Adoption of hospital diagnosis‐related group financing in Switzerland and the availability of computed tomography scanners. (31st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baker, Laurence C.; Lamiraud, Karine
• Is Part Of: Health economics. Volume 31:Number 12(2022)
• Page Start: 2537
• Page End: 2557
• Publication Date: 2022-08-31
• Subjects: computed tomography -- diagnosis related groups -- hospital financing -- hospitals -- technology -- technology adoption; Medical economics -- Periodicals; Economics, Medical -- Periodicals; Health Care Costs -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- economics -- Periodicals; Health Services -- economics -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1002/hec.4594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9230

Abstract

Abstract: We study the relationship between diagnosis‐related group (DRG) financing and the availability of computed tomography (CT) scanners in Switzerland. A number of Swiss hospitals switched to DRG payment for a portion of their payments progressively between 2002 and 2011. As of 2012, all hospitals were required to use DRG payment for a substantial portion of reimbursement. We conducted two main analyses. First, we studied hospitals switching in 2002–2011 and estimated event study models to compare changes in CT availability before and after the adoption of DRG financing, using the hospitals that did not switch during this time as a comparison group. In the second, we compared trends in CT availability before and after 2012, for the hospitals that switched in that year. In both analyses, we find a statistically significant association between the switch to DRG financing and lower levels of CT availability.