title: Effects of diagnosis-related group payment system on appendectomy outcomes.
abstract: The voluntary diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system was introduced in 2002. Since July 2013, the Korean government has mandated DRG participation for all hospitals. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mandatory DRG participation on various outcome metrics for appendectomy patients.
  
  
  
  We collected inpatient DRG data for 280,062 appendectomy patients between 2007 and 2014 using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. We examined patient outcome metrics such as length of stay (LOS), total medical cost, spillover, and readmission rate, according to hospital size.
  
  
  
  As a result of DRG participation, the average LOS for patients decreased (adjusted ratio: 0.83 [large hospitals], 0.83 [small hospitals]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.84, 0.82-0.84), the total medical costs of patients increased (adjusted ratio: 1.23 [large hospitals], 1.35 [small hospitals]; 95% CI: 1.22-1.24, 1.34-1.36), the spillover of patients increased (adjusted ratio: 2.10 [large hospitals], 2.30 [small hospitals]; 95% CI: 2.03-2.18, 2.16-2.45), and the readmission rates of appendectomy patients decreased (adjusted ratio: 0.85 [large hospitals], 0.49 [small hospitals]; 95% CI: 0.77-0.94, 0.42-0.57).
  
  
  
  The mandatory implementation of the DRG payment system in South Korea has led to significant reductions in LOS and readmission rates for appendectomy patients. However, any resulting expansion of outpatient services may result in unnecessary resource usage rather than improving medical quality. Policy makers should consider the various implications reflected by these results when considering DRGs for other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Hospital Administration, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Hyun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: jwchoi2695@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000191:economics; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056910:Republic of Korea
keywords: Appendectomy; Costs; Diagnosis-related group; Length of stay; Readmission; Spillover