Balance billing for patients using Orthopedic materials under National Health Insurance

• Main Authors: Kai-cheng Lin, 林楷城
• Other Authors: Ying-Chun Li
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/ddhtb4

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 醫務管理研究所 === 97 === National health insurance, which was implemented since 1995, have not only provided basic health care for our citizen, but reduced financial burden of them. This achievement was outstanding, though its financial deterioration has been a difficult issue. The authorities of national health insurance have implemented lots of intervention to reduce the increasing medical expense. Balance billing project was one of the policies to achieve both fairness and justice. The purposes of this research included understanding the relationships between balance billing and the characteristics of patients. The Andersen’s health behavior model was the conceptual framework for this study. The questionnaires were collected at a medical center in Kaohsiung between February and May in 2009. 450 questionnaires were collected with 399 copies were effective (response rate 88.66%). The characteristic and the attitude towards balance billing system such as medical quality, medical care and medical expenses from patients were collected. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze this study. The results of this survey are summarized as follows: 1.『Predisposing characteristics』： a. Demographic Gender was significant related to the agreement of the policy of balance billing system. However, there were no statistical difference in age, marriage, and number of family. b. Social structure There were no statistical difference in educational level, occupation, and language. c. Health beliefs Care of health and cognition of balance billing system were significant related to the agreement of the policy of balance billing system. 2.『Enabling resources』 a. Personal / Family resources Family budget and identification was significant related to the agreement of the policy of balance billing system. b. Community resources There were no statistical differences in private insurance and convenience to health care. 3.『Need』 a. Perceived Awareness and understanding of health condition were significantlyrelated to the agreement of the policy of balance billing system. b. Evaluated Frequency of using health insurance card was significant related to the agreement of the policy of balance billing system. However, there were no statistical differences in major disease care, chronic disease. 4.『Rapport』 Reliability to doctor and satisfaction to treatment were significant related to the agreement of the policy of balance billing system. However, there were no statistical difference in loyalty to doctor and satisfaction to doctor. Based on the results from this study, it is certain to conclude that patients of the hospital support (74.2%)the balance billing policy. 64.4% patients understood this policy. Patients who understood the new policy were more likely to support this policy. We encouraged the bureau of National Health Insurance to continue communication with the public and the providers to assure the success of new policy.