Working Paper Article Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

The Impacts of the Hierarchical Medical System on National Health Insurance on the Resident’s Health Seeking Behavior in Taiwan: A Case Study on the Policy to Reduce Hospital Visits

Version 1 : Received: 12 July 2019 / Approved: 15 July 2019 / Online: 15 July 2019 (11:56:40 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Yan, Y.-H.; Kung, C.-M.; Yeh, H.-M. The Impacts of the Hierarchical Medical System on National Health Insurance on the Resident’s Health Seeking Behavior in Taiwan: A Case Study on the Policy to Reduce Hospital Visits. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3167. Yan, Y.-H.; Kung, C.-M.; Yeh, H.-M. The Impacts of the Hierarchical Medical System on National Health Insurance on the Resident’s Health Seeking Behavior in Taiwan: A Case Study on the Policy to Reduce Hospital Visits. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3167.

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effect of the hierarchical medical system under the national health insurance program on resident’s healthcare-seeking behavior in Taiwan. Background: Healthcare authorities in Taiwan initiated the allowance reduction of outpatient visits at regional hospitals and higher hierarchical hospitals from 2018. The ultimate goal is to implement a hierarchical medical system and provide the residents accessible as well as consistent medical services. Methods: This research was conducted through the questionnaire survey method and data were collected between August and December 2018 from the records of subjects who had recently sought medical attention. A total of 1,340 valid questionnaires were returned. Results: Regarding the effect on healthcare-seeking behavior, the following factors were significant: being aged between 40 to 49 (p<.1), subjects with an educational background of junior high school (p<.05), those who were not aware of the policy (p<.001), and an awareness about both the hierarchical medical system and the policy to reduce outpatient visits to large hospitals (p<.001). Conclusion: The public should be made aware about the hierarchical medical system to improve healthcare.

Keywords

hierarchical medical system, national health insurance, healthcare-seeking behavior, reduction in hospital visits

Subject

Social Sciences, Behavior Sciences

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