Development of Hungarian One-Day Surgical Care in the Public-Funded National Healthcare System From 2010 to 2023
Author(s)
Róbert Pónusz, MSc, PhD1, Dalma Pónusz-Kovács, MSc1, Diána Elmer, MSc, PhD1, Tímea Csákvári, MSc, PhD2, Luca F. Kajos, MSc1, Dora Endrei, MSc, PhD, MD1, Imre Boncz, MSc, PhD, MD1;
1University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary
1University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: The role of one-day surgery is pivotal in today's modern healthcare system. Technological advances and continuing price increases require cost-effective care alternatives that can support sustainable financing. In the 2010s, one-day surgery was marginal in Hungary, but its share among surgical cases has been increasing from 2015 onwards. This study aims to identify the development of one-day surgical care through key performance indicators from 2010 to 2023 in the publicly funded Hungarian healthcare system.
METHODS: The research database was provided by the National Health Insurance Fund Administration of Hungary, which has a monopoly status in Hungarian healthcare financing. The database included the number of patients, cases, and DRG cost-weights of one-day surgical procedures financed between 2010 and 2023 by DRG major groups and medical fields as well. The study determined the annual one-day surgical number of patients and cases, as well as DRG cost-weights. Furthermore, the Case-Mix Index (CMI) on annual basis, and by medical specialties was also evaluated.
RESULTS: In the study period, the health insurer accounted for a total of 3,082,294 patients, 3,533,462 cases and 1,990,856 DRG cost-weights for one-day surgical care. In 2023, a 2.13-fold increase in the number of patients, a 2.36-fold increase in number of cases, and a 3.30-fold increase in DRG cost-weights compared to 2010 was observed. In the CMI, a 1.39-fold increase was registered in the same period. The obstetrics-gynecology medical field delivered the largest number of patients (n=975,642), while the ophthalmology field performed exceptionally well in the number of cases (n=1,172,860) and DRG cost-weights (768,803). The CMI was the highest for the cardiology cases (CMI=1,112).
CONCLUSIONS: The key performance indicators related to one-day surgical care increased significantly over the study period. The rate of improvement declined in the years covered by COVID-19, but a spectacular rebound can be identified thereafter.
METHODS: The research database was provided by the National Health Insurance Fund Administration of Hungary, which has a monopoly status in Hungarian healthcare financing. The database included the number of patients, cases, and DRG cost-weights of one-day surgical procedures financed between 2010 and 2023 by DRG major groups and medical fields as well. The study determined the annual one-day surgical number of patients and cases, as well as DRG cost-weights. Furthermore, the Case-Mix Index (CMI) on annual basis, and by medical specialties was also evaluated.
RESULTS: In the study period, the health insurer accounted for a total of 3,082,294 patients, 3,533,462 cases and 1,990,856 DRG cost-weights for one-day surgical care. In 2023, a 2.13-fold increase in the number of patients, a 2.36-fold increase in number of cases, and a 3.30-fold increase in DRG cost-weights compared to 2010 was observed. In the CMI, a 1.39-fold increase was registered in the same period. The obstetrics-gynecology medical field delivered the largest number of patients (n=975,642), while the ophthalmology field performed exceptionally well in the number of cases (n=1,172,860) and DRG cost-weights (768,803). The CMI was the highest for the cardiology cases (CMI=1,112).
CONCLUSIONS: The key performance indicators related to one-day surgical care increased significantly over the study period. The rate of improvement declined in the years covered by COVID-19, but a spectacular rebound can be identified thereafter.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HSD7
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
STA: Surgery