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

    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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