Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review

Background: Additional billing is commonly and legally practiced in some countries for patients covered by health insurance. However, knowledge and understanding of the additional billings are limited. This study reviews evidence on additional billing practices including definition, scope of practic...

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Main Author: Viriyathorn S.
Other Authors: Mahidol University
Format: Review
Published: 2023
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Online Access:https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/85145
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spelling th-mahidol.851452023-06-19T00:33:25Z Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review Viriyathorn S. Mahidol University Medicine Background: Additional billing is commonly and legally practiced in some countries for patients covered by health insurance. However, knowledge and understanding of the additional billings are limited. This study reviews evidence on additional billing practices including definition, scope of practice, regulations and their effects on insured patients. Methods: A systematic search of the full-text papers that provided the details of balance billing for health services, written in English, and published between 2000 and 2021 was carried out in Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science. Articles were screened independently by at least 2 reviewers for eligibility. Thematic analysis was applied. Results: In total, 94 studies were selected for the final analysis. Most of the included articles (83%) reported findings from the United States (US). Numerous terms of additional billings were used across countries such as balance billing, surprise billing, extra billing, supplements and out-of-pocket (OOP) spending. The range of services incurred these additional bills also varied across countries, insurance plans, and healthcare facilities; the frequently reported were emergency services, surgeries, and specialist consultation. There were a few positive though more studies reported negative effects of the substantial additional bills which undermined universal health coverage (UHC) goals by causing financial hardship and reducing access to care. A range of government measures had been applied to mitigate these adverse effects, but some difficulties still exist. Conclusion: Additional billings varied in terms of terminology, definitions, practices, profiles, regulations, and outcomes. There were a set of policy tools aimed to control substantial billing to insured patients despite some limitations and challenges. Governments should apply multiple policy measures to improve financial risk protection to the insured population. 2023-06-18T17:33:24Z 2023-06-18T17:33:24Z 2023-01-01 Review Health Services Insights Vol.16 (2023) 10.1177/11786329231178766 11786329 2-s2.0-85161290055 https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/85145 SCOPUS
institution Mahidol University
building Mahidol University Library
continent Asia
country Thailand
Thailand
content_provider Mahidol University Library
collection Mahidol University Institutional Repository
topic Medicine
spellingShingle Medicine
Viriyathorn S.
Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review
description Background: Additional billing is commonly and legally practiced in some countries for patients covered by health insurance. However, knowledge and understanding of the additional billings are limited. This study reviews evidence on additional billing practices including definition, scope of practice, regulations and their effects on insured patients. Methods: A systematic search of the full-text papers that provided the details of balance billing for health services, written in English, and published between 2000 and 2021 was carried out in Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science. Articles were screened independently by at least 2 reviewers for eligibility. Thematic analysis was applied. Results: In total, 94 studies were selected for the final analysis. Most of the included articles (83%) reported findings from the United States (US). Numerous terms of additional billings were used across countries such as balance billing, surprise billing, extra billing, supplements and out-of-pocket (OOP) spending. The range of services incurred these additional bills also varied across countries, insurance plans, and healthcare facilities; the frequently reported were emergency services, surgeries, and specialist consultation. There were a few positive though more studies reported negative effects of the substantial additional bills which undermined universal health coverage (UHC) goals by causing financial hardship and reducing access to care. A range of government measures had been applied to mitigate these adverse effects, but some difficulties still exist. Conclusion: Additional billings varied in terms of terminology, definitions, practices, profiles, regulations, and outcomes. There were a set of policy tools aimed to control substantial billing to insured patients despite some limitations and challenges. Governments should apply multiple policy measures to improve financial risk protection to the insured population.
author2 Mahidol University
author_facet Mahidol University
Viriyathorn S.
format Review
author Viriyathorn S.
author_sort Viriyathorn S.
title Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review
title_short Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review
title_full Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Definition, Practice, Regulations, and Effects of Balance Billing: A Scoping Review
title_sort definition, practice, regulations, and effects of balance billing: a scoping review
publishDate 2023
url https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/85145
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