‘Case-mix models for home health care payment’ in Health Policy

Case-mix based payment of health care services offers potential to contain expenditure growth and simultaneously support needs-based care provision. However, limited evidence exists on its application in home health care (HHC). Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize available international literature on existing case-mix models for HHC payment.

We performed a systematic review of scientific literature, supplemented with grey literature. We searched for literature using six scientific databases, reference lists, expert consultation, and targeted websites. Data on study design, case-mix model attributes, and conclusions were extracted narratively. Of 3,303 references found, 22 scientific studies and 27 grey documents met eligibility criteria.

Eight case-mix models for HHC were identified, from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany. Three countries have implemented a case-mix model as part of a HHC payment system. Different combinations of in total 127 unique case-mix predictors are included across models to predict HHC use. Case-mix models also differ in targeted services, operationalization, and outcome measures and predictive power. Case-mix based payment is not yet widely used within HHC. Multiple varieties were found between HHC case-mix models, and no one best form of a model seems to exist. Even though varieties are partly inevitable due to country-specific contexts, developing a shared vision in case-mix model attributes would be key to achieving efficient, needs-based HHC.

By Anne van den Bulck, Maud de Korte, Arianne Elissen, Silke Metzelthin, Misja Mikkers and Dirk Ruwaard

For more information, see Health Policy https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.12.012