Affording what's free and paying for choice: comparing the cost of public and private hospitalizations in urban Kerala

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost of public and private hospitalizations in urban Kerala and discuss policy implications of social disparities in the economic burden of hospital care. METHODS: The NSSO survey on health care (1995-1996) for urban Kerala was analysed with regards to expenditure incurred by hospital episodes. Multilevel linear models were built to assess factors associated with levels of health expenditure. FINDINGS: Hospital care involves paying admission fees in 68% of cases of hospitalizations (98% in private and 20% in public sector) in urban Kerala. Poor households and those headed by casual workers show significantly lower levels of health expenditure and a higher proportion of health-related loss of income than other social groups. Although there is significant expenditure in both sectors for these groups, hospitalization on free public wards is associated with lower expenditure than other options. Factors linked with higher expenditure are: duration of stay; hospitalizations on paying public wards and in the private sector; hospitalizations for above poverty line households and hospitalizations for chronic illnesses. Expenditure for services bought from outside the hospital is important in the public sector. CONCLUSION: Hospitalization incurs significant expenditure in urban Kerala. Greater availability of free medical services in the public sector and financial protection against the cost of hospitalization are warranted.     

昆明市某“城中村”本地村民与外来人口卫生服务需要与利用调查

[目的]了解“城中村”人群的卫生服务需要和利用情况,为合理配置卫生资源、有效开展卫生服务提供依据。[方法]采用案例研究（case study）的方法通过文献回顾、个人深入访谈和问卷调查,对选取的具有“城中村”特征的目标社区的1372名“城中村”人群进行调查。[结果]调查人群两周患病率为41．5‰,两周就诊率为42．2‰,慢性病患病率为24．8‰住院率为45．9‰,其中本地村民和外来人口除两周就诊率外,在两周患病率、慢性病患病率和住院率方面差异均有统计学意义。[结论]“城中村”人群卫生服务利用率较低,有明显的卫生服务需要,建议针对城中村特点,积极采职社会卫生政策来保障“城中村”人群健康。     

Utilization of maternal health care services in Southern India

This paper examines the patterns and determinants of maternal health care utilization across different social settings in South India: in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) carried out during 1992-93 across most states in India are used. Results show that utilization of maternal health care services is highest in Kerala followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Utilization of maternal health care services is not only associated with a range of reproductive, socio-economic, cultural and program factors but also with state and type of health service. The interstate differences in utilization could be partly due to variations in the implementation of maternal health care program as well as differences in availability and accessibility between the states. In the case of antenatal care, there was no significant rural-urban gap, thanks to the role played by the multipurpose health workers posted in the rural areas to provide maternal health care services. The findings of this study provide insights for planning and implementing appropriate maternal health service delivery programs in order to improve the health and well-being of both mother and child.     

Gender and health care utilization: the role of mental distress and help-seeking propensity

Many studies report higher levels of health care utilization among women. Understanding how gender influences health care utilization is still unresolved. We developed a model that could explain these gender-related differences. The possible pathways assumed by this model that relate gender to utilization, can be summarized as follows: (1) utilization may be influenced by somatic morbidity, mental distress, perceived symptoms, poor subjective health and propensity to use services; (2) women have higher levels of these variables than men (mediating effect); and (3) the direct effects of some of these variables on utililization are moderated by gender, i.e. they are stronger for women than for men (moderating effect). Data were drawn from a community-based sample of adult enrollees of a sickness fund in the Netherlands, who had responded to a mailed health survey (N = 8698). This survey contained questions on somatic morbidity, mental distress and other mediating variables. Health care utilization was measured prospectively, using data extracted from a claims database held by the sickness fund that covers all types of general health services except general practitioner consultations. The model was tested using structural equation modelling. Women reported more somatic morbidity and mental distress than men did, as well as elevated levels of other mediating variables, which might explain-at least partly-gender related differences in utilization. Differences in propensity to use services were not found. The expected moderating effect of gender could not be demonstrated. That is, we did not find gender related differences in the strength of the relations between mental distress, other mediating variables and utilization. Mental distress is related to utilization in a way that is not gender specific, however, because women report higher levels of mental distress (as well as somatic morbidity), this results in a greater utilization of somatic health care services.     

会泽县卫生服务利用的公平性研究

目的了解会泽县新型农村合作医疗实施中,参合农民卫生服务利用的公平性,为制订合理的补偿方案提供依据。方法采用分层抽样的方法抽取2个乡镇,共调查农户1209户,计4646人。结果调查农民2周患病率为7.1%,2周患病就诊率为8.7%,均低于第三次全国卫生服务调查农村平均水平。2005年住院率为5.6%,高于全国平均水平(3.4%),不同乡镇和不同家庭经济收入农民门诊服务利用的差异不大,但住院服务存在统计学差异。住院率随收入增加而增高,需住院未住院比例随收入增加而降低。住院机构、次均住院费用和次均住院补偿费用在2个乡镇间有较大差异,而在不同经济收入间无明显差异。结论新型农村合作医疗实施中,应该注意提高卫生服务利用的公平性。     

The Kerala formula

Although many of Kerala's socioeconomic indicators have lagged considerably behind those of India as a whole, this state has the lowest fertility and mortality levels in the country. With a view to explaining this paradox, the areas of land reform, social equity, education, women's status, and health care--among others-- have been examined in both Kerala and West Bengal. As expected, equity in health care and education were found to be important. But it was notable that the development of political awareness and action among the masses was also very important. Kerala provides a good example of good health at low cost, relative to other Indian states. The relatively rapid decline in mortality in rural Kerala, in comparison with that in West Bengal, can be attributed mainly to Kerala's more equitable distribution of health facilities and to their better utilization. This has been possible because of their greater accessibility, the more equitable distribution of educational services, and a higher degree of political awareness among the people in rural Kerala. This analysis suggests that in countries or regions with large proportions of economically and socially deprived people, interventions aimed at reducing mortality should give higher priority to social equity than to economic equity.     

Impact of community health centers and Medicaid on the use of health services.

The impact of improved access to health care through the Federal community health center (CHC) and Medicaid programs was examined in five urban low-income areas. Data on access to care and physician, hospital, and dental services utilization were collected by baseline and followup health surveys in the CHCs'' services areas. There was a shift in use from hospital clinics to CHCs. Followup surveys indicated that 23 percent of the population reported CHCs as usual source of care. Travel time to source of care was reduced for users of CHCs. Medicaid coverage of the population in the survey areas increased from 16 to 37 percent between the baseline and followup surveys, an interval of 4 to 7 years. Increases occurred in the use of physicians and dental care between the baseline and followup surveys, but the rates scarcely kept pace with the national rates. Respondents who reported CHCs as their usual source of care, however, had a higher rate of physician visits and a lower rate of hospitalization compared with those using private physicians or hospital clinics as the usual source of care. Respondents with Medicaid coverage usually had higher physician and hospital use, irrespective of usual source of care. Both CHC and Medicaid programs contributed to increased use of dental care by providing financial and dental care resources. Although these two programs greatly facilitated the use of health services, disparity in physician and dental utilization remains between the five low-income areas and the averages for the nation.     

Racial and ethnic differences in utilization of health services in patients with diabetes enrolled in medicaid

We evaluated racial and ethnic differences in use of medical care between patients with diabetes enrolled in Medicaid and explored whether differences varied by state Medicaid program. Using data from 137,006 patients we created a multivariable Poisson regression model to examine the effect of race on ambulatory care visits, emergency ward visits, and hospitalization rates for patients with diabetes mellitus enrolled in three state Medicaid programs. We found significant differences in service use between groups, which varied depending on state. For example, black patients compared with whites had significantly fewer outpatient visits but more hospitalizations in New Jersey; by contrast, blacks had higher outpatient visit rates and lower hospitalization rates in Georgia. Racial and ethnic differences in health service use among Medicaid enrollees were not consistent across states, suggesting that local factors, including varied Medicaid policies, may affect racial and ethnic differences in use of health care services.     

安徽省三县农村居民卫生服务需求研究

对安徽省三个世行贷款卫Ⅷ项目县 1 80 0户 71 75名农村居民卫生服务需求进行了调查分析。结果显示 :两周就诊率为 2 1 .76 % ,平均就诊次数 2 .2 3 ,未就诊率 1 2 .50 % ;两周患病首次就诊单位分布村级卫生机构占 77.80 % ,乡镇卫生院占 1 4 .90 % ;年住院率为 3 .2 8% ,因经费困难延迟入院或提前出院者占全部住院者的 60 .60 % ,应住院未住院率为 53 .91 % ;居民对卫生服务利用的主要障碍是住院服务得不到经济保障。建议贫困地区卫生机构的布局与调整应以保障居民获得就近、低廉、方便的卫生服务为目标 ;改善卫生服务质量应以加强村级卫生机构管理为重点 ;实施合作医疗保险及医疗救助应以住院补偿为主。     

Sex differentials in health.

Health status and health behavior of males and females in the United States are compared; the data employed in the analysis are from community studies and the surveys of the National Center for Health Statistics. Females generally show a higher incidence of acute conditions, higher prevalence of minor chronic conditions, more short-term restricted activity, and more use of health services (especially outpatient services) and medicines. By contrast, males have higher prevalence rates for life-threatening chronic conditions, higher incidence of injuries, more long-term disability, and after about age 50, higher rates of hospitalization. These sex differences appear at all ages, except for early childhood when boys have a worse health profile than girls. The following interpretations are consistent with the data; they are hypotheses rather than demonstrated facts. Women are more frequently ill than men, but with relatively mild problems. By contrast, men feel ill less often, but their illnesses and injuries are more serious. These morbidity differences help to explain sex differentials in health behavior; frequent symptoms lead to more restricted activity, physician and dentist visits, and drug use for women; severe symptoms lead to more permanent limitations and hospitalization for men. But attitudes about symptoms, medical care, drugs, and self-care are also extremely important. Males may be socialized to ignore physical discomforts; thus, they are unaware of symptoms that females feel keenly. Also, men may be less willing and able to seek medical care for perceived symptoms. When diagnosis and treatment are finally obtained, men''s conditions are probably more advanced and less amenable to control. Finally, men may be less willing and able to restrict their activities when ill or injured. Four important factors than underlie sex differentials in health are discussed: inherited risks of illness, acquired risks of illness and injury, illness and prevention orientations, and health reporting behavior. Statistics show that women ultimately have lower mortality rates than men--despite women''s more frequent morbidity and possibly because of more care for their illnesses and injuries. The apparent contradiction between sex differences in morbidity and mortality (females are sicker but males die sooner) is explored.     

Gender differences in the utilization of health care services

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that women use more health care services than men. We used important independent variables, such as patient sociodemographics and health status, to investigate gender differences in the use and costs of these services. METHODS: New adult patients (N = 509) were randomly assigned to primary care physicians at a university medical center. Their use of health care services and associated charges were monitored for 1 year of care. Self-reported health status was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36). We controlled for health status, sociodemographic information, and primary care physician specialty in the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Women had significantly lower self-reported health status and lower mean education and income than men. Women had a significantly higher mean number of visits to their primary care clinic and diagnostic services than men. Mean charges for primary care, specialty care, emergency treatment, diagnostic services, and annual total charges were all significantly higher for women than men; however, there were no differences for mean hospitalizations or hospital charges. After controlling for health status, sociodemographics, and clinic assignment, women still had higher medical charges for all categories of charges except hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Women have higher medical care service utilization and higher associated charges than men. Although the appropriateness of these differences was not determined, these findings have implications for health care.     

Adequate Access to Posthospital Home Health Services: Differences Between Urban and Rural Areas

The health care environment in rural areas changed dramatically in the 1980s. Policy-makers are concerned that these changes have reduced access to care among residents of rural areas. This study measures adequate access to Medicare home health services and determines whether it differs for urban and rural beneficiaries. Adequate access to care is measured by whether a patient with a specific health condition received a level of skilled services predetermined as appropriate for that condition. The predetermined levels of care were developed in an earlier study and were found to correlate with adverse outcomes. This study focused on patients with diabetes mellitus and surgical hip procedures to concentrate on access to skilled nursing services and physical therapy services. To conduct the analysis, a data base was constructed that included both patient utilization and health status data, drawing on three different data sources: Medicare hospital claims data, Medicare home health bill record data, and home health plan of treatment data from patients' utilization review forms (forms 485 and 486). The analysis samples consisted of 404 patients with diabetes and 876 patients who had surgical hip procedures. Significant differences were found between urban and rural areas in access to home health services. The largest differences were found in access to physical therapy services, but differences in access to skilled nursing services also exist. The data suggest that the availability of skilled care services may cause these differences.     

Gender inequalities in health among older Brazilian adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate gender differences among older Brazilians in their health status and their use of health services. METHODS: Participants were individuals aged 60 years and older included in a national household survey conducted in Brazil in 1998. Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression, taking into account the design effect due to multistage sampling. RESULTS: There were differences in the health and living conditions of older men and older women that were not explained by age or place of residence. Older women had worse indicators of schooling and personal income but better indicators of housing standards and per capita household income. The older women also reported more chronic diseases, had poorer indicators of independence and physical mobility, sought health services more often, and reported more medical visits in the previous year. Despite their apparent worse health conditions, elderly women in urban areas had lower hospitalization rates in the previous year (odds ratio = 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.96) than did elderly men in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that among older Brazilians there are gender inequalities in health that cannot be explained by age and place of residence. The findings raise questions on how health, socioeconomic, and cultural factors influence gender patterns of seeking and using health care in later life in the country. As pressures on health care and health funding increase in Brazil as a result of the aging of the population, there is a need to take a gender perspective into account.     

Koreans’ Use of Medical Services in Seoul, Korea and California

This study assessed the types of health care services used by Korean immigrants, and differences in use between different countries, genders, health insurance status, acculturation status, and cardiovascular risk. Participant selection used probability sampling to represent the adult populations of California, United States, and Seoul, Republic of Korea. A telephone survey was administered to 2830 adult Korean-Californians and 500 adult Koreans living in Seoul. Female gender was significantly associated with higher use of outpatient services, ER usage, and hospitalization. Californian residence was significantly associated with higher outpatient usage and lower hospitalization rates. Health insurance was associated with higher allopathic health care utilization, and lower traditional health care usage, and acculturation with lower traditional health care usage. Higher self-reported cardiac risk factors were associated with lower allopathic and higher traditional health care. This suggests barriers to allopathic health care, but not traditional health care, for Koreans living in California without health insurance.     

Rethinking priorities in hospital management: a case from Central Asia

ObjectivesTo evaluate post-Soviet aspects of hospital management in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, considering indicators of health care and information on planning processes and factors that affect strategy in their hospitals.MethodsData on indicators of health care were obtained from government agencies, the WHO and the World Bank. A survey of hospital managers in each of the countries was undertaken to obtain opinions on matters influencing the operation of their organizations.ResultsThere was some increase in health expenditure for three countries and a recent decline for Kyrgyzstan. All countries had levels of out of pocket expenditure that were higher than recommended by WHO. Hospital bed occupancy was relatively constant. Average length of stay was higher than in European health systems. Managers in all countries reported greater motivation of staff in their work as a planning benefit. Difficulties with the implementation of plans were greater for Kyrgyzstan than the other countries. Inappropriate assessment during planning seemed important for two countries and changes in environment during implementation for two others. Issues with health policy and regulation, new health technologies, and changes in health behaviour and morbidity were considered significant by managers from all countries.ConclusionsThe health care indicator data and survey findings may reflect differences between the countries in the rate of reorganization of hospital sectors, available resources and political circumstances. They point to areas in need of attention for future hospital planning and challenges for managers in maintaining essential health services.     

Access to health care, reproductive health and disability: a large scale survey in Sierra Leone

This is the first study to compare health status and access to health care services between disabled and non-disabled men and women in urban and peri-urban areas of Sierra Leone. It pays particular attention to access to reproductive health care services and maternal health care for disabled women. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 in 5 districts of Sierra Leone, randomly selecting 17 clusters for a total sample of 425 households. All adults who were identified as being disabled, as well as a control group of randomly selected non-disabled adults, were interviewed about health and reproductive health. As expected, we showed that people with severe disabilities had less access to public health care services than non-disabled people after adjustment for other socioeconomic characteristics (bivariate modelling). However, there were no significant differences in reporting use of contraception between disabled and non-disabled people; contrary to expectations, women with disabilities were as likely to report access to maternal health care services as did non-disabled women. Rather than disability, it is socioeconomic inequality that governs access to such services. We also found that disabled women were as likely as non-disabled women to report having children and to desiring another child: they are not only sexually active, but also need access to reproductive health services. We conclude that disparity in access to government-supported health care facilities constitutes a major and persisting health inequity between persons with and without disabilities in Sierra Leone. Ensuring equal access will require further strengthening of the country's health care system. Furthermore, because the morbidity and mortality rates of pregnant women are persistently high in Sierra Leone, assessing the quality of services received is an important priority for future research.     

Health in Israel: patterns of equality and inequality

While Israel does not have a nationalized health care system, 94.5% of its population is covered by comprehensive health insurance which includes curative and preventive ambulatory care as well as hospitalization. There is formal equality in access, distribution, and quality of the health services; nevertheless, there are pockets of deprivation that affect certain segments of the population. The paper focuses on three topics: (a) structure of the health care delivery system in terms of coverage, geographical and social distribution, and the public/private balance of the services; (b) processes of health care delivery in terms of utilization and quality; (c) health outcomes in terms of mortality, morbidity, health behavior, and disease vulnerability. Inequality in Israel appears to be structured in terms of six dimensions: coverage of health insurance, distribution of health services, the balance of public and private sectors of health services, utilization of existing services, quality of health services, and health outcomes as expressed by mortality, morbidity, health behavior and risk factors. Only two types of health care are not covered by the general health insurance: (a) dental care, and (b) long-term nursing care. Given the small area of Israel there are striking differences in the geographic distribution of health personnel of various types. There is evidence for gaps between needs and institutional services for many elderly who are on waiting lists for institutionalization. The ratio of primary care physicians to population is 1:2326 in development towns and 1:1852 in the older more established veteran communities. Kibbutzim, which are also located in large part in geographically remote areas, enjoy high quality health services and are not characterized by low ratios of health care personnel. In 1968-69, 6% of those insured by the sick funds purchased services at least once from a private physician, while in 1975-76 this figure rose to 32%. As in other countries, utilization of preventive services is generally correlated with socio-economic status and with education. While the network of primary care facilities in Israel is widespread and generally accessible, it is poorly integrated with the hospital system. Longevity has increased over the past years and is relatively high; 76.6 for women and 73.1 for men in 1984. Nevertheless, differences between Jews and non-Jews may still be seen among both men and women. The same may be said concerning mortality and especially with regard to infant mortality. Differences with regard to certain risk factors among Jewish infants and adults are correlated with socio-economic class and country of origin.     

Rural-Urban Home Health Care Differences Before the Balanced Budget Act of 1997

This study arose from concerns that home health care may be more difficult to provide to rural than urban elderly patients (because of geographic barriers, personnel shortages, and other factors) and may therefore be less effective in terms of patient outcomes. Case mix, home health care service use, and outcomes (primarily discharge status) were analyzed for a national random sample of 3,869 rural and urban elderly home health patients. Longitudinal data covered the period from home health admission to discharge or 120 days (whichever occurred first). Primary data collection instruments were designed to obtain longitudinal patient-level health status data; agency records and Medicare data provided service use information. (The study did not address access but focused on services and outcomes after admission to home health care.) Two-group statistical tests and multivariate analyses were employed to assess rural-urban differences. The major findings were that, after adjustment for rural-urban case mix and agency differences, rural compared to urban patients received fewer home health services and attained less favorable discharge outcomes. For example, the rural patients had a higher case mix adjusted hospitalization rate. Because the study data pertain to 1995 through 1996, the results provide a baseline for future analyses of possibly different rural compared to urban effects of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which resulted in major changes in Medicare payment for home health care.     

Obesity and the use of health care services

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated differences in the use of health care services and associated costs between obese and nonobese patients. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: New adult patients (N = 509) were randomly assigned to primary care physicians at a university medical center. Their use of medical services and related charges was monitored for 1 year. Data collected included sociodemographics, self-reported health status using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, evaluation for depression using the Beck Depression Index, and measured height and weight to calculate BMI. RESULTS: Obese patients included a significantly higher percentage of women and had higher mean age, lower mean education, lower mean health status, and higher mean Beck Depression Index scores. Obese patients had a significantly higher mean number of visits to both primary care (p = 0.0005) and specialty care clinics (p = 0.0006), and a higher mean number of diagnostic services (p < 0.0001). Obese patients also had significantly higher primary care (p = 0.0058), specialty clinic (p = 0.0062), emergency department (p = 0.0484), hospitalization (p = 0.0485), diagnostic services (p = 0.0021), and total charges (p = 0.0033). Controlling for health status, depression, age, education, income, and sex, obesity was significantly related to the use of primary care (p = 0.0364) and diagnostic services (p = 0.0075). There was no statistically significant relationship between obesity and medical expenditures in any of the five categories or for total charges. DISCUSSION: Obesity is a chronic condition requiring long-term management, with an emphasis on prevention. If this critical health issue is not appropriately addressed, the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases will continue to grow, resulting in escalating use of health care services.     

Influence of bed supply and health care organization on regional and local patterns of diabetes related hospitalization.

This paper undertakes both a macro- and micro-scale analysis of the influences exerted by the health care system on patterns of hospitalization. The health disorder of diabetes mellitus is used as the case study and the analyses are based on New Zealand data sets. The article first examines the extent to which both the supply and organization of primary and secondary health care affect rates of hospitalization. The macro-scale analysis investigates the applicability of Roemer's Law to regional variations in diabetes hospitalization. The organizational control of hospital utilization via doctor gatekeeping functions and interaction between health services are then examined at the local level. This analysis assumes a population based approach using the Canterbury Register of Insulin-treated diabetic persons as the study population. Diabetes discharge rates were found to be most highly correlated with hospital bed supply in 5 of the 8 years studied (1979-1986). Stepwise regression analysis indicated area rates of diabetes hospitalization were significantly influenced by resource factors even after controlling for differences in the socio-demographic characteristics of the area populations. This confirmed the presence of Roemer's Law at the aggregate level with rates of diabetes hospitalization appearing to have more to do with the availability of medical resources than to population needs. At the local level, hospital admission patterns were found to vary by general practitioner age, practice type found to vary by general practitioner age, practice type and diabetic caseload. Overall, insulin-treated diabetic patients most likely to be hospitalized were those in the care of young doctors new to general practice, and those who attended doctors who had small diabetic caseloads. Solo practitioners had the lowest rates of patient hospitalization. There were marked disparities in patient access to specialist diabetes education and clinical outpatient services by patient age, duration of diabetes and attendance on primary care. Overall, no significant differences were found in the propensity for hospitalization between users and non-users of these specialist services. This does not imply however, service ineffectiveness but rather is indicative of the complexity of the local diabetes care organization and the differing needs of the insulin-treated diabetic population within the community as a whole.