Retrospective secondary data analysis to identify high-cost users in inpatient department of hospitals in Thailand, a middle-income country with universal healthcare coverage.

Abstract

The study aims to identify high-cost users (HCUs) in the inpatient departments of hospitals in Thailand including their common characteristics, patterns of healthcare utilisation and expenditure compared with low-cost users, and to explore potential factors associated with HCUs so the healthcare system can be prepared to support the HCUs including those who have increased chances of becoming HCUs. A retrospective secondary data analysis using hospitalisation data from Thailand's Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) obtained from the National Health Security Office over a 5-year period from October 2014 to September 2019 (fiscal year 2014-2018). Study participants included Thai citizens who had at least one inpatient admission to hospitals under the UCS over the study period. Over the 5-year period, the top 5% of the hospitalised population (or HCUs) consumed almost 50% of the health expenditure each year. HCUs were more likely to have longer hospital stays, a higher annual number of visits and be admitted to multiple hospitals each year when compared with the low-cost users (the bottom 50% of the hospitalised population). The study further reported that the chance of becoming an HCU is associated with several factors such as increasing age, being male, having a comorbidity and being admitted to hospitals in Bangkok. This study confirmed that the HCU phenomenon existed in Thailand, where a majority of inpatient care spending is concentrated in the top 5% of the hospitalised population. The study findings call attention to potential initiatives that can help monitor the magnitude and trend of HCUs and develop policies to prevent HCUs.