The effects of clinical rehabilitation pathway management on intubation time, dysfunction and medical cost for stroke survivors after tracheotomy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective:To document any effect of clinical rehabilitation pathway management on intubation time, dysfunction and medical expenditure associated with tracheotomy after a stroke.Methods:A total of 154 stroke survivors undergoing tracheotomy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 77. Both groups were given routine rehabilitation, while the observation group was additionally provided with clinical rehabilitation pathway management during the rehabilitation intervention. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed before the experiment and after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment. Clinical pulmonary infection scores (CPISs), scores on the Chelsea Physical Function Assessment Scale (CPAx) and hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups.Results:The median extubation time of the observation group (2d) was significantly shorter than that of the control group (10d). After 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the average CPIS scores of the observation group were in each case significantly lower than those before treatment and the control group′s averages at the same time points, even though after 4 and 6 weeks of treatment the control group′s average CPIS scores had improved significantly. After 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the average CPAx scores of the observation group were significantly higher than those before treatment and better than the control group′s averages, even though the control group too had improved significantly compared with before the treatment. Hospitalization days, total hospitalization cost, antibiotic cost and laboratory examination cost of the observation group were, on average, significantly lower than those of the control group.Conclusion:Rehabilitation path management can shorten the period of intubation, prevent pulmonary infections, relieve dysfunction, and reduce medical expenses for stroke survivors after a tracheotomy. It is worthy of clinical promotion.

Direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients and its influencing factors in Hainan Province / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract： Objective　To investigate and analyze the factors influencing the direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients in Hainan Province, so as to provide scientific reference for reducing the medical burden of patients and adjusting the medical insurance reimbursement policies in the local area. Methods　Using the total health expenditure accounting data of Hainan Province in 2020, including the outpatient and inpatient data of 14 provincial medical institutions, 235 city and county level medical institutions, and other relevant data from the 2020 Hainan Statistical Yearbook and Health Financial Yearbook, the direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients in the province in that year were calculated, and the influencing factors were explored using single factor analysis and multivariate generalized linear model. Results　The final number of cases included in this study was 11 979, including 7 526 males (62.83%) and 4 453 females (37.17%). The total direct medical costs of patients were 43.207 3 million yuan, of which the total outpatient costs were 2.733 9 million yuan (6.32%) and the total inpatient costs were 40.473 4 million yuan (93.67%). In the cost composition analysis, the drug cost was 17.971 million yuan (41.44%), the examination cost was 8.854 7 million yuan (20.49%), other costs were 16.445 5 million yuan (38.06%), and the median (quartile) M(P25,P75) direct medical cost of each patient was 177.50 (66.73,764.89) yuan. The multivariate generalized linear model analysis showed that hospitalization, new rural cooperative medical insurance (NRCMI) and urban employee medical insurance were the influencing factors of the increase in direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients the median (quartile) M(P25,P75) of direct medical costs are 10 425.04 (6 560.87,17 374.9), 10 246.5 (5 871.28,17 220.33), 3 177.2 (293.09,7 730.23) yuan respectively; the OR(95%CI) values were -3.505 (-3.499- -3.517), 1.559 (1.551-1.569) and 2.191 (2.188-2.207) respectively. Conclusions　The direct medical costs of tuberculosis patients in Hainan Province are high. Hospitalization, the new rural cooperative medical insurance and the medical insurance for urban workers are the influencing factors of the increase in costs.

Carga económica de la enfermedad neumocócica en niños de edad preescolar en el Policlínico Docente Playa / Economic burden of pneumococcal disease in pre-school age children from Playa Teaching Policlinic

Introducción: El cálculo de la carga económica de las enfermedades neumocócicas en niños de edad preescolar en el nivel primario de salud en Cuba contribuye a visualizar la necesidad de buscar vías para prevenir su padecimiento. Objetivo: Estimar la carga económica de la enfermedad neumocócica en niños de edad preescolar en el Policlínico Docente de Playa en el 2016. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal. Para estimar la carga económica se aplicó el enfoque del costo de la enfermedad sobre la base de la incidencia, desde la perspectiva institucional. Para calcular el costo de atención por paciente se empleó el método de costeo paciente tipo. Resultados: La otitis media aguda fue la enfermedad de mayor incidencia, con el 49 por ciento de los casos seguida por la neumonía con el 47 por ciento. El costo esperado de la enfermedad fue entre 47,97 CUP y 103,38 CUP para la otitis media aguda, de entre 83,99 CUP y 194,94 CUP para la neumonía y entre 105,69 CUP y 189,97 CUP para la meningitis y la sepsis. Dentro de los procesos, las visitas al hogar presentaron el mayor gasto y dentro de las partidas, el salario. La enfermedad neumocócica representó una carga económica de 8849,15 CUP para el área de salud estudiada. Conclusiones: La enfermedad neumocócica en niños no presenta alto nivel de incidencia en el área del Policlínico Docente de Playa, pero representa una carga económica para los servicios de salud en el primer nivel de atención. Estos costos son susceptibles a disminuir con la introducción de la vacuna antineumocócica conjugada(AU)

Introduction: Calculation of the economic burden caused by pneumococcal diseases in pre-school age children in the primary health care of Cuba contributes to visualize the need for finding ways to prevent them. Objective: To estimate the economic burden caused by the pneumococcal disease in pre-school age children from Playa Teaching Policlinic during 2016. Methods: It was conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study. For estimating the economic burden, it was used the approach of cost of the disease based on the incidence and from the institutional perspective. For calculating the cost of the care per patient, it was used the method of cost-patient-type. Results: Acute otitis media was the disease with higher incidence with 49 percent of the cases, followed by pneumonia with 47 percent . The expected cost by diseases was among 47,97 CUP (Cuban peso) and 103,38 CUP for acute otitis media; among 83,99 CUP and 194,94 CUP for pneumonia; and among 105,69 CUP and 189,97 CUP for meningitis and sepsis. Within the processes, home visits showed the higher expense, and among the entries, it was the salary. Pneumococcal disease represented an economic burden of 8849,15 CUP for the studied health area. Conclusions: Pneumococcal disease in children does not represent a high level of incidence in the area of Playa Teaching Policlinic, but it represents an economic burden for health services in the primary care level. These costs are likely to decrease with the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine(AU)

Costs of acute otitis media in children in a city of the Colombian Caribbean coast / Costos de la otitis media aguda en niños de una ciudad de la costa caribe colombiana

Abstract Introduction: Acute otitis media is the main cause of consultation, antibiotic use, and ambulatory surgery in developed countries; besides, it is associated with an important economic burden. However, non-medical indirect costs of acute otitis media, which are relevant in this pathology, have been underestimated. Objective: To estimate the costs of acute otitis media in pediatric patients in Cartagena, Colombia. Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective study of micro-costing between 2014 and 2015. The direct and indirect costs of acute otitis media were determined through forms applied to parents or caregivers. Loss of productivity was estimated based on the monthly legal minimum wage of 2014 (COP $616.000) (USD $308). Results: A total of 62 episodes of acute otitis media occurred. The total economic costs attributed per episode was COP $358,954 (standard deviation: SD ± COP $254,903, i.e., USD $179). The total economic burden was COP $22,503,141 (USD $11,250), the indirect costs per episode were COP $101,402 (USD $51), and the average care time spent by parents was 3.7 days. Conclusion: The estimated costs of acute otitis media in this study were lower than the costs estimated in a review of high-income countries and similar to those of low-income countries such as Nigeria. Information on total costs (direct and indirect) of acute otitis media is necessary for public health decision-making and for full cost-effectiveness assessments.

Resumen Introducción. La otitis media aguda es la principal causa de consultas médicas, de uso de antibióticos y de cirugías ambulatorias en los países desarrollados. Está asociada con una significativa carga económica, pero sus costos indirectos no médicos, los cuales son relevantes en esta enfermedad, se han subestimado. Objetivo. Estimar los costos de la otitis media aguda en pacientes pediátricos en Cartagena, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Se hizo un estudio prospectivo de microcosteo entre el 2014 y el 2015. Se determinaron los costos directos e indirectos de la otitis media aguda mediante encuestas a los padres o cuidadores. La pérdida de productividad se estimó con base en el salario mínimo legal vigente mensual del 2014(COP$616.000) (USD$308). Resultados. Se presentaron 62 episodios de otitis media aguda. Los costos económicos totales por episodio fueron de COP $358.954 (desviación estándar, DE: ± $254.903) (USD $179). La carga económica total fue de COP $22'503.141 (USD $11.250), los costos indirectos por episodio fueron de COP $101.402 (USD $51) y el tiempo promedio empleado por los padres en el cuidado fue de 3,7 días. Conclusiones. Los costos estimados de la otitis media aguda en el presente estudio fueron menores a los estimados en países con ingresos altos y similares a los de países con ingresos bajos como Nigeria, según una revisión bibliográfica. La información sobre los costos totales directos e indirectos de la otitis es necesaria para la adopción de decisiones en salud pública y para hacer evaluaciones económicas completas de costo-efectividad.

Quality Evaluation of the Literatures about Medical Insurance Budget Impact Analysis in China and the United States / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To provide experience and reference for the study of medical insurance budget impact analysis （BIA） in China. METHODS： Retrieved from PubMed， ProQuest， CNKI， Wanfang database and CBM， related literatures about medical insurance BIA research in China and the United States were collected since the establishment of the database. The basic information， analysis results and data sources were summarized and sorted out， and descriptive analysis of the included literature was carried out on basis of seven key elements such as model design， research perspective， treatment cost， reference scenario， target population， research time limit and discount/inflation， sensitivity analysis. RESULTS： A total of 72 literatures were included in this study， involving 24 （33.33％） studies in China， 48 （66.67％） studies in the United States； the indications of 45 studies were chronic diseases （62.50％）， and those of 21 studies were acute diseases （37.50％）. Among the research methods， 49 studies （68.06％） used BIA alone and 23 studies （31.94％） adopted BIA combined with pharmaceutical economics. In terms of model design， 50 studies （69.44％） adopted cost calculation models. In terms of research perspective， 60 studies （81.94％） were based on the perspective of medical insurance department research. In the calculation of treatment cost， 69 studies （95.84％） included drug cost. In terms of reference scenarios， 61 studies （84.72％） compared the economics of different drug-based treatment groups. For target population， only 31  （43.06％） studies used real world data. In terms of research duration and discount/inflation， 14 studies （19.44％） used treatment or length of hospitalization to indicate research duration， and 19 studies （26.39％） used discount rate or inflation rate to adjust costs. As for sensitivity analysis， 62 studies （86.11％） conducted sensitivity analysis， of which 49 （68.06％） used single factor sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS： There are still some limitations in medical insurance BIA research literature in China and the United States， such as unreasonable use of data， incomplete coverage of the cost， and unreasonable setting of sensitivity analysis variables. It is recommended that BIA research should standardize data sources to improve the quality of budget evidence quality， reasonably evaluate market size to improve the authenticity of prediction， scientifically set variables and their scope of change to improve the stability of results， establish BIA research paradigms or evaluating standards so as to guide BIA research scientifically.

The prevalence and related direct medical costs of chronic complications among patients with type 2 diabetes in China / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To estimate the prevalence and related direct medical costs of chronic complications,especially cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China.Method Data were extracted from the hospital information system(HIS) database of 4 top level Chinese hospitals from January 1st,2012 to May 31st,2017.Patients with T2DM were identified through international classification of diseases,tenth version (ICD-10) diagnosis supplemented with Chinese descriptions.The prevalences of complications including cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,nephropathy,diabetic foot,lower extremity vascular diseases,diabetic retinopathy,and diabetic neuropathy were estimated among all identified patients with T2DM.The costs per hospitalization and per outpatient visit under the primary diagnoses of each chronic complication were further estimated.Results There were 61 139 patients with T2DM,with mean age of(62.1 ± 13.6) years,50.5％ being males.66.8％ of them had chronic complications,and patient suffered from more than 2 complications on average.The most common complication was nephropathy (30.5％),followed by diabetic neuropathy (26.8％),diabetic retinopathy (26.3％),cardiovascular disease (24.9％),and cerebrovascular disease (19.2％).The cost per hospitalization was highest for cardiovascular disease(21 176 yuan),followed by diabetic foot disease(18 999 yuan) and cerebrovascular disease (16 583 yuan).The cost per outpatients visit varied from 826 to 976 yuan across different complications except for lower extremity vascular diseases (522 yuan).Conclusions The majority of patients with T2DM suffered from chronic complications.The occurrence and development of chronic complications,especially cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,and nephropathy,led to increased direct medical costs among patients with T2DM.Effective interventions,such as regular physical examinations and proper glycemic control,should be implemented to prevent complications among the diabetic patients.

Influence of postoperative infection on hospitalization day and medical costs of patients with nervous system tumor / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the influence of postoperative infection on average hospitalization days and medical costs in patients with nervous system tumor.Methods The tumor patients treated in neurosurgery ward from July 1,2015 to June 30,2017 were included in the study.The patients with and without postoperative infections were divided into a case group and a control group,respectively (1:1 ratio),matched by admission time (± 3 months),age (± 5 years) and surgical site.Average hospitalization days and medical costs between the two groups were analyzed.Results The incidence of postoperative infection was 5.66％,the surgical site infection and lower respiratory tract infection accounted for 54.72％ and 31.32％ of the total,respectively.The median of hospitalization days in the case group was 20.5,8.5 days longer than that in the control group (Z=-10.618,P＜0.001).The median of total medical costs in the case group was 91 573.42 yuan,higher than that of the control group by 30 518.17 yuan (Z=-9.988,P＜0.001).The average costs of surgical and lower respiratory tract infection were 84 888.50 yuan and 110 442.64 yuan,respectively.Among them,surgical site infection or lower respiratory tract infection caused the extra cost of 23 627.49 yuan (Z=-6.627,P＜0.001) and 43 631.36 yuan (Z=-4.954,P＜0.001),respectively.Conclusions Postoperative infection greatly increased the patient's financial burden,prolonged the hospitalization duration and resulted in unnecessary use of health resources.It is necessary to pay close attention to postoperative infection.

Influence of postoperative infection on hospitalization day and medical costs of patients with nervous system tumor / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the influence of postoperative infection on average hospitalization days and medical costs in patients with nervous system tumor.Methods The tumor patients treated in neurosurgery ward from July 1,2015 to June 30,2017 were included in the study.The patients with and without postoperative infections were divided into a case group and a control group,respectively (1:1 ratio),matched by admission time (± 3 months),age (± 5 years) and surgical site.Average hospitalization days and medical costs between the two groups were analyzed.Results The incidence of postoperative infection was 5.66％,the surgical site infection and lower respiratory tract infection accounted for 54.72％ and 31.32％ of the total,respectively.The median of hospitalization days in the case group was 20.5,8.5 days longer than that in the control group (Z=-10.618,P＜0.001).The median of total medical costs in the case group was 91 573.42 yuan,higher than that of the control group by 30 518.17 yuan (Z=-9.988,P＜0.001).The average costs of surgical and lower respiratory tract infection were 84 888.50 yuan and 110 442.64 yuan,respectively.Among them,surgical site infection or lower respiratory tract infection caused the extra cost of 23 627.49 yuan (Z=-6.627,P＜0.001) and 43 631.36 yuan (Z=-4.954,P＜0.001),respectively.Conclusions Postoperative infection greatly increased the patient's financial burden,prolonged the hospitalization duration and resulted in unnecessary use of health resources.It is necessary to pay close attention to postoperative infection.

What Makes Vietnamese (Not) Attend Periodic General Health Examinations? A 2016 Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVES: General health examinations (GHE) have become an increasingly common measure for preventive medicine in Vietnam. However, little is known about the factors among Viet-namese people who attend or miss GHE. Budget or time constraints remain to be evaluated for better-informed policy making. This study investigates factors affecting behaviors in attending periodic GHE. The main objectives are as follows: (1) to explore empirical relationships between influencing factors and periodic GHE frequencies, and (2) to predict the probabilities of attending GHE under associated conditions. METHODS: The study used a 2,068-observational dataset, obtained from a Vietnamese survey in 2016. The analysis was then performed using the methods of baseline-category logits for establishing relationships between predictor and response variables. RESULTS: Significant relationships were found among the expenditure and time consumption, health priority and sensitivity to health data, insurance status, and frequency of GHE, with most p-values = 0.01. CONCLUSION: Generally, people attended the GHE when they had the resources and health priorities (72.7% probability). Expenditure and time remain key obstacles to the periodic GHE. Health priority and health data are important in improving rates for GHEs. Health insurance should play a positive role in promoting the GHE.

An analysis on non-medical cost contributed by smoking of smoking related diseases in main urban districts of Hangzhou / 预防医学

Objective The paper aims to leavn the direct non-medical costs of the major diseases associated with smoking in Hangzhou. Methods We investigated four general hospitals and a cancer hospital in Hangzhou by typical sampling method. The survey included fee of transportation, nutrition, care, travel and so on. Six major Smoking-related diseases were identified through literature review, and the attributable risk (AR) and the price index were obtained. Results In 2013, the direct non-medical costs of tobacco-related diseases in Hangzhou were as follows: lung cancer, gastric cancer, breast cancer, cerebrovascular diseases cost 427.1, 243.1, 71.6 , 1564.6 thousand yuan, respec tively and coronary heart disease cost 92632.3 thousand yuan and COPD cost 11252.0 thousand yuan. Conclusion The direct non-medical cost contributed by smoking is an important part of the burden of Smoking-related diseases and should be taken seriously.

Can prepayment reform of medical insurance control the rise of medical expenses in China? Empirical analysis based on PSM model and CHARLS data / 中国卫生政策研究

At present, China's medical service costs keep rising, and residents' out-of-pocket medical expen-ses are also increasing heavily. The prepayment reform of medical insurance is considered as an important starting point to solve the problem. It is of great significance to evaluate the effect of prepaid medical insurance reform on con-trolling medical expenses and reducing economic burden when sick. In order to achieve the objective of this study, a use of CHARLS data 2011 &2015 and DIDPSM theory, and a combination of the Interaction Item Model and PSM model, and make use of a natural experiment developed from experimental reform stage for the comprehensive promo-tion stage of new rural cooperative medical system (NCMS) in 2012, were very crucial. This paper finds that:(1) Prepayment system can control the rise in outpatient and inpatient expenses. Compared with those who did not partici-pate in NCMS in the initial stage of reform, after the universal reform, outpatient and inpatient expenses dropped by 6. 3％ and 41％, the average decrease was 1041yuan and 2895yuan, respectively. (2) After the universal reform, the insured patients' medical burden of outpatient and inpatient reduced by 17％ and 33％. Prepayment system has, to some extent, resisted the rise in medical expense, and alleviated the burden of medical treatment. (3) On the basis of PSM, the estimated value and significance of coefficients have not changed, the effect of PPS reform is good. The poli-cy implication is that accelerating the prepayment system reform is the key way to control the growing medical expenses.

The Effect of Mandatory Diagnosis-Related Groups Payment System / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: The voluntary diagnosis-related groups (DRG)-based payment system was introduced in 2002 and the government mandated participation in the DRG for all hospitals from July 2013. The main purpose of this study is to examine the independent effect of mandatory participation in DRG on various outcomes of patients. METHODS: This study collected 1,809,948 inpatient DRG data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database which contains medical information for all patients for the period 2007 to 2014 and examined patient outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), total medical cost, spillover, and readmission rate according to hospital size. RESULTS: LOS of patients decreased after DRGs (large hospitals: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.97; small hospitals: aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.91-0.92). The total medical cost of patients increased after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.30; small hospitals: aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.21-1.23). The results reveals that spillover of patients increased after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.70-2.33; small hospitals: aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.16-1.20). Finally, we found that readmission rates of patients decreased significantly after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.26-0.29; small hospitals: aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.56-0.63). CONCLUSION: The DRG payment system compared to fee-for-service payment in South Korea may be an alternative medical price policy which can reduce the LOS. However, government need to monitor inappropriate changes such as spillover increase. Since this study also is the results based on relatively simple surgery, insurer needs to compare or review bundled payment like new DRG for expansion of various inpatient-related diseases including internal medicine.

The Analysis of Changes of Tonsillectomy after Diagnosis Related Group Based Payment System: Review of the Data Given by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis by Related Groups (DRG), a system forcibly implemented in all medical institutions from July 2013, was applied to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in the field of Otorhinolaryngology. We analyzed the changes in medical costs and evaluated the efficiency of the DRG system by analyzing the data collected before and after the DRG implementation. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the total number of cases, total medical costs and per charge for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy using the data from the Korean National Health Insurance from 2011 to 2014. We compared the number and cost of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy by hospital type, region, and patient age. RESULTS: The total number of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy after the application of DRG systems in July 2013 in all medical institutions was reduced, but the total costs showed a tendancy to increase, resulting in an increase per charge of case. The number of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy was decreased in general and specialized hospitals, but the costs were increased after DRG systems. CONCLUSION: Medical costs per charge of case related to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy was higher in the DRG system than in the 'fee for service' system. Increased medical costs, considered to be the most likely cause of patient copayments, are recognized in the DRG system. The results showed that saving effect of medical costs was not significant in the DRG system; it may appear to relieve patient burden in the short term, but the financial state of national health insurance is worsening.

Analysis of direct medical costs and their influencing factors for in-patients with Multiple Mye-loma:Based on the reimbursement claim database in Guangzhou, China / 中国卫生政策研究

Objective:To study the direct medical expenses for inpatients with Multiple Myeloma and explore its influencing factors. Methods:A total of 1386 hospitalization records were collected using the reimbursement claim database in Guangzhou City during the period from January 2009 to December 2011 , which covered the entire enroll-ees of Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance ( UEBMI) and Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance ( URBMI) . Multivariate logarithmic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors of direct hospitalization costs. Results:During the period from 2009 to 2011 , the total costs of inpatients with Multiple Myeloma were 19319 . 16 , 17364. 76 and 21427. 44 Yuan, and the individual out-of-pocket cash payments were 7049. 37, 5216. 5 and 6475. 39 Yuan respectively. The major influencing factors on direct medical costs of inpatients with the aforesaid disease were identified to be age, health insurance type, hospital level and length of hospitalization. Besides, the proportion of drug expenses as per average occupancy rate among UEBMI and URBMI cases during three years were 61. 92% and 69. 22% respectively. Conclusion: The direct medical costs for inpatients with Multiple Myeloma are high and the medicine cost is the main component of total medical expenses. In addition, the economic burden is higher for patients with URBMI than for those with UEBMI for treating Multiple Myeloma.

Integrated care pathway and payment reform: practices in China / 中华医院管理杂志

A description of the intervention measures of the reform program for integrated care and payment in pilot areas,covering such diseases as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cerbral stroke.The reform aims at exploring impacts on both medical behaviors and medical costs.Authors of the paper hold that the practice of packaged ceiling payment for a single disease is a two-edged sword for clinical pathway management,and joint efforts by the government,medical insurers,medical workers and patients at large are required to regulate medical behaviors over time.They also see the total growth of medical costs as an objective rule,and the correct way out for optimal use of medical insurance funds is to focus on makeup of such costs.

Direct medical costs of treating Mexican children under 2 years of age with respiratory syncytial virus

Background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent etiologic agent causing lower respiratory tract infection in children <2 years of age. Between 0.5 and 3% of patients will require hospitalization. The aim of this study was to estimate the direct medical cost of treating children <2 years old with suspicion of RSV at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Methods. Direct medical costs were estimated from an institutional perspective. Medical records were reviewed from patients <2 years of age who attended emergency services in second-level hospitals including subjects who required hospitalization. Estimated costs were obtained with the microcosting technique using the institutional costs from IMSS (year 2010). Costs were reported in USD (year 2011). Results. When analyzing total medical costs, outpatient management yielded a cost of $230.0 ± $10.30 U.S. dollars (USD), whereas hospitalized patients exhibited an average cost of $8,313.20 ± $595.30 USD. The main components of outpatient management costs were emergency visits, specialist consultations and diagnostic testing (41.6%, 32.7% and 10.7% of the total cost, respectively). In the case of hospitalized patients, intensive care unit cost (89.3%) and overall hospitalization cost (6.5%) represented 95.7% of the total cost. Conclusions. RSV is a disease that represents a significant economic burden for health care institutions, although most patients are treated on an outpatient basis.

Economic evaluation of the use of exogenous pulmonary surfactants in preterm newborns in a Mexican population / Evaluación económica de la utilización de surfactantes pulmonares exógenos en recién nacidos pretérmino en población mexicana

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness ratio of surfactant rescue treatment of premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) who are covered by the Medical Insurance for a New Generation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cost-effectiveness evaluation was conducted from the third-payer perspective. Comparisons were made between the use of bovine surfactant (BS) therapy and without BS therapy. A decision tree model with a lifetime horizon was used where the measurements of effectiveness were life years gained (LYG) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). A 5% discount rate was considered for costs and health outcomes. All costs are expressed in Mexican pesos 2009. RESULTS: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were MXN$136670 per LYG and MXN$125250 per QALY. CONCLUSION: Surfactant therapy was confirmed as a cost-effective strategy in accordance with World Health Organization criteria of three per capita gross domestic product (GDP) per QALY in premature infants with RDS in Mexico.

OBJETIVO: Estimar la razón de costo efectividad incremental del tratamiento de surfactante de rescate en pacientes pretérmino con Síndrome de Dificultad Respiratoria (SDR) cubiertos por el Seguro Médico para una Nueva Generación. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Evaluación de costo-efectividad desde la perspectiva del tercer pagador. Los comparadores fueron la terapia de surfactante bovino y la alternativa de no emplear ésta. Se utilizó un árbol de decisión que consideró la esperanza de vida como horizonte temporal y las medidas de efectividad fueron los años de vida ganados (AVG) y los años de vida ajustados por calidad de vida ( AVAC).Resultados en pesos mexicanos del 2009. RESULTADOS: Las RCEI por AVG y AVAC fueron de MXN$136670 y MXN$125250. CONCLUSIÓN: La razón de costo por AVG y AVAC para la terapia de surfactantes en pacientes prematuros con SDR en México fue menor a tres veces el PIB per cápita, por lo que es una estrategia costo-efectiva según los criterios de la OMS.

Inspection of CAM and Health Foods Facilities in Europe and America / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

Inspection and investigation of CAM and health food facilities was performed in 6 and 9 leading facilities in Europe and the United States, respectively. This report details actual product conditions and outlines function, safety and indications of health foods in CAM.<br>

Medical cost analysis of the diabetic in-patients / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

A total of 2794 diabetic patients admitted in the PLA Hospital N. 306 from 2000 to 2004 were analyzed for their in-patients cost, based on database according to the ICD-9 code and the standard forms for the investigation of medical expenditure. The average total medical cost of these in-patients Was 6557,6887,8235,9633 and ll785 RMB Yuan (1 US Dollar=8.1 RMB Yuan) from 2000 to 2004, respectively. Comparing with that in 2000, the average medical cost for these in. patients increased 5%,26%,47% and 80% from 2001 to 2004, respectively; of which 17%,19%,47% and 96% for drugs; 5%,29%,56% and 92% for the examinations. The total medical cost, drug and examination cost increased 1.01,1.14 and 1.10 times for the diabetic patients with cerebral infarction, 1.16,1.37 and 1.12 times with hypertension, and 1.124,1.11 and 1.18 times with cholecystitis and/or gallstones, as compared with their counterparts without diabetes mellitus.

An Analysis of Medical Costs of Diabetic Patients in a University Hospital (1996~2005) / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research was to find out the costs of diabetes, as research in a prospective cohort study looking into the development of diabetic complications followed by treatment intervention by a medical institution. The research compared the changes in medical costs by following-up on the treatment details of diagnosed diabetes for the last 10 years in a university hospital. METHODS: The research used data of outpatient, inpatient, pharmaceutical and total medical costs, from 1996 to 2005, of individual patients who were diagnosed with diabetic patients, to analyze the outpatient and inpatient total medical cost changes over the years. RESULTS: After antidiabetic drug, in the case of outpatient treatment, pharmaceutical costs increased on average by about 25,000 won a month for diabetic patients without complications and by 35,000 won for diabetic patients with microvascular complications. Outpatient medical costs were affected after drug treatment by as much of an increase as created by the pharmaceutical costs. The total medical costs, that is the sum of inpatient and outpatient costs, decreased by 30~40% compared to that before drug treatment. In the case of total medical cost, MI or ESRD cost 2~3 times more in pharmaceutical costs than before the development of complications. The total medical costs of diabetic patients with CVA, MI and ESRD complications increased in the first year after development of the complication, and this was followed by a decrease in the next year, showing a tendency to remain constant with no increase or decrease over subsequent years. This means that the total medical costs of patients with complications remain continuously large throughout the life of the diagnosed patient. CONCLUSION: For diabetic patients, pharmaceutical costs are the most important factor in determining outpatient medical costs.