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The Paradox of Decreasing Prices and Increasing Costs for Diagnostic Tests, Imaging, and Drugs in Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Naoki Ikegami  and
Shunya Ikeda
Naoki Ikegami
Affiliation:
Keio University
Shunya Ikeda
Affiliation:
Keio University
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Abstract

Analysis of the 1987–1991 national outpatient claims data shows that the percentage of patients undergoing sophisticated diagnostic tests tended to increase and was greater if the hospital was larger, in the public sector, or affiliated with an university. For imaging, the percentage that had CAT scans performed increased, while the percentage undergoing x-rays using contrast medium and other tomography decreased. However, for drugs, newer and more expensive ones tended to be preferred irrespective of the providers' characteristics. Although costs arising from the shift to more expensive and sophisticated technologies have been largely contained by reducing their prices in the fee schedule, this cost-containment strategy faces structural problems. We advocate the establishment of an infrastructure that offers incentives for providers to conduct technology assessment and to use the results.

Type
General Essays
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , Winter 1997 , pp. 99 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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References

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