title: Cancelled Procedures in the English NHS: Evidence from the 2010 Tariff Reform.
abstract: This paper explores the role of incentives in the English National Health Service. Until financial year 2009/2010, elective procedures that were cancelled after admission received a fixed reimbursement associated with a specific healthcare resource group code. We investigate whether this induced trusts to admit and then cancel, rather than cancel before admission and/or to cancel low fee over high fee work. As the tariff was ended in April 2010, we conduct an interrupted time series analysis to examine if their behaviour was affected after the tariff removal. The results indicate a small, yet statistically significant, decline in the probability of a last minute cancellation in the post-tariff period, especially for certain types of patients and diagnoses. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2547-7978
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.affiliation: New York University, New York City, USA.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Laliotis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: English NHS; cancelled procedures; incentives; reforms