scholarly journals 'No gaps' health insurance: A gain for consumers or a windfall for specialists?

1999 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Gwen Gray

Attempts to introduce contracts between the purchasers and providers of Australian health services in the 1990s in order to reduce the gaps, or 'copayments', that patients pay have met with limited success. However, the Harradine requirement that health funds introduce 'no gap' or 'known gap' policies by the middle of the year 2000 has raised a political storm within the AMA and set the funds and doctors in an adversarial position. This paper traces the history of 'gaps' and gap insurance, provides an interpretation of the present situation and speculates about likely outcomes.

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Walker

This article is illustrated with reference to health services in the Tokyo Prefecture.It seeks to describe the role of government in the organisation and provision of healthservices in Japan. It is based on experiences gained from a three-month placementat the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Public Health in late 1994.Wherever possible the article identifies similarities and differences between theJapanese and Australian health care systems. Part of the analysis has been to identifyareas where opportunities exist for Australian health service providers to developfurther cooperation with particular sectors of the Japanese health system and alsowhere the potential for the export of health services may exist.The health systems of Australia and Japan have points of similarity anddifference. Essentially both systems operate within the context of a compulsoryuniversal health insurance system. However, unlike Australia, the bulk of serviceprovision in Japan is left to the private sector, while government retains the primaryrole of regulator. It is interesting to observe that while the Australian health caresystem is currently exploring options to expand the service range and level ofparticipation of private sector services in health care delivery (within the context ofuniversal health insurance), the Japanese health care system appears to be examiningoptions through which further government intervention can improve service accessand service efficiency. Japan presents opportunities to observe the benefits anddisadvantages of predominantly private sector provision within the context ofuniversal health insurance coverage.


2017 ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Yasin

The article is devoted to major events in the history of the post-Soviet economy, their influence on forming and development of modern Russia. The author considers stages of restructuring, market reforms, transformational crisis, and recovery growth (1999-2011), as well as a current period which started in2011 and is experiencing serious problems. The present situation is analyzed, four possible scenarios are put forward for Russia: “inertia”, “mobilization”, “decisive leap”, “gradual democratic development”. More than 30 experts were questioned in the process of working out the scenarios.


QJM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (6) ◽  
pp. 411-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Elis ◽  
M Leventer-Roberts ◽  
A Bachrach ◽  
N Lieberman ◽  
R Durst ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an under-diagnosed condition. Aim We applied standard laboratory criteria across a large longitudinal electronic medical record database to describe cross-sectional population with possible FH. Methods A cross-sectional study of Clalit Health Services members. Subjects who met the General Population MED-PED laboratory criteria, excluding: age <10 years, documentation of thyroid, liver, biliary or autoimmune diseases, a history of chronic kidney disease stage 3 or greater, the presence of urine protein >300 mg/l, HDL-C>80 mg/dl, active malignancy or pregnancy at the time of testing were considered possible FH. Demographic and clinical characteristics are described at time of diagnosis and at a single index date following diagnosis to estimate the burden on the healthcare system. The patient population is also compared to the general population. Results The study cohort included 12 494 subjects with out of over 4.5 million members of Clalit Health Services. The estimated prevalence of FH in Israel was found to be 1:285. These patients are notably positive for, and have a family history of, cardiovascular disease and risk factors. For most of them the LDL-C levels are not controlled, and only a quarter of them are medically treated. Conclusions By using the modified MED-PED criteria in a large electronic database, patients with possible FH can be identified enabling early intervention and treatment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (suppl 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Carvalho Malta ◽  
Regina Tomie Ivata Bernal ◽  
Margareth Guimarães Lima ◽  
Silvânia Suely Caribé de Araújo ◽  
Marta Maria Alves da Silva ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess whether sex, education level, and health insurance affect the use of health services among the adult Brazilian population with chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCD). METHODS Data from a cross-sectional survey were analyzed, the National Health Survey (PNS). Frequency of use of services in the population that referred at least one NCD were compared with the frequency from a population that did not report NCD, according to sex, education level, health insurance, and NCD number (1, 2, 3, 4, or more). The prevalence and prevalence ratios were calculated crude and adjusted for sex, age, region, and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS The presence of a noncommunicable disease was associated with increase in hospitalizations in the last 12 months, in 1.7 times (95%CI 1.53–1.9). Failing to perform usual activities in the last two weeks for health reasons was 3.1 times higher in NCD carriers (95%CI 2.78–3.46); while the prevalence of medical consultation in the last 12 months was 1.26 times higher (95%CI 1.24–1.28). NCD carriers make more use of health services, as well as women, people with higher number of comorbidities, with health insurance, and higher education level. CONCLUSIONS NCD carriers make more use of health services, as well as women, people with higher number of comorbidities, with health insurance, and higher education level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-154
Author(s):  
Aidha Puteri Mustikasari

Abstrak. Kepesertaan BPJS Kesehatan pada tahun 2020 tidak akan mencakup 90% penduduk Indonesia, namun rencana Universal Health Care Implementation (UHC) telah direncanakan sejak tahun sebelumnya. Di masa pandemi Covid, sejumlah besar status kepesertaan BPJS Kesehatan  dicabut karena terlambat, padahal masyarakat membutuhkan layanan kesehatan dan asuransi dengan kondisi yang ada. Kajian ini bersifat norma deskriptif , dibahas dalam konteks kepesertaan BPJS kesehatan, dan cukup  menggunakan prinsip asuransi dengan hanya memberikan jaminan kepada peserta, tetapi negara mengikuti kewajiban UUD 1945 yaitu memberikan jaminan kesehatan dan pelayanan kepada warga negara. Untuk mendukung keberadaan jaminan kesehatan universal, Indonesia perlu menerapkan formulir kepesertaan dan  sanksi untuk ketentuan wajib  peserta jaminan sosial yang efektif dan efisien. Abstract. BPJS Health membership in 2020 will not cover 90% of Indonesia's population, but the Universal Health Care Implementation (UHC) plan has been planned since the previous year. During the Covid pandemic, a large number of BPJS Health membership statuses were revoked because they were late, even though people needed health services and insurance with the existing conditions. This study is descriptive in nature, discussed in the context of BPJS health participation, and it is sufficient to use the insurance principle by only providing guarantees to participants, but the state follows the obligations of the 1945 Constitution, namely to provide health insurance and services to citizens. To support the existence of universal health insurance, Indonesia needs to implement an effective and efficient membership form and sanctions for mandatory provisions for social security participants.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Li ◽  
Annette E. Maxwell ◽  
Beth A. Glenn ◽  
Alison K. Herrmann ◽  
L Cindy Chang ◽  
...  

The literature suggests that Korean Americans underutilize health services. Cultural factors and language barriers appear to influence this pattern of low utilization but studies on the relationships among length of stay in the US, English use and proficiency, and utilization of health services among Korean Americans have yielded inconsistent results. This study examines whether English language use and proficiency plays a mediating role in the relationships between length of stay in the US and health insurance coverage, access to and use of care. Structural equation modeling was used for mediation analysis with multiple dependent variables among Korean Americans (N= 555) using baseline data from a large trial designed to increase Hepatitis B testing. The results show 36% of the total effect of proportion of lifetime in the US on having health insurance was significantly mediated by English use and proficiency (indirect effect =0.166, SE= 0.07, p<.05; direct effect=0.296, SE= 0.13, p<.05). Proportion of lifetime in the US was not associated with usual source of care and health service utilization. Instead, health care utilization was primarily driven by having health insurance and a usual source of care, further underscoring the importance of these factors. A focus on increasing English use and proficiency and insurance coverage among older, female, less educated Korean Americans has the potential to mitigate health disparities associated with reduced access to health services in this population.


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