Efficiency and resource allocation: the Hungarian managed health care system

The managed health care system (MHCS) was introduced and applied in Hungary between 1999 and 2009. The gradually expanding system covered only 22% of the population and included exclusively the curative-preventive health care, subsidy on medicaments, subsidy on therapeutic appliances and the spa service. Like anywhere else it was cost-effectiveness that was expected from the MHCS without the adverse effect in the quality of the health service. To decide whether the MHCS was successful in Hungary or not, we compare it with the results of those segments of the health system where the MHCS was not introduced. We use the method of the incremental cost analysis. We are making our comparison exclusively on the basis of health economics aspects, because no difference has evolved in the quality of the medical attendances. We will see that where the MHCS was applied, the medical attendance became cheaper, at those places where the MHCS was not applied the medical attendance became more expensive, causing a chronic financial deficit (137785 million HUF). Although the MHCS managed from less money, it gained 17767 million HUF during the mentioned ten years. We are going to present the general features of the MHCS and support the fact that the outcome of the managed care concept was rationalized and the savings in several segments of health care, by means of empirical evidence. Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) classification: I150, I180, G220, G320, H520.

An exploratory analysis of employer branding in healthcare

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how large, public companies in the health industry communicatively engage in employer branding on career homepages. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory content analysis of the career homepages (N = 42; 8,500) was conducted to analyze the communication of successful organizations in four realms of the public health-care industry to include Biotech (n =10), Managed Health Care (n = 8), Medical and Equipment Supplies (n = 12) and Pharmaceuticals (n = 12). Findings The analysis revealed the following ten major themes of content: Worldview, Stakeholders, Environment, Excellence, Dedication, Aid, Unity, Advancement, Distinctiveness and Industry/Organization. Additionally, the results revealed that health-care employer branding often communicated about Stakeholders, Industry/Organization and Advancement. Research limitations/implications The results of this study aid researchers in understanding the foundational content of employee branding efforts in the health industry. Practical implications The results assist practitioners in understanding how different health-care industries and organizations engage in employer branding on career homepages. Originality/value The results of this study function to both confirm previous findings related to employer branding and extend research on employer branding into the career homepages of organizations in the health-care industry.

Limited Consequences of a Transition From Activity-Based Financing to Budgeting: Four Reasons Why According to Swedish Hospital Managers

Activity-based financing (ABF) and global budgeting are two common reimbursement models in hospital care that embody different incentives for cost containment and quality. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe perceptions from the provider perspective about how and why replacing variable ABF by global budgets affects daily operations and provided services. The study setting is a large Swedish county council that went from traditional budgeting to an ABF system and then back again in the period 2005-2012. Based on semistructured interviews with midlevel managers and analysis of administrative data, we conclude that the transition back from ABF to budgeting has had limited consequences and suggest 4 reasons why: (1) Midlevel managers dampen effects of changes in the external control; (2) the actual design of the different reimbursement models differed from the textbook design; (3) the purchasing body’s use of other management controls did not change; (4) incentives bypassing the purchasing body’s controls dampened the consequences. The study highlights the challenges associated with improvement strategies that rely exclusively on budget system changes within traditional tax-funded and politically managed health care systems.

Problems in Comprehensive Care of Patients n Primary Care After Changes in Health Care

Introduction. The essence of the nurse profession is to provide patients with comprehensive care that will help them achieve optimal health. During the time of planning a reform of the health sector and the time of introduction of managed health care, it is reasonable to consider whether the current professional role of the nurse will change. Method. Analysis of the literature in the field of health care and nursing systems reform from the period of 5 years. Results. Coordinated care has a chance of success only when the current thinking stereotypes are broken, because it is important to be aware of how important teamwork is to a particular patient with respect for one’s own professional competences.