Effects of diagnosis-related group payment system on appendectomy outcomes

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• 作者：Tae Hyun Kim ; PhD^a ; ^b ; Eun-Cheol Park ; MD ; PhD^a ; ^c ; ^d ; Sung-In Jang ; MD ; PhD^a ; ^c ; ^d ; Suk-Yong Jang ; MD^a ; ^c ; ^d ; Sang Ah Lee^a ; ^c ; Jae Woo Choi ; MPH^a ; ^c ; ^{jwchoi2695@yuhs.ac" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：Diagnosis-related group ; Appendectomy ; Length of stay ; Costs ; Spillover ; Readmission
• 刊名：Journal of Surgical Research
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：December 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：206
• 期：2
• 页码：347-354
• 全文大小：312 K

文摘

The voluntary diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system was introduced in 2002. Since July 2013, the Korean government has mandated DRG participation for all hospitals. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mandatory DRG participation on various outcome metrics for appendectomy patients.

Materials and methods

We collected inpatient DRG data for 280,062 appendectomy patients between 2007 and 2014 using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. We examined patient outcome metrics such as length of stay (LOS), total medical cost, spillover, and readmission rate, according to hospital size.

Results

As a result of DRG participation, the average LOS for patients decreased (adjusted ratio: 0.83 [large hospitals], 0.83 [small hospitals]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.84, 0.82-0.84), the total medical costs of patients increased (adjusted ratio: 1.23 [large hospitals], 1.35 [small hospitals]; 95% CI: 1.22-1.24, 1.34-1.36), the spillover of patients increased (adjusted ratio: 2.10 [large hospitals], 2.30 [small hospitals]; 95% CI: 2.03-2.18, 2.16-2.45), and the readmission rates of appendectomy patients decreased (adjusted ratio: 0.85 [large hospitals], 0.49 [small hospitals]; 95% CI: 0.77-0.94, 0.42-0.57).

Conclusions

The mandatory implementation of the DRG payment system in South Korea has led to significant reductions in LOS and readmission rates for appendectomy patients. However, any resulting expansion of outpatient services may result in unnecessary resource usage rather than improving medical quality. Policy makers should consider the various implications reflected by these results when considering DRGs for other diseases.