Objective: The purpose of the study is to investigate the factors affecting adequate provision of mental health services to the psychiatric patients in mental hospitals. Method: Five hundreds and seventy-five psychiatric patients chosen by the stratified random sampling in six hospitals in Korea; from three mental hospitals and three general hospitals, were investigated about mental health services provided for one week. The variables for the study are as follows: doctor interviews, nurse interviews, group therapy, medication, and miscellaneous services which are transformed into virtual financial cost using Korean Resource Based Relative Value Scale and fee schedule. Severity of psychiatric symptoms were assessed by RAI-MH(Resident Assessment Instrument-Mental Health). Results: When the Medicaid inpatients was compared to the insured in mental hospitals, the relative ratio of services provided was 67%. Mental hospitals compared to general hospitals under Health Insurance, it was only 31%. The longer the hospitalization, the lesser services the patient received in all hospitals. The difference was insignificant by age and diagnosis group. Moderate correlation was observed between severity of psychiatric symptoms and services only in mental hospitals under Health Insurance. Conclusions: The significant factors affecting supply of mental health care services in Korean mental hospitals were duration of hospitalization, type of hospital, type of reimbursement. The introduction of reimbursement system, differentiated by duration of stay may induce short-term hospitalization and prohibit deficient service in Medicaid.
Learning Objectives: 1. List factors that could influence the provision of mental health services to inpatiens. 2. Describe the outcome of reimbursement system which has low per diem rate, no co-payment, and no ceiling on duration of hospitalization. 3. Develop a reimbursement system that may induce delivery of appropriate services and short-term hospitalization
Keywords: Mental Health System, Financing
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.