The impact of hospital-acquired infections on the patient-level reimbursement-cost relationship in a DRG-based hospital payment system
The impact of hospital-acquired infections on the patient-level reimbursement-cost relationship in a DRG-based hospital payment system (Springer).
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a common complication in inpatient care. We investigate the incentives to prevent HAIs under the German DRG-based reimbursement system. We analyze the relationship between resource use and reimbursements for HAI in 188,731 patient records from the University Medical Center Freiburg (2011–2014), comparing cases to appropriate non-HAI controls.
Resource use is approximated using national standardized costing system data.
Reimbursements are the actual payments to hospitals under the G-DRG system.
Timing of HAI exposure, cost-clustering within main diagnoses and
risk-adjustment are considered. The reimbursement-cost difference of HAI
patients is negative (approximately − €4000).
[...]
Costs exceeding reimbursements for HAI may increase infection prevention and control
efforts and can be used to show their cost-effectiveness from the hospital
perspective.
Quelle: Springer, 10.02.2020
