Appropriateness of emergency care use: a retrospective observational study based on professional versus patients' perspectives in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study are to refine the measurement of appropriate emergency department (ED) use and to provide a natural observation of appropriate ED use rates based on professional versus patient perspectives. SETTING: Taiwan has a population of 23 million, with one single-payer universal health insurance scheme. Taiwan has no limitations on ED use, and a low barrier to ED use may be a surrogate for natural observation of users' perspectives in ED use. PARTICIPANTS: In 7 years, there were 1 835 860 ED visits from one million random samples of the National Health Insurance Database. MEASURES: Appropriate ED use was determined according to professional standards, measured by the modified Billings New York University Emergency Department (NYU-ED) algorithm, and further analysed after the addition of prudent patient standards, measured by explicit process-based and outcome-based criteria. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to reflect the performance of appropriate ED use measures, and sensitivity analyses were conducted using different thresholds to determine the appropriateness of ED use. The generalised estimating equation model was used to measure the associations between appropriate ED use based on process and outcome criteria and covariates including sex, age, occupation, health status, place of residence, medical resources area, date and income level. RESULTS: Appropriate ED use based on professional criteria was 33.5%, which increased to 63.1% when patient criteria were added. The AUC, which combines both professional and patient criteria, was high (0.85). CONCLUSIONS: The appropriate ED use rate nearly doubled when patient criteria were added to professional criteria. Explicit process-based and outcome-based criteria may be used as a supplementary measure to the implicit modified Billings NYU-ED algorithm when determining appropriate ED use.

Prediction of Sex-Specific Suicide Risk Using Machine Learning and Single-Payer Health Care Registry Data From Denmark.

Importance: Suicide is a public health problem, with multiple causes that are poorly understood. The increased focus on combining health care data with machine-learning approaches in psychiatry may help advance the understanding of suicide risk. Objective: To examine sex-specific risk profiles for death from suicide using machine-learning methods and data from the population of Denmark. Design, Setting, and Participants: A case-cohort study nested within 8 national Danish health and social registries was conducted from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2015. The source population was all persons born or residing in Denmark as of January 1, 1995. Data were analyzed from November 5, 2018, through May 13, 2019. Exposures: Exposures included 1339 variables spanning domains of suicide risk factors. Main Outcomes and Measures: Death from suicide from the Danish cause of death registry. Results: A total of 14 103 individuals died by suicide between 1995 and 2015 (10 152 men [72.0%]; mean [SD] age, 43.5 [18.8] years and 3951 women [28.0%]; age, 47.6 [18.8] years). The comparison subcohort was a 5% random sample (n = 265 183) of living individuals in Denmark on January 1, 1995 (130 591 men [49.2%]; age, 37.4 [21.8] years and 134 592 women [50.8%]; age, 39.9 [23.4] years). With use of classification trees and random forests, sex-specific differences were noted in risk for suicide, with physical health more important to men's suicide risk than women's suicide risk. Psychiatric disorders and possibly associated medications were important to suicide risk, with specific results that may increase clarity in the literature. Generally, diagnoses and medications measured 48 months before suicide were more important indicators of suicide risk than when measured 6 months earlier. Individuals in the top 5% of predicted suicide risk appeared to account for 32.0% of all suicide cases in men and 53.4% of all cases in women. Conclusions and Relevance: Despite decades of research on suicide risk factors, understanding of suicide remains poor. In this study, the first to date to develop risk profiles for suicide based on data from a full population, apparent consistency with what is known about suicide risk was noted, as well as potentially important, understudied risk factors with evidence of unique suicide risk profiles among specific subpopulations.

The Impact of a National Health Information Exchange Program Under a Single-payer System.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the PharmaCloud program, a health information exchange program implemented in 2013, on medication duplication under a single-payer, universal health insurance program in Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN: This study employed a retrospective pre-post study design and used nationwide health insurance claim data from 2013 to 2015. A difference-in-difference analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of inquiry rate on the probability of receiving duplicate medications and on the number of days of overlapping medication prescriptions after implementation of the PharmaCloud program. RESULTS: The study subjects included patients receiving medications in 7 categories: antihypertension drugs, 217,200; antihyperlipidemic drugs, 69,086; hypoglycemic agents, 103,962; antipsychotic drugs, 15,479; antidepressant drugs, 12,057; sedative and hypnotic drugs, 56,048; and antigout drugs, 18,250. Up to 2015, the overall PharmaCloud inquiry rate has increased to 55.36%-69.16%. Compared with subjects in 2013, subjects in 2014 and 2015 had a significantly lower likelihood of receiving duplicate medication in all 7 medication groups; for instance, for antihypertension drug users, the odds ratio (OR) was 0.91 with 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.90-0.92 in 2014, and the OR was 0.81 with 95% confidence interval=0.81-0.82 in 2015. However, a higher inquiry rate led to a lower likelihood of receiving duplicate medication and shorter periods of overlapping medications only in some of the medication groups. CONCLUSIONS: The health information exchange program has reduced medication duplication, yet the reduction was not entirely associated with record inquiries. The hospitals have responded to the challenge of medication duplication by enhancing internal prescription control via a prescription alert system, which may have contributed to the reduction in duplicate medications and is a positive, unintended consequence of the intervention.

Variation in the 11-year trajectories of medical care seeking behaviors in diabetes patients under a single payer system: persisting gaps to be filled.

BACKGROUND: Care-seeking behavior is widely acknowledged to have strong influences on health outcomes among individuals with chronic conditions including diabetes. Despite its dynamic nature, care seeking behavior are often considered as time invariant in most studies. The likelihood of patients changing their regularity and source of chronic care over time is often neglected. This study aimed to determine the long-term trajectories of care-seeking patterns of both care-seeking regularity and health provider choices; and their associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes under the National Health Insurance (NHI) program in Taiwan. METHODS: We utilized population-based data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. Three thousand, nine hundred and eighty-seven adult patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in 1999 were enrolled in the cohort. We assessed their trajectories of regular care visits and sources of diabetes care from 2000 to 2010. A group-based trajectory model was applied. RESULTS: Seven distinct groups of long-term care-seeking patterns were identified. Only 51.44% of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes had regularly visited their providers over time. Among them, 56.41 and 16.09% had persistently sought care from generalized and specialized providers, respectively. 27.50% had sought care from different levels of providers. Patients who were male, elderly, low-income, and had a higher baseline diabetes severity were significantly more likely to either continue with their irregular care-seeking behavior or fail to maintain their regular care seeking behavior over time. Those who were younger, had a higher socioeconomic status, and lived in an urban area were significantly more likely to persistently seek care from specialized care settings. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first population-based assessment of long-term care-seeking behaviors of type 2 diabetes patients under a single-payer system with a comprehensive benefit coverage. The most alarming finding was that, despite the existence of the comprehensive universal health insurance coverage in Taiwan, almost 50% of patients did not seek or maintain regular visits to providers over time as recommended. Understanding variations in the long-term trajectories of care adherence and sources of care may help to identify gaps in diabetes care management.

The utility of outpatient commitment: acute medical care access and protecting health.

OBJECTIVES: This study considers whether, in an easy access single-payer health care system, patients placed on outpatient commitment-community treatment orders (CTOs) in Victoria Australia-are more likely to access acute medical care addressing physical illness than voluntary patients with and without severe mental illness. METHOD: For years 2000 to 2010, the study compared acute medical care access of 27,585  severely mentally ill psychiatrically hospitalized patients (11,424 with and 16,161 without CTO exposure) and 12,229 never psychiatrically hospitalized outpatients (individuals with less morbidity risk as they were not considered to have severe mental illness). Logistic regression was used to determine the influence of the CTO on the likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of physical illness requiring acute care. RESULTS: Validating their shared and elevated morbidity risk, 53% of each hospitalized cohort accessed acute care compared to 32% of outpatients during the decade. While not under mental health system supervision, however, the likelihood that a CTO patient would receive a physical illness diagnosis was 31% lower than for non-CTO patients, and no different from lower morbidity-risk outpatients without severe mental illness. While, under mental health system supervision, the likelihood that CTO patients would receive a physical illness diagnosis was 40% greater than non-CTO patients and 5.02 times more likely than outpatients were. Each CTO episode was associated with a 4.6% increase in the likelihood of a member of the CTO group receiving a diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Mental health system involvement and CTO supervision appeared to facilitate access to physical health care in acute care settings for patients with severe mental illness, a group that has, in the past, been subject to excess morbidity and mortality.

Predicting High Health Care Resource Utilization in a Single-payer Public Health Care System: Development and Validation of the High Resource User Population Risk Tool.

BACKGROUND: A large proportion of health care spending is incurred by a small proportion of the population. Population-based health planning tools that consider both the clinical and upstream determinants of high resource users (HRU) of the health system are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate the High Resource User Population Risk Tool (HRUPoRT), a predictive model of adults that will become the top 5% of health care users over a 5-year period, based on self-reported clinical, sociodemographic, and health behavioral predictors in population survey data. RESEARCH DESIGN: The HRUPoRT model was developed in a prospective cohort design using the combined 2005 and 2007/2008 Canadian Community Health Surveys (CCHS) (N=58,617), and validated using the external 2009/2010 CCHS cohort (N=28,721). Health care utilization for each of the 5 years following CCHS interview date were determined by applying a person-centered costing algorithm to the linked health administrative databases. Discrimination and calibration of the model were assessed using c-statistic and Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) χ statistic. RESULTS: The best prediction model for 5-year transition to HRU status included 12 predictors and had good discrimination (c-statistic=0.8213) and calibration (HL χ=18.71) in the development cohort. The model performed similarly in the validation cohort (c-statistic=0.8171; HL χ=19.95). The strongest predictors in the HRUPoRT model were age, perceived general health, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: HRUPoRT can accurately project the proportion of individuals in the population that will become a HRU over 5 years. HRUPoRT can be applied to inform health resource planning and prevention strategies at the community level.

First-line medications for alcohol use disorders among public drug plan beneficiaries in Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: To examine use of first-line alcohol use disorder (AUD) medications (naltrexone and acamprosate) among public drug plan beneficiaries in the year following an AUD diagnosis. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study. SETTING: Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals eligible for public drug plan benefits who had an AUD diagnosis at a hospital visit between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of AUD medications dispensed to public drug plan beneficiaries who had a recent hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis, and number of prescriptions dispensed per person. RESULTS: A total of 10 394 Ontarians between 18 and 65 years of age were identified who had a hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis and were eligible for public drug plan benefits. The rate of AUD medications dispensed in the subsequent year was 3.56 per 1000 population (95% CI 2.51 to 4.91; n = 37). This rate did not differ significantly by sex (P = .83). CONCLUSION: Very few public drug plan beneficiaries are dispensed first-line AUD medications in the year following an AUD diagnosis.

National Age and Gender-Specific Costs in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction by A Single Nationwide Private Payer.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament tears are an unfortunate, but common, event in the United States, with an estimated 100-300,000 reconstructions performed annually. Limited literature has been published analyzing the reimbursement patterns for the reconstruction of this ligament and, thus, cost-effectiveness studies have relied mainly on data from a limited number of subjects and hospitals. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to perform an epidemiological cost analysis of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions and to analyze and describe the reimbursement patterns for this procedure that can be used as reference for future cost-analysis studies. We conducted a retrospective review of a large private payers insurance company records to identify patients who underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) between 2007 and 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was achieved through a structured query of the database with the use of current procedural terminology (CPT) codes. Inclusion criteria for this study were patients housed in the insurer database between the ages of 10 and 59. Reimbursements were calculated at the day of surgery and the 90-day global period. Statistical analysis was based on growth and cohort comparison according to demographic. The consumer price index (CPI) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was used to calculate inflation. RESULTS: The adjusted mean same-day costs were $11,462 (standard deviations [SD] of $869) for female patients and $12,071 (SD of 561) for males (p=0.07), with no significant difference among same-day costs in either females (p=0.023 for ages 10 to 34 and p=0.037 for ages 35 to 59) or males (p=0.46 for ages 10 to 34 and p=0.26 for ages 35 to 59). The adjusted mean 90-day costs were $14,569 (SD of $835) for females and $14,916 (SD of $780) for males, with no significant difference among 90-day costs in either females (p=0.229 for ages 10 to 34 and p= 0.386 for ages 35 to 39) or males (p=0.425 for ages 10 to 34 and p=0.637 for ages 35 to 39). A matched-age cost analysis demonstrated that gender did not play a significant role in costs (p<0.01 for all groups). CONCLUSION: In the setting of arthroscopic ACLR, both same-day and 90-day costs do not significantly differ between age-matched males and females.

Having Private Cancer Insurance in Korea: Gender Differences.

BACKGROUND: As coverage of public insurance is not sufficient to cover diagnosis or treatment of cancer, having private health insurance is important to prepare for unexpected expenses of cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with having private cancer insurance, considering gender among the socio- demographic factors and health behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from the 2011 Korea Health Panel, which included 10,871 participants aged 20 years and older. Socio-demographics, health behavior, and perceived cancer risk were the independent variables and having private cancer insurance was the dependent variable. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with having private cancer insurance. RESULTS: The variables relating to middle age, higher education, higher household income, married men, and the perceived cancer risk groups of 1-10% and 11-30% were significantly associated with having private cancer insurance. Additionally, females who had private non-cancer health insurance were positively associated with the dependent variables (OR=1.36; 95% CI=1.17-1.57). Education, smoking status, exercise, and perceived cancer risk possibility were significantly associated with having private cancer insurance only among women. The men lowered the overall percentages of those having private cancer insurance (OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.45-0.63). CONCLUSIONS: We found that there were significant differences between men and women who had private cancer insurance. Women with private cancer insurance are more likely to follow precautionary health behavior than men. This could be interpreted as resulting from masculine ideologies. It is important to make males recognize the seriousness of the cancer risk. In general, household income was highly associated with private cancer insurance. These results reveal an inequity among the buyers of private cancer insurance in terms of economic status level, education level, and health condition.

An administrative data validation study of the accuracy of algorithms for identifying rheumatoid arthritis: the influence of the reference standard on algorithm performance.

BACKGROUND: We have previously validated administrative data algorithms to identify patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using rheumatology clinic records as the reference standard. Here we reassessed the accuracy of the algorithms using primary care records as the reference standard. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart abstraction study using a random sample of 7500 adult patients under the care of 83 family physicians contributing to the Electronic Medical Record Administrative data Linked Database (EMRALD) in Ontario, Canada. Using physician-reported diagnoses as the reference standard, we computed and compared the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for over 100 administrative data algorithms for RA case ascertainment. RESULTS: We identified 69 patients with RA for a lifetime RA prevalence of 0.9%. All algorithms had excellent specificity (>97%). However, sensitivity varied (75-90%) among physician billing algorithms. Despite the low prevalence of RA, most algorithms had adequate positive predictive value (PPV; 51-83%). The algorithm of "[1 hospitalization RA diagnosis code] or [3 physician RA diagnosis codes with ≥1 by a specialist over 2 years]" had a sensitivity of 78% (95% CI 69-88), specificity of 100% (95% CI 100-100), PPV of 78% (95% CI 69-88) and NPV of 100% (95% CI 100-100). CONCLUSIONS: Administrative data algorithms for detecting RA patients achieved a high degree of accuracy amongst the general population. However, results varied slightly from our previous report, which can be attributed to differences in the reference standards with respect to disease prevalence, spectrum of disease, and type of comparator group.

Accuracy of Canadian health administrative databases in identifying patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a validation study using the medical records of rheumatologists.

OBJECTIVE: Health administrative data can be a valuable tool for disease surveillance and research. Few studies have rigorously evaluated the accuracy of administrative databases for identifying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Our aim was to validate administrative data algorithms to identify RA patients in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a random sample of 450 patients from 18 rheumatology clinics. Using rheumatologist-reported diagnosis as the reference standard, we tested and validated different combinations of physician billing, hospitalization, and pharmacy data. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine rheumatology patients were classified as having RA and 301 were classified as not having RA based on our reference standard definition (study RA prevalence 33%). Overall, algorithms that included physician billings had excellent sensitivity (range 94-100%). Specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were modest to excellent and increased when algorithms included multiple physician claims or specialist claims. The addition of RA medications did not significantly improve algorithm performance. The algorithm of "(1 hospitalization RA code ever) OR (3 physician RA diagnosis codes [claims] with ≥1 by a specialist in a 2-year period)" had a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 85%, PPV of 76%, and negative predictive value of 98%. Most RA patients (84%) had an RA diagnosis code present in the administrative data within ±1 year of a rheumatologist's documented diagnosis date. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that administrative data can be used to identify RA patients with a high degree of accuracy. RA diagnosis date and disease duration are fairly well estimated from administrative data in jurisdictions of universal health care insurance.

Impact of healthcare reforms on out-of-pocket health expenditures in Turkey for public insurees.

The Turkish healthcare system has been subject to major reforms since 2003. During the reform process, access to public healthcare providers was eased and private providers were included in the insurance package for public insurees. This study analyzes data on out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare expenditures to look into the impact of reforms on the size of OOP health expenditures for premium-based public insurees. The study uses Household Budget Surveys that provide a range of individual- and household-level data as well as healthcare expenditures for the years 2003, before the reforms, and 2006, after the reforms. Results show that with the reforms ratio of households with non-zero OOP expenditure has increased. Share and level of OOP expenditures have decreased. The impact varies across income levels. A semi-parametric analysis shows that wealthier individuals benefited more in terms of the decrease in OOP health expenditures.

Determinants of elevated healthcare utilization in patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imparts a substantial economic burden on western health systems. Our objective was to analyze the determinants of elevated healthcare utilization among patients with COPD in a single-payer health system. METHODS: Three-hundred eighty-nine adults with COPD were matched 1:3 to controls by age, gender and area of residency. Total healthcare cost 5 years prior recruitment and presence of comorbidities were obtained from a computerized database. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) indices were obtained using validated questionnaires among a subsample of 177 patients. RESULTS: Healthcare utilization was 3.4-fold higher among COPD patients compared with controls (p < 0.001). The "most-costly" upper 25% of COPD patients (n = 98) consumed 63% of all costs. Multivariate analysis revealed that independent determinants of being in the "most costly" group were (OR; 95% CI): age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (1.09; 1.01-1.2), history of: myocardial infarct (2.87; 1.5-5.5), congestive heart failure (3.52; 1.9-6.4), mild liver disease (3.83; 1.3-11.2) and diabetes (2.02; 1.1-3.6). Bivariate analysis revealed that cost increased as HRQoL declined and severity of airflow obstruction increased but these were not independent determinants in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Comorbidity burden determines elevated utilization for COPD patients. Decision makers should prioritize scarce health care resources to a better care management of the "most costly" patients.

Is Canada odd? A comparison of European and Canadian approaches to choice and regulation of the public/private divide in health care.

Choice is often touted as a means for change within health care systems. Yet 'choice', in this context, takes at least three distinct forms: choice between providers within a publicly funded health care system; choice between competing insurers within a universal plan; and, lastly, choice as between privately financed health care and universal public coverage. In Canada, it is this last form of choice that is under active debate; particularly in light of the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Chaoulli, which found a regulation banning private health insurance for medically necessary care was unconstitutional. The argument is frequently made that Canada is an outlier from other countries in having regulation that effectively precludes this kind of choice. This issue is likely to become of concern again in upcoming constitutional challenges where applicants are looking to overturn through judicial challenges Canada's medicare system. This article tests that argument of whether Canada truly is 'odd' from a comparative policy perspective by exploring regulation of choice of privately financed health care in several European countries - the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, England and France. We highlight commonalities as well as differences, showing the extent to which these countries employ regulation to fetter growth of a large privately financed sector. The article's thesis is that Canada, in employing more intrusive forms of regulation, is not an outlier per se but at one point in a regulatory spectrum.

Cost-effectiveness of insulin detemir compared to NPH insulin for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Canadian payer setting: modeling analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to quantify the long-term cost-effectiveness of insulin detemir (Levemir) versus intermediate-acting neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Canada, and to assess the sensitivity of results to dis-utilities for hypoglycemic events. dagger Levemir is a trade name of Novo Nordisk, Princeton, NJ, USA RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The web-based IMS-CORE diabetes model has a menu-driven interface programmed in hypertext markup language (HTML). It was used to project lifetime (60 years for T1DM and 35 years for T2DM) clinical and economic outcomes for patients on detemir vs. NPH. Cohort characteristics, utilities, and costs were derived from published literature. For T1DM, clinical trial data for HbA(1c) improvement (detemir -0.94% +/- 1.07; NPH -0.82% +/- 1.01) from baseline, and rates of hypoglycemic events (major events: 0.20 vs. 0.80 per patient-year for detemir vs. NPH, respectively) were modeled. For T2DM, observational study data for HbA(1c) improvement (detemir -0.18%) from baseline, and reductions in hypoglycemic events (major events: 0.0995 vs. 1.33 per patient-year for detemir vs. NPH, respectively) were modeled. Base-case hypoglycemia dis-utilities were -0.0118 for major and -0.0035 for minor events. Sensitivity analyses were conducted on discount rate and hypoglycemia dis-utility. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes included costs of treatment/management and costs (and incidence) of diabetes-related complications. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated from differences in total costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). RESULTS: Average total costs for T1DM were $CAN 83 622 +/- 4585 for detemir and $CAN 72 016 +/- 4593 for NPH. QALYs increased by 0.475 years with detemir, with an ICER of $CAN 24 389/QALY. Average direct costs for T2DM were $CAN 74 919 +/- 6391 (detemir) and $CAN 69 230 +/- 6840 (NPH). QALYs increased by 0.305 years. The ICER was $CAN 18 677. Although detemir was associated with slightly lower costs for most complications, results were driven by the differences in rates and costs for hypoglycemic events, and their assumed dis-utility. Study limitations include the use of single trials for clinical assumptions and the lack of analyses for patient risk sub-groups. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide evidence for the cost-effectiveness of detemir vs. NPH in treating T1 and T2DM in Canada, and support the key role of assumptions regarding the impact of hypoglycemic events. Additional work is needed to determine the extent to which results are robust for different sub-groups of patients and for variation in assumptions around HbA(1c) improvements and hypoglycemic event rates.

No show: incidence of nonattendance at a dermatology practice in a single universal payer model.

BACKGROUND: Nonattendance at scheduled appointments is a major problem. Previous studies have shown rates between 17 and 31%. Most US studies found the type of payer to be the greatest determinant of attendance rates. OBJECTIVES: This study examines the no-show rate in a private dermatology practice under a single universal payer model, including the effects of old versus new patient, gender, day of the week, month, and weather. RESULTS: The overall rate of nonattendance was lower than in all previous studies (7.79%), with the only statistically significant variable being established versus new patients. LIMITATIONS: Certain demographic data investigated in previous studies (eg, age, socioeconomic status) were not assessable. Data are from a single office. CONCLUSION: The no-show rate in a single universal payer, private practice model is low, especially for established patients.

Prospects for single payer coverage after Harry and Louise.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This paper considers evidence of indirect influences of the Harry and Louise media campaign on public support of single payer health coverage in a conservative state. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data from a statewide, representative public opinion survey on health reform conducted in Oklahoma over a two-year period, 1992-1994, were combined with data on the Harry and Louise media campaign broadcasts. A two-stage structural-equation model tested the hypothesis that support for single payer varied inversely with support for "mainstream" health reform. RESULTS: Findings support the hypothesis, providing evidence that a campaign affecting support for mainstream health reform inversely affects support for single payer, despite the tendency for support for health reform to correlate with support for single payer. IMPLICATIONS: Findings suggest that an unintended indirect effect of a campaign against mainstream health reform may have been increased support for single payer. Those proposing future reforms should be aware of available media technologies and how they will be used.

An international comparison of cancer survival: metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

OBJECTIVES: Comparisons of cancer survival in Canadian and US metropolitan areas have shown consistent Canadian advantages. This study tests a health insurance hypothesis by comparing cancer survival in Toronto, Ontario, and Honolulu, Hawaii. METHODS: Ontario and Hawaii registries provided a total of 9190 and 2895 cancer cases (breast and prostate, 1986-1990, followed until 1996). Socioeconomic data for each person's residence at the time of diagnosis were taken from population censuses. RESULTS: Socioeconomic status and cancer survival were directly associated in the US cohort, but not in the Canadian cohort. Compared with similar patients in Honolulu, residents of low-income areas in Toronto experienced 5-year survival advantages for breast and prostate cancer. In support of the health insurance hypothesis, between-country differences were smaller than those observed with other state samples and the Canadian advantage was larger among younger women. CONCLUSIONS: Hawaii seems to provide better cancer care than many other states, but patients in Toronto still enjoy a significant survival advantage. Although Hawaii's employer-mandated health insurance coverage seems an effective step toward providing equitable health care, even better care could be expected with a universally accessible, single-payer system.

Financing reforms in the German hospital sector: from full cost cover principle to prospective case fees.

OBJECTIVES: The authors provide an overview of the hospital sector in Germany with a focus on the impact of recent reform legislation on this sector. METHODS: Data from the Federal Statistics Office, the Ministry of Health, and the Federal Association of Physicians are synthesized with information obtained from a general review of the literature. RESULTS: Before the implementation of recent health-care reforms, the German health-care system has been sharply divided into inpatient and ambulatory care sectors, resulting in a fragmented system of care delivery. All hospital operating costs were fully covered through per diem charges. The 1992 Health Care Structure Act and subsequent pieces of legislation have introduced new mechanisms to improve cost efficiency in the hospital sector and increase coordination between the inpatient and outpatient care. These measures notably include implementing an inpatient prospective payment system and permitting ambulatory surgery and care services to be offered in inpatient settings. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas prospective payments have greatly reduced the length of stay, hospitals were reluctant to offer ambulatory surgery due to budgetary constraints and the high level of ambulatory surgery by office-based physicians. The reforms passed have not yielded substantial cost savings. These reforms offer a natural experiment that could benefit from national and international studies on the impact of hospital sector redesign on management, financing, and patient outcomes.