Table 1 Original questionnaire used to inform all authors about uniform requirements
From: How is intensive care reimbursed? A review of eight European countries
Health system – key facts | - Principal mode of financing (e.g., tax-based, insurance-based) |
- Number of patients admitted to hospitals per year (country-wide) | |
ICUs – key facts | - Number of patients admitted to ICUs per year (country-wide) |
- Number of ICUs (country-wide) | |
Reimbursement scheme | Please describe in detail, how ICU costs are being measured and how the reimbursement is being calculated; please refer to the clinical routine, as used in daily work: |
- Necessary documentation (is there extra documentation for budgeting purposes, or is the standard clinical documentation used?) | |
- Coding (e.g., in a DRG-based system, where reimbursement is linked to diagnosis) | |
- Are there differences concerning reimbursement of surgical vs. medical intensive care unit patients | |
- Are there differences concerning reimbursement schemes for teaching hospitals and non-teaching hospitals (teaching refers to the education of physicians) | |
- Possible modifiers (e.g., when a patient has to receive expensive medication, develops complications etc.) | |
- What are, in your opinion, the most important advantages and disadvantages of your reimbursement scheme | |
- Personal opinion: please explain, if you perceive a major imbalance between costs and reimbursement, i.e., if the reimbursement scheme does not adequately reflect the necessary clinical care | |
References | Please give references for the statements made; please feel free to include additional study results into the personal opinion part (e.g., a study conducted in your country validating your opinion or adding a crucial point) |