Title

Ambulatory care visits and quality of care: does the volume-control policy matter?

Authors

Authors

S. C. J. Yeh; Y. Y. Lo;T. T. H. Wan

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Health Policy

Keywords

ambulatory care; cost containment; quality of care; health policy; universal health insurance; LOW-BACK-PAIN; PATIENT SATISFACTION; ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS; MANAGED CARE; WAITING TIME; PHYSICIANS; TAIWAN; CHIROPRACTORS; INDICATOR; SERVICES; Health Care Sciences & Services; Health Policy & Services

Abstract

Using claims data from the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI) in Taiwan and primary data collected from 940 patients who visited their physicians at out-patient clinics to complete questionnaire, we investigated the effects of the hospital volume control policy on the frequency of visits, medical expenses and patient satisfaction. We found that the volume control policy on ambulatory care decreased physician fees and increased both the number of visits and co-payments. However, it did not result in any change in the total medical expenses. A shift in ambulatory care expenditure from BNHI to patients did not improve patient satisfaction. While the patients were comfortable with the waiting line, they were not satisfied with the providers' strategy of limiting quota of visits during a period of time. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Health Policy

Volume

74

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

335

Last Page

342

WOS Identifier

WOS:000233100800009

ISSN

0168-8510

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