TY - JOUR

T1 - Kosteneffekte eines Demand-Managements Versichertenberatung via medizinischer Hotline

T2 - Demand-Management als Kostentreiber

AU - Blanke, M.

AU - Greiner, W.

AU - Schwermann, T.

AU - Schulenburg, J. M.Graf V.D.

PY - 2006/1

Y1 - 2006/1

N2 - A lot of economists and doctors in several countries were quite sure about economical savings, if patients called a medical hotline before visiting a physician (Demand-Management). These hotlines were supposed to contribute to less visits and a more efficient use of resources, as they should lead the patient through the health care system in an adequate way. To test this hypothesis privately insured persons of the Continentale Krankenversicherung a.G. who were willing to use such a hotline were divided into two groups by random. One group served as the trial group and had to call the hotline before every visit of a physician in 2003, while the other group was the control group that did not call the hotline, although they would have been willing to do so. By the use of statistical tests the costs of both groups in 2003 were compared and influencing variables were detected. The surprising result was that in opposition to the prevailing opinion the costs of the trial group were significantly higher and not lower. In detail females persons contributed the most to the cost escalation, but men had increases also compared with the control group. Moreover age had a significant influence on costs in the trial group - the older the higher the expenses when using the hotline. In a second step it was proved that the "investments" in Demand-Management would not amortise considering a longer period than one year either, so there is no economic reason for sickness funds and health insurances to introduce new tariffs that force privately insured persons to call a medical hotline before a physician's visit.

AB - A lot of economists and doctors in several countries were quite sure about economical savings, if patients called a medical hotline before visiting a physician (Demand-Management). These hotlines were supposed to contribute to less visits and a more efficient use of resources, as they should lead the patient through the health care system in an adequate way. To test this hypothesis privately insured persons of the Continentale Krankenversicherung a.G. who were willing to use such a hotline were divided into two groups by random. One group served as the trial group and had to call the hotline before every visit of a physician in 2003, while the other group was the control group that did not call the hotline, although they would have been willing to do so. By the use of statistical tests the costs of both groups in 2003 were compared and influencing variables were detected. The surprising result was that in opposition to the prevailing opinion the costs of the trial group were significantly higher and not lower. In detail females persons contributed the most to the cost escalation, but men had increases also compared with the control group. Moreover age had a significant influence on costs in the trial group - the older the higher the expenses when using the hotline. In a second step it was proved that the "investments" in Demand-Management would not amortise considering a longer period than one year either, so there is no economic reason for sickness funds and health insurances to introduce new tariffs that force privately insured persons to call a medical hotline before a physician's visit.

KW - Costs

KW - Demand Management

KW - Economic evaluation of health services

KW - Hotline

KW - Triage

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33644604452&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1055/s-2005-858539

DO - 10.1055/s-2005-858539

M3 - Artikel

AN - SCOPUS:33644604452

VL - 11

SP - 36

EP - 42

JO - Gesundheitsokonomie und Qualitatsmanagement

JF - Gesundheitsokonomie und Qualitatsmanagement

SN - 1432-2625

IS - 1

ER -