Factors related to the payment mechanism of hospital fees for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 from the National Health Security Office (NHSO), Nam Yuen District, Ubon Ratchathani Province
Keywords:
National Health Security Office, medical expense reimbursement, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)Abstract
This study aimed to examine the factors associated with reimbursement of medical expenses for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) under the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in Nam Yuen District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. This analytical cross-sectional study collected data from 202 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and confirmed positive by RT-PCR at Nam Yuen Hospital between January 2022 and December 2023. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including mean, percentage, and standard deviation, were used for data analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with reimbursement of medical expenses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to control for potential confounding variables and to assess the independent associations between factors and reimbursement outcomes. The results were presented as Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORadj) with 95% confidence intervals to reflect the strength and precision of the associations. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of 0.05.
The results revealed that factors significantly associated with reimbursement of medical expenses for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) under the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in Nam Yuen District, Ubon Ratchathani Province included being employed in agriculture (ORadj = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.09–3.97), having an educational level below a bachelor’s degree (ORadj = 4.32, 95% CI: 1.90–9.84), having no underlying diseases (ORadj = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.01–3.51), traveling to the hospital independently (ORadj = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.13–3.87), and receiving additional special diagnostic procedures (ORadj = 4.41, 95% CI: 3.26–5.96). These factors were statistically significant at the 0.05 level.
This study suggests the development of support strategies for patients with underlying diseases. The findings indicate that individuals without underlying diseases were more likely to receive reimbursement for medical expenses from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) than those with chronic conditions. Therefore, measures should be implemented to support patients with chronic illnesses in accessing NHSO benefits more conveniently. For example, integrating health information systems between primary hospitals and community healthcare facilities could facilitate easier reimbursement of medical expenses.
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