The impact of casemix on the care of the elderly.
The Australian Health care system is a mix of public and private provision. The Federal Government funds medical care and the pharmaceutical benefit scheme while the State Governments are responsible for funding the public hospitals. Geriatric Medical care is provided in the public hospital system. The Australian DRG system has evolved to more adequately explain illness severity by a greater use of the complications and comorbidities. The structure of the Sub-Acute and Non-Acute Patient (SNAP) classification is outlined. While it is anecdotally said that the introduction of DRG-based funding is detrimental to the elderly, the published evidence does not support this. The potential benefits of a casemix system are discussed.
Finnegan
T P
TP
Department of Aged Care and Rehabilitation, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia 2065. Tfinnega@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003363:Cost Control; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics*; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*