This article is concerned with the methodological issues of assessing the effects of casemix funding on hospital utilisation. Time-series analysis and intervention analysis are proposed to ascertain the effects. It was found there had been a decline in average length of stay and number of bed-days, an increase in weighted separations for teaching and non-teaching hospitals, and no apparent increase of costliness in terms of a comprehensive casemix index. No evidence of decline in quality of care can be established in terms of readmission rates. The long-term effects of casemix funding, and specific issues in terms of the funding model used, patients and cost shifting between hospital services and community health services, remain to be studied.
Diagnosis-Related Groups Economics, Hospital