The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60191

Satoshi Toyokawa, PhD¹, Sachiko Iijima², and Yasuki Kobayashi¹. (1) Public Health, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan, +81-3-5841-3494, t-satoshi@umin.ac.jp, (2) Mitsui Memorial Hospital, 1 Kanda-Izumi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 101-8643, Japan

The aim of the study was to examine the present conditions on use of insurance claims and the security of personal information on the insured people. We conducted a systematic review of researches using insurance claims in Japan, and a questionnaire survey to the reviewed authors. In the systematic reviewing, the MEDLINE database and Igaku-Chuo-Zasshi, a database for Japanese medical literatures, were searched for English and Japanese language articles, using "cost" or "charge", and "Japan" as keywords for the MEDLINE, and using "insurance claims" and "reimbursement for medical practice" for the Igaku-Chuo-Zasshi. Two hundred one studies met our eligibility criteria in which insurance claims were utilized for data source. We identified the current address of the 125 first authors of all the above studies, and successively conducted a questionnaire survey on them. Seventy-eight authors answered the questionnaire. Our review study showed that about 60 percent studies analyzed fewer than 1,000 cases, while only 15 percent studies did more than 10,000 cases. Few studies meticulously referred to the methods of either acquiring insurance claims or securing personal information on the claims. The questionnaire survey showed that the authors recognized the necessity of making a contract for use of insurance claims with insurance carriers, but that few actually had done. We concluded that it was necessary in Japan to develop a database-like system in which a large number of insurance claims could be used for research and personal information on the claims was secured as well.

Learning Objectives:

• "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• 1. Examine the present conditions on use of insurance claims and the security of personal information on the insured people in Japan.
• 2. Conducted a systematic review of researches using insurance claims in
• 3. Concluded that it was necessary in Japan to develop a database-like system in which a large number of insurance claims could be used for research and personal information on the claims was secured as well.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Grants for Policy Science, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare