The impact of global budgeting in Taiwan on inpatients with unexplained fever

Liu, Keh-Sen; Yu, Tsung-Fu; Wu, Hsing-Ju; Lin, Chun-Yi

A generalized linear model was used for analysis. Because the therapy costs were skewed to the right, data were converted to log base 10 for statistical analysis. GB had a significantly positive impact on therapy costs (b = 0.51, P = .001). There was no significant correlation between gender or income state index and therapy costs (b = À0.27, P = .07; b = À0.004, P = .94, respectively). There was a significantly negative correlation between age and therapy costs (b = À0.05, P < .001) and a significantly positive correlation between Charlson comorbidity index and therapy costs (b = 1.07, P < .001). There were no significant differences in therapy costs between regional hospitals and medical centers or local hospitals and medical centers (b = À0.02, P = .91; b = 0.03, P = .87, respectively). Compared with hospitals in Taipei city, there were no significant differences in therapy costs among hospitals in northern Taiwan, central Taiwan, southern Taiwan, Kaoshiung city, or eastern Taiwan (b = 0.40, P = .11; b = À0.06, P = .79; b = À0.004, P = .98; b = À0.13, P = .62; b = À0.22, P = .49, respectively) ( Table 4) .