Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104596

Shu-Fang Shih, Division of Health Policy Research, National Health Research Institutes; Institute of Health Policy and Management, National Taiwan University, 35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, 350, Taiwan, 886-37-246-166ext 36308, annsshih@nhri.org.tw, Yiing-Jenq Chou, Departement of Social Medicine, Yang-Ming University, 155, Lin-Nong Street, Sec. 2, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan, and Hsing-Yi Chang, Division of Health Policy Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, 350, Taiwan.

Abstract: Major health care reform in Taiwan started in 1995 with the introduction of a national health insurance (NHI) system. Unlike most health systems where most complementary or alternative medicine is not covered, Taiwan's NHI covers Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Included in TCM are some forms of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) such as acupuncture, massage, osteopathic manipulation, or chiropractic medicine, though some still pay out of their own pocket for these services provided by non-NHI contract providers. While previous studies on utilization of health care have concentrated on western medicine, little attention has been paid to the utilization of CAM under the NHI. This study analyzes the prevalence, cost, and patterns of CAM use and investigates the characteristics of CAM users of services covered and not covered by the NHI. We use the 2001 National Health Interview Survey and National Health Insurance claims data to analyze the utilization of covered TCM and non-covered CAM under the NHI. This study represents the first attempt to characterize utilization of CAM from nationwide perspective and compare use of non-covered CAM with the use of TCM covered by the NHI. Descriptive statistics are used to characterize utilization of CAM including the number of visits, expenditures, as well as types of CAM used. Chi-square and t statistics will be used to test the significance of CAM use among different groups. Multiple logistic regression model will be used to investigate the determinants of use of CAM under the universal coverage system.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Analyze the prevalence, cost and patterns of CAM use under Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system.
• 2. Investigate the characteristics of CAM users for services covered and not covered by the NHI.
• 3. Identify the associations between the utilizations of covered CAM services and non-covered services under the NHI.

Keywords: Utilization, National Health Insurance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation