015 revealed that the Korean healthcare system and hospitals are highly vulnerable to hospital-spread infections. In a short period of time, MERS-CoV infection spread widely across Korea due to the unique characteristics of the Korean healthcare system including 1) hospitals with limited infection control capabilities, 2) a heavy dependency on private caregivers due to a nursing shortage, 3) emergency department overcrowding, and 4) healthcare-related patient behaviour such as hospital shopping. To prevent future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases similar to MERS-CoV, the Korean healthcare system should be reformed and healthcare-related patient behaviour must change. To improve the performance of hospital infection control, the National Health Insurance service should pay more for hospital infection control services and cover private patient rooms when medically necessary, including for infectious disease patients. To reduce risks of hospital infection related to private caregiving, the nurse staffing level should be increased and hospitals should take full responsibility for inpatient nursing care. To reduce hospital shopping, the National Health Insurance service should introduce a differential fee schedule which pays more when primary care providers care for patients with common conditions and tertiary care providers care for patients with severe conditions. To incentivize patients for appropriate health care use, lower patient out-of-pocket payments should be combined with a differential provider fee schedule.

Difference in Healthcare Utilization for Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty Inpatients by Insurance Types: Propensity Score Matching Analysis / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed differences in healthcare utilization among insurance types. This study aimed to analyze the difference in healthcare utilization for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty inpatients by insurance types after controlling factors affecting healthcare utilization using propensity score matching (PSM). METHODS: The 2011 national inpatient sample based on health insurance claims data was used for analysis. PSM was used to control factors influencing healthcare utilization except insurance types. Length of stay and total charges were used as healthcare utilization variables. Patients were divided into National Health Insurance (NHI) and Medical Aid (MA) patients. Factors representing inpatients (gender, age, admission sources, and Elixhauser comorbidity index) and hospitals (number of doctors, number of beds, and location of hospitals) were used as covariates in PSM. RESULTS: Tertiary hospitals didn't show significant difference in length of stay and total charges after PSM between two insurance types. However, MA patients showed significantly longer length of stay than that of NHI patients after PSM in general hospitals. Multivariate regression analysis provided that admission sources, Elixhauser comorbidity index, insurance types, number of doctors, and location of hospitals (province) had significant influences on the length of stay in general hospitals. CONCLUSION: Study results provided evidences that healthcare utilization was differed by insurance types in general hospitals. Health policy makers will need to prepare interventions to influence the healthcare utilization differences between insurance types.

Factors associated with seeking treatment for postpartum morbidities in rural India / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: To understand the prevalence of postpartum morbidities and factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviour among currently married women aged 15-49 residing in rural India. METHODS: We used data from the nationally representative District Level Household Survey from 2007-2008. Cross-tabulation was used to understand the differentials for the prevalence of postpartum morbidities and treatment-seeking behaviours across selected background characteristics. Two-level binary logistic regression was applied to understand the factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviour. RESULTS: Approximately 39.8% of rural women suffered from at least one of the six postpartum morbidities including high fever, lower abdominal pain, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, excessive bleeding, convulsions, and severe headache. Morbidities were more prevalent among poor, illiterate, Muslim, and high-parity women. About 55.1% of these rural women sought treatment/consultation for their problems. The odds of seeking treatment/consultation increased as economic status and years of schooling among both the woman and her husband increased. Poor, uneducated, unemployed, Hindu, and tribal women were less likely to seek treatment/consultation for postpartum morbidities than their counterparts were. The odds of seeking treatment/consultation decreased as the distance to the nearest private health facility increased. Most women visited a private hospital (46.3%) or a friend/family member's home (20.8%) for treatment/consultation. Only a small percentage visited publicly funded health institutions such as a primary health centre (8.8%), community health centre (6.5%), health sub-centre (2.8%), or district hospital (13.1%). Rural women from the northeast region of India were 50% less likely to seek treatment/consultation than women from the central region were. CONCLUSIONS: Providing antenatal and delivery care, and ensuring nearby government healthcare facilities are available to serve rural women might increase the likelihood of care-seeking for postpartum morbidities. Targeted interventions for vulnerable groups should be considered in future policies to increase the likelihood women will seek treatment or advice postpartum.

Determinantes de la utilización de los serviciosde salud bucal en estudiantes universitarios delmunicipio de Pasto, 2011 / Determinants of dental health service use among university students in the Pasto municipality, 2011

Objetivo: identificar los factores determinantes de lautilización de los servicios de salud bucal en hombres ymujeres universitarios del municipio de Pasto, Departamentode Nariño (Colombia). Metodología: en una muestra de338 estudiantes de una universidad, se aplicó una encuestaconfidencial, elaborada con base en estudios previos utilizandoun modelo comportamental de uso de servicios de salud.Resultados: la prevalencia de utilización de los servicios desalud bucal fue del 57%. Se encontró con respecto a factores depredisposición, que más de la mitad de la población encuestadaeran adultos jóvenes entre 20-24 años; que asistían más a laconsulta los estudiantes de semestres académicos superiores ymenos los de mayor edad; que la mitad pertenecían a un estratosocioeconómico medio y que una décima parte poseían un bajoapoyo social. Se encontró sobre factores de capacidad que lastres cuartas partes que respondieron tener un buen estado desalud, eran los que más utilizaban los servicios de salud bucal;que los que respondieron estar satisfechos con la apariencia desus dientes, eran los que menos utilizaban los servicios de saludbucal; que una tercera parte había tenido un mal estado de saludbucodental y que casi la mitad tuvo problemas dentales. Sobrelos factores de necesidad se encontró que cuando un estudiantetiene afectada su calidad de vida por minusvalía asiste más a laconsulta odontológica en el último año. Conclusión: existenleves diferencias por sexo en la utilización de los servicios desalud bucal y que si bien en esta población el resultado fuemayor que en otros estudios, no necesariamente este resultadogarantiza que tengan una mejor salud bucal...

Objective: to identify the determinant factors of dental healthservice use among university students in the municipalityof Pasto (located in the Nariño Department), Colombia.Methodology: a confidential survey was used on a sample of338 university students. This survey was based on previousstudies and used a behavioral model representing healthcareservice use. Results: the use of dental health servicesamounted to 57%. As for enabling factors, more than halfof the population surveyed was young adults aged 20-24. Inaddition, students from later semesters used the oral healthservices more frequently, while older students used them theleast. Similarly, half of the students belonged to the middleclass and a tenth of them had low social support. As forpredisposing factors, three fourths expressed they æhave a good health stateÆ, and these were the individuals who useddental health services most often. Likewise, the students whoresponded they æare satisfied with the appearance of their teethÆwere the individuals who used said services less often. Finally,a third had a bad oral health and almost half of the participantsresponded they æhave dental problemsÆ. In relation to needfactors, the students whose quality of life was negativelyaffected by physical disability used dental health servicesmore often in the last year. Conclusion: there are minimaldifferences between the sexes in terms of the dental servicesuse. Also, although the use of dental health services is highamong this population, this does not necessarily ensure thatthey have a better oral health...

Factors Affecting the Validity of Self-Reported Data on Health Services from the Community Health Survey in Korea

PURPOSE: As a follow-up for the validity study of Community Health Surveys (CHSs), the purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting the accuracy of CHSs by investigating subjects' characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from 11,217 participants (aged 19 years or older) who had participated in the CHS, conducted by a local government in 2008 and analyzed the variables affecting the sensitivity and specificity of hospitalization and outpatient visit. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, factors related with the sensitivity of hospitalization and outpatient visit questions were gender, age, marital status, chronic diseases, medical checkup, the subjective health status and necessary medical services. Factors related with the specificity were gender, marital status, educational background, chronic diseases, medical checkup, alcohol consumption, necessary medical services and sadness. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the subject-related factors associated with the validity of the CHS. Efforts to improve the sensitivity and the specificity from self-report questionnaires should consider how the characteristics of subjects may affect their responses.

Utilization of oral health care services among adults attending community outreach programs.

Introduction: Good oral health is a mirror of overall health and well-being. Oral health is determined by diet, oral hygiene practices, and the pattern of dental visits. Poor oral health has significant social and economic consequences. Outreach programs conducted by dental schools offer an opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment, dental health education, and institution of preventive measures. Objective: To assess the utilization of oral healthcare services among adults attending outreach programs. Materials and Methods: This study included 246 adults aged 18-55 years attending community outreach programs in and around Bangalore. Using a questionnaire we collected data on dental visits, perceived oral health status, reasons for seeking care, and barriers in seeking care. Statistical significance was assessed using the Chi-square test. Results: In this sample, 28% had visited the dentist in the last 12 months. Males visited dentist more frequently than females. The main reason for a dental visit was for tooth extraction (11%), followed by restorative and endodontic treatment 6%. The main barriers to utilization of dental services were high cost (22%), inability to take time off from child care duties (19.5%), and fear of the dentist or dental tools (8.5%). Conclusion: The utilization of dental services in this population was poor. The majority of the dental visits were for treatment of acute symptoms rather than for preventive care. High cost was the main barrier to the utilization of dental services. Policies and programs should focus on these factors to decrease the burden of oral diseases and to improve quality of life among the socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Perfil sociodemográfico e padrão de utilização dos serviços de saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), 2003- 2008 / Socio-demographic profile and utilization patterns of the public healthcare system (SUS), 2003- 2008

O objetivo foi analisar a evolução do perfil de utilização de serviços de saúde, entre 2003 e 2008, no Brasil e nas suas macrorregiões. Foram utilizados dados da PNAD. A utilização de serviços de saúde foi medida pela proporção de pessoas que procuraram e foram atendidas nas 2 semanas anteriores e pelos que relataram internação nos últimos 12 meses, segundo SUS e não SUS. Foram analisadas as características socioeconômicas dos usuários, o tipo de atendimento e de serviço e os motivos da procura. A proporção de indivíduos que procuraram serviços de saúde não se alterou, assim como a parcela dos que conseguiram atendimento (96 por cento), entre 2003 e 2008. O SUS respondeu por 56,7 por cento dos atendimentos, realizando a maior parte das internações, vacinação e consultas e somente 1/3 das consultas odontológicas. Em 2008, manteve-se o gradiente de redução de utilização de serviços de saúde SUS conforme o aumento de renda e escolaridade. Houve decréscimo da proporção dos que procuraram serviços de saúde para ações de prevenção e aumento de procura para problemas odontológicos, acidentes e lesões e reabilitação. O padrão de utilização do SUS por região esteve inversamente relacionado à proporção de indivíduos com posse de planos privados de saúde.

PNAD data was employed to analyze the utilization profile of health services, and this was measured by the proportion of individuals seeking and reporting use of health services in the prior two weeks and those who reported hospitalization in the preceding 12 months. Private health plans covered 25.9 percent of the Brazilian population. Comparing data from 2003 and 2008 surveys, there was no change in the proportion of individuals seeking health services, as well as the proportion of those attended by these services (96 percent). The Unified Health System (SUS) was responsible for 56,7 percent of all healthcare, providing the bulk of medical visits, vaccine activities and hospital admissions, but accounted for only 1/3 of dental care. There was a reduction in SUS health services utilization with the increase of education and income level, in the two surveys. There was also a decrease in utilization of services due to prevention and an increase in dental problems, accidents, injuries and rehabilitation. The pattern of SUS services utilization per region was inversely related to the proportion of individuals with private health insurance coverage.

Validity of Self-reported Healthcare Utilization Data in the Community Health Survey in Korea

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Community Health Survey (CHS), we analyzed data from 11,217 participants aged > or = 19 yr, in 13 cities and counties in 2008. Three healthcare utilization indices (admission, outpatient visits, dental visits) as comparative variables and the insurance benefit claim data of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service as the gold-standard were used. The sensitivities of admission, outpatient visits, and dental visits in CHS were 54.8%, 52.1%, and 61.0%, respectively. The specificities were 96.4%, 85.6%, and 82.7%, respectively. This is the first study to evaluate the validity of nationwide health statistics resulting from questionnaire surveys and shows that CHS needs a lot of efforts to reflect the true health status, health behavior, and healthcare utilization of the population.